Cowboys Cut Highlights Opportunities For Young Players
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We haven’t heard much about the Cowboys this offseason, until yesterday when Dallas cut Pro Bowl Center Andre Gurode from their roster.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon sums it up nicely:
"If Gurode was so good, why would the Cowboys get rid of him? Here are a few good reasons: He was overrated, overpaid and overweight. Oh, and they’re confident in Phil Costa."
Not to mention, needing a lot of cap room while being stifled by players that aren coming off surgery overweight and out of shape would probably not bode well for a high profile franchise under the microscope:
"Gurode would have made $5.5 million this season. That’s far too much for a declining player, especially one who reported to camp weighing 334 pounds – 18 more than his listed weight last season – and recovering from June knee surgery."
But it’s not easy. The Giants know what it’s like having to say goodbye to the heart and soul of their offensive line. Both Shawn O’Hara and Rich Seubert are no longer on the roster, both coming off severe injuries and surgeries, and both meant a lot to the offense as well as the team locker room. But in the year of the new cap, it’s comforting to see that the Giants aren’t the only ones in the NFC East making tough decisions about the backbone of their offense.
Phil Costa, the undrafted free agent center for the Cowboys, will have to step up and fill the void left by Gurode. And it looks like he has been on the right track:
"“He is one of those guys because he is smart, because he is tough, because he is intense, because it’s important to him, you see taking advantage of opportunities as well as anybody,” Garrett said. “He did that in this situation. He grew and grew as he was the starter in camp. It was hard not to like what he did.”"
For the Giants, Will Beatty will have to step up at LT — something we’ve been waiting to see for some time now. David Deihl will have to make due at LG, and Dave Baas at Center will have to get acclimated.
[sources: ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth]