Dallas Cowboys Team Capsule

April 21, 2006 @ 16:00:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

DALLAS COWBOYS

2005 FINISH: 9-7 (3rd Place - AFC East), Non-playoff Team

2006 DRAFT PICK: 18th Overall

KEY POSITION NEEDS: OT, FS, QB, ILB, OLB, CB, DE

Head Coach: Bill Parcells

Offensive Coordinator: Bill Parcells

Defensive Coordinator: Mike Zimmer

FREE AGENT(S): TE Dan Campbell (UFA - signed with the Detroit Lions), OT Torrin Tucker (RFA - signed with Buccaneers), P Mat McBriar (RFA - Re-signed), TE Jason Witten (RFA), LB Scott Fujita (UFA - Signed with the New Orleans Saints), LB Scott Shanle (RFA), S Keith Davis (RFA - Re-signed), Tony Dixon (UFA), S Willie Pile (ERFA - Re-signed), S Lynn Scott (UFA), Jacques Reeves (ERFA Re-signed), LS L.P. LaDouceur (ERFA - Re-signed), G/C Andre Gurode (UFA - Re-signed), LB Mike Barrow (UFA), LB Eric Ogbogu (UFA), OT Marcus Price (UFA), LB Quinton Caver (UFA), FB Lousaka Polite (ERFA - Re-signed), WR Terrance Copper (ERFA - Re-signed), WR Patrick Crayton (ERFA - Re-signed)

NFL Europe Allocations: QB Drew Henson (Rhein Fire), WR Tom Crowder (Frankfurt Galaxy), CB Lenny Williams (Frankfurt Galaxy)

POSITION ANALYSIS - OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

Quarterback Drew Henson was sent to NFL Europe (Rhein Fire). This is a need for the Cowboys, who have no franchise quarterbacks, and they could target a quarterback with one of their higher draft picks. If one of the top three quarterbacks in the draft drops, most likely Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler or Texas' Vince Young, the Cowboys could move up a few spots to pick them up.

RUNNING BACKS

The team signed fullback Lousaka Polite to a one-year, $350,000 contract.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Both wide receivers Patrick Crayton and Terrance Copper signed their one-year, $385,000 tender offers. The deals were raised by $40,000 as a result of the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement.

Wide receiver Terrell Owens (Eagles) signed a three-year that could be worth as much as $25 million if he plays through to the end of the contract.

Wide receiver Terry Glenn signed a new five-year deal worth $20 million.

Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson was released. He signed with the Carolina Panthers.

TIGHT ENDS

The Cowboys signed tight end Ryan Hannam (Seahawks) signed a four-year, $5 million contract with a $1.25 million signing bonus.

POSITION ANALYSIS - DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

Another need for the Cowboys, they have young talent at the position but will most likely bring in some veteran players to push for jobs and provide some depth. Also look for them to draft a big, run-stuffing defensive tackle in the later rounds of the draft.

The team released defensive tackle La'Roi Glover, who was signed by the St. Louis Rams.

The Cowboys released defensive lineman Willie Blade.

LINEBACKERS

The team signed linebacker Akin Ayodele (Jaguars) to a five-year, $17 million contract with a $5 million signing bonus.

The team signed linebacker Rocky Boiman (Titans) to a three-year contract that could be worth as much as $5 million if he reaches all the incentives.

SECONDARY

The Cowboys are interested greatly in Texas safety/cornerback Michael Huff. They could move up to draft him; however, they would most likely have to move past the Lions at No. 9 to have a shot at him.

The team re-signed cornerback Jacques Reeves free safety Willie Pile to one-year deals worth $425,000 each.

Strong safety Keith Davis signed a two-year, $3.1 million contract.

Safety Derek Pagel was released.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter Mat McBriar signed his one-year, $385,000 tender offer. The deal was raised by $40,000 as a result of the NFL's new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Place kicker Mike Vanderjagt (Colts) signed a three-year deal that could be worth more than $6 million. The deal included a $2.5 million signing bonus.

The team re-signed long-snapper L.P. Ladouceur to a one-year, $350,000 deal.

Place kicker Brett Visintainer was released.

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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