INSIDE PRO FOOTBALL the Sports Xchange
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Also check out: NFLDraftScout.com Powered by INSIDE PRO FOOTBALL The Sports Xchange Vol. 13 No. 12 March 21, 2004 AROUND THE LEAGUE: proach. After all, it is March, and every get back to actual football stuff." The first round of teams' offseason plans team is tied right now. The Cowboys and Henson targeted each are just about complete with most of the no- "It really isn't overpaying for players," other for the same reasons. table free agents having found new homes said Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, Dallas is not certain that current starter or re-upped with their former teams. whose Bears gave right tackle John Tait a Quincy Carter or backup Chad Hutchinson Rosters will continue to change shape six-year, $33 million contract that opened will develop into the franchise quarterback with teams still planning for the NFL Draft eyes around the league. "That's what players they have been looking for since Troy Aik- and post-June 1 cuts to fill holes. But Gi- cost. That is what the marketplace is. We're man retired in 2000. ants, Browns and Chargers fans are among competing with other teams, and we did Henson felt the questions about Carter and those likely scratching their heads by their what we felt we had to do, and we felt he Hutchinson made Dallas an ideal place for teams' lack of activity during the opening was a very critical piece to our plan." quick playing time. weeks of free agency. All three missed the Henson, who has not played football since playoffs last year, yet were decidedly quiet ============== his junior year at Michigan in 2000 and had as big-name free agents signed elsewhere. DALLAS COWBOYS only starts in three years there, has been Then again, so were the reigning Super ============== working out exclusively on football since Bowl champion Patriots. New England has November. He says he doesn't know what, built its roster around re-signing it's own HOT TOPIC if any, effect the layoff will have on his players and selectively picking up Bill Parcells has always been clear about skills. Nor will he predict when he will be moderately-priced free agents. his offseason program. ready to play. All he knows is that he is "A lot of those (high-priced) guys don't Attendance is mandatory. ready to get started on football again. work out," Patriots Vice President of Player So it should come as no surprise that the "I don't know," Henson said. "I don't Personnel Scott Pioli said. "Historically, Cowboys made a late push to get quarter- know if the coaches know. I don't know if I that has shown itself to be true. We're try- back Drew Henson and receiver Keyshawn know exactly. The plan is for me to get their ing to build a team and if you deviate too Johnson in the fold before the offseason pro- Monday. The plan is to get acclimated to much and go too much on the high end with gram starts on Monday. the system. I don't know when that time too many players, you're not going to be Both much-anticipated acquisitions came (when I'm ready to play happen), but hope- able to build a team and spread the avail- to fruition on Friday. fully it will. For now, I'm just going to try to able cash to be strong at all positions." For Henson, the former Michigan quarter- contribute and help." Of course, the Patriots' blueprint isn't for back and New York Yankees baseball Said owner Jerry Jones: "My goal has al- everyone. player, his arrival came in Dallas after the ways been to try to get us in as good a Philadelphia went after wide receiver NFL management council finally approved shape as we can to be good at quarterback. Terrell Owens because the Eagles believe an eight-year contract, which includes $3.5 This gives us several opportunities to be his big-play ability will get them to the next million in guaranteed money and a 2004 able to do that. That is what we ought to be level after losing in three consecutive NFC base salary of $238,000. Henson can void doing. It gives us that many more chances Championship Games. the last four years of the contract if he plays to come up with the kind of quarterbacking "I've also said the more tools you've got either 15 percent of the Cowboys' offensive we want with the Cowboys." in the toolbox the better off you are," Ea- plays this season or 30 percent in any of the The biggest key in the process for Jones gles offensive coordinator Brad Childress following three years. and Henson is that the quarterback will be said. "This is a nice tool in the tool box. Johnson came to Dallas via a trade with able to start working out with the team im- This is the multi-faceted Swiss army knife. Tampa Bay for receiver Joey Galloway, who mediately. He will work with the receivers This guy can do some different things from finally came to terms on a one-year deal for in the offseason program the next two different spots on the field. It's like Jerry $2.6 million. months, well before mini-camps, quarter- Rice in his heyday when the 49ers would Henson's approval came almost a week af- backs and training camp, giving the Cow- put him all over the field. There's a lot of ter Henson came to terms with the Cowboys, boys an idea of how close he is to contribut- angst for a defense in knowing where he's as the league needed to closely review a ing or how far he still has to go. going to be." deal that was creatively crafted to navigate Henson completed 214 of 374 passes (57 For the Eagles, bringing in Owens and the Texans' 2003 salary cap. Once approved, percent) for 2,946 yards and 24 touchdowns defensive end Jevon Kearse might be a the Cowboys shipped a third round pick in with only seven interceptions in his three matter of survival of the fittest after watch- 2005 to the Texans, who drafted Henson in seasons at Michigan. ing NFC East rival Washington go on its the sixth round of the 2003 draft. There was a slight alteration to the much- annual offseason spending spree. Henson said he just can't wait to get back anticipated receiver to receiver trade with Whether teams are trying to copy the Pa- to football. the Buccaneers. The swap was originally triots' model or shooting for a big splash in "It's a great relief," Henson said. "The contingent on both players signing restruc- free agency, everyone is selling they're ap- tough part is out of the way now and I can tured contracts with the respective teams. Pro Sports’ Best Information Source NFL NOTES 3/21/2004 The Sports Xchange Page 2 The trade will now be consummated with pressed to make the team in training camp); came up with defensive end Jevon Kearse the Cowboys taking Johnson's current deal RB Troy Hambrick (tendered at $628,000 and, after a bit of a comedic drama, wide re- with the Buccaneers as is. with no compensation; is not a featured ceiver Terrell Owens, among others, al- The Cowboys and Johnson came to terms back but could help as part time running though it remains to be seen whether T.O.'s on a four-year, $20 million deal two weeks back, part time fullback and special teams on-the-field help will be neutralized by his ago that includes a $4 million signing contributor); C Matt Lehr (tendered at damaging off-the-field distractions. bonus. But in an effort to get the trade com- $628,000 with 5th-round pick as compensa- The Dallas Cowboys didn't have a quar- pleted as soon as possible, the Cowboys tion; though not a long term answer, emer- terback to speak of, at least not to speak of will now redo Johnson's deal once he gets to gency stint a 16-game starter last year en- well, and so they took the plunge with for- Dallas. deared him with Bill Parcells); S Lynn Scott mer Michigan superstar Drew Henson, who With roughly $10 million available under (tendered at $628,000 with no compensa- spent three years in the New York Yankees' the league's 2004 salary cap of 80.6 million, tion; produces little on special teams and no organization proving conclusively that he the Cowboys have the room to accommo- way close to starting potential, might have couldn't hit a curve or handle the short hop date the Johnson's current contract, which seen final days with Cowboys); LB Markus at third base. includes a $5 base salary for 2004, along Steele (tendered at $628,000 with 4th-round They also engineered a trade of Joey Gal- with a $1 million roster bonus on April 1. pick as compensation; improved as a special loway to acquire Keyshawn Johnson, who is However, the cap-strapped Buccaneers teams performer in 2003 ... could return in not just a wide receiver but a big, solid, pos- needed Galloway's deal restructured, which similar role next season); TE James Whalen session receiver as well. Now they need a is why the Cowboys signed him to his one- (tendered at $628,000 with 5th-round pick running back -- let's bet that they get one.