Six Potential Cowboys Cuts to Watch

Since the arrival of Bill Parcells in Miami, there has been no shortage of players, coaches and executives added to the Dolphins' organization with connections to the Dallas Cowboys.

With NFL teams trimming more than 20 players of their rosters by August 30, the Dolphins will have another opportunity to reel in even more ex-Cowboys. There is no question the Dolphins are lacking depth in certain areas and it will be interesting to see if Parcells and Ireland scour their former team's cuts to bolster the back end of Miami's roster.

Here are six Cowboys players that could be appealing to Miami if they fail to make the squad in Dallas. Why six? Because, that's why.

1. Richard Bartel

• Position: Quarterback
• Height/Weight: 6-3, 246
• Age: 25
• College: Tarleton State
• Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent (2007)
  
• Could replace... John Beck and/or Josh McCown
  

It is likely the Dolphins will part ways with either John Beck or Josh McCown prior the regular season, despite Sparano's weak claim the team could keep four quarterbacks. But is it possible the Dolphins could actually ditch both Beck and McCown? If the Dolphins deemed a prospect worthy of the No. 3 job, the answer is yes.

If Beck is dealt before the season begins (which seems quite possible now) and the two Chads have the top two spots on the depth chart locked up, is it really necessary to keep McCown as the emergency third-stringer? McCown was merely brought in to be a veteran on the squad - a role now filled by a more talented Pennington. In my mind, I'm not sure the Dolphins would have a problem adding a prospect like Bartel as the No. 3 guy rather than keep a mediocre journeyman like McCown.

What's the skinny on Bartel? He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2007 and spent the season on the practice squad. He originally attended SMU before transferring to Tarleton State. He's obviously a bit of a project, but he has a good arm is pretty smart. Bartel may end up on Dallas' practice squad if the team elects to keep only Tony Romo and Brad Johnson active, so why not offer Bartel a better gig and decent pay raise?

2. Rodney Hannah

• Position: Tight end
  
• Height/Weight: 6-6, 255
• Age: 24
• College: Houston
  
• Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent (2007)
  
• Could replace... David Martin, Justin Peelle or Sean Ryan
  

Tight end is probably one of the worst positions on the Dolphins at this point and the team is hoping Anthony Fasano shows some of the talent that earned him a second-round selection by Dallas in 2006. Beyond that, free-agent bust David Martin and pure blockers Justin Peelle and Sean Ryan are all competing for roster spots. While two of the three might make the team initially, none is so valuable they couldn't be replaced at any time.

Hannah will likely be pushed off the Dallas roster by a talented group of Dallas tight ends in Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett and Tony Curtis. A former college basketball player, Hannah has good size and physical tools and spent last season on the Cowboys' practice squad. While the next Antonio Gates he might be not be, he's certainly a prospect worthy adding to Miami's tight end stable, where there is little upside to be found.

3. Remi Ayodele

• Position: Nose tackle
  
• Height/Weight: 6-2, 300
  
• Age: 25
• College: Oklahoma
  
• Acquired: Free Agent (2007)
  
• Could replace... Paul Soliai, though not necessarily anyone at the position
  

If his surname sounds familiar, it's because his older brother, linebacker Akin Ayodele, is the Dolphins' starting inside linebacker. While not as accomplished as his sibling, Remi has had a few stints with the Cowboys over the past three years made his NFL debut with the team last season. He's a borderline prospect who doesn't have nearly the upside of Paul Soliai, which is why I could see Soliai sticking around even if Ayodele were to be added. That could be a long shot, however, as 3-4 teams don't often carry three nose tackles.

4. Alan Ball

• Position: Cornerback
  
• Height/Weight: 6-1, 176
  
• Age: 23
• College: Illinois
  
• Acquired: 7th Round (2007)
  
• Could replace... Nathan Jones or Joey Thomas
  

Sparano has spoken repeatedly about "turning over every rock" in trying to find players and cornerback is definitely a position where the rock-turning won't slow down any time soon. The Dolphins lack a true No. 1 corner and have depth issues as well. No one in the group outside of Will Allen is entirely untouchable.

Even if Ball is cut, it doesn't necessarily mean he's not talented. He's currently battling at a position that also features Terence Newman, Anthony Henry, Pacman Jones and Mike Jenkins. Ball has good height for a corner, is still very young and has some upside. While Nathan Jones and Joey Thomas are both in Miami because of their Dallas connections, Ball is a guy that could cause one to be replaced.

5. Darrell Robertson

• Position: Linebacker
  
• Height/Weight: 6-4, 255
  
• Age: 22
• College: Georgia Tech
  
• Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent (2008)
  
• Could replace... Rob Ninkovich, Junior Glymph or Titus Brown
  

Unlike the previous four players mentioned, Robertson hasn't a direct connection to any of the Dolphins' staff. That being said, Ireland surely scouted Robertson in preparation for the 2008 NFL Daft.

The Dolphins are still transitioning to the 3-4 defense and lack an entire roster of ideal personnel. The Dolphins are thin at outside linebacker with only Joey Porter assured a starting job and no one else even guaranteed a roster spot.

An All-ACC performer at defensive end, Robertson is a talented pass rusher and prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker. It might be worth giving him a shot over Rob Ninkovich, journeyman Junior Glymph or undrafted rookie Titus Brown.

6. WR Todd Lowber

• Position: Wide receiver
  
• Height/Weight: 6-3, 205
  
• Age: 26
• College: Ramapo
  
• Acquired: Free Agent (2008)
  
• Could replace... Greg Camarillo, David Kircus or Anthony Armstrong
  

Like Robertson, Lowber has no direct connection to Parcells, Ireland or any former Cowboys coaches now in Miami. Admittedly, I list him here primarily because I have been intrigued by him as a prospect for over a year now.

Lowber played college basketball and was a high jumper at a school called Ramapo in New Jersey. Until his arrival in the NFL in 2007, he had never played organized football in his life. So how exactly did he even make it this far when most of us have more experience with the game than him?

That can easily be explained by one number: 4.11. That's the 40-yard dash time Lowber put up in a personal workout in 2007, prompting the Minnesota Vikings to offer him a contract. He failed to make the squad out of camp and spent time on the New York Giants' practice squad last season, earning a Super Bowl ring in the process.

Re-signed by the Giants this offseason, Lowber was released this summer and was briefly on the practice squad of the CFL's Toronto Argonauts before being picked up by Dallas. His pursuit to make the Cowboys is currently being chronicled on the HBO series Hard Knocks.

It's not surprising that Lowber is still very raw as an NFL receiver. He still trying to grasp the game and has much to learn, but his physical tools are undeniable. He has good size, blazing speed and astounding leaping ability to go along with smarts and drive. As thin as Miami is at receiver, it'd be worth trying to get Lowber, if only on the practice squad, and see if receivers coach Karl Dorrell can tap some of his potential.

2008 Draft Analysis: Part I

This is the first of four videos covering the Dolphins' 2008 NFL Draft selections, with this one discussing the selections of Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long and Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling. Be sure to check out the rest of the draft analysis videos as well as the rest of my videos from the day!

Dolphins re-sign CB Michael Lehan

Dolphins management has made their first move to retain a player held over from the previous regime, re-signing unrestricted free agent cornerback Michael Lehan to a three-year deal. Watch the following video for more info on Lehan and analysis on the move. Enjoy!

Every free agent with Parcells/Ireland history

I've put together what I think will be an interesting and handy list of players come free agency. Unless I accidentally missed someone, this is a list of every NFL team's free agents that has a history with Bill Parcells and/or Jeff Ireland.

Why is this important? Well as we all know, Parcells likes guys he is familiar with. It's certainly no coincidence of the four guys he's signed this offseason - Matt Baker, Junior Glymph, Trey Darilek and Joey Thomas - all had histories with either him and/or Ireland in Dallas.

A few things to note with this list though. First of all, I included every player that had a history with Parcells or Ireland, no matter how long ago or brief it may have been. This means that some of the players on this list will not be on Miami's radar at all. That's why I've rated each player on a scale of 1 to 10 on how interested I think the Dolphins will be in said player. 1 is obviously no interest, while 5 is moderate/possible interest and 10 is heavy interest. You can figure out the stuff in between. Enjoy!

Flozell Adams, 31, offensive tackle, Cowboys - played for the Cowboys during the entire tenures of Parcells (2003-2006) and Ireland (2001-2007).
Dolphins' interest? 10/10. The Dolphins are guaranteed to be interested in Adams, whom the Cowboys will let hit the open market. Signing Adams would give Miami a reliable left tackle for the next 4-5 years and allow them to move Vernon Carey back to right tackle where he's best suited.

Larry Allen, 36, guard, 49ers - played three seasons under Parcells in Dallas from 2003 to 2005; Also present during Ireland's first two years there in 2001 and 2002.
Dolphins' interest? 7/10. Allen is expected to retire, but that doesn't mean the Dolphins won't try to convince him to hold off on it. Miami needs help at guard desperately and Allen would provide a solid starter for a year.

Rocky Boiman, 28, linebacker, Colts - signed by Parcells-led Cowboys in 2006 as a free agent, but did not make the team out of camp.
Dolphins' interest? 7/10. Although Boiman didn't make the team in 2006, the Cowboys had a lot of talent at linebacker and the team at least thought he'd fit the defense when they signed him. Would be far more likely to make the team over Edmond Miles or Kelvin Smith.

Troy Brown, 36, wide receiver, Patriots - drafted by Parcells-led Patriots in 1993; played all four seasons of Parcells' tenure in New England.
Dolphins' interest? 1/10. Brown is clearly at the end of his road and likely won't attract attention from other teams. Miami needs experience at receiver but there will be plenty of better alternatives out there.

Tedy Bruschi, 34, linebacker, Patriots - drafted by Parcells-led Patriots in 1996 and played one season under him.
Dolphins' interest? 6/10. Bruschi is getting up there in years, but Miami could use another veteran inside linebacker to team with Channing Crowder and this guy has plenty of 3-4 experience. A younger guy would be ideal, but getting Bruschi on a two-year deal would be more than sufficient.

Aveion Cason, 28, running back, Lions -played one season for Parcells-led Cowboys in 2003.
Dolphins' interest? 3/10. Cason had some success in a reserve role for Dallas in 2003, but he's nothing special and Miami is pretty deep at running back. He could be brought in to compete for a backup job.

Terrance Copper, 25, wide receiver, Saints - signed as an undrafted free agent by Parcells in 2004 and played two seasons under him with Cowboys.
Dolphins' interest? 7/10. With 56 games played, the 25-year-old Copper would still be the most experienced receiver on the Dolphins' roster. He's got some talent, would come fairly cheap and could push for the No. 3 or 4 job.

Keith Davis, 29, safety, Cowboys - Davis was present for Parcells' entire Dallas tenure from 2003 to 2006 and was also there in 2007 with Ireland; also played for various Dolphins defensive assistants.
Dolphins' interest? 8/10. Parcells and Ireland have plenty of experience with Davis and the Dolphins are lacking at safety. Davis would be a fairly inexpensive signing, and he'd compete for a starting job and be a strong special teams player at worst.

Ebenezer Ekuban, 31, defensive end, Broncos - played for Parcells-led Cowboys in 2003.
Dolphins' interest? 2/10. Ekuban left Dallas after 2003 because he did not fit the 3-4 scheme. Nothing's changed on that front, so don't expect Parcells' interest to have changed either.

Jason Fabini, 33, offensive lineman, Redskins - Drafted by Parcells in the first round in 1998 and played two seasons under him with the Jets; also played for Cowboys in 2006 under Parcells.
Dolphins' interest? 6/10. Fabini isn't the player he once was and isn't anything more than a veteran backup at this point. However, Miami lacks any veteran backups on the offensive line and Fabini would be an inexpensive pickup that could provide depth at both guard and tackle.

Aaron Glenn, 35, cornerback, Jaguars - Played for Jets during all three years of Parcells' tenure from 1997 to 1999; also played for Parcells and Ireland in Dallas from 2005 to 2006.
Dolphins' interest? 6/10. Miami is lacking at the corner position behind Will Allen. Parcells has plenty of experience with Glenn and although he's not starter material anymore, he'd provide solid veteran depth for our secondary.

Bobby Hamilton, 36, defensive end, Browns - played for Jets during all three seasons of Parcells' tenure from 1997 to 1999.
Dolphins' interest? 7/10. Hamilton's near the end of his career and is not starter material, but he has plenty of 3-4 end experience and would be a great backup on the Dolphins' defense that lacks the right personnel in most areas.

Ken Hamlin, 27, safety, Cowboys - Signed by Cowboys in 2007 with Ireland in the front office; also played for various Dolphins defensive assistants.
Dolphins' interest? 9/10. Hamlin is a talented player at a position the Dolphins are sorely lacking. He'd be a huge boost for the secondary and had a career-high five interceptions for Dallas in 2004.

Nathan Jones, 25, cornerback, Cowboys - drafted by Parcells-led Cowboys in 2004 and played three seasons for him; also played for Ireland and various defensive assistants in 2007.
Dolphins' interest? 8/10. Jones is a solid backup corner and would come at a cheap price. He'd compete for a nickel or dime job in Miami.

ReShard Lee, 27, running back, Raiders - signed by Parcells-led Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2004 and played one season for Cowboys.
Dolphins' interest? 2/10. Miami is set at running back and Lee would have a hard time making anyone's roster.

Matt Lehr, 28, offensive lineman, Buccaneers - played one season for Parcells-led Cowboys in 2003.
Dolphins' interest? 3/10. Lehr has value as a backup at center and guard, but he's been let go by Parcells once and the Cowboys never showed interest the two times he's been on the market since.

Jacques Reeves, 25, cornerback, Cowboys - drafted by Parcells-led Cowboys in 2004 and played three seasons for him; also played for Ireland and various defensive assistants in 2007.
Dolphins' interest: 9/10. Reeves is a talent player that could be a third or fourth corner in Miami. The Dolphins will likely have a strong interest in him and he shouldn't be expensive to bring in.

Jeff Robinson, 38, long snapper, Seahawks - played two seasons for Parcells-led Cowboys from 2003 to 2004; also present in 2002 with Ireland.
Dolphins' interest? 3/10. Miami has no long snappers on the roster and this is least one Parcells and Ireland are familiar with. However, Robinson went unsigned the entire 2006 season and is nearly finished, so the Dolphins might look for a younger guy at the position.

Sean Ryan, 27, tight end, Jets - drafted by Parcells-led Cowboys in fifth round of 2004; played two seasons under Parcells before being traded to the Jets in August 2006.
Dolphins' interest? 9/10. Parcells obviously liked him during his two years, and just because he was traded doesn't mean Ireland didn't either. Dallas simply had two starting-caliber tight ends (Witten and Fasano) and saw an opportunity to get draft picks for a backup. But the Dolphins are severely lacking at tight end so it wouldn't be surprising if he were brought in to compete.

Omar Stoutmire, 33, safety, Redskins -Played one season for Parcells-led Jets in 1999.
Dolphins' interest? 2/10. Stoutmire has just a little history with Parcells, and the Dolphins will likely look elsewhere for backup safety help.

Vinny Testaverde, 44, quarterback, Panthers - played two seasons for Parcells-led Jets from 1998 to 1999; also played one season for him in 2004.
Dolphins' interest? 2/10. Testaverde is almost guaranteed to retire, but then again he was "retired" before last season too. He'd be an absolute last resort for the Dolphins, who will probably be able to pick up a better veteran.

Tyson Walter, 29, offensive lineman, Packers - played two seasons for Parcells-led Cowboys from 2003 to 2004; Tony Sparano was also his offensive line coach both those years.
Dolphins' interest? 6/10. Walter has experience at all the offensive line positions and would provide an experienced backup.

Casey Wiegmann, 34, center, Chiefs - played one season for Parcells-led Jets in 1997.
Dolphins' interest? 1/10. Wiegmann had minor experience with Parcells for one season ten years ago, so there isn't much there. Also, Wiegmann is very undersized for Parcells' taste and the Dolphins don't need a center anyway.

Dolphins release Zach Thomas

The rebuilding process continues and as I expected, the Dolphins have released long-time star linebacker Zach Thomas. One of the all-time Dolphins greats, Thomas played 12 years in Miami and was selected to seven Pro Bowls.

I have put together a video on Zach, which can be found below. It is not a typical analysis video, but rather just a personal tribute to Zach. Thanks for everything, Zach.



Further reading:

• MiamiDolphins.com article on Zach's release: http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/top_story.asp?contentID=5685
• The Boston Globe's Mike Reiss on the prospect of Zach playing in New England: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/tj_on_zach_thom.html
  

Tony Sparano Impact Report

The following is an article about the hiring of Tony Sparano for KFFL.com.

Coming off a dismal 1-15 season – the worst in the franchise’s 42-year history – the Dolphins have will now have their third different head coach in three seasons starting in 2008. Tony Sparano – an assistant under various titles for the Dallas Cowboys since 2003 – takes the reins under front-office honcho Bill Parcells and new general manager Jeff Ireland as the Dolphins look to get out of the NFL’s cellar.

Background

Sparano, 46, joins the Dolphins with over two decades of college and pro coaching experience. After graduating from the University of New Haven in 1982, where he was also the starting center, Sparano served as the offensive line coach at his alma mater from 1984 to 1987. He then served in the same capacity for Boston University for one season, followed by a return to New Haven as offensive coordinator. After running the team’s offense from 1989 to 1993, Sparano spent the next five seasons as the team’s head coach.

In 1999, Sparano made the leap to the NFL coaching ranks as offensive quality control coach for the Cleveland Browns. He held the role for two seasons, after which time he served as tight ends coach for the Washington Redskins in 2001 and then the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002.

Sparano joined Bill Parcells’ staff with the Dallas Cowboys in 2003 and held multiple titles as an assistant through 2007. He was the Cowboys’ tight ends coach from 2003 to 2004, offensive line coach/running game coordinator in 2005, assistant head coach/offensive line coach/running game coordinator in 2006 and assistant head coach/offensive line coach in 2007.

A Welcome Change

Not only was change enticing after a horrendous season, it become vital after Cam Cameron lost the whole team by season’s end. Reports of the locker room chaos were revealed after Cameron’s departure, painting a more disastrous picture than the team’s record could do alone. Cameron was too strict at times, kicking veteran defensive tackle Keith Traylor off the team to the chagrin of veterans like Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor. He was too soft at others, letting linebacker Joey Porter berate him in front of the entire team for three minutes without so much of a word in defense. By the end, change was not a possibility – it was a necessity.

Sparano appears in some ways to be the anti-Cameron – a hard-nosed, no-nonsense kind of coach who commands the respect of the players and respects them as well. While there is always optimism after a team makes changes coming off a bad experience, the reality is that things really can’t get much worse anyway.

Run, Run, Run

Cameron called the offensive plays himself in 2007 with horrendous results, though that may have been more a result of lack of talent and extensive injuries than the lack of a true offensive coordinator. In fact, a similar strategy remains a possibility during Sparano’s first season, depending on whether or not an adequate coach can be found.

With the Dolphins’ instability at quarterback coupled with Sparano’s history as a former offensive lineman, offensive line coach and running game coordinator, expect a heavy emphasis on the running game for the Dolphins in 2008. The team’s run blocking was far better than its pass protection in 2007 and the Dolphins are deep at the running back position. Ronnie Brown was on his way to a Pro Bowl season before tearing his ACL but should return to full health, and Ricky Williams remains to give the Dolphins possibly one of the best two-head rushing attacks in the NFL. Additionally, rookie Lorenzo Booker showed his versatility with a 4.5 rushing average and 28 receptions – all in the team’s final five games.

On defense, an even stronger push to the 3-4 is likely with Parcells and Ireland building the roster. The Dolphins have attempted to move toward the 3-4 ever since Nick Saban took over in 2005, but have lacked the personnel to run it as their base defense. They have the outside linebackers for the scheme in Jason Taylor and Joey Porter, but lack the bulk on the defensive line. In addition Zach Thomas, while a constant force for the Dolphins for over a decade, has had problems with injuries and is undersized for the 3-4.

Fantasy Impact

As already discussed, the lack of a quarterback will likely mean an emphasis on the run for the Dolphins offensively. As long as he gets help up front, Ronnie Brown should continue to progress and will be Miami’s top fantasy option. Ricky Williams will also be worth a roster spot, given that Brown is coming off an injury and Sparano has a history with a two-back system.

While there’s little to get excited about in the passing game, second-year player Ted Ginn Jr. is probably the most viable fantasy option at receiver. Ginn caught 34 passes for 420 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie despite working with three different quarterbacks – none of which performed particularly well.

For individual defensive player leagues, there are a few possible fantasy options. The Dolphins didn’t always use linebacker Joey Porter in the best way in 2007, but he picked it up in the second half of the season with 4.5 sacks and two interceptions after Week 10. Defensive end Jason Taylor can seemingly always be counted on for double-digit sacks plus some forced fumbles and interceptions. Linebacker Zach Thomas is still a tackling machine, while third-year linebacker Channing Crowder recorded 78 tackles in just 11 games.