Cowboys: The Cowboys Are Slowly Getting Better
By Dink Kearney
The Dallas Cowboys are spending their money wisely during free agency, signing good players and building a contender.
When the free-agent signing period began two weeks ago, the Cowboys sat back and patiently watched as big name free agents signed huge contracts around the NFL. Some of these players were average at best, signing for mega-bucks, like former Miami Dolphins pass rusher Olivier Vernon. The defensive end signed a lucrative deal worth $52 million in guaranteed money with the New York Giants.
The Giants overpaid an edge rusher who only registered 7.5 sacks last season and 6.5 sacks the previous season. Then the divisional rival outdid themselves and signed former St. Louis Rams defensive back Janoris Jenkins to a hefty contract. The corner will get paid $28 million guaranteed. Jenkins has 10 career interceptions and totaled three picks last year.
Simply put, the Giants will spend $81 million in guaranteed money on two average players.
What’s ironic is that Jenkins and Vernon play positions where the Cowboys need the most help, especially at the pass-rusher position. The Cowboys could have easily pursued these overrated defensive players, but Dallas has been frugal and smart in free agency.
The Cowboys are making moves that are slowly making them a better team all around. It started with the signing of their own free agents. On Tuesday, the Cowboys upgraded their running back position by signing former Washington Redskins runner Alfred Morris.
The Cowboys signed the powerful back to a two-year contract that could escalate to $5.5 million, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Signing the bruising back is a steal for the Cowboys in that Morris is a former two-time Pro Bowler that can still play. Although Morris scored only one touchdowns last season, and his overall numbers have declined each season, he gives the Cowboys much needed depth.
Morris will share the load with Darren McFadden while third-down back Lance Dunbar recovers from a torn ACL.
Dallas is going to reap the benefits of a starting running back who has never missed an NFL game in his short professional career. Morris has played in 64 games, starting in all of them. In contrast, McFadden has played in only two injury-free seasons since 2008. The downhill runner has 29 touchdowns to add to his resume.
During this four-year span, Morris hasn’t been hampered with injuries. Furthermore, the sixth-round pick out of Florida Atlantic is a model citizen, staying clear from Police reports.
Signing a runner like Morris on the cheap gives the Cowboys two things: an above average runner who can get first downs, and a back who is healthy.
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With a comfortable lead heading into the fourth quarter, now the Cowboys have the option of feeding Morris the ball continuously.
At 5’10” and 225 pounds, Morris is more than capable of taking a pounding, which explains the fact he’s never missed a game. To think Morris is damaged goods is ludicrous. The 27-year-old bruiser rushed for 1,000 yards in his first three seasons, rushing for a respectable 751 yards with a 3.7 average and one touchdown in 2015.
Morris’ career-lows last season had more to do with splitting carries with talented runners Matt Jones and Chris Thompson than the idea that he’s an over-the-hill back who’s lost a step. Plus, the Redskins wanted to go with the younger, talented duo in Jones and Thompson.
That’s fine with the Cowboys because since his rookie season, Morris had burned Dallas for 710 rushing yards and six touchdowns in eight games.
The expectation is for Morris and McFadden to split carries. However, don’t be surprised to see the workhorse Morris carrying the load well into the fourth quarter. The physical back is built like a train and will steamroll through most linebackers.
The Cowboys got this one right while addressing a key component to making Dallas a contender again.
Next: Cowboys: Does Alfred Morris Change Draft Direction
By the Cowboys signing their own free agents, like Rolando McClain, and then signing players like defensive end Cedric Thornton, Dallas is slowly getting better.
Now all Dallas needs to do is re-sign sack artist Greg Hardy, and the Cowboys will definitely be better.