Flozell Adams Holding Cowboys Back
Written by theMBIIIeffect
Having a good left tackle is a necessity in the NFL. Ever since the Cowboys drafted Flozell Adams in the second round of the 1998 draft, Cowboys quarterbacks from Troy Aikman to Drew Henson and Quincy Carter have been fairly safe from their blind side.
But the first few weeks of the 2009 season have been pretty rough for Flozell. He’s already been fined three times for leg whips and personal fouls, and his penalty total is growing exponentially it seems. His four penalties (yes, four penalties) this weekend in a 26-20 overtime win in Kansas City. These penalties often stalled drives and easily could have cost the Cowboys the win.
In February of last year, when Adams was 32, Jerry Jones signed Adams to a 6-year, $43 million-dollar deal.
So, for about $7 million a year, we have an penalty machine at left tackle.
To be fair to Flo’, he has taken proven pass rushers Matthias Kiwanuka, Gaines Adams and Julius Peppers out of the game. He was less fortunate against Elvil Dumervil, but who has had a great game against Dumervil this year?
So what do we do with Flo’?
Trading him isn’t the answer. Jerry Jones wouldn’t get much in return for an aging player and his contract would be a major stumbling block. Maybe the best option would be splitting ways with Flo’ after the season. Perhaps he’d retire.
The most irritating thing about Flo’s big contract is that there may have a budding elite tackle in Doug Free behind Adams on the depth chart.
Free, a former 4th round pick from Northern Illinois, was a huge sleeper pick in the 2007 Draft as Free. Here’s what ESPN analyst Mel Kiper had to say about Free:
“I’ve always been very high on Doug Free. He is a tremendous physical specimen, is very light on his feet for his size, and an explosive run blocker. He has a chance to be a first or second rounder in the 2007 draft.”
Should Free get the starting nod now? No. Be patient with Flozell. If he can fix these penalties, he’ll be one of the better starting tackles in the league. If not, perhaps going to Free is the better move.
Having a $43 million backup would be pretty painful, but not as painful as watching another season slip away.
You did read my blog..lol..
October 13th, 2009 at 4:18 pmYep. I just expanded a little on one of your ideas. I’d like to see Free get a shot. It just stinks Flozell will probably have to get hurt in order for that to happen.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:26 pmAgree with some, disagree with some. Mostly agree, I guess it would just hurt too much to admit that it’s all right.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:41 pmAre you serious? Flo does a GREAT JOB protecting Tony’s blindside. Sure he has some false starts every game, but the way he controls the games best passrushers certainly makes up for them.
Any Cowboys fan that knows anything about football had to be DYING when Flo was laid out against Carolina for a minute. Doug Free isn’t ready to deal with the NFL’s elite like Flo is!!
October 13th, 2009 at 9:55 pmYes Flo is a great at what he does but his penalties hurt us just as much. His penalties always seem to happen when we have a big plays. I dont think it a good idea to get rid of him. I think this is where a good head coach is suppose to use disipline towards him. Was he this bad when someone like Parcells was around coaching. I dont see Parcells let him do this as often as he does it. Also has anyone noticed the refs watching Adams alot more due to his tripping incident against Justin Tuck. Tuck also said that he plays like that often. I dont know if its true but I hope he does not do this often.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:10 pmflo flagums and colombo both contribute to backwards yards… whatever happened to the guard that backed kosier? from arizona, he looked decent
October 13th, 2009 at 10:20 pmMike, Flo is going to be 37 by the time his contract is up. Signing him to that long-term deal was definitely bad news for Free, who has some talent. How do you know he isn’t ready to go? Kiper claimed he was worth a 1st or 2nd round pick and now he’s had 2 years to learn in the NFL, usually practicing against DeMarcus Ware. If Flo were to go down, I’d have plenty of confidence in Free.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:12 pmFor your consideration on Free: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/090109dnspocowbriefs.2d714ef.html
October 13th, 2009 at 11:14 pmi was’nt coming back, but i can’t stand it. i’m ready to explode……what the hell……you guys want to dump romo, shit down roys throat, and now get rid of flo? now listen for 2 minutes here. first ….yeah flo gets his 2 false starts a game, and yes they do come at some costly times in the games, but honestly if you guys think that romo is running for his life now, what happens when the flo-wall ain’t there anymore? and second….flo is going on 37 and may have lost a step,….but, and that would be a big butt……6′7′ 338 is a big , big butt to get around. and his experience at getting leverage and using that big butt are priceless. i do think that if wade felt he could get more out of free, and take the cap hit this year, they’d cut flo and go with the cheaper guy……more money on the table for dware? butt, and again with the butt…. they ain’t gonna get what they got from flo out of free. free is a great backup at this point, but he ain’t flo-wall. no, no no….i ain’t eatin it.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:46 amand my mistake he’s only 34…..he was born in 1975.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:58 amAny argument that centers around a big butt and doesn’t involve Kim Kardashian, Vida Guerra or somebody named Big Booty Judy, I’m not interested.
Just kidding. All joking aside, I’m not for dumping Romo. I’m not dumping on Roy either. And read my second to last paragraph again, I don’t think we should bench Flo right away. He is hurting the offense a lot with these penalties. He’s got to get these false starts under control. There’s a lot that is unknown about Free, but should he have that potential that Kiper saw, I’d hate to see him wasted it by sitting on the bench.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:12 amMBIII gives Flo his due, he’s just pointing out that he’s not all greatness.
And he signed a lot of people to long-term deals that expire, very likely, long after their playing careers… He did so with an uncapped year in mind. He can cut everyone he wants.
October 14th, 2009 at 2:26 amLOL I agree MBIII and I dont think anyone wants to get rid of Romo its just fustrating to watch his horrible games. I belive he can turn that around if he had a coach that is more disiplined and a offense of cordinator that know how to use him. I dont think we have to cut anyone besides the coaches.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:35 amI think Flo is declining and we should address his potential replacement SOON!!!
I agree T.E.X.A.S. – If we dump Romo who in the hell is going to play QB??
**Totally off subject: Today is the trade deadline. Wishful Thinking: Trade useless Anthony Spencer for Shawne Merriman.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:07 pmOK..I am ready to dump Flozell..It is not the false starts..however I might remind you he false started on 1st and goal..which became 2nd and goal..and cost us a td…plus he let his man run around him and hit Romo causing a fumble..and another TD..
He also leg whipped a Giants player on third and long..giving the Giants a first down instead of punting..Cost the Boys the game..
He has been fined 3 times by the league for leg whips..
Romo was sacked 5 or 6 times against the chiefs..so who is protecting his backside?..
Lastly..he is not just a guy..He is the left tackle and when a LT loses his man it leads to turnovers. Those pass rushers love to sack and strip the ball..
Fire his AZZ..
October 14th, 2009 at 1:54 pmYou guys crack me up…Get rid of Flo, get rid of Romo, get rid of Roy…..Is Flo an elite tackle anymore thats debatable. Did he go against arguably the best 4 pass rushers in the league in four consecutive games and allow 1 sack maybe 2 id hve to check the tape. Not many if any other tackles in the league is going to have that kind of production. Certainly not Free who is not repeat not on the verge of being an elite tackle….Are Flo’s false starts annoying yes they can be but you line up against the best all of the time and tell me you wouldnt have a few false starts. Every tackle has false starts and holding penalities even the elite ones. And Bevo his leg whip did not cost the Boys the game. Romo’s 4 turnovers, terrible coaching and a dog tired defense with not enough good backup players to give the starters rest cost us the game….Come on get a clue please…..
October 14th, 2009 at 2:50 pmThe Chargers have just cut their starting Safety Clinton Hart .
October 14th, 2009 at 2:52 pmJust think we might need to look his way… According to the site he has started 33 of 34 games since ‘07… He might provide some solidity in the secondary.
Id rather see them look at Merriman and Dorsey from KC..He would be good depth behind Rat….
October 14th, 2009 at 2:59 pmNumber 9 imagine Merriman at LOLB and Ware ROLB that would be amazing LOL. Dont see that happening since Wade just LOVES Spencer and thinks he has such great talent.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:00 pmIf it is possible though Jerry needs to make it happen.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:02 pmI think Dorsey would be the better pick up right now..Imagine Rat a lot fresher in the 4th q…..
October 14th, 2009 at 3:04 pmI was thinking if Irvin loves the Cowboys so much and can be a really good at showing players disipline. Why doesnt he ever try coaching out. I think it would be interesting to see him like a offense of cordinator then maybe a head coach later in his career. I dont know it could also be a disaster just thinking out loud.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:08 pmDavid think of D-Ware, Merriman and Ratliff on the field at the same time. It would be like making a fantasy team on Madden lol.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:10 pmTEXAS I agree but Merrimans lack of production this year worries me a bit. I dont know if its still from his knee or the lack of roids haha…
October 14th, 2009 at 3:16 pmLol forgot about that.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:35 pmI think Merriman can bounce back. Hell Victor Butler has played better than Spencer right now.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:24 pmIm starting to think Spencer is another Barbie Carpenter. I’m hoping Austin can keep his game up against the rest of the teams this season. Wade said he will be playing alot more after the bye. Austin and Roy as the starting receivers could spark our passing game. Also if he keeps this up it will mean more big plays for other players on the team. Like Roy, Witten and so forth. This is what the offense really needs to get back into this season.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:33 pmWe aren’t going to get Dorsey for depth. That’s ridiculous. The guy went with the fifth pick of the 2008 draft. It’d cost us way too much. And on Flo false starting: would I false start every now and then when lining up against some of the best pass rushers in the NFL? Yes. But nobody else in the NFL flinches like Flo. I think all of these things-the increasing penalties, the tripping-are signs that he’s past his prime. Should we bench him now? No. Should we be thinking about a replacement? Yes.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:39 pmFlo has decline if u watch the Chiefs game u will notice him getting beat a lot, and on top of that he has become a flag machine.
I c Jerry possibly doing a line shuffle move Davis to LT and Flo to Guard that might help 4 this season but the o-line needs help.
I also found a nice nugget it seems as if the Seahawks are on there fourth LT so they was force to sign some bum. Do you think the Seahawks might be Bait for Flo possibly a 2nd ?
October 14th, 2009 at 6:57 pmLook 4 D.Johnson to b a cowboy. Dorsey maybe if they can re structure his contract. If the stars align Meriman with hardly any cost.
All of these guys are doable but i do believe the Cowboys will tighten the D up. Expect one of these three guys to fall in BIG D.
Dont 4 get 2010 will be uncap!!!!
October 14th, 2009 at 7:04 pmRead some post……..
Davis what games have u been watching because ive seen the Chiefs game like 4 times already and its the same Flo has decline but it was before then it was from last season.
Deion Sanders calld him out last year on NFL Network. And we went against 4 of the best pass rushing teams? Like who besides the Broncos and G men ?
October 14th, 2009 at 7:20 pmLostar…..what? The Chiefs won’t let Dorsey go. Restructuring his contract has nothing to do with it. He’s a top 5 pick and we’d have to give up at least one first round pick and some more players/picks on top of that. It’s not worth it. And how exactly do we get Merriman for no cost? If we trade for him, it’ll cost a lot. And we’re going to have to pay him a premium, too. It just doesn’t make any sense. Also, remember that 2010 is an uncapped year as of right now. There’s no promise that it’ll stay that way, as a new collective bargaining agreement will probably be reached before the 2010 season starts.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:34 pmjust sit tight and wait for the no salary cap year next season. we’ll get whoever we want.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:51 amGod u guys no nothing about football. flo has given up 1 sack this year, play free are idiots nuts, he was average at best in preseason against 3rd stringers. football people now how valuable flo is thats why parcells resigned im first in 03 and wanted him badly to come to miami. he has not lost a step because he has always been slow. he never had a step to begin with. if flo talked to the media and didnt get the flase start rep he would be a hall of famer. for the record columbo has more penalties than flo. and move flo to guard and put davis out at the tackle ohh my god , davis is terrible in space. I will say at the end of the year he might be a cap hit and get cut, but u better believe he will end up with a contender.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:38 amohh yeah have u happened to notice the holes that are open on the left side of the line. i think any of u bums could average 5 or 6 yards thru those
October 15th, 2009 at 5:40 amWhen Leonard Davis was in Arizona he played tackle and was not terrible but he wasn’t good either. He is best suited right where he is which is at Guard. The position needs to be addressed and soon.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:13 amCompletely off subject but is anyone else excited about Allen Rossum. I’m so tired of Crayton’s lackadaisical efforts on punt return. Anybody remember Rossum in Atlanta when he was a home run threat every punt. I’m not getting my hopes up because he’s 34 but he won’t have any other responsibilities. Might be good.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:16 amsome of the preseason mock drafts that are already out(believe it or not) have us looking at left tackle for our #1 pick. i think that is the answer and that is probably the way jerry and gang will go. then he has a year or 2 to learn all of flos bad habits on being a probowl left tackle for a super bowl contender. all mistakes aside, flo-wall still is the answer for at least this season. hudson houck will just have to kick his ass a few more times.
October 15th, 2009 at 2:06 pmTheMBIIIeffect you must not been hearing the buzz lately about the Chiefs. Nfl network reports the Chiefs r not satisfied with Dorsey at this point and would like to get rid of him for a mid round pick ( but i think they just want to clear his numbers of there cap). Also remember they did sign their 2009 3rd overall pick DE Tyson so they r spending big bucks for an mediocre young D- Line.
2nd AJ and Meriman seem to b bumping heads plus his poor performance this season after a ACl tear is not good. His contract is up his year plus the Chargers probably don’t have the money to resign him along with like a half dozen other free agents. So the Chargers might take a 2nd or a3rd for Meriman plus a player (really at no cost. Plus who will send a early day pick for damage goods?).
Everything make sense right huh?
Flo sucks i don’t care what everyone is saying it is 2009 not 2003 they guy is threw he is not worth the money they are paying him. And if Flo just given up one sack this year show me that stat. I seen flo get beat and beat numerous times. Sometimes Romo get the ball off in time sometimes he take the sack or is pressured but i want to see that stat!!!!!!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pmSo if the Chiefs are down on him, and he’s signed up to a huge contract, why the hell would we want him? Why would we want any part of their young, mediocre D-Line? I think our backups are fine and they’re cheap. And why do we want Merriman if he’s damaged goods? He’s locked up to a huge contract too and he’s on a bum knee. Gotta think about these things, dude!
One thing I did hear earlier today was that the Chiefs would probably consider dealing Dwayne Bowe for a 2nd and 5th round pick. I would pull the trigger on that in a heartbeat. Have Bowe line up as the #1, Roy at #2 and Austin out of the slot. That would be brilliant.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:58 pmYou know what they say one guy trash is another guy treasure. Because they cant use him doesn’t mean we can.The Chiefs want draft picks ,they want to clear salary cap.
Any way it goes Jerry is going to spurge next off season and not just because of the possibility of having a no cap year. You guys got to look alot of money is about to come of our cap this year a lot!!! T.O.’s for one that is like 10 million on its own plus guys like Henry, Roy, Ellis although Jerry really did do a few salary swaps we win have some money next year.
Our backups are what they are backups just solid backups. They wouldn’t start anywhere but when u get the chance to add talent you should jump on it, yea they are cheap but cheap for a reason.
Yea Mermian do got a bum knee but next year he might be lights out again and you have to admit Spencer have been on and off lately . Plus Dorsey might contribute as a rotation guy im not saying we should get all these guys but i would feel good if we could get one on defense especially in the OLB position to spell Ware or Spenser may be D.Johnson would be a good pick up.
Getting Bowe would be a good pick up but there might be a bidding war for him right now teams are basically hiding in the bushes.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:22 pmOne last fact alot of our back ups and starter are up for new contracts i believe both Bowen and Hatcher, Spears ,B.James, Carptner,Hurd,Austin, Ware that i can think of some will be RFA but some will be UFA so either way it go the roster will turn.
Since Jerry know he got rob last year by some his player look for Jerry to be alot smarter with his money with signing some of these guys.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:28 pmI think we are fine were we are currently besides Spencer. I think if Merriman where to go for a 3rd and Spencer I would take him. I would not give him a big time contract as soon as he get here like we did Roy. I believe we should take what we can get to replace Spencer.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:50 pm[...] Kansas City: Free played on special teams. The Landry Hat thinks that Free might be a “budding elite tackle.” Not sure about that, but Adams [...]
October 15th, 2009 at 10:23 pm[...] Kansas City: Free played on special teams. The Landry Hat thinks that Free might be a "budding elite tackle." Not sure about that, but Adams [...]
December 10th, 2009 at 9:24 pm