2013 Unrestricted Free Agent class :

Victor Butler OLB, Rudy Carpenter QB, Kenyon Coleman DE, Mike Jenkins CB, Felix Jones RB, L.P. Ladouceur LS, Stephen McGee QB, Kevin Ogletree WR, John Phillips TE, Brodney Pool FS, Anthony Spencer OLB, C.J. Wilson CB

The possible candidates to be resigned :

Anthony Spencer OLB … Spencer was franchised in the offseason to a 1 year deal worth $8.8 mil. The Cowboys are in no rush to sign him long term, and this is basically a make or break season for him. Spencer,28, will be entering his 6th season with the club, and must prove that he can be effective pass rushing the quarterback. And remember, the Boys drafted Kyle Wilber in the 4th round, and seem to be very high on rookie free agent Adrian Hamilton.

Felix Jones RB … Just like Spencer, this will be a make or break season for Jones. Since being drafted in the 1st round in 2008, Jones has missed 16 games in 4 seasons due to numerous injuries. Jones will have to prove to the club that he can remain healthy throughout the season, and become a dependable 1-2 punch with 2011 3rd round pick, DeMarco Murray, if he wants to be resigned in 2013.

John Phillips TE … Phillips was one of 12 players selected in that disastrous 2009 draft. Phillips seems to be the only bright spot selected that year, and will serve as the #2 TE on the roster, backing up future Hall of Famer, Jason Witten. With the departure of Martellus Bennett, Phillips will have every shot to prove he belongs on this team.

L.P. Ladouceur LS … After signing with the team in 2005, Ladouceur took over the snapping duties, and never looked back, becoming a flawless snapper, something the Cowboys hadn’t had since Dale Hellestrae retired in 2002. Now sure the club could search for younger and cheaper options next offseason, but it did take them 4 seasons to find a suitable replacement before. I say Ladouceur will be resigned.

The slim chance of returning candidates :

Victor Butler OLB … Entering his 4th season, Butler has been a very serviceable backup to Anthony Spencer. Even though Butler has become a dependable 3rd down pass rushing specialist, and special teams player, Butler will never be a starter on this team. In a 3-4 defense, the Cowboys normally keep 4 inside and 4 inside outside linebackers. Along with Butler, the team also has Spencer, Ware, Wilber, Hamilton, and Alex Albright ( who can play inside or outside ). If Spencer is resigned, and Wilber and Hamilton pan out to be good players, there may not be a role on this team for Butler.

Kevin Ogletree WR … Ogletree was resigned to a 1 year contract for a reason, to win the #3 WR position. In 3 seasons with Dallas, Ogletree has 25 catches, 294 yards, 0 TD’s. If Ogletree fails to seperate himself from players such as Andre Holmes, Cole Beasley, and Danny Coale in training camp and preseason, he will not make the 53 man roster.

Brodney Pool FS … Pool, 28, is just like Ogletree, he was signed to a 1 year contract for a reason, to win the starting free safety spot for the 2012 season. Pool will be entering his 8th season with his 3rd team, and will be heavily challenged by 2012 4th round selection, Matt Johnson. Rumor has it that several coaches were against this signing, so that will add only more pressure for Pool this training camp, and season.

The empty your locker and bring us your playbook candidates :

Kenyon Coleman will most likely be cut along with fellow defensive lineman Marcus Spears before the 2013 season begins. Quarterbacks Stephen McGee and Rudy Carpenter may both be cut before the season begins. With the signing of Kyle Orton, the Cowboys may decide to only keep 2 QB’s on the roster this season, and go long on depth at a different position. Don’t be surprised to see one of these 2 players added to the practice squad for emergency purposes though.

Mike Jenkins went from being the #1 cornerback to becoming the #4 cornerback in about a month’s time. With the expected release of Terence Newman, the Cowboys signed Chiefs Brandon Carr on the first day of free agency, and then traded from #15 to #6 with the St. Louis Rams to select the #1 cornerback in the entire draft, taking LSU’s Morris Claiborne. Along with resigning #3 Orlando Scandrick to a 5 year $27 mil extension, and recovering from shoulder surgery, Jenkins will start training camp on the PUP list.

C.J. Wilson will be fortunate to make the 53 man squad. Battling Jenkins ( when healthy ), along with competing with rookie free agents Isaac Madison, and Lionel Smith, and 1st year player Mario Butler ( who had a good 2011 preseason ) that was placed on the practice squad. Rumor has it, Jenkins is on the trading block.

And now we will take a look at the Restricted Free Agents for 2013 :

Rob Callaway DT, Barry Church SS, Phil Costa C, Clifton Geathers DE, Orie Lemon ILB, Danny McCray FS/SS, John Nalbone TE, Awasi Owusu-Ansah FS, Mana Silva FS/SS, Phillip Tanner RB, Justin Taplin-Ross SS/FS, Teddy Williams CB

When you view this list of players, you can’t help but notice there are a number of safeties in this group. Church, McCray, Owusu-Ansah, Silva, and Taplin-Ross.

That tells me that the Cowboys are unsettled at the safety position, and are turning over every stone to find a complete counterpart to pair with SS Gerald Sensabaugh.

Church and McCray are both entering their 3rd season in Dallas. Church is basically Sensabaugh’s backup, while McCray is more of a special teams ace, and really doesn’t contribute very much to the defense.

Rob Calloway, Orie Lemon, Owusu-Ansah, and Teddy Williams are players from the 2011 practice squad, and needs to show the club they deserve to be here.

Main candidates on this list that needs to show something this season to stick :

Barry Church : Needs to show that he can be a solid contributor to this defense, and be able to replace Sensabaugh incase of injury.

Phil Costa : Started 16 games for the Cowboys at center in 2011, in only his 2nd season. Now with 2 new starters beside him, and a year of experience, must show that he will be a consistent pass and run blocker to return in 2013.

Phillip Tanner : Surprised coaches and made the 2011 squad as a rookie free agent. Must show that last season was no fluke, that he can remain healthy, and serve as a valuable #3 running back.

If the price is right, and the value is there, I would not be surprised to see players like Mike Jenkins and Victor Butler used as trade bait to obtain players the Cowboys may be in need of such as a #3 WR, a #3 blocking TE, or possibly a big NT. If players like Kenyon Coleman, and Marcus Spears are released, that would leave depth concerns at DE. Sliding Jay Ratliff to DRE would make the most sense, and adding a NT with size and ability would be more suitable for this defense.

Now there will be 8 players retained on the club’s practice squad, and that may include a few from other teams as well. Injuries are also a common factor in the NFL, and some players ( average 2-3 ) will be placed on injured reserve.

But after all is said and done, the Boys will have 53 players playing 16 regular season games, and fighting to get a chance to play in rthe playoffs as well. Will the 53 players retained be the right combination to get the Cowboys to the ultimate destination, better known as the Superbowl ??

I say .. Possibly !!

The Cowboys have alot of talent on this team, they have alot of chemistry, and they are heading in the right direction, but just like all the other 31 teams in this league, Dallas still needs a few pieces to make this puzzle comes together.

I want to start my assessment on Offense :

The Positives :

The Cowboys have alot of veteran experience in most of their top positions … They have a very good quarterback in Tony Romo, who needs to eliminate a few costly mistakes, and make the right calls. With a full offseason, and training camp, WR Dez Bryant will have his best season this year, barring any injuries, he will be a force to reckon with. Miles Austin should remain healthy this season, he is finally 100% healed with his hamstrings, and barring any setbacks, he should form a perfect complimentary receiver to Bryant. Jason Witten is in the Top 5 of best TE’s in the league, and even though he is starting to hit the age where his skills are starting to decline, he should have another Pro Bowl season. Running Back DeMarco Murray was having a dynamic rookie season before that unfortunate broken ankle vs. the Giants. But he is back at almost 100% making his cuts and turns, he will be ready to go once training camp begins. The Cowboys couldn’t believe the Texans released All Pro Fullback Lawrence Vickers during the offseason, and not only will he be able to road block for Murray, but help in the passing game as well. Signing Kevin Ogletree to a 1 year contract.

The Questionables :

This all begins at the Offensive Line. Coach Bill Callahan was hired to turn this line around. And the entire line will look brand spanking new. Tyron Smith will be going into his 2nd year as the starting Left Tackle ( AKA the QB’s blindside protector ). He was pretty much superb as a rookie at RT last season, only giving up 3 sacks on the season. But will he be as good at LT ? This remains to be seen. Doug Free will be going to Right Tackle after struggling at LT the past 2 seasons. Can Free continue his success at RT that he showed us in 2009, replacing an injured Marc Columbo ? Nate Livings comes to Dallas after 6 up and down seasons in Cincinnati, Will he be the replacement Left Guard the Cowboys have been seeking to replace incumbent starters Montrae Holland, Bill Nagy, and Derrick Dockery ? Will UFA Mackenzy Bernadeau or Rookie Free Agent Ron Leary win the starting job at Right Guard, and make us forget Kyle Kosier ? Will Center Phil Costa win the starting job vs. Kevin Kowalski, and Bill Nagy ? Who will backup Witten and John Phillips as the #3 TE, and replace Martellus Bennett ? And finally, of the 9 wide receivers behind Bryant and Austin, will any of them become the #3 WR on this team, or will the Cowboys have to once more, go out looking for help ?

The Negatives :

Back to the Offensive Line. I am not a big fan of Phil Costa, and even though he may win the starting job at Center, I would like to see him replaced in the offseason. I feel the Cowboys neglected to fill holes at the the #3 TE position, and #3 WR spot, and sure, I understand the concept of seeing what you have in your youth on the roster, But, these are 2 vital positions to this offense, and could form a rotating door on the roster throughout the season. Other than Bryant, Austin, and Kevin Ogletree, not one player on this current roster has an official NFL regular season catch.

Suggestions :

The Cowboys may have to search the waiver wire, as they did in 2011 for a #3 WR. Now sure, there isn’t always going to be a Laurent Robinson sitting there for the taking, but they may find someone similar that can help this team.

As far as the #3 Tight End, I think the Cowboys can possibly use a late 2013 draft selection in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers, they have a tight end named Nate Byham who is entering his 3rd season, and was considered as the best blocking tight end in the entire 2010 NFL draft. Something to think about.

Please continue reading my story on the following page …

There were 12 selections made that weekend :

1. 3rd round ( 69th overall ) Jason Williams OLB ( no longer with team )
2. 3rd round ( 75th overall ) Robert Brewster OT ( no longer with team )
3. 4th round ( 101st overall ) Stephen McGee QB ( current #3 QB )
4. 4th round ( 110th overall ) Victor Butler OLB ( current #2 LOLB )
5. 4th round ( 120th overall ) Brandon Williams OLB ( no longer with team )
6. 5th round ( 143rd overall ) DeAngelo Smith CB ( no longer with team )
7. 5th round ( 166th overall ) Michael Hamlin FS ( no longer with team )
8. 5th round ( 172nd overall ) David Buehler K ( no longer with team )
9. 6th round ( 197th overall ) Stephen Hodge SS ( no longer with team )

10. 6th round ( 208th overall ) John Phillips TE ( current #2 TE )
11. 7th round ( 227th overall ) Mike Mickens CB ( no longer with team )
12. 7th round ( 229th overall ) Manuel Johnson WR ( no longer with team )

Of the 12 players selected that year, only 3 remain as of right now, and none of them are no more than reserve players, even though I give John Phillips his due, he plays a very important role, serving as a top backup to future hall of famer, Jason Witten.

The Cowboys had entered the draft with no 1st round selection, as they had traded that pick ( 20th overall ) to the Detroit Lions for Wide Receiver Roy Williams, and as Cowboy fans, we all know how well that turned out.

But during the draft, the Cowboys were sitting pretty in the 2nd round with the 51st overall pick, the war room was all but jumping up and down when the player they had been eye balling was about to drop in their lap. When suddenly from out of nowhere, like a bird had swooped in and stole their dinner, that player was gone, off the board, and into the laps of the Seattle Seahawks.

You see, the Chicago Bears was just two selections ahead of the Boys and looking at a defensive end, but they felt if they could wait, they could snag him later on down the board. The Seahawks and the Cowboys had the same idea, so the Seahawks traded with the Bears at the 49th pick, and selected Oregon’s talented Offensive Lineman, Max Unger.

Unger, 26, who had started all 4 years with the Ducks playing Guard, Center, and Tackle, could play anywhere on the offensive line. He was named to the All – Pac 10 First Team twice in his career, and he was valued as a top Guard/Center coming into the NFL.

Now going into his 4th year, and the final year of his contract, and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2013. Unger has turned into one of the best Center’s in the league. The Cowboys still have Phil Costa, Kevin Kowalski, Bill Nagy, and possibly newly signed MacKenzy Bernadeau fighting for the starting center role this season. But none of these players have the skills, and strength that Unger possesses, and this is something the Cowboys may consider once free agency begins next March.

Of course this is all speculation, but something to consider, because had the Seahawks had not made that trade with the Bears in 2009, that draft may have turned out to be a better one than it did. And it is very possibly Jerry Jones may try to makeup for what he missed out on.

And if the Cowboys are going to sign any unrestricted free agents next year, why not start with the one they were set to draft just a few years earlier.