As we all know, Flozell Adams was released on April 2, 2010.  Answers about who would replace Adams have ranged from Doug Free, Jared Gaither via trade, or via the draft (Anthony Davis, Bryan Bulaga, Rodger Saffold, Vladamir Ducasse, etc.).  Within the last week, it was presumed that the Cowboys were considering trading for Jammal Brown.  So certainly this raises questions about whether it was prudent to cut a player who was a known quantity in a salary cap free year.

However, what is entirely ignored is that fact that Adams remains unsigned.  Entering Adam’s third month as a free agent, he seemingly has had as many suitors as he has had salads for dinner.  There are 32 starting left tackle positions in the NFL.  Does anyone believe Adams is better than the 33rd best tackle?  Apparently NFL general managers do not hold that opinion.  Even though Doug Free has only played 3/4′s of a game at left tackle and it is unknown how he will perform in the 2010 season, it is without question that Adams dominant playing days are behind him.

Adams was drafted in 1998 and was one of the best draft picks of the post-Johnson/pre-Parcells era.  Father time has a near perfect record with the  exception of Favre.  Adams was more than a serviceable tackle and while he won’t be considered one of the great Cowboys, he played great at times.

Why is it breaking news to find out that there are speculations about Jimmy Clausen being 2 inches shorter than previously reported?  Other than being prohibited from riding the new roller-coaster, Gigantus (the only roller coaster made by giants for giants), I can’t see a reason why that would prohibit him from being capable of playing in the NFL.  This story and many like it will be broadcast live in high definition on the NFL Network.  Many may assume I believe 20+ hours of fat guys running in shorts is ridiculous; even more so, someone sitting down to watch fat guys in running in shorts.

Not so fast.  I love the combine.  It is a chance to peer through the white noise and view the soon to be NFL player at his most vulnerable.  Every player at this stage of their career is on a Hall of Fame path.  Unfortunately, every player tells the media that they play hard, they are a hard worker, and they will be a credit to the franchise that takes them.  No one every says they will be a fat slob and they are just looking for one big payday.  The NFL draft is the most optimistic weekend in all of football.  Your team may have just drafted the cornerstones to a dynasty, and the combine is a chance to find out their back-story before your friends.

We all know about Florida’s Tim Tebow’s long windmill like throwing motion, USC’s Stafon Johnson‘s neck injury while working out, and Oregon’s LeGarrette Blount‘s lack of composure, common sense, and the sucker punch.  But do ya’ll know that projected 3-4 linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri) has one of the biggest mouths in the draft; he simply can’t stop talking smack.  Tight end Mickey Shuler (Penn State) is the son of a former NFL player, and it isn’t Heath.  Guard Mitch Petrus missed the entire 2008 season for Boston College due to academics (afterall BC is the Harvard of… southwest Boston suburbs?).  Tackle Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)had a viral infection in his thyroid which affected his endurance and play in 2009.  Tiny snippets about the player unfold: their background, their favorite color, whether they are a patient runner, how good are their feet, what injuries occurred during their senior year which will affect their draft position.

After the first 2 rounds, many of the draftee’s are all but anonymous to the average fan.  Even after watching the combine, many remain so. Though giving the Mercutios and Tybalts your focus just enhances the marathon that is the draft.

I fully grant that many of the drills shed light on a players athleticism, and for the most part are worthless.  Jerry Rice ran a 4.6+ forty time at the combine and he was an unstoppable force.  Ditto with Emmith Smith and his forty time of 4.6.  Jimmy Johnson labored over film and saw what Florida fans were treated to, long scoring runs.  The statistics don’t tell the tale, but rather they are the corner pieces to the puzzle.

In 2008, I was guilty of undervaluing Felix Jones.  I was a proponent of Rashard Mendenhal, though I only had influence over my wife.  They ran the same forty time – go with the player who is more than a complementary back.  Thank God Jerry Jones isn’t my wife, because Felix Jones is every bit as fast on the field as he was reported to be.

The combine isn’t a predictor of success.  Jay Ratliff wasn’t invited to the combine, and Tony Romo was only invited as a warm arm to throw to the WR’s.  Meanwhile golden boys talked about how they were going to WOW the world at their pro-day.  Parcells and Co. noticed Romo’s quick release and they were intrigued.  If Romo doesn’t attend the Combine, maybe Sean Payton still scouts Romo because of his ties to Eastern Illinois. It is indisputable, those few days in Indianapolis affected the direction the Cowboys are presently pointed.  And just maybe, that direction is Super Bowl bound.

For those who haven’t been paying attention to the pre-game and post game fluff from the Super Bowl, Sean Payton coached under Bill Parcells during his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys.  While Payton’s run was relatively unremarkable with Quincy Carter, Vinnie Testeverde, and Drew Bledsoe, he certainly showed he was capable of designing a game plan and calling an offense.  Some have echoed that Payton should have received the Jason Garrett deal and he should have succeeded Parcells.  Here are some horses, please feel free to hold them for me.

Payton has continued to prove during his tenure with the Saints that he is capable of designing a productive offense, leading a team, developing late round draft picks into stars, and making selfless acts which benefit/inspire his team.  He made two momentum shifting calls during the Super Bowl: the first going for it on fourth and goal and the second when he elected to onside kick to start the 2nd half.  (Did anyone think back to the Parcells press conference when he discussed Zimmer and Payton in practice… “No offense to the Orientals”)  In both instances, they were calls that worked and they are consequently uncriticized.

I contend that both calls were too risky and could have ended the game not with the play of the players, but by the decisions of the coach.  If Peyton Manning and company drive the length of the field for either a TD or a FG, the margin at the half may have been insurmountable in the minds of the Saints players.  While this may have added pressure to Garrett to not onside kick, I still think he makes the call to onside kick.  He would have added incentive to call an onside kick to regain some momentum.  The Colts’s special teams were not fooled; Hank Baskett had an opportunity to collect the ball.  It bounced off of his helmet and a risky move helped set the tone for a 31 to 7 run by the Saints.

When you look at the first half, the Colts did pick up yardage, but they weren’t able to capitalize by scoring TD’s.  You place Manning at the 50 or better and the odds improve greatly of the Colts scoring.  Suddenly rather than the Saints being down 10-6 at the half, they may be facing a 24-3 deficit with 25 minutes left in the 2nd half.

Both decisions worked, and Payton will be viewed as a take no prisoners, leave it all on the field, don’t have any regrets coach.  In an age when coaches are ostracized for perfectly legitimate decisions (Belicheck going for it on 4th down to end the regular season game against the Colts or Norv Turner electing to onside kick against the Jets at the end of the playoff game), Payton shouldn’t be given a pass on what easily could have lost his team the game.

Kudos for Payton and the Saints.  His calculated risks worked and the Saints were the better team on Super Bowl Sunday.  Maybe Wade Phillips would be well served to throw in a wrinkle periodically.  Although, I like Wade the way he is - he’s willing to let the players win the game and not rely on the bounce of a ball to help determine the outcome.