Atogwe Not on Jones/Cowboys Radar

I’m not sure If I believe it, but last week Owner/GM Jerry Jones says the Cowboys are “ready to go” with the safeties they have on the team. With O.J. Atogwe still looking for a home, my instincts say that Jones is just trying to stay low key on his intentions with Atogwe.

There are plenty of teams looking for Atogwe’s services this upcoming season, none of which have been linked to the Cowboys. If Dallas were to bring in Atogwe, it would sure up a defensive backfield that has had plenty of problems in the past. The team must be pretty confident in our youngsters if they’re aren’t even entertaining the idea of bringing in a proven vet.

The price tag Atogwe wants may be the reason teams haven’t pulled the trigger on signing him. He wants somewhere in the range of seven million a year. He’s an elite safety, but not that elite. I know bringing him would inhibit the growth of some of the younger guys in big D, but for an immediate upgrade we should consider signing him.

There hasn’t been much to work with for free agents this offseason as far as safeties go. Sharper would have been an upgrade, but he was old and coming off an injury. Atogwe is still young (28) and he could have his best years with a star on his helmet.

I’m not saying we should definitely sign him, but the front office better take a long hard look at this guy. If this upcoming season our safeties are getting torched by the likes of the Colts, Vikings, and Saints (all of whom are on our schedule) I’m going to look at this missed opportunity as a key source to our problems.

Cowboys Picking Up Darren Could ‘Sharp’en Their Tools

If the season started today, the Dallas Cowboys would be fine with the safeties they have on their team. I have been the biggest advocate of letting our younger players develop and let them fill the void Ken Hamlin left. That being said, I think picking up Darren Sharper, for a reasonable price, would turn a position we’re just ‘fine’ at to a position of strength.

The future Hall of Famer, Darren Sharper is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He’s also coming off a knee surgery and that can be scary enough to shy away from him all together. If the Cowboys decide he’s going to come back strong, why wouldn’t they entertain the idea of acquiring him?

Our young guys have definite potential. I’ve said in other blogs, Alan Ball completely exceed expectations last season. Ball started some games last season and played surprisingly well. The one thing missing from our stellar defense though was takeaways. Darren Sharper almost had as many interceptions by himself (9), than our whole team (11). We need a safety that can play deep and that’s a ball-hawk.

If we sign Sharper and he’s beat out by one of the younger guys, so be it. We can release him and let him go elsewhere. I’m sure we would never tell him that when and if we sign him, but position battles are the theme of this offseason. The boys’ don’t have many needs on defense, but I would say safety is the only position that is sort of a question mark on the defensive side of the ball.

What I mean is, at this point it’s hard to tell who’s going to start at that position. I’m unsure if that’s a good thing or bad thing. I guess my point is that Darren Sharper can still play at high level. He’s not a permanent fix at safety, but he does allow for more competition and more time for the younger guys to develop if need be.

The only thing I’m trying to convey is that we should take a long look at Darren Sharper. I’m not saying we “have” to have him to be a contender for the Super Bowl. Jerry Jones should at least flirt with the idea though. Sharper could be that missing piece. What do you guys think?