Wednesday, March 14, 2001

"America’s team" interested in America’s jerk?

Believe it or not, Leaf could actually be a good fit in Dallas

By Andy Hanacek, Associate editor

But then I thought about it a bit and realized why this would work (I said work, not win games).

Obviously, Dallas isn’t the only franchise that believes a change of scenery might help Leaf. The Buccaneers did claim him off waivers, and it clearly wasn’t because Leaf was coveted as trade bait around the league. Sure Dallas might want him now, but if they wanted him at the time, they could’ve claimed him off waivers. And they would’ve gotten him since Tampa Bay was the only team to submit a claim for Leaf, and Dallas has a worse record than Tampa Bay.

I also struggled with the thought of why Dallas would choose Leaf over someone like Trent Dilfer, who is still on the market. The only answer to that question is the upside potential involved. Everyone knows that Dilfer was not the deciding factor in the Ravens’ Super Bowl run and win last year. Therefore, he isn’t going to be that for another team, especially not the Cowboys. That’s not to say that Leaf is going to lead anyone to a Super Bowl either. But the Cowboys, after years and years of cheating salary-cap death are finally paying the price for their Super Bowl runs during the ’90s. Aikman was cut for his health, first and foremost. But I have to believe, in the back of my mind, that economics was clearly involved as well. Not that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t want to pay Aikman, but with Aikman’s future in question, he no longer had to, and the Cowboys could begin to grease the wheels of rebuilding that have long rusted together.

The Cowboys have no first-round pick in the draft this year. They currently have no bonafide starter. Anthony Wright showed only marginal staying-power in the starting role, and Randall Cunningham is really not the answer. Bringing in Leaf would accomplish several things: 1. It would give fans someone to remain interested in during the upcoming superlean years in Dallas, be it positive or negative. Plus, many Dallas fans have embraced their bad boys over the years anyway, so maybe Leaf would fit in well there. 2. Leaf had two good games last year and a few decent ones, and has one of the strongest arms in the league. His upside potential is enormous, and he’s only been in the league three years. 3. Dallas would only have to pay Leaf $1.5 million a year, compared to what Dilfer or Aikman might command. If Leaf wanted more money, incentives could come into play, but Leaf’s performance thus far warrants nothing. He really is not in a position to bargain for anything. 4. Dallas could begin to meticulously rebuild their team from the mess it is in right now, and Leaf could become the cornerstone on offense.

Sure, it’s easy to sit here and say Ryan Leaf is a jerk, but he got along with no one in San Diego and had almost no supporting cast to work with there. The pickings aren’t as slim in Dallas just yet.

Trading for Leaf, if they give up a very low draft pick, wouldn’t be a bad move at all for the Cowboys, especially if Leaf experiences a renaissance, which isn’t out of the question.

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