| The Cowboys appear to have shifted
into a full-scale rebuilding mode, opting to release QB Troy Aikman rather than pay him a
$7 million bonus. The Cowboys also parted ways with longtime veteran starters Erik
Williams (ORT) and Chad Hennings (DT). ProFootballWeekly.com asked contributing
editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the Cowboys’ moves, and what it will means
for these players.
Buchsbaum: It was a move that had to be made because of the cap. But any way you slice
it, it will still hurt them deeply because of the cap ramifications and how much dead
money they’re going to have for a couple of years while they pay off his contract.
… Erik Williams was a guy whose play had gone down hill recently. Ever since the auto
accident (Oct. 1994), he has not been the same. … Chad Hennings was an older player
on the down side of his career. He was a great team guy in the mold of Daryl Johnston. But
Hennings is coming off an injury and just makes too much money for a rebuilding team to
keep.
PFW: How does the release of Aikman impact what the Chargers will do at
quarterback next season?
Buchsbaum: With regard to the San Diego quarterback situation, here are the pros and
minuses of Aikman vs. Doug Flutie. Aikman had his greatest success in Dallas with Norv
Turner coaching him. He knows Turner’s offense like the back of his hand. He’s a
real good guy who would probably make an excellent mentor for Michael Vick. On the down
side, he’s had so many concussions, you don’t know how long he can last, or if
he can last at all. But working in his favor, San Diego does have a very nice grass field,
which is a lot more conducive to avoid head injuries than the Dallas field. As for Flutie,
he still can be an effective quarterback, as he showed last year. He’s been
remarkably durable for a little guy. He’s a sparkplug-type guy who adds instant fire,
leadership and a charisma to a team. He can buy time with his feet and save the offensive
line from a lot of sacks, which is something that Aikman can’t do at all. Aikman has
become very vulnerable to sacks in recent years. Flutie is not a great passer and his arm
does tend to lose strength as the year goes along. But he is an adequate passer, and with
his improvisional skills, he makes it harder to defend against him than most quarterbacks
in the league. On the down side, is Flutie’s age (he’s closing in on 40), his
lack of arm strength, and his unfamiliarity with Norv Turner’s offensive system.
Another thing is, Doug Flutie is about Doug Flutie. He’s a great competitor, but Doug
Flutie is all for Doug Flutie, and don’t expect him to be an ideal mentor for Micahel
Vick. Flutie probably still thinks he can start five more years in the league and
doesn’t want to give the job up to anyone. Let’s be honest about it, no one was
100 percent right in Buffalo, but Flutie probably did more to instigate the problems
between him and Rob Johnson than anyone else. Everywhere he’s gone in the pros, the
book on him is if he isn’t starting, he’s going to be a problem.
PFW: What are your thoughts on Aikman’s career?
Buchsbaum: He had his best years when Norv Turner was coaching him. From a stretch from
about 1992 to 1996, he was the best quarterback in the game. When given time, when
he’s in a system he’s comfortable with, he was one of the most accurate passers
to ever play the game. He had a very quick release. He was strong. He was a lot more
mobile than people thought, early in his career. He was a very courageous warrior, a
tremendous leader and a real competitor. But he may be too competetive for his own good,
and he may not realize when it’s time to say enough is enough. In my opinion, this is
the time he should have retired. He still has his health. He’s got everything that a
quarterback can ask for — championship rings, great success, probable Hall of
Famer. There’s nothing more that he can play for, other than he just thinks of
himself as a football player and doesn’t know what to do in life without being a
football player. But he does have very nice broadcast options open. … Aikman was one
of the game’s greats for a period of time. There’s no question about that.
PFW: Talk specifically about the release of Williams.
Buchsbaum: Williams is a guy whose play has gone down since the auto accident. He
bounced back to some degree thanks to the coaching he got in Dallas. The coaches always
worked overtime with him. He was always somewhat prone to penalites. But he did add
meanness and nastiness to the offensive line. He was very, very aggressive for an
offensive lineman. He never had great feet, but he had great explosion before he was in
that car accident. His attention to detail and focus were always concerns, which the
coaches had to stay on top of him for.
PFW: What is next for Williams?
Buchsbaum: Williams will probably catch on with another team, but he’s going to
have to play for less money than he’s used to. However, he can still play at fairly
high level if he gets into good shape and really works to stay focused during the course
of the year. He also needs a good OL coach coaching him because he has a tendency to get
sloppy about his techniques.
PFW: Talk specifically about the release of Hennings.
Buchsbaum: He is a Daryl Johnston-type personality. A great team guy. Anything he could
do for the team, he did. He was a no-nonsense, no-complain guy with a tremendous work
ethic. He set a leadership example for the young linemen just by the way he worked so hard
without complaining and always did what was best for the team. |
