ProFootballWeekly.com
asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in
football.
Cowboys sign Hardy, increase LB depth
The Dallas Cowboys entered free agency with deep pockets for the first time in its
post-Super Bowl era as the bulky contracts of Troy Aikman and Deion Sanders were finally
off the books. After inking DT La’Roi Glover to a five-year pact, the Cowboys
continued to shore up their defense by signing ex-Jaguars OLB Kevin Hardy to a one-year
deal. Hardy, who missed half of the 2001-02 season with a knee injury, could remain in
Dallas for four additional seasons should the team be satisfied with his recovery and
performance.
Buchsbaum: In Hardy, the Cowboys are getting one of the elite players in football with
a reasonable salary. The reason he was available so cheap is Hardy is coming off a knee
injury and as a result, everyone was afraid to make the long-term investment. The contract
will void after one year, or Hardy will get a huge signing bonus from Dallas and a big
spike in pay over four years. If Hardy shows he is back to his Pro Bowl form, the Cowboys
have a decision to make. Do they pay him big money to stay or let him go? As for Hardy, he
will have proven that he can again play at an All-Pro level and it gives him a chance to
get a feel for his surroundings in Dallas to see if he likes what he sees with the
Cowboys.
Beleaguered Baltimore trying to keep key parts
Looking at their current roster, it seems impossible to believe that the Ravens were
hoisting the Lombardi Trophy just two years ago. Baltimore, in the midst of salary-cap
hell, has lost LB Jamie Sharper, TE Shannon Sharpe, QB Elvis Grbac, WR-RS Jermaine Lewis,
WR Qadry Ismail, OT Leon Searcy, SS Rod Woodson, OL Kip Vickers, DT Larry Webster and FS
Corey Harris among others in its roster purge to get under the cap. It appears the Ravens
will be able to hold onto DE Michael McCrary and DT Sam Adams, two key veterans willing to
restructure their deals and remain on board.
Buchsbaum: It appears the Baltimore Ravens will find a way to keep RDE Michael McCrary.
There is also a possibility Baltimore may bring back DT Sam Adams. If those two things
happen, the rebuilding of the defense would still be monumental, but it wouldn’t be
as monumental as it is now.
QB carousel in Chicago full of intrigue
The Chicago Bears are aware of the fragile state of its QB situation with veterans Jim
Miller and Chris Chandler, two players that have proven to be injury prone in their
careers. Chicago insists that Miller tops the depth chart at the position, but Chandler is
a solid leader with better positional skills and has played in the Super Bowl.
Buchsbaum: Don’t be shocked if Chris Chandler ends up taking the starting
quarterback job away from Jim Miller in Chicago. While Miller is the better leader and
tougher guy, Chandler throws much better, especially downfield. If WR Marcus Robinson is
healthy and WR David Terrell develops, the Bears may go to more of a downfield throwing
game, which would enhance Chandler’s value to the team.
Solid Stone needs full health to benefit 49ers
With mainstay OG Ray Brown expected to retire after making the Pro Bowl for the first
time at age 39 last season, San Francisco added Giants OG Ron Stone. Stone, a solid
veteran, has battled injuries the last two seasons. However, when fully healthy, Stone
will be a rock in the West Coast offense.
Buchsbaum: Stone is one of the best guards in football, but his wealth of injuries and
other factors, he did not play up to par last year. One of the questions many people have
is how much money do you pay for an offensive guard? But Stone is still a good one, and he
is replacing Brown, who will probably retire. If Stone can last and play at a high level
anywhere as long as Brown did, it is a good deal for the Niners. But if he continues to,
as one scout said, ‘Get old in a hurry,’ it might not be.
Can Schulters serve Fisher in Tennessee?
The reason the Titans’ defense ranked ahead of the Baltimore Ravens statistically
in 2000 was that the team had players in positions they understood and embodied such as SS
Blaine Bishop. Bishop was beaten up last year, and the Titans struggled. Now Bishop is in
Philadelphia and ex-49ers SS Lance Schulters is being asked to play the position.
Schulters is a solid football player, but for the Titans to bounce back, he must become an
extension of head coach Jeff Fisher on the field.
Buchsbaum: It will be interesting to see if Schulters can fully grasp Jeff
Fisher’s defense in Tennessee. One reason Blaine Bishop was such a key man in that
defense was he knew the defense as well as the coaches. As a result, he played the most
difficult position on that defense and played it at a very high level until injuries made
him a shell of himself last year. Without Bishop and his leadership, the Titans’
defense collapsed.
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