DallasNews.com: Why the preseason doesn’t agree with Cowboys' Marcus Spears

[tr1]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20110823-why-the-preseason-doesnt-agree-with-cowboys_marcus-spears.ece

Last year, Marcus Spears never appeared in a preseason game. This year, he has played in two. But it’s unclear whether he will take the field again before the Cowboys face the New York Jets in the team’s regular-season opener Sept. 11.

Spears, who has been starting at left defensive end, strained his groin during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ 20-7 loss to San Diego on Sunday. It’s the latest setback for Spears, who missed the final eight games of the regular season last year because of a calf injury, and was sidelined throughout the Cowboys’ exhibition schedule after he suffered a sprained ligament in his left knee in August 2010.

“I’ve been injured a few times, so I know how to handle it,” said Spears, who signed a five-year, $19.2 million contract in July.

But Spears is less certain about the timetable for his recovery, which he implied wasn’t imminent.

“We’ll see,” he said. “I wish I was a doctor to diagnose it. I know the moment I feel like I’m ready to go, I’ll be going.”

---------- Post added August-24th-2011 at 07:44 PM ----------

He's a mediocre player who missed the final 8 games last year, and Jerruh signs him big in July.

And, he's injured again.

I can understand why there are no puke fans left to defend Jerruh.

:rotflmao:

[Mr. Jones]

Less than 5M a year is very cheap for such a solid 3-4 DE. I'm disappointed by this injury, but at least it isn't anything serious, he's a very key component of the Dallas run defense.

[tr1]

...he's a very key component of the Dallas run defense.

He's a big reason Fatty got fired last year...

[ConnSKINS26]

Well, they had to panic and re-sign him, once we stole the guy they really wanted to keep in Bowen.

[Mr. Jones]

He's a big reason Fatty got fired last year...

Wade got fired because he couldn't maintain discipline or readiness of his players anymore, leading to a sloppy mistake prone team that was -9 in turnover differential on it's way to going 1-7. Spears is a good DE who holds is ground in the running game and helps allow Ratliff and Ware to excel. He is a weakness in passing situations, which is why he usually only plays 1st and 2nd down.

---------- Post added August-24th-2011 at 05:09 PM ----------


Well, they had to panic and re-sign him, once we stole the guy they really wanted to keep in Bowen.

The plan was always to keep Spears, the hope was to have Bowen as the other starting DE, but he really wasn't worth the money the Redskins threw at him.

[ConnSKINS26]

The plan was always to keep Spears, the hope was to have Bowen as the other starting DE, but he really wasn't worth the money the Redskins threw at him.

We'll see about that. He's looked good so far. I think we'll come to find that he was very under-appreciated in Dallas.

[Mr. Jones]

We'll see about that. He's looked good so far. I think we'll come to find that he was very under-appreciated in Dallas.

He always showed flashes, but was inconsistent and could be pushed around in the running game. Dallas certainly wanted him back, but only for under 4M a year as opposed to the 5.5 the skins gave up.

[ConnSKINS26]

He always showed flashes, but was inconsistent and could be pushed around in the running game. Dallas certainly wanted him back, but only for under 4M a year as opposed to the 5.5 the skins gave up.

Hmmm. Maybe you should have, instead of continuing to invest too much money in the wrong places, to the wrong players:


Orlando Scandrick - DB - Cowboys

Cowboys signed CB Orlando Scandrick to a five-year, $27 million extension with $10 million guaranteed.
It's a head scratcher. Scandrick is a physical slot corner and big part of Dallas' defense, but he's being paid like a starter. The 24-year-old has just two interceptions through three seasons, is a liability whenever asked to play outside, and is hardly a shutdown force in the slot. New coordinator Rob Ryan must have signed off on this deal, or else it wouldn't be near worth it. Scandrick is not a long-term option to replace Terence Newman.

[bh32]

Dallas just extended orlando scandrick for 5/27mil and 10 mil signing bonus..What idiots..lol

[Tweedr01]

Hmmm. Maybe you should have, instead of continuing to invest too much money in the wrong places, to the wrong players:

oh snap! gotcha!

don't wanna sign bown who's shown to be very good for 5.5, but you definitely need to sign scandrick to that amount BWAHAHAHAHAHA, good catch connskins

[DWinzit]

He always showed flashes, but was inconsistent and could be pushed around in the running game.Would you say since being drafted he has reached expectations? Do you feel there is upside?

[tycoonheart]

The plan was always to keep Spears, the hope was to have Bowen as the other starting DE, but he really wasn't worth the money the Redskins threw at him.

Oh really? That was the plan?

Even Spears didn't think so.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-cowboys-spearsstays


Marcus Spears(notes) was prepared to accept the real possibility that he might have played his last game for the Dallas Cowboys.

Spears missed the second half of last season because of a calf injury. Plus, the Cowboys had salary cap issues and were hoping to retain Stephen Bowen(notes), the defensive end who had replaced Spears in the starting lineup after he got hurt.

A quote from Spears himself:


“I might not have been the first guy they wanted to bring back, but it worked out that way,” Spears said. “The day I agreed to terms, everybody was excited about it and we just moved on. I understand that it’s a business aspect to this. And then it’s this part, it’s football.”

[ouvan59]

The plan was always to keep Spears, the hope was to have Bowen as the other starting DE, but he really wasn't worth the money the Redskins threw at him.

What's funny is the Cowboys just threw that same money at Orlando Scandrick. Might want to rethink your stance on whether Bowen got too much money. Can't wait to hear how good Scrandrick is now.

[Mr. Jones]

Would you say since being drafted he has reached expectations? Do you feel there is upside?

As a a player who entered the NFL as an undrafted FA I'd say the fact that he made it to a second contract means he's certainly exceeded expectations. I think he will certainly help the Redskins shore up the d-line but that they overpaid. After class I'll look for the articles but in at least one interview he mentioned that no one else was even close to their offer.


What's funny is the Cowboys just threw that same money at Orlando Scandrick. Might want to rethink your stance on whether Bowen got too much money. Can't wait to hear how good Scrandrick is now.

Cornerbacks make significantly more than 3-4 DEs, I was somewhat surprised by the move but it's not a terrible price and means the Cowboys will have to sign one fewer FA next year when Newman is likely to be shown the door. Scandrick is an average nickel CB who has no ability to cover the Giants (Eagles) Steve Smith

[pjfootballer]

The season doesn't agree with him either.