Dallas to cut C Andre Gurode?... "UPDATED"

Skinsfan55 · Post by **Skinsfan55** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:52 am

Matt Mosley who covered the NFC beast for ESPN.com and the Dallas Cowboys before that reports that unless Andre Gurode takes a pay cut he'll be released by Dallas. Other outlets are reporting this as well.

As a Redskins fan, I hope this happens.

Not that he'd land in Washington, he's all wrong for the ZBS, but because it'd hurt the Cowboys. Gurode has been to 5 straight Pro-Bowls. He's one of the most respected players in the league and he's a key member of that locker room. Losing him would be huge.

Other than having Tony Romo healthy the Cowboys are a 6-10 team who haven't really done anything to improve and even then Kitna is one of the league's best backups. Cowboys quarterbacks had a 65.8 completion percentage, 4,208 yards and 29 TD's to 19 int's last season,. Would a healthy Romo have done better on his own? That's pretty doubtful.

Last year they were a 7th ranked offense and a 23rd ranked defense (in terms of yards gained/allowed). They went 6-10 and here's the full list of things they've done this offseason:

-Released their #2 WR Roy Williams.
-Let Barber and Bowen get away.
-Released starting RT Marc Columbo.
-Signed S Abram Elam.

Basially, they haven't done anything. They have a decent QB, mediocre running backs, one good receiver, a rookie WR still trying to figure it out, a great TE and a pretty mediocre line (without Gurode.) Their defense is still DeMarcus Ware and 10 warm bodies.

Maybe another 6-10 season for Dallas will get ESPN to stop drinking the Kool Aid?

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 11:42 am

Gurode a healthy scratch for Saturday night

Rumors of center Andre Gurode’s demise in Dallas died quickly when presumed replacement Phil Costa, a dead ringer for a quasi-athletic version of Flounder from Animal House, suffered a sprained PCL.

But even with Costa out for two-to-four weeks, Gurode could be gurone.

Clarence E. Hill, Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Gurode won’t play tonight at Minnesota. Owner Jerry Jones called the move a “business decision.”

“We need to talk business — cap business, salary business,” Jones said.

In other words, Jones possibly plans to make Gurode an offer he can’t refuse, if he wants to stay on the team. Gurode is due to earn a base salary of $5.5 million in 2011, which becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster as of Week One. The Cowboys also could be contemplating a trade.

By sitting Gurode, the Cowboys avoid the risk of Gurode suffering a season-ending injury, which would put them on the hook for the full $5.5 million.

Third-stringer Kevin Kowalski will start in Gurode’s place. And if Kowalski gets thrown into the ankles or knees of quarterback Tony Romo, Jones’ business decision will end up being even worse than David Akers‘ decision to invest in an alleged Ponzi scheme.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... day-night/

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:34 pm

I've always thought Gurode was overrated, but clearly it'll hurt Dallas if they have to release him.

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:51 pm

Irn-Bru wrote:I've always thought Gurode was overrated, but clearly it'll hurt Dallas if they have to release him.

You might be right that he was overrated, but I know one guy that vehemently disagrees with you, one Albert Haynesworth. Albert didn't stomp his head for no reason, Gurode drove his behind all over the field that day. He did it again last year in the opening game against us.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:46 pm

It's a done deal

Agent Kennard McGuire confirmed the move in an email to The Associated Press on Monday.

Gurode, a second-round pick in 2002, had been the longest-tenured member of the team. He was scheduled to make $5.5 million in 2011 and was signed through 2012. He started 122 games in his nine seasons and turned into a Pro Bowler after moving from guard to center in 2006.
Gurode, 32, had a slow start to training camp because of a knee surgery in June, which allowed Phil Costa to get the first-team snaps for the first two-plus weeks of training camp. Even after Gurode returned, Costa continued to get some work with the No. 1 offense.

andyjens89 · Post by **andyjens89** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 1:40 pm

5 bucks says the Eagles sign him

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 1:42 pm

Excellent!

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:38 pm

andyjens89 wrote:5 bucks says the Eagles sign him

Hey, that's a sucker bet.

Rookie Jason Kelce will start at center over longtime starter Jamaal Jackson.

No way am I taking you up on that one.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... e-for-now/

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:16 pm

Eagles offensive line transformation is complete (for now)

The shaky Eagles offensive line has been a running theme on PFT this month.

After multiple position battles, a new line coach, and no fewer than four possible staring right tackles, the Eagles appear to have settled on a plan.

Rookie Jason Kelce will start at center over longtime starter Jamaal Jackson.

The competition is officially over; Jackson will be on the bench. Todd Herremans has been moved from guard to starting right tackle, while Evan Mathis has been inserted into the starting lineup at guard.

Rookie guard Danny Watkins, who has struggled at times in the preseason, will remain in the starting lineup. The Eagles hope Winston Justice can get healthy enough to play at right tackle sooner than later, but it would be a surprise if he’s back for Week One.

So the Eagles only have one starter in the same spot as a year ago in their new system. The right side of the line is different than it was a week ago. This is not the ideal way to enter a season.

“There’s risk in just about everything you do,” offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said according to CSNPhilly.com. “There’s a risk in staying put, as well.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... e-for-now/

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:50 pm

Jones on Gurode: Can’t pay that salary to a backup

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says the decision to cut center Andre Gurode was actually quite simple: Phil Costa proved in training camp that he was the best center on the roster, and there was no way Jones would pay $5.5 million to a second-string center.

“You should look at this one based upon the facts as you see them,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan, via the Dallas Morning News. “You saw Phil Costa step up and for all practical purposes win the starting job at center. Win it heads up. . . . Then you saw the reality of having a significant salary for a backup player.”

Jones has always been willing to pay big money for players who are going to have a big impact on the Cowboys (or players he thinks are going to have a big impact on the Cowboys), but if Costa was even close to as good as Gurode — let alone better than Gurode — it just made sense to keep him and cut Gurode. Costa makes the league minimum for second-year players of $450,000.

Still, the inexperience of the Cowboys’ line has to be a little concerning for Cowboys fans. But Jones says experience isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

“Let’s keep in mind, the experienced offensive line last year got our quarterback knocked out, or was a big part of getting our quarterback knocked out, early on in the season and that really hurt us,” Jones said.

And now most of the members of last year’s experienced offensive line are gone.

Skinsfan55 · Post by **Skinsfan55** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:41 am

"Jerruh" can spin it however he wants, but he dumped a 5 time pro-bowl player. Scouts Inc. says he's a top ten center, and footballreference says his AAV number hasn't faltered much. Gurode is still an elite center and now he's gone. The Cowgirls have:

LT- Doug Free (Just a guy)
LG- Bill Nagy (Former C, 23 yo)
C- Phil Costa (Backup so far)
RG- Kyle Kosier (32 yo career backup)
RT- Tyron Smith (1st round pick, possible star in the making, too early to tell)

I mean, Romo is going to get hit and hit hard.