Contract lens: Rivera, Ferguson under the microscope
09:11 PM CDT on Monday, July 3, 2006
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – A year ago, they made up two-thirds of the biggest spending spree Jerry Jones has bankrolled as owner of the Cowboys.
Jason Ferguson and Marco Rivera received signing bonuses of $8.125 million a day apart, not long after cornerback Anthony Henry received a $10 million signing bonus.
Ferguson was supposed to anchor the Cowboys' transition to the 3-4 defense at nose tackle. Rivera was supposed to solve the offensive line mysteries from right guard, bringing an attitude the unit lacked for the last few years.
But it never really happened.
Ferguson suffered an ankle injury in training camp and was an expensive backup for most of the season after La'Roi Glover excelled. Rivera started 14 games but was not the player the Cowboys hoped for, largely because of a herniated disk that required back surgery not long after he signed.
This year, they hope to write different tales, yet both are aware of the scrutiny.
Ferguson started the final five games last season and recorded half his 42 tackles. But the Cowboys' run defense faltered when coach Bill Parcells chose to go with Ferguson and rookie Chris Canty over Glover and Greg Ellis. The Cowboys allowed three 100-yard rushers in the last five weeks after giving up just one in the first 11.
The Cowboys need Ferguson more this year than a year ago because Glover, a salary-cap casualty, is gone.
For a team that likes to rotate defensive linemen, the Cowboys are thin at nose tackle behind Ferguson. Parcells likes Thomas Johnson, an undrafted free agent a year ago, and drafted Montavious Stanley this year in the sixth round, but both are untested.
Ferguson said the workload in 2005 wasn't what he thought it would be, but that shouldn't be a problem in 2006.
"I didn't play like I wanted to play last year," Ferguson said. "I want to be more dominant. That's the main part of my game, to be more dominant in the middle. I had some games I lapsed in and some games I played well. I need to be more consistent."
When the Cowboys signed Rivera, they thought they had solved a problem they couldn't solve through the draft. They needed to upgrade at right guard, and Rivera had been to three straight Pro Bowls in Green Bay. They needed a leader on the line, and Rivera was it.
The back surgery changed everything, and then he missed the final two games with a neck injury. In addition to the physical problems, Rivera said the season was a strain mentally because of the things he couldn't do.
Like Ferguson on the defensive line, the Cowboys need Rivera to return to form because of other questions on the offensive line. Flozell Adams is returning from reconstructive knee surgery, free-agent signee Kyle Kosier is replacing Larry Allen at left guard, there is a two-man battle at center between Al Johnson and Andre Gurode and a three-man battle at right tackle between Rob Petitti, Jason Fabini and Marc Colombo.
Much of the Cowboys' success this season will depend on the line.
"There's only one way to answer all the questions, and that's by how you play on Sundays or Monday nights," offensive line coach Tony Sparano said. "Until then, keep your mouth closed, head down and keep going forward."
That's how Rivera attacked the off-season. He took a month off to heal but has been a regular at Valley Ranch even when he didn't need to be. He believes the off-season conditioning program has restored the strength in his legs, which were neglected while he rehabilitated his back.
"I'm feel like my old self," Rivera said. "Last year was basically a freak thing that happened, and I got behind the eight ball and never regained my power. I recommitted myself and hopefully, I'll be a lot better player."
The Cowboys hope that's the case with Rivera and Ferguson.
The Dallas Morning News
