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NFL Offseason Schedule

Since there are two months left until actual football is played, I thought it would be a good idea to present a list of Restricted Free Agents that are left out there.  Today is the deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if the player is not signed by another club by July 22.  This is also the deadline for old clubs to send tender to their unsigned RFAs or to extend an offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.  This is what the St. Louis Rams are up against in regards to Safety O.J. Atogwe.  The Rams have been in constant talks with the safety, but if they don't place a high tender or sign him to an extension by midnight, he will become an unrestricted free agent.  

June 1-11 begins all of the Organized Team Activities, while June 15th starts mandatory mini-camps across the NFL.  Late July is when training camps begin, and Preseason starts in August. 

Here is a list of remaining unsigned RFAs team by team:

2010 NFL Mock Draft

2010 NFL Mock Draft

2010 NFL Mock Draft

27. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

OT Bruce Campbell (Maryland)

Now that LT Flozell Adams has been cut, the Dallas Cowboys are in desperate need of some sort of offensive line depth.  They have two options here, one being Florida OG Maurkice Pouncey, and the other being OT Bruce Campbell.  While I believe that Pouncey is the better pick at number 27, I don't think that Dallas wants to wait until the 2nd round or later to address this most obvious need.  Campbell amazed everyone at the NFL Combine posting the best 40 yard dash, as well as top 10 numbers in bench press, vertical jump, 3-cone drill, and 20 yard shuffle.  This workout warrior is a physical specimen at 6'6 314 pounds, and is gifted enough to start early in his career.  The only problem with him has been durability, and maybe a lack of great technique, as he has been known to get lazy at times.  Whatever the case may be, he probably won't be as much of a headache as Adams was. 

( Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr. / August 20, 2009 )

Why he's good for the Cowboys:

The Cowboys are going into the season right now with no depth whatsoever at the tackle and guard position.  This is a need that needs to be addressed if they want to continue to run the ball as well as they did last year.  With a new LT in place for the next 5 years or so, they will be headed in the right direction.  The offensive line has always been a huge key to the success of the Cowboys, and it won't stop anytime soon.  

 

Top NFL Draft Prospects

27. Mike Iupati, OL

Dallas Cowboys(11-5)

Normally, offensive guards aren't taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.  Idaho guard Mike Iupati is an exception.  At 6'6 330 pounds, Iupati displays the characteristics of a left tackle.  He possesses a combination of quickness and strength that you would want from a left tackle, and has a great knack for diagnosing plays at the line of scrimmage.  He is light on his feet for a guy so big, and has both great upper and lower body strength.  He shows a good ability to pull and is very dominant in the run game.  He shows an aggressive, mean streak that you want from an offensive lineman and displays very good pass blocking techniques.  One red flag could possibly be that he has not played top end competition at Idaho, and that could drop his stock.  Also, he has shown that sometimes he does not finish his block, but tries to get to the second level too quick.  Overall, he is definitely the top guard in the draft, and because of his overall frame and attributes, he could possibly play left tackle in the league as well. 

Why he's good for the Cowboys:

The Dallas Cowboys don't have too many weaknesses right now(except their coach) and the best thing they can do right now is get better at the DB position and get younger on their offensive line.  Mike Iupati can come in Day 1 and start for most teams in the NFL, but he has a chance with the Cowboys to sit behind former Pro Bowl OG Leonard Davis, or even dethrone Kyle Kosier at the other guard position.  Both Davis and Kosier are over 30 and still have some years  left in them, but it's hard to pass up on someone with Iupati's attributes.  

Chargers Shopping Cromartie

Last week, trade rumors were swirling around the San Diego area due to a post on LB Shaun Phillips' twitter account.  It stated that CB Antonio Cromartie was being shopped around for a RB, and that Dallas Cowboys would swap RB Tashard Choice for Cromartie.  Those rumors were shot down by reporters, but apparently there is some truth to the rumors.  Since then, the San Diego Chargers have admitted that they are looking for either a running back or draft picks for the Cromartie, who has apparently fallen out of favor with Chargers' brass.

 

http://www.fotolog.com/alan_696

Cromartie is an interesting player.  He possesses above-average cover skills, but is really lacking in run support.  As we all saw, there was no effort during the playoff game against the Jets, where he completely whiffed on a tackle against RB Shonn Greene.  2nd year CB Antoine Cason has shown flashes of something special, and I'm not too sure about Cromartie being missed in San Diego.  I do see some team jumping on the opportunity to snatch Cromartie for cheap, with Dallas needing secondary help and also having the running back depth to get the trade done.  Also, with RB LaDainian Tomlinson pretty much a done deal to be gone this upcoming year, there is a definite lack of depth at that position for the Chargers. 

Cowboys Agree to Extend Phillips

Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a 3-year contract extension with Head Coach Wade Phillips.  The Cowboys' coach led the team to their first playoff victory after a 13 year drought.  The Cowboys had an option for next year and decided he had proven himself capable to coach for them for another two years.  Phillips has brought Dallas two NFC East titles in the past three years.  

This is another head coach who is a great coordinator and average coach, at best.  Although his record during the regular season is sound at 33-15, his inability to win big games in the playoffs has always frustrated the Dallas faithful and I really don't expect much to change with this team.