Darren Howard TUESDAY

LKelley67 · 03-15-2005, 01:14 AM

from dallascowboys.com front page-

Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
March 14, 2005, 6:17 p.m. (CST)
IRVING, Texas -Since the Cowboys' quick start to the free-agent signing period, things had slowed down quite a bit with the club electing to sit back and take a deep breath.
But over the weekend, things started to heat up again, as the Cowboys engaged in serious trade talks with the New Orleans Saints for franchised defensive end Darren Howard.
As of Monday, the Cowboys and New Orleans remain in negotiations for the five-year veteran tagged by the Saints as their franchise player for the second straight season. The one-year franchise tender for defensive ends is $7.8 million, although the Saints have been trying to negotiate a long-term contract with Howard. The Saints have until Wednesday's 3 p.m. deadline to sign Howard to a long-term deal. Otherwise, league rules stipulate a franchised player can't be signed to a long-term deal between the close of business on Wednesday and July 15 without losing the franchise designation for the length of the contract.
That also is why the Saints are entertaining trade offers for Howard, who had 11 sacks in 2004 and has 41 for his career. They want to lessen the burden of his $7.8 million cap hit if he is unwilling to sign an acceptable long-term deal.
Initial reports claimed the Saints were interested in trading Howard to the Cowboys for starting middle linebacker Dat Nguyen and possibly a draft choice. But the Cowboys apparently have no intention of trading Nguyen, who has led the defense in tackles three of the past four seasons.
So for this trade to go down the Cowboys must not only first negotiate suitable compensation with the Saints on the trade but also agree on long-term deal with Howard, who is seeking a signing bonus similar to the $16million one Seattle forked over for Grant Wistrom last year. And at this point, the Cowboys seem reluctant trading away high draft choices.
Generally, trading for a player with the franchise tag will cost a team two first-round picks - identical to the compensation a team receives if it does not exercise its right of first refusal by matching an offer sheet for a franchise player. Back in 2000, the Cowboys gave Seattle a pair of first-rounders to land wide receiver Joey Galloway. But teams can negotiate the details of a trade, and it's highly unlikely the Cowboys would give up either one of their two first-round picks this season.
That would mean the Saints likely would have to settle for the Cowboys' 2005 second-round pick (10th) and possibly a draft choice in 2006 or a player. But if acquired, Howard not only would join a formidable group of defensive linemen, including Greg Ellis, La'Roi Glover and recently-signed Jason Ferguson, but his presence likely would end all this talk of moving to a 3-4 defense. Howard, like Ellis, is also considered an undersized defensive end who plays with quickness. He would also be out of position in a 3-4 defense, which generally has oversized ends who can handle constant double-teams from guards and tackles in the running game.
Combine that with the fact the Cowboys are intent on keeping Nguyen, considered a small linebacker for inside on the 3-4 scheme, and it appears the Cowboys are leaning toward staying with their base 4-3 defense while occasionally mixing in some 3-4, just as they did last year.

03-15-2005, 01:14 AM	#1
LKelley67 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: baton rouge Posts: 2,540	Darren Howard TUESDAY from dallascowboys.com front page- Nick Eatman DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer March 14, 2005, 6:17 p.m. (CST) IRVING, Texas -Since the Cowboys' quick start to the free-agent signing period, things had slowed down quite a bit with the club electing to sit back and take a deep breath. But over the weekend, things started to heat up again, as the Cowboys engaged in serious trade talks with the New Orleans Saints for franchised defensive end Darren Howard. As of Monday, the Cowboys and New Orleans remain in negotiations for the five-year veteran tagged by the Saints as their franchise player for the second straight season. The one-year franchise tender for defensive ends is $7.8 million, although the Saints have been trying to negotiate a long-term contract with Howard. The Saints have until Wednesday's 3 p.m. deadline to sign Howard to a long-term deal. Otherwise, league rules stipulate a franchised player can't be signed to a long-term deal between the close of business on Wednesday and July 15 without losing the franchise designation for the length of the contract. That also is why the Saints are entertaining trade offers for Howard, who had 11 sacks in 2004 and has 41 for his career. They want to lessen the burden of his $7.8 million cap hit if he is unwilling to sign an acceptable long-term deal. Initial reports claimed the Saints were interested in trading Howard to the Cowboys for starting middle linebacker Dat Nguyen and possibly a draft choice. But the Cowboys apparently have no intention of trading Nguyen, who has led the defense in tackles three of the past four seasons. So for this trade to go down the Cowboys must not only first negotiate suitable compensation with the Saints on the trade but also agree on long-term deal with Howard, who is seeking a signing bonus similar to the $16million one Seattle forked over for Grant Wistrom last year. And at this point, the Cowboys seem reluctant trading away high draft choices. Generally, trading for a player with the franchise tag will cost a team two first-round picks - identical to the compensation a team receives if it does not exercise its right of first refusal by matching an offer sheet for a franchise player. Back in 2000, the Cowboys gave Seattle a pair of first-rounders to land wide receiver Joey Galloway. But teams can negotiate the details of a trade, and it's highly unlikely the Cowboys would give up either one of their two first-round picks this season. That would mean the Saints likely would have to settle for the Cowboys' 2005 second-round pick (10th) and possibly a draft choice in 2006 or a player. But if acquired, Howard not only would join a formidable group of defensive linemen, including Greg Ellis, La'Roi Glover and recently-signed Jason Ferguson, but his presence likely would end all this talk of moving to a 3-4 defense. Howard, like Ellis, is also considered an undersized defensive end who plays with quickness. He would also be out of position in a 3-4 defense, which generally has oversized ends who can handle constant double-teams from guards and tackles in the running game. Combine that with the fact the Cowboys are intent on keeping Nguyen, considered a small linebacker for inside on the 3-4 scheme, and it appears the Cowboys are leaning toward staying with their base 4-3 defense while occasionally mixing in some 3-4, just as they did last year.