The Dallas Cowboys need help at the cornerback position with Terence Newman showing his age. On the free agent market, only Courtland Finnegan and Brent Grimes were obvious playmakers but a new name has been added to the list and it brings an interesting dynamic to the Cowboys' off-season plans.
Stanford Routt was an unexpected addition to the 2012 free agent class after the Oakland Raiders cut the cornerback despite just signing him last year to a new five-year contract worth $54.5 million. The Raiders, and their new coaching staff, dumped Routt despite his $20 million in guarantees.
That has to mean there is something wrong with him, doesn't it?
Cowboys' defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has ties to Routt, as Ryan coached the Raiders' defense. Ryan likes his old players and Jerry Jones said there would be new faces in the secondary, meaning that Alan Ball and Frank Walker may not be back. Newman might also be headed out the door as well.
In 2011, right after signing his new contract, Routt had a down year. It sounds a lot like the Chris Johnson situation for the Tennessee Titans, where a player gets paid and no longer cares. Well, the Raiders cut him for it.
Routt had great numbers when it came to completions against him, with a very nice 47.4 completion percentage. However, he gave up eight touchdowns, reminding me of Newman's problems last year. He also led the league in penalties, with 17, reminding me of Mike Jenkins. Do the Cowboys really need someone who has the worst qualities of both their starters from 2011?
At the same time, Routt might have something to prove. One item to note is that Routt was targeted more than any other defender in the Raiders' secondary, so that might account for his inflated numbers as well as the low percentage rate. Ryan knows him well, but hasn't been around him in a few years.
If he demands a high salary, this is someone Dallas might want to be leery of. However, if he comes at a risk-reward discount, I don't see what Dallas can't take a chance on the guy.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and has been a Dallas Cowboys' fan since he was a child. His favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s and he enjoys talking about all Cowboys' related news, good or bad
