Might The Cowboys Inquire About Donald Penn?
April 2nd, 2010
Upon learning the Cowboys are cutting their longtime left tackle Flozell Adams without a strong replacement on their roster, Joe couldn’t help but wonder where Dallass will turn to fill that hole.
Surely, Dallass has seen first hand (twice) — and on film — the impressive body of work turned in by Donald Penn over the last three seasons.
Penn is now a restricted free agent with a first- and third-round tender, but that doesn’t mean the Bucs couldn’t trade him outright for, say, for the Cowboys’ first round pick, No. 27 overall.
Might Mark Dominik consider such an offer?
The Bucs could then draft left tackle manbeast Russell Okung with the No. 3 overall pick and grab another first round pick in a draft Dominik has touted as a virtual candy store for talent-starved teams.
Penn will be 28 entering the 2011 season, and Team Glazer might scoff at paying the likely steep asking price when he hits unrestricted free agency, especially if they think Penn has weight problems and if Penn jacks up the price after a great season against a weaker schedule and Julius Peppers out of the division.
And maybe Penn might want to leave town? And maybe Jerry Jones might be willing to pay a steep price for Penn to try and snag that home-game Super Bowl after this season?
At first glance, Joe wouldn’t make the move. But if the Bucs are seemingly content with not contending in 2010, and there’s a chance Penn walks, then maybe it’s a deal worth making.
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
It’s sad that as an organization you have to consider trading some of your best players because you will likely not be competitive for the remainder of their prime years.
But yes, since the Glazers feel that they’d rather go with a couple more 3-13 seasons so they can “rebuild” (aka save a ton of money on players and coaches salaries) then yes, you trade they guy if there is a team or two that think he’s worth a 1st round pick. Hopefully by the time that 22 year old rookie gets to be Penn’s age (28) the Glazerhouses will bother to open up the checkbook again.
But the question remains, how willing would a coach on the hot seat be to increasing his odds at getting canned by trading a very good player now for a hopefully very good player in the future?
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:22 pm
I like Penn…..but no one other than you,the author, would think of the Cowboys making such a trade..anyone voicing such a notion would be traded to Buffalo
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:58 pm
I like Penn as well he is a bit heavy to look at, but at the end of the day he gets it done. NO BS! just results, from what i hear anyway. Trade him for another 1st rd pick.(27)… keep him he gets it done… he is 28 but he is good at his position. We have good depth i think at T Fulton and Dotson have Good feet and are just coming into the league.
With Dotson’s hands i would like to see him as a option eligible T, and call the play! these guys are who i want to see in OTA’s both of these T’s.
Keep Penn if we get no offer of 1st and a 3 or 4th or 5th rd pick. sounds good to me to do either one. “IF” we might get Okung, but who know what you get from a rookie lt… no offence meant to Okung … but Penn has played a Lot better that he gets credit for. how many sacks has he given up in 3 years? anyone know?
April 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Penn is worth a lot, but Dominik would be stupid not to look at offers. And I don’t think he is stupid.
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Interesting idea. There is no guarantee Okung will be there either. You only make the move if you know Penn can be replaced by someone already on the roster, because you don’t want to mess with Freeman’s blindside.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:06 pm
I would make that trade today, right this very minute. If they really wanted Penn, they would probably throw in a 5’th to boot. Honestly, I don’t see it happening. Free is a good tackle. Flozell Adams had six false starts in 2009 and has 24 false starts in 48 games during the last three regular seasons. Sounds familiar.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Let’s trade Trueblood instead….
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Listen I like your blog but this is rediculous! Resigning Penn would be far cheaper than the signing bonus and salary the #3 pick would command. Try reaching a little farther…Dallas is obviously thinking Doug Free can take over and aren’t looking at trading for an overrated left tackle!
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Tell the cowboys to go f*ck themselves.
end of story.
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Joe,
I appreciate your attempt to speculate. Isn’t the bigger story how all teams (not just the Bucs) are lopping off major amounts of payroll for this season? I would actually be curious to see how many teams will make the old salary floor.
I believe the owners are trying to send the players’ union a strong message for the upcoming negotiaton.
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Joe here,
Scott – Re-signing Penn would be cheaper. You are correct. But suppose the Bucs think he’s overrated like you do.? And the Bucs always stand to lose him in free agency …All we’re putting out there is the possibility that the Cowboys could make a phone call to the Bucs for their established, young left tackle.
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Joe here,
Trorxell8t8 – Always a voice of reason you are. Flozell Adams getting lopped off I think is more an age/production thing. But clearly teams are cutting pay, hardly surprising given lost revenue for many at the gate, in the stadiums and various other revenue streams. …Think the only message they’re sending is that they are committed to profits at all costs. No surprise, really. …Now, does Chris Hovan survive the final year of his five-year contract?
April 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 pm
See…this is what kills me…………….the Penn saga.
If he’s that good….and I personally think he is….and he’s that young……..28
then isn’t it a sound investment to give him a big contract?
You lock in an entire O-line for several years.
Isn’t that rebuilding?
Trading him is stupid.
We get two unknown quantities for a known quantity.
See this is where the whole rebuilding shtick wears thin and starts to look
very much like ruthless cost-cutting behind a facade of spin.
April 3rd, 2010 at 2:10 am
Speculation about trades is definitely not your strong suit Joe. You truly think Dallas would trade a 1 for Penn? Truly? And anyway Dallas already has the replacement on their roster. We are not going to get a 1 for Penn. Not going to get a 2 for D. Ward. Not going to get a bag of pretzels for Leftwich. I guess these fantasy trades are fun, but most of them are unrealistic.
April 3rd, 2010 at 3:23 am
mitch albom once wrote a book called “tuesdays with morry”……..
i hear he is making a sequal called “sundays with morry and dommy”
adam from ny
April 3rd, 2010 at 7:32 am
Joe here,
Eric S. –Key words “fantasy” and “speculate.” Nothing more than a harmless thought not completely out of the realm of possibility.
April 3rd, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Yeah they are harmless, but some people seem to run with these scenarios. Especially with Ward several weeks ago. People were in a frenzy thinking that we might get a 2nd or 2nd with a player or maybe a useful player. It got to be a bit much.
If Penn was a top 10 LT, maybe you could get a 1. But he isn’t. He’s decent. Decent gets you through the season, but doesn’t make a true impact.
April 3rd, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Did you bother to check any comments on why Adams got released before posting these “thoughts”
The main reason Adams and his contract were considered expendable was because Dallas is very happy with Doug Free who started the 2nd half of last year for them.
April 3rd, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Bingo Greg.
April 4th, 2010 at 8:50 am
Did anyone watch the Cowboys/Vikings playoff game? Jared Allen tore Mr Free up. Adams played strong, but after the injury, Allen wreaked havoc and Free couldn’t handle him. They do like Free, but he is better suited to play the right side. No BS.