Mick's Mail
July 4th Edition Discusses Glenn, Romo, Adam Jones
Mickey Spagnola - Email
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
July 3, 2008
Terry Glenn has not participated in off-season workouts because of a contract dispute.
Eric Peterson, Rockwall, Texas: I am a fan of Terry Glenn and when he opted to have the surgery that may have gotten him back on the field sometime during last year's regular season I was happy. I was also very excited when I heard he was going to play in the playoff game against the Giants, thinking he would add that extra dimension to beat the improved Giants defense. However, none of that really worked out. This year, although still a fan of Terry and wish him well, I feel it's time the Cowboys move forward without him. As a fan, I'm ready to move on and support the younger receivers, because I don't want to hold my breath every time he makes a catch in fear he is going to get hurt again.
Mickey: But why not? As long as his presence on the roster doesn't cost the Cowboys a developmental-type receiver and he is physically able to contribute, don't you want him for however long his knee will allow? I mean, yeah, it's a 50-50 proposition if he can make it through training camp and the entire regular season, but the upside is you have yourself a veteran wide receiver with skills as long as he stays healthy. Why not roll those dice if he agrees to the split contract?
Mark Harris, Singapore: I agree with you on Terry. Have the Dallas Cowboy fans gone mad? If I took a poll on our best No. 2 receiver in recent history, then I bet I would get a lot of votes for Alvin Harper? Remember him with Michael Irvin on the other side? What were his stats as a No. 2? Let's see, over four years with Dallas (1991-94) he averaged 31 catches, 622 yards and 4.5 touchdowns per season. Glenn over four healthy years with Dallas (2003-06) averaged 52 catches, 834 yards and five touchdowns per season. Ah, the knee thing. Well, if he gets 75 percent of his average, that is 39 catches, 626 yards and 3.75 touchdowns this year, just like Alvin in many respects. By the way, the year T.O. was here, Glenn had 70 catches, 1,047 yards and six touchdowns. What am I missing?
Mickey: That he averaged 15 yards a catch, too? Glenn has been one of the best No. 2 receivers the Cowboys have had in the past two decades and most of a third. Why you would have to go back to the 1985 season to find the last time a Cowboys No. 2 receiver had as many as 60 catches (Mike Renfro, behind Tony Hill's 74). So I'm with you on this.
Jim Larson, Houston: Is it possible that Glenn's contract allows his full salary if healthy and $500,000 if unable to play? In return, Cowboys pay for an insurance policy to pay Glenn his normal salary if unable to play. Salary cap? League rules?
Mickey: Uh, a big no-no. Oh, you can do that, but however much you pay for the insurance policy would be considered base salary and charged against the salary cap. That's why the Cowboys are trying to sign him to the split contract, giving him a chance to make his money, and if he can't guaranteeing him the equivalent of $500,000 for whatever portion of the season he spends on injured reserve because of another specific injury to his right knee.
Kevin Stephens, Sapulpa, Okla.: Come on now, all you can talk about concerning Terry Glenn is how fast he is, blowing by defensive backs and that he's fastest receiver Dallas has. I'm not sure if you have ever had knee surgery of any kind but you can't possibly tell me he still has that blazing speed he once had. Maybe still has the hands but even if he has some speed, the odds are greatly against the knee holding up very long at all.
Mickey: Thank goodness I've never had knee surgery (knock on wood) but then with my speed whatever diminished would have been quite negligible. The arthroscopic surgeries he's had have been more of the clean-up variety and really shouldn't affect his speed. Now there will be rust after not playing an entire season and turning 34 the day before the team leaves for training camp, but from whatever he's been doing out on the field it appears he at least, as I've said, has a 50-50 chance. Those are even odds by the way.
Gino Johnson, Gulfport, Miss.: Man, talk about a bunch of fair-weather fans. Terry Glenn has been the best receiver we've had consistently over the past five years, and with all due respect to T.O., he's only been here two years. Keyshawn Johnson was only here a couple of years and as slow as molasses. Now, because he missed last season with an injury everyone wants to discard him. If that's the case we should have cut Flozell Adams a few years back. Marc Colombo never would have been here. Give the guy a chance to show he can still play.
Mickey: Amazing, isn't it, how quickly some fans want to discard the goods. As if they are playing fantasy football and can just go out and get whoever they want. I'm telling you, Glenn still is a resource worth keeping - at the right price.
Tom Needham, Centerville, Va.: If Terry Glenn can't go then who in the receiver corps has the speed to put fear in the defense and are his hands any good?
Mickey: I'm guessing the fastest of the rest would be Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback. Austin needs to prove he's become more consistent catching the ball and a more versatile route runner. Basically he ran deep posts last year and did have problems catching the ball on other routes. Stanback, remember, has no experience to speak of, so at best he would be raw. That's why I continue to say giving Glenn the chance is worth the effort.
Rob Cagley, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.: I love reading your Mail section and I've noticed the Terry Glenn debate going on. You say "who will provide the much-needed speed dimension?" Ummm . . . we were 13-3 without it last year. I agree with most of the e-mailers, Glenn was good, is good still but he's never been great. If he doesn't sign for the $500,000 split in his contract, let him go. As for the much-needed speed dimension, pffft . . . who needs it?
Mickey: Now you have a point there, and I'm with you on your final statement: If he doesn't sign the split then that's it, but again the deadline for that would be Sept. 2, the day vested veteran contracts become guaranteed if on the 53-man roster. And the Cowboys did manage to conceal their lack of speed at wide receiver last year quite nicely. But if you can have that dimension, why turn your nose up at it? Take advantage the best you can.
Tyler Paytas, St. Louis: I can't believe people are sending you e-mails questioning Terry Glenn's ability. Last week Terence Newman said Glenn is the toughest receiver he has ever had to cover. I know Glenn is his teammate, but so is T.O. Nobody in the NFL has a better combination of hands, speed and agility than Terry Glenn. I would sell my soul to see him return full speed this year.
Mickey: Ooooh, good point, why didn't I think of that? And you know, that's not the first time I've heard Newman say Glenn is the toughest guys he's ever had to cover. Maybe think of it this way: What if Glenn was your third receiver? Who would you rather run out there, Glenn or Austin? Glenn or Sam Hurd? Think about it that way now.
