ESPN First Take - Stephen A. Smith To DeSean Jackson About Cowboys
By Kristi Scales , Special contributor Contact Kristi Scales on Twitter:
Kristi Scales, the sideline reporter for the Dallas Cowboys radio network, answered questions about the team in a live chat Wednesday. Here are some of the highlights:
Q: Which NFC East moves should Cowboys fans watch the next couple weeks?
Scales: The situation in Washington merits attention, and not just the player acquisitions/departures in free agency. And not just the rumors of QB Kirk Cousins" future after he received the franchise designation.
The absence of Redskins general manager ScotMcCloughan from team headquarters this week (when free agency begins) and last week at the combine has Redskins observers in a dither. They still have former GM Bruce Allen in-house (he"s the team president), but there appears to be disarray in D.C. (not just in Trump"s White House!).
How McCloughan"s situation affects whether or not receivers Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson are re-signed is unknown as this point.
Q: Hearing reports of DeSean Jackson interest from both the Cowboys and the Eagles. Where does the Washington WR go? How would he fit between Dez and Beasley?
Scales: Jackson could be the speed, downfield guy in the Cowboys passing attack. Terrance Williams has a career average of 15.8 yards per catch. But Williams could command a big contract elsewhere in free agency. Brice Butler is reportedly returning on a 1-year deal (he"s averaged 14.8 yards per catch). But DeSean Jackson"s career average is 17.7 yards per catch. And if you think he"s slowing down at age 30, he actually averaged 17.9 yards per catch last season for the Redskins (slightly above his career average). Butler has talent, but he"s been inconsistent. jackson would be proven production over a long period of seasons.
Q: Is Kirk Cousins staying in Washington or leaving? What does he offer a new team?
Scales: Cousins offers an NFL track record, something you don"t have with the incoming rookie class of QBs. You have a much better idea of what you"re getting with Cousins than with these college guys who"ve never taken a snap under center or had to call a play in a huddle (thanks a lot, college spread offenses!). And Cousins has a working relationship with the Redskins coaches, of course, as well as with new 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan (who had Cousins for two seasons in Washington, 2012-13). That"s why there is so much speculation about Cousins and Shanahan reunitingeven though Cousins was franchised by the Redskins. By the way, there are reports this week about Shanahan bringing in Brian Hoyer, another QB with whom he"s worked in the past.
Q: Based off the Giants" current roster (before draft, FA, etc), would they sweep Cowboys right now in rematches?
Scales: The Giants reportedly have a 2-year deal ready to sign with free agent WR Brandon Marshall, so that"s quite a triumvirate of receivers for Eli Manning (along with Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard). Which Cowboys DBs will be available to cover them? With Barry Church, Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and J.J. Wilcox all entering free agency, who will be back? And will the Cowboys draft a DB or pass rusher? Obviously it"s impossible to answer your questions right now. As my broadcast colleague Babe Laufenberg likes to say, "If you want to ask me who will win, you have to tell me who is playing."Usually Babe is referring to who is healthy during the regular season, but it applies equally to offseason personnel moves.
--Click/tap here to read the full chat transcript.
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Source: http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/03/08/desean-jackson-bring-cowboys-free-agent-addition
