George - Spencer visiting New York Giants on Sunday

Source: Dallas Cowboys free agent DE Anthony Spencer visiting St. Louis Rams on Sunday

By Brandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com
9:09 am on March 16, 2014 |

Dallas Cowboys free agent defensive end Anthony Spencer will be visiting the St. Louis Rams later today, according to a source.

The Cowboys remain interested in re-signing Spencer if the price is right. But he’s coming off of microfracture surgery on his left knee and is still recovering.

Late last week, Spencer also visited the Washington Redskins, who ended up signing Cowboys free agent defensive tackle Jason Hatcher to a four-year, $27.5 million contract.

Seems like an odd fit...they are in good shape at DE. He'd be depth, but still.

Carp said:

Seems like an odd fit...they are in good shape at DE. He'd be depth, but still.

Click to expand...

It just goes to show you where he is at from a health perspective right now. Nobody with a true need for pass rusher is desperate to sign him, but teams like Washington and the Rams are looking at him for depth only.

The Rams are not perfect in terms of depth, but they do like to move Chris Long inside on passing downs and do not have another true pass rusher on the roster to fill in at left end when he does.

His role, as it is apparently seen right now, is as a designated pass rusher only with a limited number of snaps. Might be one of those guys who doesn't even practice to rest his knee for Sunday.

If they are looking for DL depth then Clowney must not be an option for them.

Carp said:

If they are looking for DL depth then Clowney must not be an option for them.

Click to expand...

I do not think they are interested in Clowney at all. That would be a large investment in a player that is not going to start over Robert Quinn, even as good as he could be.

They will pimp the crap out of that pick, regardless if Clowney is available or not. They can't lose, somebody will move up for Clowney, a QB or even Watkins or if not they just take the OT they want and need.

Looks like Brandon George's source was playing a joke on him.

Happens to the best I guess.

I think the rest of the NFL is just toying with Jones now.

I bet Tisch and Reece are telling their buddies, "watch how fast I make this dumb MFer squirm."

Iamtdg said:

Click to expand...

I would just as soon hope he doesn't.

boozeman said:

I would just as soon hope he doesn't.

Click to expand...

I agree. Microfracture surgery scares the hell out of me. Especially on a player who relies so heavily on quickness and athletic ability at his position. We need to add a talented pass rusher in the draft regardless and I'm really afraid if Dallas signs Spencer they won't do that.

Team said its possible he can return for camp in July.

Click to expand...

Well, the Dallas braintrust is never wrong.


July 23, 2013
Associated Press

OXNARD, Calif. – Dallas Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer is having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and could miss the rest of training camp.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Tuesday the surgery would be performed this week. He said the Cowboys "don't think it's a very severe thing" and put the recovery time at two to four weeks.

Spencer hyperextended the knee in offseason workouts and said he aggravated the injury in the conditioning test before training camp. He has described the injury as a bone bruise.

boozeman said:

It just goes to show you where he is at from a health perspective right now. Nobody with a true need for pass rusher is desperate to sign him, but teams like Washington and the Rams are looking at him for depth only.

The Rams are not perfect in terms of depth, but they do like to move Chris Long inside on passing downs and do not have another true pass rusher on the roster to fill in at left end when he does.

His role, as it is apparently seen right now, is as a designated pass rusher only with a limited number of snaps. Might be one of those guys who doesn't even practice to rest his knee for Sunday.

Click to expand...

They have William Haynes. He has 12 sacks in the last 2 years as a pass rush specialist.

bbgun said:

Well, the Dallas braintrust is never wrong.


July 23, 2013
Associated Press

OXNARD, Calif. – Dallas Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer is having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and could miss the rest of training camp.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Tuesday the surgery would be performed this week. He said the Cowboys "don't think it's a very severe thing" and put the recovery time at two to four weeks.

Spencer hyperextended the knee in offseason workouts and said he aggravated the injury in the conditioning test before training camp. He has described the injury as a bone bruise.

Click to expand...

Just like how Romo was going to be fine with rest, then the next day the guy was in surgery.

I personally think that he is searching for whatever leverage he can. "Look, I'm visiting your NFC East rivals. You don't want me to go to one of them with all my knowledge of the defensive playbook and signals do you?"

Nothing wrong with that. He doesn't have much leverage so trying to find it any way he can is to be expected.

hstour said:

I personally think that he is searching for whatever leverage he can. "Look, I'm visiting your NFC East rivals. You don't want me to go to one of them with all my knowledge of the defensive playbook and signals do you?"

Nothing wrong with that. He doesn't have much leverage so trying to find it any way he can is to be expected.

Click to expand...

I think that whole angle is over played. With how teams can get film on each other, there's not much more a player could teach them about calls and tendencies. Especially since hand signals used to make calls are also at a bare minimum. The coordinators talk directly into the D captains ear now.

hstour said:

I personally think that he is searching for whatever leverage he can. "Look, I'm visiting your NFC East rivals. You don't want me to go to one of them with all my knowledge of the defensive playbook and signals do you?"

Nothing wrong with that. He doesn't have much leverage so trying to find it any way he can is to be expected.

Click to expand...

I don't think it's leverage so much as it is legitimate interest.

As you can see, he's not exactly drawing interest from around the league at a crazy rate. He's coming off of microfracture surgery and that scares teams.

If he doesn't sign with NY, I'm guessing he's gonna be waiting a while to sign with someone.

Texas Ace said:

I don't think it's leverage so much as it is legitimate interest.

As you can see, he's not exactly drawing interest from around the league at a crazy rate. He's coming off of microfracture surgery and that scares teams.

If he doesn't sign with NY, I'm guessing he's gonna be waiting a while to sign with someone.

Click to expand...

He is just trying to get a payday. Simple as that.

Speaking of which:

Cowboys still interested in Spencer


The Cowboys lost two starters in free agency from their defensive line in DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher last week.

One projected starter, Anthony Spencer, who played in one game last season due to knee injuries, remains on the free-agent market.

The Cowboys are still interested in working a deal for Spencer as he recovers from microfracture surgery.

Spencer's representatives believe he'll be ready for the start of the 2014 season while Cowboys officials are optimistic it could happen.

Spencer has visited the Washington Redskins and New York Giants during the free-agency period and has come home without a deal. On the field, Spencer has been a productive player, he's picked up 32.5 sacks in a seven-year career including a career-high 11 in 2012 which earned him a Pro Bowl berth as an injury replacement.

Last season, though he only played in one game, Spencer lined up as a defensive end. He hadn't done that since college. He made his mark as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and has made himself more appealing to NFL teams by demonstrating he can play both positions.

Last year, he struggled with knee problems in the offseason and didn't finish a training camp practice in Oxnard, Calif., before he was sent back to Dallas for what was thought would be minor surgery. The knee wasn't the same after surgery and though Spencer played in a Week 2 game at Kansas City, his body was still acting up.

Further exams revealed Spencer needed microfracture surgery, a serious procedure that could end a career or delay its return. Spencer, at age 30, can be a productive player for some NFL team, the problem for him is proving to these teams he will be ready for the start of the season.

The Cowboys remain intrigued by Spencer and hope something can be worked out, but the longer it takes, the only franchise he's ever known, could move on without him.

Spencer shouldn't be in the equation except for possible emergency depth as a role-player.

ravidubey said:

Spencer shouldn't be in the equation except for possible emergency depth as a role-player.

Click to expand...

Exactly.

The fact that the Cowboys aren't talking contract with him right now gives me hope that they view him as what you just described.