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Cowboys' most expensive free agent starts final preseason game
9:23 AM CT
Jean-Jacques Taylor
ARLINGTON, Texas - Defensive tackle Cedric Thornton, the Dallas Cowboys most expensive offseason acquisition, started the team’s final preseason game, which qualifies as unusual.
Most teams use the final preseason game to protect their best players, which is why the Cowboys sat all of their projected starters. Thornton, who signed a four-year, $17 million deal with $6 million guaranteed in the offseason, was the only player remotely close to being a starter who played in the Cowboys’ 28-17 loss to Houston.
Cedric Thornton, here returning a fumble in the second preseason game, continues to pick up the nuances of the Cowboys' defense. Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports
“Cedric needed some snaps in this system,” coach Jason Garrett said. “I think he’s gotten better and better playing our system of football, but I think it was good for him to get some game snaps.”
So Thornton, a four-year veteran needed playing time, but rookie Maliek Collins, who missed several weeks with a broken foot, didn’t?
“We just felt the other guys needed more work than Maliek,” Garrett said. “He’s just done a really good job. He seems to have a real comfort level with what we’re asking him to do from a technique standpoint and fitting into our scheme.
“We thought he got some good work in the games last week. He’s practiced very well, and we just thought it was the right thing to do to keep him out tonight.”
Thornton, who’s his own worst critic, has struggled with the nuances of the Cowboys’ scheme because it’s different than what he did in Philadelphia. Collins, who played in a similar scheme at Nebraska, has adapted quickly and it has accelerated his progress.
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Anyone else find this sort of odd?
9:23 AM CT
Jean-Jacques Taylor
ARLINGTON, Texas - Defensive tackle Cedric Thornton, the Dallas Cowboys most expensive offseason acquisition, started the team’s final preseason game, which qualifies as unusual.
Most teams use the final preseason game to protect their best players, which is why the Cowboys sat all of their projected starters. Thornton, who signed a four-year, $17 million deal with $6 million guaranteed in the offseason, was the only player remotely close to being a starter who played in the Cowboys’ 28-17 loss to Houston.
Cedric Thornton, here returning a fumble in the second preseason game, continues to pick up the nuances of the Cowboys' defense. Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports
“Cedric needed some snaps in this system,” coach Jason Garrett said. “I think he’s gotten better and better playing our system of football, but I think it was good for him to get some game snaps.”
So Thornton, a four-year veteran needed playing time, but rookie Maliek Collins, who missed several weeks with a broken foot, didn’t?
“We just felt the other guys needed more work than Maliek,” Garrett said. “He’s just done a really good job. He seems to have a real comfort level with what we’re asking him to do from a technique standpoint and fitting into our scheme.
“We thought he got some good work in the games last week. He’s practiced very well, and we just thought it was the right thing to do to keep him out tonight.”
Thornton, who’s his own worst critic, has struggled with the nuances of the Cowboys’ scheme because it’s different than what he did in Philadelphia. Collins, who played in a similar scheme at Nebraska, has adapted quickly and it has accelerated his progress.
___________________________________
Anyone else find this sort of odd?
