On ESPN Insider Jason Fabini might hook up with the Tuna in Dallas On the subject of offensive linemen, don't be surprised if Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells takes advantage of the cap woes of one of his former employers, the Jets, to address his situation at right tackle. Because of a ponderous cap excess, the Jets were forced to release eight-year veteran tackle Jason Fabini this week, making him a free agent. And Fabini, who was injured for much of 2005, but was among the NFL's most durable linemen before that, was drafted by Parcells in 1998, when The Tuna was the Jets' head coach. Suggestions that Parcells might pursue Fabini might be dismissed in some circles as the kind of connect-the-dots exercise of which we've been critical of other media outlets. But Parcells' history shows a love of bringing back players he once coached and Fabini, if healthy and willing to accept a palatable contract, could fill a right tackle need the Cowboys have attempted to address for two years. Dallas needs to bolster its offensive line in general, to better protect Drew Bledsoe, if it is to move back into playoff contention in 2006. The bet here is that Parcells and the Cowboys at least conduct some due diligence on Fabini, to gauge his health and his price tag, in the next few weeks The release of Fabini could be the precursor to a wholesale makeover of the Jets offensive line in 2006 and, if that's the case, it might signal that the first-year tandem of general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini is determined to simply start over on that side of the ball. There are rumblings that the Jets will lop guard Pete Kendall, and are trying to trade perennial Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae, each move meant to address serious cap issues. Purging three starting-caliber linemen wouldn't exactly be the best way to convince fragile quarterback Chad Pennington, coming off his second rotator cuff surgery and with his career perhaps in the balance, to accept a dramatic salary reduction to return. Instead, the Jets might end their relationship with Pennington and use their first-round pick on a quarterback (there are rumors the staff is smitten with Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt), a younger guy who might be better prepared than Pennington to absorb the kind of punishment anyone is apt to take behind a remade offensive line Smitten? Herm thinks he can control TO Perhaps in an effort to prod one of his suitors into making a deal, Philadelphia officials continue to say they think they can strike a trade for exiled wide receiver Terrell Owens before March 8, the date by which the Eagles owe him $5 million of the $7.5 million in bonuses he is due under terms of his current contract. Most teams interested in Owens are skeptical of that and still believe the stronger likelihood is that the Eagles will be forced to release him and that he will then be available on the open market. The Denver Broncos still remain somewhat enamored by Owens, but, if you're looking for a franchise that is far more interested in him than it has publicly acknowledged, don't discount the Kansas City Chiefs. Team president/general manager Carl Peterson said this week that the Chiefs will only have interest in Owens once he is released. Insiders contend that interest will be significant, with coach Herm Edwards convinced he can control Owens and help him get his career straightened out again. As potent as the Chiefs' offense is, it still lacks the kind of deep-ball threat Owens would provide. And the window of opportunity is beginning to close on the Chiefs, whose lineup is one of the oldest in the league, so maybe there is an urgency to bring in a player of Owens' stature, before quarterback Trent Green is too old to take advantage of him http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2343094
That would be the worst decision that KC could make. Larry Johnson is a borderline prima-donna and bringing in Owens would only encourage him.
Trying to trade Mawae, huh? Hmmm...I wonder...what do you guys think is the most we could get for him?
I hope he goes to KC and rips them in half, I want to see some national press conferences of Herm going coco bananas with wierd comparisons
Absolutely!!! 2 2nd rounders..2 first rounders...if we trade Abe... 1 year transistion and the Jets are back in the hunt!
Ahahahahahahahahahahaha. If we get anything more than a worthless day 2 pick for Mawae I'll eat a bowl of paperclips. Or something.
I'd love to know how all of a sudden Mawae is worthless. Last offseason he was the king of the field, and the face of the NY Jets, now the guy is injured and he sucks. Some of you people are bipolar.
If they trade Mawae they are hypocrites. All they keep saying is they want smart, tough and team players. Who fits this bill in the NFL more than Mawae?
Let's be fair to Herm here. He took Laveranues Coles, John Abraham and Ty Law, all who supposedly had "character issues" and had them play excellently for the Jets. If there's one thing that Herm is good at it's straightening out his stars.
I don't think there's any way a team gives up a 2nd rd pick for Mawae. He's still a solid C but he's on the downside of his career. We'd be lucky to get a mid rd pick. it always amazes me how quickly people turn on players.
I've never been a huge Mawae fan - even in 2004 I felt he looked lightweight against the tougher defenses, and I know he's been here a while and is highly regarded, but the past is the past.
It's too bad he left then, Jay Cutler would need the Hermanator as a mentor to straighten out his character issues as well.
Trading Mawae would get us little more than a 4th rounder, and that's if we really fleece someone. He's a 30-plus center with an injury (triceps tear) that is not the kind of injury you want to see in an offensive lineman. I think he's more valuable staying put with us.
No one else thinks that if KC got Owens then their offense could be one of the best ever for one season? (after a year or two, they'd be way too old). They have nearly a perfect offense minus that deep threat that was mentioned in the article. If Herm is the people's coach that everyone says he is, I'm sure he could handle TO so that he won't be THAT much of an ass where he would screw over the entire team. I for one would be very very scared of KC if they made this move.
