Professor

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...date.8529.html

One of the Cowboys' big off-season moves could turn into a long commitment.

Owner-general manger Jerry Jones said he would like to lock up free safety Ken Hamlin to a long-term deal.

Hamlin, who signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract in March, is tied for fourth in the NFL with five interceptions. That's tied for the team lead with cornerback Anthony Henry.

"He has a lot of savvy," Jones said of Hamlin. "He understands what's going on, and the more he understands, it's all going to make Hamlin a better player."

The Cowboys have a good relationship with Hamlin's agent, Kennard McGuire. He helped broker a six-year, $30 million contract with a $10 million signing bonus for center Andre Gurode in the off-season.

The Cowboys haven't opened talks with Hamlin's agent yet.

Honors for Romo: Tony Romo was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his 311-yard, four-touchdown game against Green Bay. It's the fourth time Romo has won the honor and second time this season.

Romo won the award after November 2006 games against Arizona and Tampa Bay and after the 2007 season opener against the New York Giants.

He also was nominated for FedEx Air Player of the Week, along with Indianapolis' Peyton Manning and St. Louis' Gus Frerotte. Wade Phillips was nominated for Motorola Coach of the Week along with San Diego's Norv Turner and Carolina's John Fox. Fan voting for the two awards is on NFL.com through Thursday.

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gruntbygod

Well, looks like it is gonna happen.

Hamlin has played well, but I would rather they let him walk, go with Watkins and save the money. Watkins isnt nearly as strong in run support, but he is much more a center fielder type than Hamlin.

Not a huge fan of this

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Serrated Shadow

Hamlin's been pretty damn good so far. I haven't seen anything to show that Watkins could be better.

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gruntbygod

Hamlin has been decent but not great IMO. Watkins has the ability to be a better coverage FS than Hamlin, and he started to come on late as a rookie last year. To me Hamlin is a slightly above marginal starter here, he is good for what he is making now, but I dont think they should give him a long term deal.

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gruntbygod

Another thing, chance's are Hamlin makes the Pro Bowl this year, which means his price is gonna skyrocket.

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Serrated Shadow

aren't we pretty far under the salary cap?

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gruntbygod

Ya, but for how long. We are a young team, alot of our starters are on rookie deals right now. Alot of those guys are gonna be needing extentions in the next few years, starting with Canty and Ratliff this year.

IMO, Hamlin is a good player, but not a Pro Bowl level player, but he will probobly make it this year, and if he does, he will probobly top AA's deal from Washington. I would rather let someone else pay him that, and go with Watkins, who to me may be better suited to play with Williams than Hamlin

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Professor

you have to figure the new contract by Romo just signed has to hit that cap number too, I don't know how backloaded that deal is

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gruntbygod

2007 - $6 million (the Cowboys added $4.5 million to his $1.5 million base this year)
2008 - $6.5 million
2009 - $7 million
2010 - $8.5 million
2011 - $9 million
2012 - $9 million
2013 - $11.5 million

BTW, his top year would be less than what it would have cost to tag him this year

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Professor

nice, I guess he figured that he has to perform to get that, which is what it should be.

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