Jerry Jones likes Cowboys’ LB situation. That shouldn’t dissuade them from Shaq Leonard
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ARLINGTON — On a day the Cowboys won in a rout for the second time just this week and Dolly put on a halftime show at JerryWorld, 93,711 fans did, indeed, have much to be thankful for. Given the time of year, then, it seems not a little ungrateful to ask for more. If it helps, think of it as an early Christmas wish.
What about it, Santa Jerry?
Is Shaq Leonard in the bag?
“Well,” he said, “I don’t know about that.”
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For the record, Jerry Jones admitted that before the Cowboys’ 45-10 win over the Commanders pushed them closer to the top of the NFC seedings and Ron Rivera practically out the door, they had “a short meeting” about the former Colts linebacker, one of the greatest in the organization’s considerable history. He added they will continue to evaluate their situation at linebacker, recently depleted by the loss of Leighton Vander Esch.
Fair enough, except a certain columnist couldn’t let it go.
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What if Leonard ended up with the Eagles instead?
“They seem to be making some good decisions over there, personnel-wise,” Jerry said, referring to Howie Roseman and crew. “But I like our linebackers.
“So I don’t want to imply one way or another my interest in Leonard.”
In fact, Jerry likes a lot of things about this team, and not just its linebackers. He called the “energy” among these players “on par with anything I’ve ever seen.” He didn’t stop there. Asked if he thinks the Cowboys could win a championship, he said yes, conceding “four or five others could, too.” This is what happens when the Cowboys blow out an opponent three games in a row and four of the last five. Jerry likes where this team is heading going into the toughest stretch of their season the next five weeks.
Likes their position a little too much, if you ask me.
“This is the best that I ever think we could be,” he said.
Look, Thursday’s results notwithstanding, now is no time to get complacent. Sure, the Cowboys’ offense is humming. Dak Prescott, who threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns, is even getting national love for a change. DaRon Bland, on a Hall of Fame pace, set a world record with his fifth pick-six of the season.
Still, as good as Dan Quinn’s defense is, it’s not too late to add talent, grit and leadership.
Especially if you keep it from the Eagles, who reportedly may be knocking on Leonard’s door, too.
No, the former Colts linebacker isn’t the same player he was back when we knew him as Darius, before he told us he wanted to go by his middle name. Before he was Shaquille, he was a three-time, first-team All-Pro, a linebacker so good, so ferocious, he went by “Maniac.”
His specialty in his first four seasons? Forcing turnovers. Perfected the punch-out, initiating 17 forced fumbles to go with 11 interceptions. Also averaged 134.5 tackles a season.
But that was before back problems caused pain and weakness in his lower left leg. A pair of surgeries last year didn’t help much. Lacking the explosiveness that made him a turnover machine, he lost playing time. He didn’t take it quietly, which may have led to the decision to release him. If it wasn’t that, it was surely the fact that, by cutting him, the Colts will save $16 million against the cap next season and $50 million in non-guaranteed salary through 2026.
If he’s signed, the Colts would still be on the hook for the $6 million he’s owed the rest of this season. Otherwise, his new employer would work out its own deal going forward.
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Now, I can hear you all the way over here: Why would the Cowboys want another linebacker with a devastating injury history? Look what happened to Vander Esch, the guy the Cowboys took in the first round in 2018, before Leonard went to the Colts in the second.
Besides, how much does Leonard have left?
Plenty, if you buy what Pro Football Focus sells. Only the Cowboys’ Markquese Bell, a converted safety, ranks better than Leonard among linebackers against the run, an area where Quinn could always use help. Leonard may be a two-down linebacker these days, but the Cowboys could still use it, not to mention what he brings beside his ability to fill a gap.
On Leonard’s way out the door, Chris Ballard, the Colts’ general manager, called him “the ultimate competitor.” Which was one of the reasons his former teammates were devastated to hear the news.
“Whoever gets him,” DeForest Buckner told reporters, “is going to be lucky to have him.”
Philadelphia, for one, doesn’t need any more luck than it’s already enjoyed. The Eagles escaped the Cowboys’ grasp by inches and beat Kansas City because the Chiefs couldn’t catch the ball.
The Eagles are looking like a team of destiny, which is why the Cowboys can’t let Roseman make a personnel move that would only help their case. As much as Jerry likes his position, I like the Eagles’ better, looking down at him.
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