JPW Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 From the Cowboys web-site." Also, the Cowboys started trimming their roster so they are down to their allowed maximum of 85 players when all draft choices are signed, and did so by waiving a 15-game starter from last year and another four-year veteran... Somewhat shockingly, defensive tackle Willie Blade, the surprise of last year's training camp... will not even make it to training camp this year, getting released Monday along with tight end and special teams player James Whalen. "I don't know, maybe this guy would be worth taking a look at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Then again maybe Not." Both moves are somewhat surprising, especially the one involving Blade, who started 15 games last season at defensive tackle alongside La'Roi Glover. Apparently, though, Blade fell into some poor habits again, having problems with his weight and conditioning. But that is nothing new. Blade's career has been filled with ups and downs, starting with a fractured forearm on his first day of training camp as a rookie in 2001 after a brief holdout. He spent that year on injured reserve, and his lack of conditioning cost him a roster spot the following year. The expansion Houston Texans claimed him after the Cowboys released their third-round pick on the last cut. Houston never placed him on the game-day active list, and then released him with a week to go in the 2002 season. The Cowboys then gave Blade a second chance, signing him early in the off-season, and Parcells enhancing that chance by staying on his case all off-season, making sure his weight and conditioning were under control. As a result, Blade began playing the best football of his brief NFL career, and only a knee injury cost him a start in the season opener. He came back to start the remaining 15 games, registering 18 tackles, eight quarterback pressures, one sack and three tackles behind the line of scrimmage. But apparently the defensive tackle regressed this off-season, his weight rising and his conditioning decreasing, if you can believe that. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsfan2 Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Spikes ( while good ) got sent packing ...Ya just shows what a change of scenery can do for a player... Yeah ....... change of scenery did a lot for Him. He got to the pro bowl. He got to talk to the reporters. He led the team in tackles. Question you should be asking is what did his change of scenery do for you guys ???? I know ... it was the 2nd ranked defense ....... thing is tho that they had the same won / loss record as the offense. Loved his quote in the Buffalo news when he found out LeBeau was going to be with the team. " That's my man. He won't step on anybody's toes. It'll be a big help having him here to tell everyone what I like and what I don't like. You know the right way to motivate me.... what'll work and what won't."Pretty much sums up why neither one of them are here anymore. I am going to enjoy watching him and Dillon go at each other twice a year now tho. No matter which one comes out on the short end ..... it'll be entertaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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