According to Fox’s Jay Glazer, the Cowboys have traded ILB Akin Ayodele and backup TE Anthony Fasano to the Miami Dolphins. He claims “draft picks” are involved but the numbers are not yet clear.
Update: The DMN says the players were traded for a 4th round pick.
…there is talk about [Marcus] Spears being moved out of the lineup and possibly off the team via a draft-day trade. The Cowboys are contemplating moving Jason Hatcher into the starting lineup as well as moving nose tackle Jay Ratliff back to end, according to a source.
— Clarence Hill, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, April 25th
If the team does this, who is left to man the nose? Tank Johnson and nobody else. The Cowboys have Ratliff and Stephen Bowen to play inside when the team goes to a four man line on passing downs, but Bowen was pushed around last pre-season when he was tried over center.
We’ve been saying it for weeks — this team needs to get bigger and stronger on the nose. They could also use an upgrade at LE cause the yards per attempt was higher for plays run at Spears last year than it was for plays run at RE Chris Canty.
If Spears does get a new address, and even if he doesn’t, look for guys like Iowa State’s Ahtyba Rubin and Texas A&M’s Red Bryant starting at the end of round three.
– Going With the Devil I Know
I’ll be camping out tomorrow at The Tavern, 12th and Lamar, just a stone’s throw from House Park Stadium, where the football scenes for Friday Night Lights are often taped. I like the menu and the layout. I’ll be upstairs from about 1:30 on. Can’t say I can stay all day but I should be good for the first round. Look for me; I’ll be the guy with the Cowboys cap and the Marvin the Martian t-shirt.