Cowboys get their offensive linemen 

Cowboys get their offensive linemen

A year ago, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones opened free agency and his wallet by signing three players to deals that included signing bonuses totaling $28 million.

This year, the Cowboys were a little more reserved, but they were able to land their top offensive line target, signing Kyle Kosier on Saturday to a five-year, $15 million deal that included a $5 million signing bonus.
They also re-signed center Andre Gurode to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, including a $500,000 signing bonus, and had hopes of signing Jacksonville linebacker Akin Ayodele.

"He's really a Parcells' kind of guy," said Kosier's agent, Ken Zuckerman. "He was a Cowboys fan growing up and really likes the tradition. Plus, he wants to go to a team that's a contender for a Super Bowl."

Kosier, 27, started 11 games at left guard last season for Detroit and has played every spot on the line except center during his career. That, and the size of Kosier's contract, means , the future of Larry Allen could be in question.

Allen is due a $2 million roster bonus on April 1 and is scheduled to count $7.5 million against the cap in 2006.

His agent, Marvin Demoff, said recently he has not heard from the Cowboys about possibly restructuring the contract.

"If they want to sign someone else instead of Larry and release him, he'll end up playing somewhere else," Demoff said. "Players have only so many options."

The look of the Cowboys' offensive line in 2006 could be much different. Left tackle Flozell Adams is expected back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, while Kosier and Gurode could be the left guard and center. That would leave Marco Rivera and possibly a high-draft pick playing at right tackle instead of Rob Petitti, last season's starter.

Gurode, who received interest from San Francisco and Atlanta, started two games last year – both at right guard while Rivera was out with a neck injury. He shared time at center with Al Johnson on occasion, and Parcells has said he believes Gurode's best position is center.

"We're very enthused about the opportunity to return to the Cowboys' organization," said Gurode's agent, Kennard McGuire. "It presents a chance to finish what we started."

Tight end Dan Campbell, considered a strong run blocker, will visit with the New York Jets today and Detroit on Monday. The Cowboys have expressed interest in Seattle tight end Ryan Hannam and could bring him in for a visit next week.

Defensively, the Cowboys continued discussions with the agent for linebacker Scott Fujita, but they also were taking a hard look at Ayodele, who played at Irving MacArthur.

Ayodele has two other visits planned, but the Cowboys were hoping to take him off the market as soon as possible. Fujita has visits planned to New Orleans, Jacksonville and Oakland.

The Cowboys gave up two draft picks to acquire Fujita from Kansas City last summer, and he took over the strong-side linebacker spot when Al Singleton was lost with a shoulder injury. He finished last year with 53 tackles and two sacks in eight starts.

Ayodele, a converted defensive end, had 70 tackles and 2 ½ sacks in eight starts last year for Jacksonville, but he would have to make the switch to the 3-4 scheme.