Cowboys hoping quick fix pays dividends

Originally Published: May 9, 2005

By Randy Mueller | ESPN Insider

For the first time in coach Bill Parcells' tenure in Big D, he is getting a chance to put his stamp on a team he inherited before the 2003 season. Owner Jerry Jones should be commended for allowing it to happen.

Parcells inherited a team that was not built in his likeness. Parcells had to know in his heart that, although it had won 10 games and made the playoffs in '03, his team was not good enough. And it became evident early in 2004 that changes would have to be made if the Cowboys were going to take the next step.

Ferguson

Henry

While other teams strive to get better by adding a piece to the puzzle here or another piece there, the Cowboys have used more than $11 million in cap space to sign cornerback Anthony Henry, defensive tackle Jason Ferguson, guard Marco Rivera and quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

They also spent their top three draft picks – including two in the first round, thanks to last year's shrewd trade Jones pulled off with the Bills – to select additional players who will have an immediate impact on defense: 260-pound LB Demarcus Ware, 300-pound DE Marcus Spears and 242-pound LB Kevin Burnett.

Only the Minnesota Vikings have kept pace with the Cowboys on the "let's-make-some-changes" meter for this offseason.

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