Carpenter Trade Foretold In A Jersey?
By Brian Miller
As rumors go, the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins are at the heart of it all. Tipped early last month by Dan over at the Landry Hat, the name Bobby Carpenter was being tossed around. Perhaps his future in Dallas is being foretold in a jersey.
Carpenter was drafted by Bill Parcells and has largely been a disappointment to the Cowboys. He has played special teams but his LB play has not been stellar. Earlier this month and national media report was out saying that Carpenter was being shopped by the ‘Boyz. That seemed to die, but never really went away. Now, it seems that talk of Bobby’s departure may in fact have new life. Oh, did I mention that he wears number 54?
Yes, that’s right. Bobby Carpenter wears number 54…or does he? Yesterday Dallas Cowboy jerseys showed up on their home page for sale with good ole’ number 54 and the name Thomas on the back…as in Zach Thomas. Carpenter had sent a text message to a reporter that simply said he had not given Zach his jersey number, and in an interview Zach said that he was not married to it and would wear number 55 if that were the case.
Either someone didn’t tell the marketing department or they were just too eager to get to selling their new marketable LB, or someone hasn’t bothered to tell Carpenter that he is in fact, not in the Dallas plans.
It is an interesting development, but one that actually doesn’t stop there. Current starting weak side LB Akin Ayodele, appears to be the new back up behind Thomas. Thomas has already been penciled in as the starter and now there are rumors that Ayodele will be traded and possibly cut. The reason being is that AA doesn’t play special teams and is set to make over 2 million dollars that the Cowboys may not want to pay. They are not over the cap, but they are not sitting pretty either. Ayodele has been a two year starter and has played well on a Dallas defense that was one of the best last year.
So it seems that once again, the Dolphins and the Cowboys are joined again in yet another fracas. Perhaps Thomas’ signing may throw two future Dolphins to the curb. Parcells and his entourage know both rather well.