Anthony Spencer News

The NFC East is arguably the toughest division in the NFL . It boasts the fiercest collection of pass rushing teams, the best collection of explosive offensive players and last year's Super Bowl champions.

The Dallas Cowboys are already in a year-long dog fight to win the NFC East. The Giants and the Eagles will both field improved defenses in 2012.

The most important part of each season may be the daily practice grind in July and August when a team is truly built.

The Dallas Cowboys ' disgruntled cornerback is skipping organized team activities, asking for a trade and trying to find a new home.

On defense, the Cowboys' franchise player is linebacker DeMarcus Ware .A This year, however, the organization's "franchise player" for CBA purposes is linebacker Anthony Spencer .A As Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram explains it, Spencer's ensuing $8.8 million base salary has resulted in sharp criticism of the man who isn't DeMarcus ... (more)

Running back Darius Washington #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is tackled by linebacker Anthony Spencer #49 of the Purdue Boilermakers September 30, 2006 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

The move left many Cowboys fans giddy with excitement. After all, that move allowed the Cowboys to pick the consensus best defensive player in the draft; the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner, awarded annually to the best defensive back in the country; a corner the Cowboys, in their own words, had rated higher than any CB since Deion Sanders .

The Cowboys wrapped up their first week of OTAs with a bunch of players making their first appearance in a while because of injury , and others making their first appearance as Cowboys.

Anthony Spencer can't avoid the comparisons. While Spencer, a first-round draft pick in 2007, has 21.5 sacks in his career, DeMarcus Ware has 80 in that same five-year span.

The linebacker is a solid player, not a spectacular one. Solid doesn't generate much buzz on a team that is four games under .500 the last two seasons.

On the field, the franchises in the NFC East clash in one most competitive divisions in professional football.

It's not often that teams receive a reprieve for any previous decisions or actions.

In recent news, the Cowboys defense led by Rob Ryan has been tagged as one utilizing "multiplicity." Last season, it was usually defined in terms of Ryan's need for players with "versatility." A few decades ago, these same concepts were discussed as the revolutionary defensive-schemes of Tom Landry and his development of "flex-linemen." In all ... (more)

Pressure point: Cowboys - ESPN NFC East Blog Dan Graziano looks at who faces the most challenging season for the Dallas Cowboys and why, and suggests it may be defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

This then centers on producing pressure against opposing quarterbacks, something the Cowboys weren't consistent enough at last year despite finishing seventh in the NFL with 42 sacks, but remember just seven of those coming in the final four games, of which they won just one: As you might remember, my recommendation heading into the draft, ... (more)

At this time of year, much of the attention of an NFL team's fanbase is focused on the new rookie class, the free agency acquisitions and the college free agents signed to the 90-man rosters.

Comment From GHL ... With new free agents and rookies, I'm excited to see a vast improvement in our special teams coverage... That said though.. Any word on a return specialist? Safe to assume that Felix Jones can be taking that role? And whats the work on McBriar and the punter situation? Brandon George : Felix Jones is certainly an option and the ... (more)

The Dallas Cowboys are in the process of upgrading their defensive line. Still, most of the media and fan focus since the draft has been on what they didn't accomplish in this area.

There's a feeling the AFC North doesn't get the respect it deserves, and I am among those who believe that at times.

What have the Cowboys done to rectify what was, in the view of many, the biggest weakness last year - getting pressure on the quarterback? STEVE NACLERIO HARTSDALE, NY: I am happy with the upgrades in the secondary, but what have the Cowboys done to rectify what was, in the view of many, the biggest weakness last year - getting pressure on the ... (more)