Tag: Dante Fowler

Here’s why this veteran edge rusher is now on the Cowboys’ roster bubble

The Cowboys have an embarrassment of riches at the defensive end position which could lead to the departure of Dante Fowler. | From @ReidDHanson

When the Cowboys lost Randy Gregory in the offseason of 2022, they had to scramble. They were banking on their former second-round pick to start in their EDGE rotation so losing him at the 11th hour required quick thinking to rebound.

Dallas pivoted, inking Dorance Armstrong to a two-year contract immediately. To complete the triage, they then turned their attention to a free agent veteran with strong ties to Dan Quinn, Dante Fowler Jr.

Fowler, a former third-overall pick from Atlanta, was with Quinn when he was head coach of the Falcons. While Fowler never quite lived up to his billing as a top-five pick, he was a talented and proven entity who represented a big win for the Cowboys as a Plan B option.

As luck would have it, everything fell into place in 2022. Micah Parsons would go on to have an All-Pro season. DeMarcus Lawrence would have yet another brilliant campaign. Armstrong posted career numbers and rookie Sam Williams looked like a bona fide steal as a second rounder. And Fowler was every bit as advertised as the veteran pass-rushing specialist.

The best part is, all five return in 2023.

The Cowboys have what is called “an embarrassment of riches” at the defensive end position. They have enough good EDGE players to field two NFL teams.

If everyone stays healthy through training camp they may have a real champaign problem on their hands – more players than snaps available. It’s only natural to look for the odd man out in their circumstance and the way things look today it may be Fowler.

It’s safe to say Parsons is going to get as many snaps as he can handle in 2023. Lawrence will also surely get his and as discussed previously, Williams needs to see a major uptick in his bid to cross the 10-sack threshold. And Armstrong finished second on the team in sacks in 2022, so he’s sure to get plenty of opportunities in the rotation as well.

This doesn’t leave many snaps left over for players like Fowler. Based on age, contract and controllability, Fowler already finds himself on the bubble. If any of the young, less-heralded options like Tyrus Wheat, Durrell Johnson or Isaiah Land flash in training camp, it could be game over for the soon-to-be 29-year-old Fowler in Dallas.

The Cowboys signed Fowler to a 1-year, $3 million deal in March that guarantees $1 million and could pay out as much as $4 million per Todd Archer. If they don’t think they will use him enough to justify his $1,500,000 base salary and per-game roster bonus’ they could deem him expendable.

It’s going to be difficult to justify Fowler getting more snaps than Williams again this season so his workload is likely to suffer. And though Fowler produced well as a pass-rusher (36 pressures and 6 sacks per PFF) he was a liability against the run.

Fowler is still an excellent EDGE player in the NFL and the Cowboys have plenty of cap space to pay him if he’s going to be a contributor like last season. But if Dallas filters more snaps to their younger developing players, it may be tough to justify Fowler’s place on the roster.

This is all just something to keep in mind when Cowboys Camp opens up on July 27 in Oxnard.

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Cowboys pass rusher Dante Fowler fined $10,609 for penalty vs. Broncos

Dante Fowler was fined $10,609 for one of the Cowboys’ 17 penalties against the Broncos in Week 1 of preseason.

The Dallas Cowboys showed a lack of discipline if their preseason opener against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 13, and the resulting penalties from that lack of discipline cost the team 129 yards.

The penalties cost one of the Cowboys’ players in the wallet, too.

Dallas pass rusher Dante Fowler was fined $10,609 by the NFL after he was penalized for unnecessary roughness against Denver, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Fowler drew a flag after pushing a Broncos player off a pile in the second quarter. After the game, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Fowler was benched for the penalty.

Dallas drew an NFL-high 17 penalties against Denver in Week 1 of preseason. The Cowboys weren’t able to overcome those penalties as Denver controlled the game and cruised to a 17-7 victory.

In his career, Fowler has had 30 penalties accepted against him in the regular season, costing his teams 237 yards since he entered the league in 2016.

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Cowboys DE Dante Fowler fined for penalty vs Broncos

The Cowboys DE was benched for the infraction, and now will have to give the league some of his coins.

The Cowboys’ intention when they were signing Dante Fowler was that they were getting a defensive end with pass-rush ability and history. In looking to replace Randy Gregory, who spurned their offer in free agency over a clause that would void guarantees in the deal, Dallas wanted to get a player who could provide Gregory’s floor of production for a fraction of the cost.

The hope was also that they’d be able to move away from the mental errors that led to penalties at inopportune times. In his first chance to prove himself, Fowler did come with some pass-rush prowess, but he also flashed the lapses Gregory did, getting an unnecessary roughness penalty in the defensive red zone against Denver. That penalty ended his night, as head coach Mike McCarthy benched him. It also earned him a fine from the league.

The Cowboys’ depth chart at defensive end is still undecided. DeMarcus Lawrence is a sure-fire starter on the left side and it’s assumed Dorance Armstrong, Jr. will start on the right side. Behind them, Fowler, second-year player Chauncey Golston, rookie Sam Williams and veteran Tarell Basham are all fighting for roles. The two vets may be battling it out for a roster spot in general.

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6 Cowboys who could be shocking cuts before the 2022 regular season

Sometimes it’s about who’s better. But sometimes there are other factors at play when it comes to the initial 53-man roster. @KDDrummondNFL looks at a few names that would raise an eyebrow if let go.

The Dallas Cowboys may not be as deep as they have been in years past, but that doesn’t mean they will have an easier time when it comes to putting together their 53-man roster. There are still decisions to make for Stephen Jones, Will McClay and head coach Mike McCarthy that include talent, but go beyond who the best player is right now (or in three weeks).

In addition to who offers the best performance, the team will be looking to ensure they don’t say goodbye to potential they want to continue harnessing. Beyond that there is the injury factor for guys the club may look to bring back during the season, and the rules to which those maneuvers can happen. Mixed all together and there could be some interesting decisions made come August 30. Here’s a look at six players who could be on the outside looking in at the initial 53-man roster.

Inside Dante Fowler’s decision to join Cowboys

A chance to win a Super Bowl and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn were the main reasons why Dante Fowler signed with the Dallas Cowboys. From @BenGrimaldi

The Dallas Cowboys lost one of the key pieces to their defense this offseason when the negotiations with Randy Gregory went south. To combat that defection, the Cowboys sought out to find a veteran defensive end to replace Gregory.

That search led the Cowboys to DE Dante Fowler, whom the team signed to a one-year, $3 million deal. Drafted third overall in the 2015 NFL draft, Fowler has had an up and down career, but does have an 11.5 sack season to his name.

It’s a typical type of signing the Cowboys have been famous for in recent years. The team likes to add highly drafted veterans, who have had trouble being consistent through the course of their careers, to short deals in hopes of getting the most out of them.

As mush as the Cowboys needed a veteran pass rusher, Fowler also preferred Dallas as a destination. On the first day of voluntary workouts, Fowler spoke about why he chose the Cowboys, which included an opportunity to win a Super Bowl.

The appeal of the Cowboys is often a draw to free agents. The team is always on the big stage and a good season can lead to a bigger pay day.

There is also the allure of playing for one of the glamour franchises in the NFL, but the truth is the Cowboys haven’t come close to the Super Bowl in the last 25 years. Perhaps Fowler believes he can be part of the reason for finally getting over the hump.

And it isn’t farfetched to say the Cowboys can compete for a title. The team is coming off a 12-5 season in which they were considered strong contenders for the first half of the campaign before faltering late in the year.

Another reason Fowler signed with the Cowboys is because of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Fowler played under Quinn when he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons during the 2020 season. Despite having just three sacks that year, Quinn made enough of an impression on Fowler that the DE wanted to be reunited with his former coach.

The same can be said of Quinn, who had to have vouched for Fowler. It’s hard to believe the Cowboys would’ve signed Fowler if Quinn didn’t endorse the veteran. Their time together was short in 2020 (Quinn was fired md-season), but both appeared to like working with each other.

The Cowboys retained Quinn in hopes of attracting defensive players to come and play for one of the best defensive coaches in the league. Fowler might not be producing at the high level he was expected to when he was drafted, but if anyone can pull it out of him, the hope is that Quinn is the coach to do it.

If Fowler can settle in as a rotational piece for the Dallas defensive line, and not be counted on as focal point, he can pay dividends. Fowler has 35 career sacks, 18.5 more than Gregory, and will be just 28-years old during the 2022 season. The veteran DE has the ability to get to the quarterback and can play a valuable role with the Cowboys if he’s used as a designated pass rusher.

The Cowboys need to continue to find help at defensive end, but Fowler can be a strong piece in pressuring the QB. Dallas can thank Dan Quinn and the Cowboys’ brand for signing of Dante Fowler.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi.

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New Cowboys DE Dante Fowler ordered to pay $280K in damages in 2017 battery case

A jury ordered the damages stemming from a case in which the then-Jaguar knocked a 55-year-old man to the ground after a traffic incident. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The 2022 Dallas Cowboys will be Dante Fowler’s fourth NFL team in eight seasons. The move represents a fresh start on the field, but the defensive end is still paying- quite literally- for trouble caused at the first stop in his pro journey.

A civil jury in Florida has ordered Fowler to pay $280,000 in compensatory and punitive damages to a St. Petersburg man he attacked after a traffic accident near-miss in 2017. The story was reported Thursday by Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.

The original arrest report contends that, after failing to come to a full stop at an intersection, Fowler nearly hit another vehicle. A resident of a nearby apartment complex who witnessed the close call shouted something to Fowler. The Jaguars defender- then entering his third season- got out of his vehicle and struck the 55-year-old bystander, stepped on his eyeglasses, and threw his grocery bag into a lake.

Fowler apologized publicly when Jaguars training camp got underway about a week after the incident, saying, “I just wanted to let people know and everybody know that’s not me as a person. I’m a better person than that, and it won’t happen again.”

The victim claimed he “suffered a torn rotator cuff and exacerbation of cervical spine injuries, among other injuries” from being knocked to the ground by the former first-round draft pick.

The ex-Gator pleaded no contest in 2018 to misdemeanor battery, criminal mischief, and petty theft in the matter. He was suspended for the 2018 Jaguars season opener.

Even with this week’s ruling by a jury after a four-day trial in St. Petersburg, Fowler is not in line for any further punishment from the NFL in the case.

The 27-year-old’s recent deal with Dallas reunites him with Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, his DC for one season at Florida and his head coach for part of a season in Atlanta.

Fowler said after his signing that Quinn “knows the ins and outs of me as a football player. I know he’s going to get the best from me.”

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Cowboys News: No Wagner? Prescott speaks on bad shoulder, optimism for 2022

Dak Prescott spoke about his offseason, the All-Pro punter is back, the outlook on big free agents up in the air for Dallas and more. | From @CDBurnett7

The cap space the Dallas Cowboys have crafted for themselves opens the window for some big moves. Will they make them? A break down of the top remaining free agents and who may fit into the Dallas way of doing things. As for their own free agents, All-Pro punter Bryan Anger is coming back to the Cowboys on a three-year deal. The details of linebacker Leighton Vander-Esch and defensive end Dorance Armstrong’s contracts are out, with the latter making a big pay jump.

Quarterback Dak Prescott was vocal about many things this week: his left shoulder surgery, the emotions of free agency and how fans shouldn’t jump ship so early as he believes Dallas isn’t done making big moves yet. Reuniting with Dan Quinn, Dante Fowler noted his experience with the Super Bowl champion coach and how he knows Fowler as a player possibly better than anyone else.

Cowboys DE Dante Fowler: Dan Quinn ‘knows the ins and outs of me as a football player’

Dan Quinn recruited Fowler to Florida, then signed him in Atlanta. Now both men hope the third time’s a charm as they’re reunited in Dallas. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Dan Quinn clearly sees potential greatness in Dante Fowler Jr. In return, Fowler knows he has something special in Quinn. And Cowboys fans are hoping the third time’s a charm as the player and coach reunite once again in Dallas.

The Cowboys officially signed Fowler on Monday to a one-year contract reportedly worth about $5 million. Dallas will be Fowler’s fourth team since being picked third overall in the 2015 draft.

But he won’t be an entirely new face to everyone in the locker room. Fowler says that Quinn “knows the ins and outs of me as a football player.” As he told the team website this week of his once-again defensive coordinator, “I know he’s going to get the best from me.”

Quinn was in the same role at Florida in 2011 when he helped recruit the football and track star from St. Petersburg to the school’s program. Under Quinn’s watch, Fowler moved to outside linebacker in his first season with the Gators, earning freshman All-American honors.

The youngster bonded with Quinn over that 2012 season.

“We just built a relationship at that time,” Fowler said in a 2020 interview. “He used to always come and see me, talk to me. Everything was genuine. He talked to me about a lot of things as a man. Just over that one-year span of me being there with with him at UF, I went to his house. I met his wife. I had Thanksgiving with them.”

But Quinn departed for the NFL after the 2012 season, taking the DC job in Seattle. Fowler says he nearly transferred to another school.

But the 6-foot-3 native Floridian stuck it out two more seasons, leaving school early to declare for the pros. Heading into the 2015 draft, Fowler was a top prospect, expected to be taken early. He hoped to be chosen by Quinn, who had just been hired as the Atlanta Falcons head coach and had the eighth overall pick.

Instead, Jacksonville took him at No. 3.

Fowler tore an ACL on the first day of minicamp, sidelining him for his entire rookie season. He returned the following year to play in all 16 games, racking up modest stats. Despite fewer tackles in 2017, he logged eight sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown over another complete season.

The Jaguars traded Fowler to the Rams during the 2018 season, and in his first full season in Los Angeles, he blossomed. With Aaron Donald taking much of the opposing offensive line’s focus, Fowler played his way to 58 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 2019, along with two more forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown.

Hitting free agency after that season, Fowler heard from several NFL coaches, including one he’d stayed in touch with since that Thanksgiving dinner in Gainesville.

“Through the years, it’s been great to stay connected to players that I coached at Florida. That relationship and that bond really grows strong,” Quinn said. “You’re trying to help a young guy in his football life where it is just beginning in the college years. You get to see that relationship continue to progress when they get into the NFL. I’ve certainly kept up with him and others throughout the years.”

Quinn brought Fowler to Atlanta on a three-year, $48 million deal. Their reunion was short-lived; Quinn was fired in early October after an 0-5 start.

The rest of Fowler’s time with the Falcons was spotty at best. He started just six games last season while dealing with a midseason knee injury. He finished 2021 with 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.

But with the Cowboys unable to keep edge rusher Randy Gregory in the building and in need of edge rushing help, Quinn came calling once again and brought Fowler to Dallas.

“I just want to show people and prove to myself that I’m the player that I know I am and that I know I will be,” Fowler said after signing his new deal. “A guy that’s going to go out there and fight for his team, go to war, battle for my team, scratch, claw, do whatever I have to do to win my rep or win the game.”

Apart from their shared history, it’s Fowler’s speed that likely excites Quinn the most. As Nick Kehoe notes in his Dallas Morning News film breakdown, the 27-year-old can still cover plenty of ground, often chasing down plays from the backside.

With DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons demanding heavy attention from opponents, it’s possible that Fowler, who’ll wear No. 56 for the Cowboys, will have more frequent chances to fly to the ball and be the closer, especially on pass plays and third downs.

“Whatever role I play, I just want to do it 100%, do it all to my ultimate best,” said Fowler. “Whatever I can do for this team, that’s what I’m going to do.”

It may be that no one is more convinced of what Dante Fowler can do than Dan Quinn. Now after two abbreviated stints together, the rest of the football world may finally get to truly see it.

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2022 Free Agency: Cowboys add Dante Fowler to DE rotation, reuniting him with Dan Quinn

Dallas is living the post-Randy Gregory world and adds their second defensive end in the last couple days. He’s not a former Cowboy, but Fowler is familiar. | From @AsaHenry_55

Maybe the floodgates have finally opened for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 free agency. Throughout the week, Dallas has only been able to seal the deal on a handful of their own guys, and even that didn’t go anywhere near as planned. Dallas entered free agency with two of their top three edge rushers on the market. After failing to bring back Randy Gregory, the club did reach an agreement with Dorance Armtstrong, Jr.

Armstrong has never been a featured player, so it was expected the team would look to find more help on the market. A few hours after it was announced the team signed WR James Washington, they turned around and brought in defensive end Dante Fowler, reuniting defensive coordinator Dan Quinn with his longtime pupil.

Fowler spent the previous two seasons with the Falcons, and was brought to Atlanta by now Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn prior to the 2020 season. Since Quinn joined the Dallas staff it has been clear that he has had a strong influence on defensive personnel moves, and the Atlanta connection between the former head coach and Fowler likely played a factor in the signing. Quinn helped recruit Fowler to Florida.

Fowler was drafted third overall out of Florida in the 2015 NFL draft by the Jaguars and notched 16 sacks over three seasons before the Rams traded for him. In 2019, his second year with Los Angeles, Fowler had his best year to date as he totaled 11.5 sacks in 14 starts. Over the next two seasons Fowler managed 7.5 sacks in 28 games with the Falcons.

Signings like Fowler and Armstrong may not be able to replicate the high-end pass rush ability that Gregory is capable of, but they have both proven to be adequate rotational pieces on a defensive front.

The exact salary amount that Fowler agreed to is yet to be disclosed, but  Cowboys recent history in free agency alludes to the deal being a short-term, manageable contract for the Cowboys. Dallas has made a habit of signing talented players coming off down years to affordable contracts hoping to help a career resurgence, and this Fowler move fits that mold perfectly.

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Browns have a new edge rush option available immediately

Released today, Fowler could sign tomorrow. Could he recapture his 11.5 sack glory from 2019?

Until something changes, the Cleveland Browns defensive end rotation for the 2022 season is quite bare. Obviously, Myles Garrett holds down one of the spots as a/the top edge rusher in the NFL. Garrett’s production has left no doubt about his place in the league.

In 2021, Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley joined the team and benefitted from all of the attention that Garrett got from blockers. Clowney had nine sacks, tied for second-most in his career, while having 19 hits on the quarterback, also his second-most. McKinley only played in 11 games but had 2.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits.

Both Clowney and McKinley are set to be free agents when the league year starts in March. McKinley also tore his Achilles tendon late in the season and could miss all or most of 2022.

That leaves Curtis Weaver and Porter Gustin as the only other defensive ends on the roster currently. Sheldon Day can pop out to end but isn’t someone the team should count on as an every-down player.

Wednesday, DE Dante Fowler was released by the Atlanta Falcons putting another player at the position on the market:

What is unique, as noted in Rapoport’s tweet, is that by being released now Fowler is free to sign with another team right away. If Andrew Berry and company want to get ahead of the market at the position, Fowler could be a part of that.

In his seven years in the NFL, Fowler has 35 sacks playing for three different teams. In his last two years in Atlanta, the former third overall pick had a total of 7.5 sacks. Two years removed from 11.5 sacks, teams will have to decide how much they think Fowler can produce in their defense.

Fowler had signed a three-year, $45 million deal following that breakout year with the Los Angeles Rams.

Signing Fowler, depending on the price, would take Cleveland out of the running for a Clowney return but could give them some depth.