By the time I get to the end of these threads I am
It always amazes me how everyone takes issues with opinions of others while allowing no one to take issue with their own.
For the record my mind is not made up on the player, but I always like to read pre-signing and post-singing articles about players to get a 'feel' for what the truth is about a player.
excerpts from
'Either or Neither'The fact that he is three years younger than Barry Church also has to play in his favor. There is nobody else currently on the defense that brings the physicality or intimidation factor Wilcox does.
As a former undrafted underdog, Church has carved seven successful years out of the NFL and has over 500 tackles in that span. Although he has missed some time due to injuries, he has proven to be reliable and a mentor to younger players on the defense. At only 28, he does have the ability to play another two to three years at a high level and that known commodity could prove to be useful for a team trying to win in a tight window. Church is also willing to play on special teams even though he is a full time starter.
Looks like Wilcox is seen as the better player with more upside, but on a team that has drafted younger players Church is seen as the most able to help the team.
excerpts from
'The Dallas player making Wilcox and Church expendable'That hunger has helped Heath become better than Jones. First, Heath brings the wood like safety J.J. Wilcox.
Heath is the Cowboys MVP in the secondary. If the Cowboys released Wilcox, Church and Jones we’d be fine. Jeff Heath fills all those shoes but with a shorter broad jump. Laugh now.
Sounds more like the need for a hard hitter was found in a free agent. Sounds like writer believes that free agents 'play hungry' because they realize how easily they can be replaced if they do not work at getting better.
From the vantage point of those two articles I think Wilcox was a good pickup. He needs to work at getting better, but appears to have the tools to do it.