10 Dallas Cowboys Who Will Be on the Roster Bubble in 2012

Before we start our foray into which player should be cut, why didn't anybody have the same thought as I did watching the Giants and Falcons? If the folks at the National Football League wanted a team to go up to New York and lose, Dallas would have been a fine choice. Anything?

Well on to the money. The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of offseason work to do. There are needs to be addressed in the secondary, the offensive and defensive lines, special teams, etc... But which player should be afraid for his job? Which Cowboy gave up too many big plays to even be considered to compete on the 2012 roster?

There are a few that come to mind immediately, but let's take a look at 10 Cowboys players who should feel some heat this offseason.

Terence Newman, CB

I said in my post game article after the Cowboys were eliminated from playoff consideration by the Giants, that Newman's career as a Cowboy died on the field in Metlife Stadium. I believe that my prediction is true because not only was Newman used as a human hurdle in that game, he was picked on by Eli Manning like he was a rookie.

Newman has been great for Dallas and held down his side of the field for many years. It's too bad he never saw any real success in Dallas because he has been one of the best Cowboy players over the past decade. But it's time for him to go as Dallas needs to get younger and the secondary needs new life.

Not only should Newman be on the bubble but it should have popped already.

Prediction: Cut

Frank Walker, CB

Be honest, how many people know about Frank Walker? Better yet, how many fans knew that Walker was on the team?

Walker had one interception and 25 tackles. Not necessarily a low for Walker as he averages about 20 plus tacklers per year and has never had more than two interceptions in a season. But Dallas will need more production out of the cornerback position and keeping Walker will do nothing in terms of improvement.

Prediction: Cut

Keith Brooking, LB

Brooking is the emotional defensive leader for the Cowboys. He's always seen on camera giving a speech filed with fire and for the most part, he is still a productive linebacker.

Brooking will enter his 15th year in 2012 and in 2011 he recorded his lowest tackle total since the 2000 season. Brooking is a great player off the field for Dallas and a veteran leader in the locker room. But it's time for him to go as Bruce Carter will be tapped to take over the linebacker position next season.

Prediction: Cut

David Buehler, K

I'll make this short and sweet: What is the point in keeping Buehler? Now that the line for kickoffs has been moved up, Bailey has no issue with field position on his kickoffs.

Bailey was a great find for Dallas and his leg is far more consistent than Buehler on his best day.

Prediction: Cut

Stephen McGee, QB

McGee showed us that he can fill in for an injured quarterback, but that's about it. I saw a bunch of check-downs and fear of making the big mistake when McGee was in against the Eagles.

Quarterback Jon Kitna is likely to retire and Dallas will need to find a real No. 2 quarterback once he's gone. McGee isn't that guy and its time for Dallas to find someone new.

Prediction: On the bubble

Martellus Bennett, TE

I remember when Bennett was drafted out of Texas A&M I really thought he would be a great second tight end option for Dallas.

He's been a large disappointment and while he can be great at run blocking, he's not the pass catching tight end the Cowboys were looking for when he came to the big D.

Bennett needs a fresh start and maybe if he's paired with the right coordinator and quarterback he'll succeed, but that will not happen in Dallas.

Prediction: Cut

Kevin Ogletree, WR

In my eyes, wide receiver Laurent Robinson makes Ogletree obsolete. I had big hopes for Ogletree before the season started and thought that we would see tremendous growth this year. It didn't happen and seeing him fumble around in the Cowboys' first game against the Redskins let me know that he was on his way out of Big D.

Robinson may be tough to keep due to money but Ogletree has little chemistry with Romo and obviously doesn't know the playbook.

Prediction: Cut

Kyle Kosier, G

This one is a tough one. Kosier isn't getting younger and with the youth movement happening upfront for Dallas, it is tough for me to see him returning. However, he's been a valuable resource for tackles Doug Free and Tyron Smith. Free had a great 2010 due in part to Kosier and the same can be said about his influence with Smith this season.

I think that it's probably time for Kosier to move on as he has health problems, but it wouldn't hurt to see him stay.

Prediction: On the bubble

Anthony Spencer, LB

Spencer's position with the team reminds me of defensive end Marcus Spears last season. Spencer will be allowed to test free agency just as Spears was and Dallas ended up re-signing Spears to a midterm deal.

Not sure the same will happen with Spencer, but I didn't think that Spears would be back either. Spencer needed to make more plays and while he looked great at times, he also disappeared for long stretches.

The Cowboys have had success drafting linebackers as of late and should take a pass rushing LB late in the draft.

Prediction: Cut

Abram Elam, S

He was nothing more than a stop gap type of guy in 2011 and he didn't play well enough for Dallas to bring him back next year.

Elam will more than likely find a new club as he was tasked with communicating Rob's defense last season and Dallas has more failures in that area than the Obama administration. Baaaaa-zing!

Prediction: Cut