The Cowboys signed S Abram Elam to a 1-year deal Wednesday and will head into the season with him starting next to re-signed S Gerald Sensabaugh. Elam spent the past 2 years starting under DC Rob Ryan in Cleveland, delivering 91 and then 79 tackles. Elam’s coverage numbers picked up significantly in 2010 with T.J. Ward on board. Both Elam and Sensabaugh profile more as strong players but also have experience at free. Expect Dallas to use both fairly interchangeably. Neither is a high-ceiling IDP, but both could deliver decent production at a volatile position. The team also will be without CB Terence Newman for 4-6 weeks because of a groin injury. The Cowboys now must live with the already unwise decision to keep the over-the-hill 32-year-old and his $8 million salary. Cutting Newman (before the injury) would have saved $4 million in cap space.
