The Cowboys defense was not good this season, leading some to wonder whether defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin would return for a second season with the team.
There was at least one player on the team who took to life with Kiffin at the controls, though. Defensive tackle Jason Hatcher thrived on the interior of the 4-3 look, picking up 11 sacks and two forced fumbles on the year while giving the Cowboys at least one place they could look to for consistent effort and production on defense this season.
Hatcher is headed for free agency, but he says neither Kiffin’s status nor his history with the Cowboys is going to be a factor when he decides on where to play his football in 2014. Hatcher will be 32 before next season starts and he’s looking to get paid first and foremost.
“I’m going to get what I deserve and get what I’m worth,” Hatcher said, via ESPNDallas.com. “Age don’t matter. Whatever. If you ain’t talking what I want, I don’t want to talk to ‘em.”
What Hatcher feels he deserves and what the market tells him he’s worth could wind up being very different, but it might not matter to the Cowboys as they have to unravel some cap problems before they start thinking about new offers.