CCBoy
01-12-2012, 06:32 PM
Cowboys look to solve free agency problems
by Bob Sturm
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/01/12/12/Cowboys-look-to-solve-free-agency-proble/landing_cowboys.html?blockID=644752&feedID=4680
....That leads us to believe that the difficult free agency questions in front of the Dallas Cowboys may not be as difficult as they appear. The three biggest free agent issues are punter Mat McBriar, wide receiver Laurent Robinson, and of course, outside linebacker Anthony Spencer. With all due respect to Martellus Bennett, Alan Ball, and Jon Kitna, most of the rest of the names on the unrestricted list seem to speak for themselves. Montrae Holland and Keith Brooking might both get 1-year offers, but there is no hurry on 10 of the 13 names on the list.
Here are the 3 that give you pause:
McBriar is considered to be one of the best punters in the business, but with his injury issue right now that will require time to heal, he may not quite see the bidding he dreamed of. Odds are pretty good that the Cowboys continue their long relationship with this elite punter, provided his nerve issues in his foot resolve in a timely fashion.
Robinson has put himself in this position by playing exceptional football from the time he arrived at Valley Ranch. Somehow, he had a grasp for the nuance of the offense that Dez Bryant still seems to seek. Not only that, but he routinely found the end zone. His 11 Touchdowns trailed only 3 players in the league, with Rob Gronkowski, Calvin Johnson, and Jordy Nelson as the only players to exceed his end zone trips. Nelson accepted a hometown discount with the Packers in October for $13 million over 3 years, and perhaps given they were both born 11 days apart in May of 1985 and both had breakout 2011s, that would be a rather fair projection for what Robinson will be seeking.
Of course, the Cowboys might counter by pointing out Nelson far exceeded his production in terms of receptions, yardage, and body of work. Earlier this year, Nelson finished 2nd in Super Bowl MVP voting while Robinson was being discarded at the end of camp by the San Diego Chargers. Further, it might be considered reckless to pay a 3rd WR decent money given that you have already sunk so much money into that position and given that there are so many other holes to consider. But, if I am the Cowboys, I really need to hold on to Robinson and would rush to get his signature on a contract along those lines. They paid Patrick Crayton a 4-year, $14 million deal in December of 2007, and have been looking for a 3rd WR who could offer multiple options and coverage headaches. As another reference point, Chicago just locked up Earl Bennett (who is 24 years old) on a 5-year deal for $18.5 million and will likely be their 3rd WR. If they want this offense to remain dynamic in the air, they better figure out how to get this one done. Robinson, on the other hand, might want to drag his feet and see if someone out there is willing to pay him "starter" money and get in the $20-$25 million range for 4 or 5 years.
And then comes the big one, Anthony Spencer....
by Bob Sturm
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/01/12/12/Cowboys-look-to-solve-free-agency-proble/landing_cowboys.html?blockID=644752&feedID=4680
....That leads us to believe that the difficult free agency questions in front of the Dallas Cowboys may not be as difficult as they appear. The three biggest free agent issues are punter Mat McBriar, wide receiver Laurent Robinson, and of course, outside linebacker Anthony Spencer. With all due respect to Martellus Bennett, Alan Ball, and Jon Kitna, most of the rest of the names on the unrestricted list seem to speak for themselves. Montrae Holland and Keith Brooking might both get 1-year offers, but there is no hurry on 10 of the 13 names on the list.
Here are the 3 that give you pause:
McBriar is considered to be one of the best punters in the business, but with his injury issue right now that will require time to heal, he may not quite see the bidding he dreamed of. Odds are pretty good that the Cowboys continue their long relationship with this elite punter, provided his nerve issues in his foot resolve in a timely fashion.
Robinson has put himself in this position by playing exceptional football from the time he arrived at Valley Ranch. Somehow, he had a grasp for the nuance of the offense that Dez Bryant still seems to seek. Not only that, but he routinely found the end zone. His 11 Touchdowns trailed only 3 players in the league, with Rob Gronkowski, Calvin Johnson, and Jordy Nelson as the only players to exceed his end zone trips. Nelson accepted a hometown discount with the Packers in October for $13 million over 3 years, and perhaps given they were both born 11 days apart in May of 1985 and both had breakout 2011s, that would be a rather fair projection for what Robinson will be seeking.
Of course, the Cowboys might counter by pointing out Nelson far exceeded his production in terms of receptions, yardage, and body of work. Earlier this year, Nelson finished 2nd in Super Bowl MVP voting while Robinson was being discarded at the end of camp by the San Diego Chargers. Further, it might be considered reckless to pay a 3rd WR decent money given that you have already sunk so much money into that position and given that there are so many other holes to consider. But, if I am the Cowboys, I really need to hold on to Robinson and would rush to get his signature on a contract along those lines. They paid Patrick Crayton a 4-year, $14 million deal in December of 2007, and have been looking for a 3rd WR who could offer multiple options and coverage headaches. As another reference point, Chicago just locked up Earl Bennett (who is 24 years old) on a 5-year deal for $18.5 million and will likely be their 3rd WR. If they want this offense to remain dynamic in the air, they better figure out how to get this one done. Robinson, on the other hand, might want to drag his feet and see if someone out there is willing to pay him "starter" money and get in the $20-$25 million range for 4 or 5 years.
And then comes the big one, Anthony Spencer....