Clayton Quick Hits.... (Yet another Howard-'Boys blurb) - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**WoodysGirl** · 03-15-2005

nothing new, though....
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March 14, 2005
An offer he couldn't refuse
It took a pretty good deal for the Dolphins to convince Gus Frerotte to chose them over the Denver Broncos. The Dolphins gave Frerotte a two-year, $3 million contract that included a $500,000 signing bonus. There were plenty of incentives built into the contract in case Frerotte gets a chance to play ahead of A.J. Feeley, who is expected to be the starter. The Dolphins completed their quarterback moves Monday by also formally signing Sage Rosenfels to a one-year contract.

March 14, 2005
Time for conversion?
Browns defensive end Courtney Brown plans to visit a few teams, including the Redskins, to get a gauge how much teams think of him as a player. The Browns released Brown on Monday but want him to come back to be a 270-pound linebacker and pass-rushing defensive end in their 3-4 scheme. New coach Romeo Crennel did a good job in trying to pitch Brown on the idea of returning to the Browns after he makes a few visits.

March 14, 2005
What's Pace's price?
Things are heating up on the Orlando Pace front now that he's visited the Houston Texans. The Texans are debating whether to make a trade offer to the Rams now or wait a few days, but the emotions of the situation point to now. There's a March 16 deadline for unsigned franchise players getting long-term deals in order for the team to retain its ability to franchise players in the future.

Pace is on the verge of being one of the highest paid left tackles in the league, but the Rams have until Wednesday to get him under a long term deal. The question is whether the Rams will hold to getting two first-round choices from Houston if no trade is worked out by Wednesday. The Texans won't be willing to trade two first-round picks.

March 14, 2005
Jonesing for Tebucky
The Dolphins have to make a decision by Tuesday morning whether to trade a minor draft choice in order to acquire Saints safety Tebucky Jones. Jones is going to be cut Tuesday before he is scheduled to receive a $400,000 signing bonus. The Dolphins may only have to give up a sixth- or seventh-round pick for Jones, but Jones would like to get a one-year contract so that he could hit free agency next year.

March 14, 2005
Cash up front
The only thing new on the Darren Howard trade front is that the Cowboys were a little surprised hearing Howard would like a $16 million signing bonus on a long-term deal. The Saints are in trade talks with the Cowboys on Howard, who would like a six-year, $33 million contract, similar to what Grant Wistrom received from the Seahawks last season. Wistrom received a $14 million signing bonus. Howard would like a percentage increase from those numbers.

March 14, 2005
Hand signal: Get out
There was no surprise the Giants released defensive tackle Norman Hand Monday. Once they reached an agreement with former Steelers defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy, Hand, a good run-stopper who tends to get a little heavy during the regular season, became expendable.

jksmith269 · 03-15-2005

I hope this gets done today.....Good post

CosmicCowboy · 03-15-2005

again... anything on having to give up draft picks?

Doomsday101 · 03-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicCowboy

again... anything on having to give up draft picks?

If we are talking a 2nd rd pick I could live with that because I don't think we will find a player of Howards level in round 2 of the draft.

AMERICAS_FAN · 03-15-2005

>>>...the Cowboys were a little surprised hearing Howard would like a $16 million signing bonus on a long-term deal...<<<

Actually, this is something new. Before it seemed the hitch in the deal was what the Cowboys would give the Saints for Howard - in terms of picks and/or players. But this makes it sound like the hitch in the deal is what the Cowboys want to give Howard in terms of a signing bonus. Could it be that the Cowboys and Saints have alreasdy agreed the trade terms in principal, and all that is left to be done is hammer out the contract terms with Howard?

AF

**WoodysGirl** · 03-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMERICAS_FAN

>>>...the Cowboys were a little surprised hearing Howard would like a $16 million signing bonus on a long-term deal...<<<

Actually, this is something new. Before it seemed the hitch in the deal was what the Cowboys would give the Saints for Howard - in terms of picks and/or players. But this makes it sound like the hitch in the deal is what the Cowboys want to give Howard in terms of a signing bonus. Could it be that the Cowboys and Saints have alreasdy agreed the trade terms in principal, and all that is left to be done is hammer out the contract terms with Howard?

AF

Surprised, but doesn't say that the boys weren't willing to come out the pocket for it either.

At this point, nobody has a clue what the sticking points are. One min it's on the Saints, next min it's between Howard and the 'boys. Head scratcher for sure.

Hollywood Henderson · 03-15-2005

AF sounds like it...

Although story's on this trade sure have been all over the place...

I think he would have a much better impact on our D then Winstrom did with his.

But the KEY remains having Parcells control, develop & coach the D, or else 95% of the people here will be calling Howard this years Eb/Wiley BUST because of zimmy's "occupy & engage" passive & predictable crappy scheme doesn't pressure ANYTHING...

LT or the FREAK in his prime couldn't make that awful so called scheme be effective or produce big plays...

Take over on D BIG BILL!

CosmicCowboy · 03-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

If we are talking a 2nd rd pick I could live with that because I don't think we will find a player of Howards level in round 2 of the draft.

Thanks, Doomsday.. hope thats next years 2nd pick. I, feel we can really get some good ball players with these three picks... if the Ranch gets right this time.

InmanRoshi · 03-15-2005

Why do all the reporters bring up the Wistrom contract, but none of them bring up the Shaun Ellis contract extension in December? Seems like that would be the much more timely and apt comparison. They act like Winstrom is the only premium defensive end who's signed a contract in the last 24 months.

Pooz · 03-15-2005

I want Hand and Howard now! I wasn't for the Howard deal at first but I am convinced.

**ABQCOWBOY** · 03-15-2005

I don't love giving huge signing bonus money up front. I think it's OK to give fair money up front but not excessive. This is the only part of a contract that is guaranted and so, I understand why the players want it but to be honest, what's to stop a player from, basically, going through the motions once he gets a huge signing bonus. I mean, if the guy is slacking, what's going to happen? Is Bill going to be able to go to the guy and make him step it up once he gets a 16 million dollar signing bonus, up front and guaranteed? No way in hell. The guy is more likely to blow him off. In fact, almost more desireable to get cut and go sign another deal. You get all your money excellerated and you have an opportunity to go sign another contract. Don't like this.

Doomsday101 · 03-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

I don't love giving huge signing bonus money up front. I think it's OK to give fair money up front but not excessive. This is the only part of a contract that is guaranted and so, I understand why the players want it but to be honest, what's to stop a player from, basically, going through the motions once he gets a huge signing bonus. I mean, if the guy is slacking, what's going to happen? Is Bill going to be able to go to the guy and make him step it up once he gets a 16 million dollar signing bonus, up front and guaranteed? No way in hell. The guy is more likely to blow him off. In fact, almost more desireable to get cut and go sign another deal. You get all your money excellerated and you have an opportunity to go sign another contract. Don't like this.

What prevent some players from taking the money and just kicking back is most of them are highly competitive people. I agree that paying these big signing bonus is not my cup of tea but you either ante up to bring in talent or you don't.

**ABQCOWBOY** · 03-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

What prevent some players from taking the money and just kicking back is most of them are highly competitive people. I agree that paying these big signing bonus is not my cup of tea but you either ante up to bring in talent or you don't.

I don't agree with this. It is my observatin that most of them are greedy rather then competative. The one's who are competative and are in it for the winning are usually kept by the clubs who own there rights. Normally, clubs find a way to keep them. I've just seen too many pro athletes sign contracts and basically coast until they reach another contract year. Then they play hard again and get another pay day.

I'm not in favor of the huge singing bonus to FAs. I am much more willing to give a player drafted by the team a nice bonus rather then a player coming over from another club as an FA.

I guess I'm jaded.

AMERICAS_FAN · 03-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicCowboy

Originally Posted by Doomsday101
>>>If we are talking a 2nd rd pick I could live with that because I don't think we will find a player of Howards level in round 2 of the draft.<<<

Thanks, Doomsday.. hope thats next years 2nd pick. I, feel we can really get some good ball players with these three picks... if the Ranch gets right this time.

I'm also in favor of giving up a 2nd round pick and maybe even a late rounder to sweeten the pot because Howard is worth that. However, I'd prefer that it is this year's 2nd round pick and not next year's. After all, aquiring any player is a gamble - just look at the Rivera-injury situation. What if Howard does not work out for us, like Wiley didn't, for one reason or another? Then next year we not only don't have a DE but we also won't have a 2nd round pick to upgrade the roster with. If we instead use this year's 2nd round pick to trade for Howard we've in essence used the pick to "draft" Howard, and we'd still have next year's pick in case we need it to further address the position.

AF

Doomsday101 · 03-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

I don't agree with this. It is my observatin that most of them are greedy rather then competative. The one's who are competative and are in it for the winning are usually kept by the clubs who own there rights. Normally, clubs find a way to keep them. I've just seen too many pro athletes sign contracts and basically coast until they reach another contract year. Then they play hard again and get another pay day.

I'm not in favor of the huge singing bonus to FAs. I am much more willing to give a player drafted by the team a nice bonus rather then a player coming over from another club as an FA.

I guess I'm jaded.

Some have and others have not. I do know that this is not the old NFL any longer and either you get into the mix of FA or you end up wishing you had once the season starts. As I said I'm not big fan of FA or these big signing bonus but I hate losing more than that.