Cowboys have a great road map for the future

[Galian Beast]

Signing Romo to a somewhat backloaded contract (by the look of it), gives the Cowboys 2-3 years of significant cap relief.

In these two years, especially year 2 when we get out of salary cap penalties we will have the ability to really sign some key players short term.

The onus is now on drafting really well to supplant Romo's more expensive years with talented low cost players.

We dedicate the next couple drafts to the offensive line. Two offensive linemen in the first 3 rounds this year, and at least another 1 next year.

We can draft a safety within the first 3 round this year, and a defensive tackle next year.

We can choose to sign Spencer long term, and we might be set at defensive end for the foreseeable future.

There aren't really any immediate demands other than that in the next couple years. We already have a fairly young team in my estimation.

[Woods]

Originally Posted by Galian Beast

Signing Romo to a somewhat backloaded contract (by the look of it), gives the Cowboys 2-3 years of significant cap relief.

In these two years, especially year 2 when we get out of salary cap penalties we will have the ability to really sign some key players short term.

The onus is now on drafting really well to supplant Romo's more expensive years with talented low cost players.

We dedicate the next couple drafts to the offensive line. Two offensive linemen in the first 3 rounds this year, and at least another 1 next year.

We can draft a safety within the first 3 round this year, and a defensive tackle next year.

We can choose to sign Spencer long term, and we might be set at defensive end for the foreseeable future.

There aren't really any immediate demands other than that in the next couple years. We already have a fairly young team in my estimation.

Good post.

We really just need two more OL this year (maybe Moore and FA) and 1 Safety and 1 more DL. We can easily get depth at RB too.

[Matts4313]

Ive been reading through all the numbers. It appears that almost all of Romo's guaranteed money is paid in the first 3 years. After year 3, the cap hit to cut him would be 10M. I think that strikes the right balance of paying for his prime, and having flexibility to cut if father time catches up.

[Garland powerplay]

great so as Romos age goes up and ability goes down, salary goes up. Future so bright gotta wear shades...

[DFWJC]

Originally Posted by Garland powerplay

great so as Romos age goes up and ability goes down, salary goes up. Future so bright gotta wear shades...

Do you seriously think he will decline that much the next 3years?
God grief

[Garland powerplay]

decline from failing ? how is that possible? maybe 1-15 again?

[DFWJC]

Originally Posted by Garland powerplay

decline from failing ? how is that possible? maybe 1-15 again?

Never had a losing season with him as the main QB
The team around him should be better, so why would it get worse?
Ah, nevermind

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by Matts4313

Ive been reading through all the numbers. It appears that almost all of Romo's guaranteed money is paid in the first 3 years. After year 3, the cap hit to cut him would be 10M. I think that strikes the right balance of paying for his prime, and having flexibility to cut if father time catches up.

They will restructure his contract after the 2013 season. Most of his 2014 base salary will be converted to a restructure bonus and spread out over the remainder of the contract. This is how they did it with Brandon Carr. Giving players a big guaranteed 2nd year base salary is a better method of getting the 1st year cap hit down than giving it all to them in a signing bonus.

[KLJ]

i don't think the cowboys actually have any sort of map for the future but i will say that this contract isn't nearly as awful as some make it out to be.

it's basically a 3 or 4 year deal.

[Idgit]

I really like where the team is at. We have a tough call to make on Spencer, and I'm concerned he's going to get a premium that he really shouldn't get at this point in his career. But other than that, we're in pretty good shape personnel wise.

I don't think there are nearly as many holes personnel-wise as some fear. Most of the holes we do have are at positions that are relatively easy to fill in a buyer's market. And we've got a good mix of youth and experience at most position groups. If we draft well and extend young players in a smart way, we're in pretty good shape for the next two-three seasons.

I'd like to see us working on Dez and Lee's extensions pretty much now, though. Once we figure out what we're going to do with Spencer, it's time to lock down some of those players who are the next generation of team leaders for us as our current vet leaders wind down.

[Fla Cowpoke]

Originally Posted by xwalker

They will restructure his contract after the 2013 season. Most of his 2014 base salary will be converted to a restructure bonus and spread out over the remainder of the contract. This is how they did it with Brandon Carr. Giving players a big guaranteed 2nd year base salary is a better method of getting the 1st year cap hit down than giving it all to them in a signing bonus.

Agreed and he will still probably not see the 5th year of the deal.

Say they give him 12m in restructure bonus, his cap hit would be 1.5m salary, 5m SB, 3,273 misc bonus and 2m restructure bonus for about 11.7m hit compared to the almost 22m currently listed.

In 2017, he currently counts for 19m, if cut at that point he would have one year of SB of 5m left, and three years of 6m restructure bonus left to eat. If taken that year, saves 8m off the cap with 11m dead. If a June 1st cut, saves 11m in 2017 with 8m dead, then saves 16.5m with $3m dead in 2018.

The deal is not bad, gives us some flexibility.

[Hoofbite]

Originally Posted by KLJ

i don't think the cowboys actually have any sort of map for the future but i will say that this contract isn't nearly as awful as some make it out to be.

it's basically a 3 or 4 year deal.

I don't think it is. I went back and fort with someone last night about it but didn't have the attention span to really stay that engaged.

If they restructure years 2 and 3, there will be significant dead money on the cap.

There would be $11M in dead money if they didn't restructure at all and cut him after three years.

For simplicity's sake, lets pretend they restructure his contract to match his 2013 base salary of $1.5M.

In 2014, that moves approximately $12M in base salary that would be prorated across 5 seasons, adding $2.4M to each season it hits.

In 2015, it would move approximately $15.5M and would add about $3.1M to each season it was prorated over.

Cutting him after year 3 = $31.2M Dead

• $10M in SB money that hasn't been accounted for.
• $1.6M in additional bonus money
• Restructure 1: $2.4M X 3 remaining seasons = $7.2M
• Restructure 2: $3.1M X 4 remaining seasons = $12.4M

Cutting him after year 4 = $19.1M Dead

• $5M in SB money that hasn't been accounted for.
• Restructure 1: $2.4M X 2 remaining seasons = $4.8M
• Restructure 2: $3.1M X 3 remaining seasons = $9.3M

I just don't see it happening. His cap hit for year 5 would be about $5M more than the dead money that would hit if he were cut.

Not to mention the whole idea about it being any set length completely throws his actual performance out of the equation.

Additionally, any agent who would sign a deal worth $108M and have $60M of it in years the player will never see is likely not getting the best deal for his client. Cutting Romo after year 3 leaves over $60M in base salaries remaining. Little over $50M after year 4.

[fffiasco]

i think austin is gone next year so we also need a wr possibly in round 4.

[Rockytop6]

Originally Posted by DFWJC

Never had a losing season with him as the main QB
The team around him should be better, so why would it get worse?
Ah, nevermind

On the other hand he hasn't had a winning season the last two years. You can make stats say most anything. I really don't know if Romo's contract is good for the Cowboys or not. The figures are staggering. Both sides of the debate have some good points so I will take a firm stand and say, I'm squarely straddling the fence. Oops, the seat of my pants got caught on a nail.

[Hoofbite]

Originally Posted by DFWJC

Never had a losing season with him as the main QB
The team around him should be better, so why would it get worse?
Ah, nevermind

That's a pretty convenient qualifier when the only season he wasn't the main QB started like 1-5 with him as the QB.

Not knocking the guy but I wouldn't go this far with it.