Slowly but surely we need to get rid of contracts - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Galian Beast · 01-20-2013

Players like Austin, Ratliff, Spears, Free, Bernadeau, Livings, Scandrick, Sensabaugh, and even Ware.

Looking at Austin's contract, we really have no choice but to keep him until probably 2015. It'll be interesting if we can move him in a trade. His contract is very trade friendly. Hell we could even release him out right. I think we can do a lot more on offense with paying offensive linemen rather than paying Austin. He can't be relied on to stay healthy. So I'd say we just work on having guys like Beasley, Harris, and Coale step up, and give Romo a running game.

Jay Ratliff is done. His contract blows up, and we might as well get rid of it sooner rather than later. I'm all aboard getting Melton, especially if we let Ratliff walk. That being said, this is going to be a huge cap hit.

I think cutting Spears goes without saying. We don't need him on the roster anymore, and we certainly don't need to be paying him.

Doug Free's contract is a killer too, but I don't think we have any choice but to get rid of this guy now. He will cost 7 million in base salary next year. What a terrible guy he turned out to be...

I have no idea how we signed Nate Livings to so much money. It might be worth keeping him as a backup until 2014, but this signing just glares of incompetence. I gave the F.O. too much credit with this one last year.

I'd also cut Bernadeau this year.

Signing Kyle Orton was also a knee jerk reaction. How much of that money could be going towards actually keeping Romo safe in the first place? At least it was front loaded.

We're going to have to move on from DeMarcus Ware and soon. This has to be Ware's last year in Dallas before his contract blows up to 13 million a year. I'd work feverishly to trade Ware now.

Scandrick and Senabaugh? Releasing Scandrick shouldn't be too hard. Sensabaugh will be a bit tougher, but even more necessary.

Vintage · 01-20-2013

Id also add Witten. He is old.

Lee will need an extension soon. Dump him while he is cheap.

Carter will probably be expensive to retain in a few years, lets get ahead of the curb and move on.

Can you imagine how expensive Claiborne will be if he pans out? Lets dump him, too.

Tyron is a young LT. That could be costly. Maybe find a cheaper alternative.

Galian Beast · 01-20-2013

It's about opportunity cost. Ware is certainly not living up to his cost. Do you know how many solid players you can get as opposed to paying for Ware?

Look at how Houston managed without Mario Williams.

When you design an offense or defense around one player, and they don't play well or they aren't healthy... well things fall apart.

Lonestar94 · 01-20-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintage

Id also add Witten. He is old.

Lee will need an extension soon. Dump him while he is cheap.

Carter will probably be expensive to retain in a few years, lets get ahead of the curb and move on.

Can you imagine how expensive Claiborne will be if he pans out? Lets dump him, too.

Tyron is a young LT. That could be costly. Maybe find a cheaper alternative.

I like your style.

dragon_mikal · 01-20-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galian Beast

It's about opportunity cost. Ware is certainly not living up to his cost. Do you know how many solid players you can get as opposed to paying for Ware?

Look at how Houston managed without Mario Williams.

When you design an offense or defense around one player, and they don't play well or they aren't healthy... well things fall apart.

First off...don't ever mention Mario Williams and Demarcus Ware in the same sentence.

Second...Ware was obviously hurt and still managed double digit sacks this year. He will be back to dominating next year no doubt.

I seem to recall people proclaiming Witten as done after his slow start as well and were saying he needed to be benched for Hanna.

This line of thinking was ridiculous then and is ridiculous now.

CowboysYanksLakers · 01-20-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintage

Id also add Witten. He is old.

Lee will need an extension soon. Dump him while he is cheap.

Carter will probably be expensive to retain in a few years, lets get ahead of the curb and move on.

Can you imagine how expensive Claiborne will be if he pans out? Lets dump him, too.

Tyron is a young LT. That could be costly. Maybe find a cheaper alternative.

You sneaky devil you...

skinsscalper · 01-20-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galian Beast

Players like Austin, Ratliff, Spears, Free, Bernadeau, Livings, Scandrick, Sensabaugh, and even Ware.

Looking at Austin's contract, we really have no choice but to keep him until probably 2015. It'll be interesting if we can move him in a trade. His contract is very trade friendly. Hell we could even release him out right. I think we can do a lot more on offense with paying offensive linemen rather than paying Austin. He can't be relied on to stay healthy. So I'd say we just work on having guys like Beasley, Harris, and Coale step up, and give Romo a running game.

Jay Ratliff is done. His contract blows up, and we might as well get rid of it sooner rather than later. I'm all aboard getting Melton, especially if we let Ratliff walk. That being said, this is going to be a huge cap hit.

I think cutting Spears goes without saying. We don't need him on the roster anymore, and we certainly don't need to be paying him.

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Galian Beast · 01-20-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragon_mikal

First off...don't ever mention Mario Williams and Demarcus Ware in the same sentence.

Second...Ware was obviously hurt and still managed double digit sacks this year. He will be back to dominating next year no doubt.

I seem to recall people proclaiming Witten as done after his slow start as well and were saying he needed to be benched for Hanna.

This line of thinking was ridiculous then and is ridiculous now.

People have been saying Witten is done for a while. I'm all for trading Jason Witten. At the end of the day its about opportunity costs. Does the resources our team spends on Witten equal his production? Could we use that money better else where? I would say yeah we could.

Diogenes · 01-20-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintage

Id also add Witten. He is old.

Lee will need an extension soon. Dump him while he is cheap.

Carter will probably be expensive to retain in a few years, lets get ahead of the curb and move on.

Can you imagine how expensive Claiborne will be if he pans out? Lets dump him, too.

Tyron is a young LT. That could be costly. Maybe find a cheaper alternative.

Subtlety is not your strong suit.

CowboyStar88 · 01-20-2013

GB while I understand what you are saying however I don't agree with dumping Ware right now. Why would you dump him? He just turned 30 yes he was beat up last year but that doesn't mean he is washed up. He earns his contract period. He will become a pass rushing specialist and I am so excited about that. Ratliff we will probably roll with for another year and then cut him loose. Miles I agree with you on. I don't think his production matches his contract at all. The others I think you are making a big deal out of them and on a scale they are relatively small compared to free/austin/Ratliff who I see as the major contracts that we need to get rid of. Also I just don't like the idea of handing out an extension to a 33 yr old QB that can't get it done. I get the feeling we are walking down the same road we were in when Troy retired. Big contract and no young QB ready to go. What happens if Romo sucks next year? You've got no QB to turn to. That doesn't sit well with me.

CowboyStar88 · 01-20-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galian Beast

People have been saying Witten is done for a while. I'm all for trading Jason Witten. At the end of the day its about opportunity costs. Does the resources our team spends on Witten equal his production? Could we use that money better else where? I would say yeah we could.

I would say yes his production matches his cost. Heck witten can play another 5 years at this level he isn't beat up. Look at Tony Gonzalez at the age of 37. Witten has no decrease in his production at all.

CaptainMorgan · 01-21-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragon_mikal

I seem to recall people proclaiming Witten as done after his slow start as well and were saying he needed to be benched for Hanna.

This line of thinking was ridiculous then and is ridiculous now.

I love Witten but Im betting Hannah can step in and instantly add more speed and play making ability. If we can save money by releasing Witten Id do it.

When you rebuild sometimes those decisions are painful but I'd be looking at building a core of players for the future at this point.

Galian Beast · 01-21-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowboyStar88

GB while I understand what you are saying however I don't agree with dumping Ware right now. Why would you dump him? He just turned 30 yes he was beat up last year but that doesn't mean he is washed up. He earns his contract period. He will become a pass rushing specialist and I am so excited about that. Ratliff we will probably roll with for another year and then cut him loose. Miles I agree with you on. I don't think his production matches his contract at all. The others I think you are making a big deal out of them and on a scale they are relatively small compared to free/austin/Ratliff who I see as the major contracts that we need to get rid of. Also I just don't like the idea of handing out an extension to a 33 yr old QB that can't get it done. I get the feeling we are walking down the same road we were in when Troy retired. Big contract and no young QB ready to go. What happens if Romo sucks next year? You've got no QB to turn to. That doesn't sit well with me.

Ware costs 5.5 million next year, in 2014 he will cost 12.25 million, and in 2015 he will cost 13.75 million. I would say keep him for another year and trade or release him. He is getting old, less effective, and more injury prone. I don't think Ware will be worth 12.25 million in 2014. I don't think it would be right to resign him in 2016. So what recourse is left?

The others? They add up.

You give Romo a team, and he'll get it done.

CowboyStar88 · 01-21-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainMorgan

I love Witten but Im betting Hannah can step in and instantly add more speed and play making ability. If we can save money by releasing Witten Id do it.

When you rebuild sometimes those decisions are painful but I'd be looking at building a core of players for the future at this point.

Witten is playing at a high level and understands how defense play and he knows where to sit down in coverages and he always seems to beat who ever is lined up across him. I don't see what you gain in cutting a future HOF TE who can play another 5 years. His cost/production is equal. If this team cut Witten I would be furious and seriously question the direction of this team. May I remind you what it was like before we drafted Witten? So no I don't agree that someone could step right in and give the same production that witten gives.

Galian Beast · 01-21-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainMorgan

I love Witten but Im betting Hannah can step in and instantly add more speed and play making ability. If we can save money by releasing Witten Id do it.

When you rebuild sometimes those decisions are painful but I'd be looking at building a core of players for the future at this point.

Exactly right. If we could get trade value for Witten, not only does that make our team better, frees up money, it also adds speed to the offense.

Not to say that Hanna is better than Witten, rather that the drop off compared to what we get in return sounds palatable.