Cowboys break 1/23

[Woods]

why not draft a RT in Day 2 of the Draft, for example, let him compete against Parnell?

If we cut Free post June 1st, use the cap savings on solidifying other positions including Safety, LB/DE depth, etc.

The caveat is that Callahan thinks that Free's mistakes can be remedied and Free can somehow return to top quality form. On that, I have no idea. I have to think that's the main reason Free would return if he, in fact, does return.

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by Woods

why not draft a RT in Day 2 of the Draft, for example, let him compete against Parnell?

If we cut Free post June 1st, use the cap savings on solidifying other positions including Safety, LB/DE depth, etc.

The caveat is that Callahan thinks that Free's mistakes can be remedied and Free can somehow return to top quality form. On that, I have no idea. I have to think that's the main reason Free would return if he, in fact, does return.

Callahan was reported to be the one that "pushed" for Parnell to get more playing time.

[Woods]

Originally Posted by xwalker

Callahan was reported to be the one that "pushed" for Parnell to get more playing time.

If that's the case, maybe the best option is to draft an OT who also has the versatility to play OG.

Get the 5 best guys on the field.

Let the rookie compete against Parnell first. If Parnell is doing well, let the rookie compete against the OGs for a starting spot.

Use the Free savings on improving our other problem positions and depth.

[Hoofbite]

Originally Posted by theebs

Its stupid to cut free or Ratliff.

unless we have proven replacements.

Right now we do not. Free could bounce back and have a great year and since the team will be paying him a lot anyway, or at least in cap numbers...

I would rather he have a great bounce back year here instead of KC where who knows I bet andy reid would have interest.

same goes with Ratliff, the last thing we need is him cut and ending up in ny or philly and he has a bounce back year.

You've just made a case to never cut any player. Ever.

[fivetwos]

Much more will be lost by the message sent by not cutting Ratliff than could possibly be gained by what he gives you on the field.

An organization like Pittsburgh cuts a productive young player like Chris Rainey, and it sends a no nonsense message to the rest of the team.

Our team?

One player kills another while driving drunk then a month later someone else it at it again.

A message needs to be sent: drive drunk and you're gone.

That's WAY bigger than DEPTH at defensive tackle for crying out loud !!

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE WING

It's been so long since we've seen consistently good line play that people's standards have really lowered.

sad but true

[Bluefin]

Originally Posted by xwalker

Callahan was reported to be the one that "pushed" for Parnell to get more playing time.

And they said on Talkin' Cowboys last week that Bill Callahan was pushing to get Jermey Parnell on the field long before it actually happened near the end of the season.

Bryan Broaddus also mentioned that Doug Free and most of the big money contract players have built in clauses allowing the team to convert large base salaries into signing bonuses in order to get salary cap relief.

Broaddus changed his tune from releasing Free to keeping Free because of that option.

The team did it last year because Free's base salary was already guaranteed.

His 2013 base salary ($7M) is not.

I don't see Dallas adding another $5.8M in guaranteed money (lower base salary to $1.2M and convert $5.8M into another signing bonus pro-rated at $1.45M per yr) to Free's contract in order to get some cap relief.

Will Free take a straight cut in base salary in order to remain with the team?

I doubt it.

[Hoofbite]

Originally Posted by Bluefin

And they said on Talkin' Cowboys last week that Bill Callahan was pushing to get Jermey Parnell on the field long before it actually happened near the end of the season.

Bryan Broaddus also mentioned that Doug Free and most of the big money contract players have built in clauses allowing the team to convert large base salaries into signing bonuses in order to get salary cap relief.

Broaddus changed his tune from releasing Free to keeping Free because of that option.

The team did it last year because Free's base salary was already guaranteed.

His 2013 base salary ($7M) is not.

I don't see Dallas adding another $5.8M in guaranteed money (lower base salary to $1.2M and convert $5.8M into another signing bonus pro-rated at $1.45M per yr) to Free's contract in order to get some cap relief.

Will Free take a straight cut in base salary in order to remain with the team?

I doubt it.

He should. It beats the hell out of getting straight up cut and then getting nowhere close to the money he's scheduled to make this year.

He's in line to make 7M this year. He might be able to get that much at his new stop but only after the signing bonus. From there, he'd have base salaries that probably aren't half of what his base salaries are in Dallas.

He best possible play, in terms of money, is to renegotiate the deal all together into a lower number for at least this next season and then to go out there and earn the right to not have to do the same the following year. He concedes he's not worth the amount, takes way less and then shows the team he's worth his paycheck the following year and is allowed to continue to play.

Dallas' best play is to designate him and move on.

[Teague31]

Originally Posted by fivetwos

Much more will be lost by the message sent by not cutting Ratliff than could possibly be gained by what he gives you on the field.

An organization like Pittsburgh cuts a productive young player like Chris Rainey, and it sends a no nonsense message to the rest of the team.

Our team?

One player kills another while driving drunk then a month later someone else it at it again.

A message needs to be sent: drive drunk and you're gone.

That's WAY bigger than DEPTH at defensive tackle for crying out loud !!

The Stealers really sent a message with their handling of the rapist

[RoyTheHammer]

Originally Posted by CowboysYanksLakers

Yes I would definitely cut Free and Ratliff... It's time for new blood.

Free and Sensabaugh would be my choices..


...and Ogletree!

[jjktkk]

Originally Posted by Teague31

The Stealers really sent a message with their handling of the rapist

Funny how that works, unfortunately.

[Oh_Canada]

Originally Posted by Teague31

The Stealers really sent a message with their handling of the rapist

Yup or Alameda Ta'amu whom they brought back after his arrest for DUI which included hitting several cars and resisting arrest to boot.

How many times did James Harrison get arrested. I think he's still on the team.

Hines Ward-DUI. Played one more year for I believe the Steelers before retiring.

Yeah, the Steelers are a MODEL franchise.

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by theebs

Its stupid to cut free or Ratliff.

unless we have proven replacements.

Right now we do not. Free could bounce back and have a great year and since the team will be paying him a lot anyway, or at least in cap numbers...

I would rather he have a great bounce back year here instead of KC where who knows I bet andy reid would have interest.

same goes with Ratliff, the last thing we need is him cut and ending up in ny or philly and he has a bounce back year.

No, no, no.

This is, like most thing sin life, all about the money.

Doug Free was cut the day we signed Tyron Smith. We can't pay 8m a year to a RT. Especially not a bad RT.

We did replace Free just fine with Parnell. There were no penalties and no jail breaks. A far cry from the average Free game.

Ratliff has talent but he is in a tailspin apparently. Who is stupid enough to drive drunk a month after your back up has a drunk driving fatality? Who tries to fight 70 year old dudes?

The combined cap savings from Free and Ratliff this year make for tons of leeway. The draft is deep at both RT and DT. FA is always there to boost the team and it needs it whether we have Free and Ratliff or not.

[Deep_Freeze]

Originally Posted by jterrell

The combined cap savings from Free and Ratliff this year make for tons of leeway. The draft is deep at both RT and DT. FA is always there to boost the team and it needs it whether we have Free and Ratliff or not.

Well this is the only thing I have a problem with what you said. We can't go into the draft looking for a starting RT and DT, the draft just doesn't work like that and all that will do is end up with some reach.

These players can't be cut until at least the draft is over and we know what we got, and even then the drafted players could be a bust whereas we have just cut 2 players who have shown the ability to at least play at this level.

You just don't cut players with no replacements, it will never work consistently. At least when we got rid of Ellis we already had Spencer, but with all our other moves on the OL and such we had noone......and we are still paying for it......failing to plan ahead is planning to fail.

[big dog cowboy]

Originally Posted by Bluefin

And they said on Talkin' Cowboys last week that Bill Callahan was pushing to get Jermey Parnell on the field long before it actually happened near the end of the season.

Bryan Broaddus also mentioned that Doug Free and most of the big money contract players have built in clauses allowing the team to convert large base salaries into signing bonuses in order to get salary cap relief.

Broaddus changed his tune from releasing Free to keeping Free because of that option.

The team did it last year because Free's base salary was already guaranteed.

His 2013 base salary ($7M) is not.

I don't see Dallas adding another $5.8M in guaranteed money (lower base salary to $1.2M and convert $5.8M into another signing bonus pro-rated at $1.45M per yr) to Free's contract in order to get some cap relief.

Will Free take a straight cut in base salary in order to remain with the team?

I doubt it.