How Cowboys get down to $104 million - Norm Hitzges

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by ufcrules1

lol... would it really shock you if he stays? We have players show up out of shape and can't pass a basic fitness test and have to jog around the practice field. We are known for holding on to players who are cancers here.

What? This is about the opposite of true. Out of shape players weren't allowed to practice with the team, which was more rigorous than what we'd done previously. And we aggressively cut the cancers off of this team. Not sure what program you've been observing the last two and a half years.

Originally Posted by robert70x7

If Ratliff stays on this team, I will strongly consider not watching next season.

The tea leaves are saying the Rat and Free contracts will probably keep both on the team this next season. I'll be surprised if either are cut, unless it's Free because he's unseated and the gap between him and the next best backup OT is not significant and it saves a bit of pocket change (not sure what the cash and cap implications of his contract are. I believe his cap hit is still significant next year, but don't know if he's also getting a decent paycheck).

[ajk23az]

Originally Posted by Woods

I still think Ratliff is staying.

That said, I do think we can make plenty if room if we want. That would not constrain us. The question is how much of future room does the team want to mortagage?

he will be. I think I saw one of broadduss tweets that we only save a little over $1 million if we cut him. I don't think it's worth it.

[robert70x7]

Originally Posted by jterrell

Fans shop like 15 year old girls.

Norm Hitzges shops like a 15 year old girl?

Originally Posted by the_h0wey

Right.

I'm serious.

Originally Posted by jterrell

we owe him 3m for 2013. he is a solid LB and we could use him in the 4-3.
so we could hand him 2m and add a year to his current deal. That would lower his cap hit by 1m for 2012.

We could draft someone to replace Dan Connor.

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by Tass

I always hear about 'restructuring' player (insert-name's) contract. Why would a player do that? Why would a player agree to a backloaded deal when the team could then just cut him and avoid paying him? Sounds like the players get hosed on those types of deals.

Please someone educate me if I'm wrong.

Example of Restructuring Ratliff's contract:

He has 5 years remaining on his contract.

Without Restructure:
Base Salary = 5M
Prorated Signing Bonus = 2M (Ratliff has already received this, but it counts against the cap)
Total Cap Hit = 7M
He will receive the base salary throughout the 2013 season. I think it is split into 17 paychecks.

With Restructure:
Restructure Bonus = 4M
Base Salary = 1M
Prorated Signing Bonus = 2M
Total Cap Hit = 1M + 4M/5 + 2M = 3.8M
He will receive the Restructure Bonus Now

Summary:
Without Restructure: 5M in Fall of 2013

With Restructure: 4M now and 1M in Fall of 2013

[LatinMind]

Originally Posted by Tass

I always hear about 'restructuring' player (insert-name's) contract. Why would a player do that? Why would a player agree to a backloaded deal when the team could then just cut him and avoid paying him? Sounds like the players get hosed on those types of deals.

Please someone educate me if I'm wrong.

Any money from a base salary removed would be put into signing bonus. So the player will get it on the spot. But will be prorated. Lowering the caphit for the yr

[Oh_Canada]

I would be opposed to going after big money FA's.

Rather spend more conservatively and pursue guys like Sammie Lee Hill, Matt Shaugnessey, and Svitek than blowing our brains after guys like Melton and Vollmer.

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by robert70x7

Norm Hitzges shops like a 15 year old girl?



I'm serious.



We could draft someone to replace Dan Connor.

Norm is in the talk show business; not GM business.
His discussion is with fans who shop like 15 year old girls.

We MIGHT draft someone to replace Connor. Heck, we MAY have someone on the roster who can do it. But Connor is a former 3rd round pick and we have only 6 picks total. We don't Know we can easily replace him.

It is a timing thing. You don't cut all these guys then figure it out later. This is a talent accumulation business.

I am not against cutting Connor; just pointing out this framework Norm laid out has leaks all over the place.

[jobberone]

I don't see Connor as a starting LB. In fact I'm not certain he makes the team. He is too slow IMO. He does have experience. He's subpar in pass coverage and marginal in the run game. I'm not a fan.

I see Lee as the Mike. Carter as the Jake and Sims probably the Will. Carter may be the Will and that throws the other spot open. It could even go Lemon at Mike and Lee at Jake with Carter at Will.

What's could is there's some speed in there now with depth and competition. I like Sims, Lee and Carter in on passing downs.

I can see them on the lookout for a Jake in FA/draft. Right now Lee and Carter are starters. One spot is open. I just don't know where Carter will play.

[big dog cowboy]

Originally Posted by jobberone

I don't see Connor as a starting LB. In fact I'm not certain he makes the team. He is too slow IMO. He does have experience. He's subpar in pass coverage and marginal in the run game. I'm not a fan.

He reminds me of Brooking in 2011.

[Bowdown27]

I do not want Ratliff on the team. I'll be so pissed after the tragedy to Jerry brown. We can get one big free agent. But we need a big time draft. Starters instantly

[Disturbed]

Originally Posted by jterrell

ROFL....

Let's cover the basics here.

The re-structures mean we GUARANTEE a massive base salary to Miles Austin for what exactly? IF he is hurt all pre-season again we get the honor of paying him as an elite WR for 2013??

He has enough talent to bring back. But I don't guarantee him another single cent. Ever. Too injury-prone.

Cutting Ratliff, Free and Connor are sound but that means 3 starting spots we open up. I agree Free should not be starting but Ratliff and Connor are probably the best players at their positions currently: 1T and Sam.

Also June 2nd cuts do not up cap cash immediately. I couldn't find any CBA provision for designating someone a June 2nd cut but freeing up cash immediately. PREVIOUSLY this only allowed for 2 players per team. AND you had to carry the cap hit until June 2nd.

[View Full Quote]The two primo FA thing is a pipe dream. Great for talks how hosts but far form reality. We need lots of bodies. We can't afford to pay for expensive pieces because we'll be back here next year looking at the cap again.

Yes, we signed Carr for 3m. And we'll pay him very well this year for that 2012 cap savings.

There will be cap space. No there won't be lots of it for enough to spend on luxury items.

Fans shop like 15 year old girls.

Can the Cowboys go the other way and flush as much of the cap as possible -- cut players, etc. to set up the future instead of continually borrowing against it?

I don't understand if we are in year 3 of Garrett's rebuilding plan, why we are borrowing so heavily against the future... I thought a rebuilding plan was to set you up for future success, not tie your hands due to creative accounting.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by erod

And how much does this screw us cap-wise down the road?

I'm for it because I think the time to act with this group is now. But I don't want to be 2-14 with no cap space four years from now either.

This.

I won't pretend to be a cap expert but that's my concern as well.

It's a tricky issue. On one hand, you want to get your cap straightened out and not mortgage your future. But you also have an aging franchise QB here. He needs some pieces if he's ever gonna win anything.

[jobberone]

Originally Posted by Bowdown27

I do not want Ratliff on the team. I'll be so pissed after the tragedy to Jerry brown. We can get one big free agent. But we need a big time draft. Starters instantly

I'm still a Rat fan but I'm suspicious of him staying on the field. He needs to be followed closely this offseason monitoring his rehab from surgery amongst the regular things they do. I'm leaning optimisticly if they use him properly and rotate him they can get good production.

[Fletch]

Originally Posted by Woods

I still think Ratliff is staying.

That said, I do think we can make plenty if room if we want. That would not constrain us. The question is how much of future room does the team want to mortagage?

Skins do it every year. Don't wanna make a habit out of it. But we need to upgrade the oline and dline.

[jobberone]

Originally Posted by big dog cowboy

He reminds me of Brooking in 2011.

Yeah maybe even a little slower.