A Comment on the CB crop - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Erik_H · 02-27-2005

Last year there was a lot of hand wringing and teeth gnashing about the fact taht we didn't pony up bug bucks for a FA CB and went with Pete Hunter instead.

I was of the belief that the CB in free agency we hugely overpaid last year-especially considering the quality. The best guy out there last year was Winfield, who signed a huge contract with the Vikes.

This year, the FA class of CBs looks alot stronger. Doesn't it seem to make sense that they waited for this year on purpose? If we HAD sheled out bug bucks to get Winfield, we wouldn't be in the mix for a better option this year, having already spent the money (and overpaid badly) on the position.

Now, after waiting until the market is better, we have a great opportunity to get someone better.

Just my 2 cents

JackMagist · 02-27-2005

One thing I want from our next RCB is size to match up with the big WR's in our division, especially TO.

Lucas, Baxter and Henry all three have nice size and are good CB's. They are my top three FA picks for CB.

Rolle and Smoot are too small both going around 175 lbs. They would be pushed all over the field.

Law is big enough but old, injured and expensive.

Surtain is smallish, but big enough and he is good, but he would cost us draft picks that I don’t want to see us spend.

Woodson is big enough but I would not want to give up what we would have to give for him.

Fletch · 02-27-2005

Cowboys didn't see the need to "overpay" for last year's older, and more questionable crop of free agent CB's which led to a lot of unhappy people. Heck, at first, I was one that wasn't very happy about not ponying up the dough to sign a Troy Vincent or Bobby Taylor or even Antoine Winfield.

But hind sight being 20/20, I am so glad we didn't pay top dollar to any of those mentioned. This year, the crop has youth, and talent. Something last year's crop lacked in my humble opinion. Now we can pull the trigger.

boysfanindc · 02-27-2005

Yup, Springs and Winnfield were horrible pick ups.

Ken · 02-27-2005

I had been a big advocate for signing Smoot, but I am backing off of that.

I'll take him if a couple of others aren't there and be happy, but Ideally, I think Lucas is the guy.

I didn't realize the guy had 6 picks last year. He also has ideal size and had 15 pass breakups last year. He is young and seems to be blossoming into a real player. I am surprised the Seahawks haven't signed him yet. He may still be riesigned, but I hope not.

I also like Baxter and Henry more than Smoot. I think these two are physical and would be upgrades from what we had last year. Baxter makes me nervous because I saw him get torched by TO a couple of times last year.

Sitting Bull · 02-27-2005

Standing pat at CB would've sat a lot better with me if we would've spent elsewhere. A high percentage of big-dollar FAs flame-out, as evidenced by last year's crop. But the fact remains that the Cowboys read the market wrong and got out-hustled by the rest of the league. Looks like "mid-priced" CBs like Baxter and Henry are looking for an even bigger signing bonus than Winifield's $10.6 mil (although there's no way the contracts will be as large). We need to strike early with the key FAs we've targeted and not wait to sift thru the leftovers.

Erik_H · 02-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fletch

Cowboys didn't see the need to "overpay" for last year's older, and more questionable crop of free agent CB's which led to a lot of unhappy people. Heck, at first, I was one that wasn't very happy about not ponying up the dough to sign a Troy Vincent or Bobby Taylor or even Antoine Winfield.

But hind sight being 20/20, I am so glad we didn't pay top dollar to any of those mentioned. This year, the crop has youth, and talent. Something last year's crop lacked in my humble opinion. Now we can pull the trigger.

Exactly my point. I'd even go so far as to suggest the possibility that JJ and BP knew that it would be the case, and held back (at least in part) for that reason.

Waffle · 02-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fletch

Cowboys didn't see the need to "overpay" for last year's older, and more questionable crop of free agent CB's which led to a lot of unhappy people. Heck, at first, I was one that wasn't very happy about not ponying up the dough to sign a Troy Vincent or Bobby Taylor or even Antoine Winfield.

But hind sight being 20/20, I am so glad we didn't pay top dollar to any of those mentioned. This year, the crop has youth, and talent. Something last year's crop lacked in my humble opinion. Now we can pull the trigger.

That's what I've been thinking in hindsight. Maybe not being agressive last off-season wasn't such a bad thing after all.

LeonDixson · 02-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik_H

Exactly my point. I'd even go so far as to suggest the possibility that JJ and BP knew that it would be the case, and held back (at least in part) for that reason.

I agree with you and Fletch that that could be part of the reason. I wasn't too upset with us passing on FA CB's last year because I had faith in Pete Hunter and wanted to see what he could do. The rash of injuries we had at RCB was a disaster.

**MichaelWinicki** · 02-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by boysfanindc

Yup, Springs and Winnfield were horrible pick ups.

Springs wasn't bad but his injury history didn't make him seem to be a "good" choice.

Winfield? 5 picks in 6 years wasn't worth a $10 or $12 mill signing bonus. I watched virtually every game he played with the Bills and while he maybe the best tackling corner in the NFL his coverage skills aren't at a Probowl level. He gets beat far too often to spend that kind of coin on him.

**MichaelWinicki** · 02-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sitting Bull

Standing pat at CB would've sat a lot better with me if we would've spent elsewhere. A high percentage of big-dollar FAs flame-out, as evidenced by last year's crop. But the fact remains that the Cowboys read the market wrong and got out-hustled by the rest of the league. Looks like "mid-priced" CBs like Baxter and Henry are looking for an even bigger signing bonus than Winifield's $10.6 mil (although there's no way the contracts will be as large). We need to strike early with the key FAs we've targeted and not wait to sift thru the leftovers.

Well what they want and what they get could be two different things.