Was the Rivera signing the worst in this year's FA period? - Dallas Cowboys Forum

AMERICAS_FAN · 03-17-2005

Was the Rivera signing the worst in this year's FA period?

I know hindsight is 20/20. But given Rivera's need for back surgery, is signing Rivera the worst free agency move this offseason in the whole NFL? After all we paid a steep price for someone needing immediate surgery for an injury he may not come back from. I guess if he does not come out of it okay then the signing is horrible. But if he does come out fine then it's a good signing.

What I dont understand is this. Rivera was one of three guys the Boys targeted. They wanted him - they went after him - and they got him. But did they do it with a blind eye - not giving him an extensive enough phsical? Is the back injury something they could've found out about, had they looked close enough, before signing him? Did the Boys jump the gun here?

AF

LA=Pancakemaker · 03-17-2005

Its minor - he will be fine......

Doomsday101 · 03-17-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMERICAS_FAN

Was the Rivera signing the worst in this year's FA period?

I know hindsight is 20/20. But given Rivera's need for back surgery, is signing Rivera the worst free agency move this offseason in the whole NFL? After all we paid a steep price for someone needing immediate surgery for an injury he may not come back from. I guess if he does not come out of it okay then the signing is horrible. But if he does come out fine then it's a good signing.

What I dont understand is this. Rivera was one of three guys the Boys targeted. They wanted him - they went after him - and they got him. But did they do it with a blind eye - not giving him an extensive enough phsical? Is the back injury something they could've found out about, had they looked close enough, before signing him? Did the Boys jump the gun here?

AF

He injured the back after Dallas signed him. Sorry not the worst FA signing and luckly this occured early enough so that something can be done before heading into training camp.

**WoodysGirl** · 03-17-2005

I doubt they jumped the gun or was mislead on the physical. Sounds like a freak accident to me. It may or may not cost the 'boys in the long run. It's too soon to tell. If all goes well, he'll be ready to go come TC.

Eddie · 03-17-2005

Let's hope so. I never heard of minor back surgery. That's BIG for a lineman.

BlueStar II · 03-17-2005

Believe me when I say that I "want" to think that Rivera's back will be fine, and I sincerely "hope" that his back will be fine. However...at his age, and plus the fact that back surgery in general, no matter how "minor" it is said to be, concerns me no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise. Like other fans on here, I certainly do "hope" that his back surgery turns out to be minor, and that there aren't any lingering problems, but to me back surgery of any kind creates a big concern for me, especially at his age.

followthestar · 03-17-2005

you can bet if he doesn't come back healthy, jerry will be one P'Od dude! he'll be looking for any hint that the condition was preexistant, and bring pressure on the league to minimize his cap hit accordingly. i don't think it will bleed us too bad. the wrench in all of this is that even the doctors probably can't be sure what the final outcome will be. most seem to feel he should recover completely, but...
so should we cover out bets and go with an OL in the draft? that's the question...

TheSkaven · 03-17-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA=Pancakemaker

Its minor - he will be fine......

Everyone hopes you're right, of course, but a back injury in an offensive lineman who is 33 years old is no minor thing. At best, he'll probably return by training camp but may not be the same player this year.

Mike 1967 · 03-17-2005

To early to answer this question.

TruBlueCowboy · 03-17-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA=Pancakemaker

Its minor - he will be fine......

I think those same words were spoken about Custer before the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

I'll try to remain optimistic but boy is it a downer thinking about Rivera's surgery. A healthy Rivera and a near trade for Howard, and suddenly, the Cowboys would have had the best lines since the Super Bowl days. *sigh*

Natedawg44 · 03-17-2005

Pretty bad that we might have been better off signing a guy named "Pork Chop" than a 3 time Pro-Bowler with a 9 million dollar bonus.

CalMor · 03-17-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie

Let's hope so. I never heard of minor back surgery. That's BIG for a lineman.

I dont know what they are going to do to his back but for me, I did have a minor back surgury for a pinched nerve. It was a day surgery and I walk out of the hospital. I was 29 then and now I am 33 and it hasnt bothered me since. So, who knows.

Natedawg44 · 03-17-2005

It does make you wonder with the timing of everything and the posturing he was doing with Green Bay. Stating he was going for maximum market value and they would not get a "hometown discount". That doesn't sound like a high character team player type of guy. Did he know something?

Eskimo · 03-17-2005

Just in terms of the general population, results from the procedure do tend to be very good. Most of us don't have to block 350 lb lineman, though.

Overall, the signing was a bad one and I said so before the back injury. Why they targeted Rivera over Wahle, I don't know. Compared to Rivera, Wahle is:

younger (turns 28 at the end of the month)

healthier (Rivera has two bad knees and now a bad back)

better (yes, I know Rivera has been to the Pro Bowl and not Wahle but that is mostly a popularity contest. Apparently he was considered the best interior OL on that team)

more versatile Wahle (he can play tackle) I'm not sure.

Probably Rivera fit in better as a BP-type guy and is more of a mauler in the run game. I think it was a bad move. I also think this is where we need a GM to temper a coach's infatuation with a player.

Alexander · 03-17-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natedawg44

It does make you wonder with the timing of everything and the posturing he was doing with Green Bay. Stating he was going for maximum market value and they would not get a "hometown discount". That doesn't sound like a high character team player type of guy. Did he know something?

Good point. I never knew about that.

All in all we will probably see the Wahle fellow do quite well with Carolina and have to hold our breath to see if Rivera makes it one year let alone the length of his deal.