Basic Myths and Truths about the salary cap

[Bobhaze]

As we are about to enter the start of the 2025 off-season of free agency, the draft and big discussions about what we can (and can’t do) with Stephen Jones’ whimpering deference to the almighty salary cap….it seems like a good time to look at a set of myths about the cap as well as some truths that seem to be guiding the better organizations vs the Cowboys.

CAP MANAGEMENT MYTHS

• Big contracts mean you can’t sign FAs. (False despite what anyone named Jones tells us. Look around at the best teams. They are in free agency despite some big contracts)
• The best cap managers are worried about not “kicking a can down the road” (False - see rams, eagles, buccaneers)
• Having a “win now” approach can ruin your future. (False - see eagles, rams, bucs; eagles and rams have now been to two SBs with two different QBs, major roster overhauls, and multiple FA signings)
• Star players who want to win should take a “team friendly” deal like Patrick Mahomes did to save cap space. (False- The so-called “Mahomes took less money” thing is just not true. He just has a longer contract than anyone else and in the long run will make way, way more than any other QB. It’s all about length of contract and structure)
• The most “responsible” teams at cap management are winning Super Bowls. (False. The rams have twice “mortgaged their future” and have won 8 playoff games, two NFC championships and a SB in the last 7 seasons with two different rosters. We have been “responsible” spenders and have won 2 wild card games in the last 7 seasons)

CAP MANAGEMENT TRUTHS

• The best cap managers take advantage of the talent they have NOW. Next year or 3 years from now is not this year.
• The best cap managing GMs rarely talk publicly about their “cap challenges” because as Stephen Jones should have learned by now, lying to your fans about cap space usually backfires. (Apparently unless you have a lifetime contract regardless of results)
• You cannot win a SB in this era with just the “draft and develop” model. It’s completely outdated.
• Being too careful and cautious makes you mediocre not better. You don’t have to be wildly aggressive; just identify and target both needs to be met in draft and those to be met in FA/trades.
• Worry more about winning NOW than 5 years from now. You cannot assume your team will be as good or better next year.

This is obviously an incomplete list. But the bottom line for us fans to remember is this: the teams that have the most playoff success, going to and/or winning Super Bowls use the salary cap AS A TOOL TO WIN, NOT A ROADBLOCK TO WINNING.

The organizations who know this and act accordingly are raising Lombardis not making excuses about cap restrictions.

 

[ATXSRT]

The issue this team has had for the past 2-3 decades is holding onto players past their prime, or caving into demands. Like Zeke, Dak, Jaylon Smith, Dlaw, etc.... Other teams trade players like this, build thru draft AND free agency. Not JUST the draft. It's impossible to win just thru the draft. Dak should have never gotten the contract he just did and it'll go down as the worst contract this franchise has ever given.

Best way to win in this league is to hit on a QB in the draft, and put pieces around him immediately to win before his big signing day comes up kind of like how the 49ers tried to do it. We're not winning with Dak at the helm paying him as the highest QB and getting sub par play. It's just not going to happen. He isn't good enough to elevate a team around him. This team isn't going anywhere until it drafts a stud QB early.

 

[kskboys]

As we are about to enter the start of the 2025 off-season of free agency, the draft and big discussions about what we can (and can’t do) with Stephen Jones’ whimpering deference to the almighty salary cap….it seems like a good time to look at a set of myths about the cap as well as some truths that seem to be guiding the better organizations vs the Cowboys.

CAP MANAGEMENT MYTHS

• Big contracts mean you can’t sign FAs. (False despite what anyone named Jones tells us. Look around at the best teams. They are in free agency despite some big contracts)
• The best cap managers are worried about not “kicking a can down the road” (False - see rams, eagles, buccaneers)
• Having a “win now” approach can ruin your future. (False - see eagles, rams, bucs; eagles and rams have now been to two SBs with two different QBs, major roster overhauls, and multiple FA signings)
• Star players who want to win should take a “team friendly” deal like Patrick Mahomes did to save cap space. (False- The so-called “Mahomes took less money” thing is just not true. He just has a longer contract than anyone else and in the long run will make way, way more than any other QB. It’s all about length of contract and structure)
• The most “responsible” teams at cap management are winning Super Bowls. (False. The rams have twice “mortgaged their future” and have won 8 playoff games, two NFC championships and a SB in the last 7 seasons with two different rosters. We have been “responsible” spenders and have won 2 wild card games in the last 7 seasons)

CAP MANAGEMENT TRUTHS

• The best cap managers take advantage of the talent they have NOW. Next year or 3 years from now is not this year.
• The best cap managing GMs rarely talk publicly about their “cap challenges” because as Stephen Jones should have learned by now, lying to your fans about cap space usually backfires. (Apparently unless you have a lifetime contract regardless of results)
• You cannot win a SB in this era with just the “draft and develop” model. It’s completely outdated.
• Being too careful and cautious makes you mediocre not better. You don’t have to be wildly aggressive; just identify and target both needs to be met in draft and those to be met in FA/trades.
• Worry more about winning NOW than 5 years from now. You cannot assume your team will be as good or better next year.

This is obviously an incomplete list. But the bottom line for us fans to remember is this: the teams that have the most playoff success, going to and/or winning Super Bowls use the salary cap AS A TOOL TO WIN, NOT A ROADBLOCK TO WINNING.

The organizations who know this and act accordingly are raising Lombardis not making excuses about cap restrictions.

Truths:

6. You must absolutely pay the right players.
7. You absolutely must draft wisely in addition to your FA pickups.
8. Can't pay decent players great money.

 

[Ranching]

As we are about to enter the start of the 2025 off-season of free agency, the draft and big discussions about what we can (and can’t do) with Stephen Jones’ whimpering deference to the almighty salary cap….it seems like a good time to look at a set of myths about the cap as well as some truths that seem to be guiding the better organizations vs the Cowboys.

CAP MANAGEMENT MYTHS

• Big contracts mean you can’t sign FAs. (False despite what anyone named Jones tells us. Look around at the best teams. They are in free agency despite some big contracts)
• The best cap managers are worried about not “kicking a can down the road” (False - see rams, eagles, buccaneers)
• Having a “win now” approach can ruin your future. (False - see eagles, rams, bucs; eagles and rams have now been to two SBs with two different QBs, major roster overhauls, and multiple FA signings)
• Star players who want to win should take a “team friendly” deal like Patrick Mahomes did to save cap space. (False- The so-called “Mahomes took less money” thing is just not true. He just has a longer contract than anyone else and in the long run will make way, way more than any other QB. It’s all about length of contract and structure)
• The most “responsible” teams at cap management are winning Super Bowls. (False. The rams have twice “mortgaged their future” and have won 8 playoff games, two NFC championships and a SB in the last 7 seasons with two different rosters. We have been “responsible” spenders and have won 2 wild card games in the last 7 seasons)

CAP MANAGEMENT TRUTHS

• The best cap managers take advantage of the talent they have NOW. Next year or 3 years from now is not this year.
• The best cap managing GMs rarely talk publicly about their “cap challenges” because as Stephen Jones should have learned by now, lying to your fans about cap space usually backfires. (Apparently unless you have a lifetime contract regardless of results)
• You cannot win a SB in this era with just the “draft and develop” model. It’s completely outdated.
• Being too careful and cautious makes you mediocre not better. You don’t have to be wildly aggressive; just identify and target both needs to be met in draft and those to be met in FA/trades.
• Worry more about winning NOW than 5 years from now. You cannot assume your team will be as good or better next year.

This is obviously an incomplete list. But the bottom line for us fans to remember is this: the teams that have the most playoff success, going to and/or winning Super Bowls use the salary cap AS A TOOL TO WIN, NOT A ROADBLOCK TO WINNING.

The organizations who know this and act accordingly are raising Lombardis not making excuses about cap restrictions.

Great info and post....too bad you have to hijack your own thread and beat that poor horse.....

 

[gtb1943]

Great info and post....too bad you have to hijack your own thread and beat that poor horse.....

Jethro ain't dead yet so neither is the horse

 

[Bobhaze]

The issue this team has had for the past 2-3 decades is holding onto players past their prime, or caving into demands. Like Zeke, Dak, Jaylon Smith, Dlaw, etc.... Other teams trade players like this, build thru draft AND free agency. Not JUST the draft. It's impossible to win just thru the draft. Dak should have never gotten the contract he just did and it'll go down as the worst contract this franchise has ever given.

Best way to win in this league is to hit on a QB in the draft, and put pieces around him immediately to win before his big signing day comes up kind of like how the 49ers tried to do it. We're not winning with Dak at the helm paying him as the highest QB and getting sub par play. It's just not going to happen. He isn't good enough to elevate a team around him. This team isn't going anywhere until it drafts a stud QB early.

I agree with your first paragraph, and I agree you gotta have a good QB to win multiple playoff games. We need a stud QB now too. But I also believe teams that are winning SBs these days (like the teams in this year’s SB) build a very strong roster to support their QB.

Mahomes is greatness but even he doesn’t win that SB last year without that great chiefs defense. The chiefs only scored 17 last year vs the ravens in the AFC championship game. Mahomes wasn’t that great but the chiefs D held the ravens to 10 points. Jalen Hurts is not a great QB. Good yes, but with that great running game built around him, he has lots of support. His OL is great and DT Jalen Carter is the next Aaron Donald.

In other words, even the greats need support.

 

[Ranching]

Jethro ain't dead yet so neither is the horse

The horse is dead....hence the saying, beating a dead horse....let's ask coogi for his thoughts

 

[Blackrain]

9- draft quarterbacks early and often you have to use a first round pick on a quarterback once in awhile.
You need a system in place to develop young quarterbacks and in today's salary cap era get rid of them for draft picks before they have to get paid

You need to have young fresh quarterbacks in the stable being groomed.
That way you can pay the best offensive lineman to protect them and give them a running game so they can be successful and not be injured along with being able to pay some top notch defensive players.

There is no way you can win paying one guy 60 million a year who is not Superman

In a perfect world you need to strive to find a Brock Purdy every three or four years in the draft

 

[TwentyOne]

As we are about to enter the start of the 2025 off-season of free agency, the draft and big discussions about what we can (and can’t do) with Stephen Jones’ whimpering deference to the almighty salary cap….it seems like a good time to look at a set of myths about the cap as well as some truths that seem to be guiding the better organizations vs the Cowboys.

CAP MANAGEMENT MYTHS

• Big contracts mean you can’t sign FAs. (False despite what anyone named Jones tells us. Look around at the best teams. They are in free agency despite some big contracts)
• The best cap managers are worried about not “kicking a can down the road” (False - see rams, eagles, buccaneers)
• Having a “win now” approach can ruin your future. (False - see eagles, rams, bucs; eagles and rams have now been to two SBs with two different QBs, major roster overhauls, and multiple FA signings)
• Star players who want to win should take a “team friendly” deal like Patrick Mahomes did to save cap space. (False- The so-called “Mahomes took less money” thing is just not true. He just has a longer contract than anyone else and in the long run will make way, way more than any other QB. It’s all about length of contract and structure)
• The most “responsible” teams at cap management are winning Super Bowls. (False. The rams have twice “mortgaged their future” and have won 8 playoff games, two NFC championships and a SB in the last 7 seasons with two different rosters. We have been “responsible” spenders and have won 2 wild card games in the last 7 seasons)

CAP MANAGEMENT TRUTHS

• The best cap managers take advantage of the talent they have NOW. Next year or 3 years from now is not this year.
• The best cap managing GMs rarely talk publicly about their “cap challenges” because as Stephen Jones should have learned by now, lying to your fans about cap space usually backfires. (Apparently unless you have a lifetime contract regardless of results)
• You cannot win a SB in this era with just the “draft and develop” model. It’s completely outdated.
• Being too careful and cautious makes you mediocre not better. You don’t have to be wildly aggressive; just identify and target both needs to be met in draft and those to be met in FA/trades.
• Worry more about winning NOW than 5 years from now. You cannot assume your team will be as good or better next year.

This is obviously an incomplete list. But the bottom line for us fans to remember is this: the teams that have the most playoff success, going to and/or winning Super Bowls use the salary cap AS A TOOL TO WIN, NOT A ROADBLOCK TO WINNING.

The organizations who know this and act accordingly are raising Lombardis not making excuses about cap restrictions.

I disagree with your Mahomes Thesis.

Everything else is a nice shot against our beloved FO.

Good work. Thanks for that.

 

[noshame]

Great stuff, Bob.
But to me, it still revolves around 2 things.
1 Jerry refuses to share the glory of a Super Bowl with a real coach.
2. Jerry refuses to share the glory of a Super Bowl with a real quarterback.

We've had the talent assembled a couple times to make a deep playoff run, the only thing we were lacking was leadership on the sidelines, and in the huddle. That will never change as long as Jerry is here.
And yes, their salary cap management is a joke.

 

[CowboyoWales]

As we are about to enter the start of the 2025 off-season of free agency, the draft and big discussions about what we can (and can’t do) with Stephen Jones’ whimpering deference to the almighty salary cap….it seems like a good time to look at a set of myths about the cap as well as some truths that seem to be guiding the better organizations vs the Cowboys.

CAP MANAGEMENT MYTHS

• Big contracts mean you can’t sign FAs. (False despite what anyone named Jones tells us. Look around at the best teams. They are in free agency despite some big contracts)
• The best cap managers are worried about not “kicking a can down the road” (False - see rams, eagles, buccaneers)
• Having a “win now” approach can ruin your future. (False - see eagles, rams, bucs; eagles and rams have now been to two SBs with two different QBs, major roster overhauls, and multiple FA signings)
• Star players who want to win should take a “team friendly” deal like Patrick Mahomes did to save cap space. (False- The so-called “Mahomes took less money” thing is just not true. He just has a longer contract than anyone else and in the long run will make way, way more than any other QB. It’s all about length of contract and structure)
• The most “responsible” teams at cap management are winning Super Bowls. (False. The rams have twice “mortgaged their future” and have won 8 playoff games, two NFC championships and a SB in the last 7 seasons with two different rosters. We have been “responsible” spenders and have won 2 wild card games in the last 7 seasons)

CAP MANAGEMENT TRUTHS

• The best cap managers take advantage of the talent they have NOW. Next year or 3 years from now is not this year.
• The best cap managing GMs rarely talk publicly about their “cap challenges” because as Stephen Jones should have learned by now, lying to your fans about cap space usually backfires. (Apparently unless you have a lifetime contract regardless of results)
• You cannot win a SB in this era with just the “draft and develop” model. It’s completely outdated.
• Being too careful and cautious makes you mediocre not better. You don’t have to be wildly aggressive; just identify and target both needs to be met in draft and those to be met in FA/trades.
• Worry more about winning NOW than 5 years from now. You cannot assume your team will be as good or better next year.

This is obviously an incomplete list. But the bottom line for us fans to remember is this: the teams that have the most playoff success, going to and/or winning Super Bowls use the salary cap AS A TOOL TO WIN, NOT A ROADBLOCK TO WINNING.

The organizations who know this and act accordingly are raising Lombardis not making excuses about cap restrictions.

Whilst I agree the CAP isnt the excuse, you can ONLY go on the CAP OVERLOAD, WHEN YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO WIN.....THAT WAS 2023, NOT 2024 OR 2025, I actually put the greater concern on:

• Inability to evaluate players
• Relevancy over boom and bust. Risk aversion and always edging his bets (as a conservative octogenarian).
• A near obsession with star players and just not focusing on those in the trenches..... Jerry's wowed by what he (or the tv) see's.

Id argue on the Mahomes 'deal', it is structured in a way that gives some measure of continued flexibility to the length (that and the fact that he's a GOAT). Dak's part of the problem (or Jerry's for not being able to see it)....is the length of contract and the vision (probably because doesnt have a vision).

We have kicked CAP, how did we get to three seasons of 12-5, we paid for that resetting in 2024.....a better argument against what's happened/hat's happening is that, we should of:
1) All-in at trade deadline in 2023 - even trading a 1st for Henry.
2) Breaking up the Band, in 2024.....not just letting our rotational roster parts go......trade everyone that had a year left, or had any value....HARSH, BUT THE WORST THE MEDICINE TASTES, THE QUICKER THE RECOVERY.

We CAN spend CAP.....BUT TO DO WHAT? This group needs more than 3/4 good FA's, we are struggling in EVERY unit.

As you say Jerry only know's one way..... and that's JUST DOING ENOUGH. What all teams, you mentioned above , have done is willing to suck and rebuild from the grounds up, even if it means making difficult decisions.

 

[Swagger]

I agree with your first paragraph, and I agree you gotta have a good QB to win multiple playoff games. We need a stud QB now too. But I also believe teams that are winning SBs these days (like the teams in this year’s SB) build a very strong roster to support their QB.

Mahomes is greatness but even he doesn’t win that SB last year without that great chiefs defense. The chiefs only scored 17 last year vs the ravens in the AFC championship game. Mahomes wasn’t that great but the chiefs D held the ravens to 10 points. Jalen Hurts is not a great QB. Good yes, but with that great running game built around him, he has lots of support. His OL is great and DT Jalen Carter is the next Aaron Donald.

In other words, even the greats need support.

Offenses can often impact a game without necessarily having to always score a lot of points. Long sustained drives keeps their defense fresh and the other teams' offense off the field.

Further, a mobile quarterback is huge in the modern game. They help sustain long drives by using their legs to scramble for key first downs and by just posing a rushing threat to the other teams' defense they have to account for this which in itself creates opportunities for the passing game and/or running back.

It also gives a team the ability to retain strong field positions in close encounters and low scoring games.

Mahomes and Hurts do all of the above.

The last time Dak tried to rush for a couple of yards he tore his hamstring off the bone.

So yeah...it's not looking good when mr $60 million moves like he's in cement!

I agree that every quarterback needs some help but a quarterback also needs to help the team in return. What does Dak do exactly that most other starting NFL quarterbacks are unable to do...I'm struggling to think of anything notable at this point...especially to justify his contract over only 4 years which makes it even more onerous on the team's chances.

 

[cristglo]

Greats Posts!
I don't think that you have to have a HOF QB to win a SB but you have to give the QB some help.
Stephen thinks he is the god guru of the Cap and he is always using it as an excuse. Several years ago when Philly first started signing players Stephen said a lot of team don't have problem with kicking it down the road but we have to manage our Cap so we can always put a good team out. Philly and other teams are still doing and staying competitive.
Since GB the ownership has acted in a very CHEAP way and the Cowboys are the laughing stock of football.
I'm not saying that BS is going to fail because I feel he has put good Coaches around him so far. If Jerry repeats last year behavior during FA this board is going to blow up.

 

[JW82]

As we are about to enter the start of the 2025 off-season of free agency, the draft and big discussions about what we can (and can’t do) with Stephen Jones’ whimpering deference to the almighty salary cap….it seems like a good time to look at a set of myths about the cap as well as some truths that seem to be guiding the better organizations vs the Cowboys.

CAP MANAGEMENT MYTHS

• Big contracts mean you can’t sign FAs. (False despite what anyone named Jones tells us. Look around at the best teams. They are in free agency despite some big contracts)
• The best cap managers are worried about not “kicking a can down the road” (False - see rams, eagles, buccaneers)
• Having a “win now” approach can ruin your future. (False - see eagles, rams, bucs; eagles and rams have now been to two SBs with two different QBs, major roster overhauls, and multiple FA signings)
• Star players who want to win should take a “team friendly” deal like Patrick Mahomes did to save cap space. (False- The so-called “Mahomes took less money” thing is just not true. He just has a longer contract than anyone else and in the long run will make way, way more than any other QB. It’s all about length of contract and structure)
• The most “responsible” teams at cap management are winning Super Bowls. (False. The rams have twice “mortgaged their future” and have won 8 playoff games, two NFC championships and a SB in the last 7 seasons with two different rosters. We have been “responsible” spenders and have won 2 wild card games in the last 7 seasons)

CAP MANAGEMENT TRUTHS

• The best cap managers take advantage of the talent they have NOW. Next year or 3 years from now is not this year.
• The best cap managing GMs rarely talk publicly about their “cap challenges” because as Stephen Jones should have learned by now, lying to your fans about cap space usually backfires. (Apparently unless you have a lifetime contract regardless of results)
• You cannot win a SB in this era with just the “draft and develop” model. It’s completely outdated.
• Being too careful and cautious makes you mediocre not better. You don’t have to be wildly aggressive; just identify and target both needs to be met in draft and those to be met in FA/trades.
• Worry more about winning NOW than 5 years from now. You cannot assume your team will be as good or better next year.

This is obviously an incomplete list. But the bottom line for us fans to remember is this: the teams that have the most playoff success, going to and/or winning Super Bowls use the salary cap AS A TOOL TO WIN, NOT A ROADBLOCK TO WINNING.

The organizations who know this and act accordingly are raising Lombardis not making excuses about cap restrictions.

With Stephen, you would think its year one of the NFL having a salary cap.

 

[T-RO]

As we are about to enter the start of the 2025 off-season of free agency, the draft and big discussions about what we can (and can’t do) with Stephen Jones’ whimpering deference to the almighty salary cap….it seems like a good time to look at a set of myths about the cap as well as some truths that seem to be guiding the better organizations vs the Cowboys.

CAP MANAGEMENT MYTHS

• Big contracts mean you can’t sign FAs. (False despite what anyone named Jones tells us. Look around at the best teams. They are in free agency despite some big contracts)
• The best cap managers are worried about not “kicking a can down the road” (False - see rams, eagles, buccaneers)
• Having a “win now” approach can ruin your future. (False - see eagles, rams, bucs; eagles and rams have now been to two SBs with two different QBs, major roster overhauls, and multiple FA signings)
• Star players who want to win should take a “team friendly” deal like Patrick Mahomes did to save cap space. (False- The so-called “Mahomes took less money” thing is just not true. He just has a longer contract than anyone else and in the long run will make way, way more than any other QB. It’s all about length of contract and structure)
• The most “responsible” teams at cap management are winning Super Bowls. (False. The rams have twice “mortgaged their future” and have won 8 playoff games, two NFC championships and a SB in the last 7 seasons with two different rosters. We have been “responsible” spenders and have won 2 wild card games in the last 7 seasons)

CAP MANAGEMENT TRUTHS

• The best cap managers take advantage of the talent they have NOW. Next year or 3 years from now is not this year.
• The best cap managing GMs rarely talk publicly about their “cap challenges” because as Stephen Jones should have learned by now, lying to your fans about cap space usually backfires. (Apparently unless you have a lifetime contract regardless of results)
• You cannot win a SB in this era with just the “draft and develop” model. It’s completely outdated.
• Being too careful and cautious makes you mediocre not better. You don’t have to be wildly aggressive; just identify and target both needs to be met in draft and those to be met in FA/trades.
• Worry more about winning NOW than 5 years from now. You cannot assume your team will be as good or better next year.

This is obviously an incomplete list. But the bottom line for us fans to remember is this: the teams that have the most playoff success, going to and/or winning Super Bowls use the salary cap AS A TOOL TO WIN, NOT A ROADBLOCK TO WINNING.

The organizations who know this and act accordingly are raising Lombardis not making excuses about cap restrictions.

Words wasted.

I can show years of data demonstrating that those teams spending the most on free agency do *not* generally succeed.

The teams that do succeed?
Have elite coaches and elite quarterbacks, with sound culture.

Dallas has none of that. Spending massive money to prop up a poor team for another win or two...and cripple the future...is the LAST THING this failed franchise needs to do. It will only compound all its problems.

 

[Risen Star]

Your logic on Mahomes is flawed. It's about AAV or average annual value. He could have gotten a higher AAV on a shorter contract that gets him back to free agency again for another deal. That's how you maximize your value. It's what the scumbag here has tried to do every time that POS has negotiated a new deal.

Instead Mahomes took a longer deal with a lower AAV than he's warranted to give his team more flexibility in free agency during the life of his contract.

 

[Aven8]

I just wish they would truly go “all in” for once. You’ve tried it your way for years. Try to do it with FA’s this time and just see what happens. If you write the contracts correctly you can always reinvent yourself if it doesn’t work. Not even trying out of fear is just dumb.

 

[Johannes44]

I don't think that you have to have a HOF QB to win a SB but you have to give the QB some help.

Agreed. You don't ned a HOF QB, however, what is important is that if you don't have said HOF QB, that you don't pay said QB like a franchise QB and trade when their value is high. The Cowboys over the last 30 years will hold on to guys who really don't have "it" and keep shelling big dollars when it's clear that they will never be that guy. They do it across all positions.

 

[Diehardblues]

As we are about to enter the start of the 2025 off-season of free agency, the draft and big discussions about what we can (and can’t do) with Stephen Jones’ whimpering deference to the almighty salary cap….it seems like a good time to look at a set of myths about the cap as well as some truths that seem to be guiding the better organizations vs the Cowboys.

CAP MANAGEMENT MYTHS

• Big contracts mean you can’t sign FAs. (False despite what anyone named Jones tells us. Look around at the best teams. They are in free agency despite some big contracts)
• The best cap managers are worried about not “kicking a can down the road” (False - see rams, eagles, buccaneers)
• Having a “win now” approach can ruin your future. (False - see eagles, rams, bucs; eagles and rams have now been to two SBs with two different QBs, major roster overhauls, and multiple FA signings)
• Star players who want to win should take a “team friendly” deal like Patrick Mahomes did to save cap space. (False- The so-called “Mahomes took less money” thing is just not true. He just has a longer contract than anyone else and in the long run will make way, way more than any other QB. It’s all about length of contract and structure)
• The most “responsible” teams at cap management are winning Super Bowls. (False. The rams have twice “mortgaged their future” and have won 8 playoff games, two NFC championships and a SB in the last 7 seasons with two different rosters. We have been “responsible” spenders and have won 2 wild card games in the last 7 seasons)

CAP MANAGEMENT TRUTHS

• The best cap managers take advantage of the talent they have NOW. Next year or 3 years from now is not this year.
• The best cap managing GMs rarely talk publicly about their “cap challenges” because as Stephen Jones should have learned by now, lying to your fans about cap space usually backfires. (Apparently unless you have a lifetime contract regardless of results)
• You cannot win a SB in this era with just the “draft and develop” model. It’s completely outdated.
• Being too careful and cautious makes you mediocre not better. You don’t have to be wildly aggressive; just identify and target both needs to be met in draft and those to be met in FA/trades.
• Worry more about winning NOW than 5 years from now. You cannot assume your team will be as good or better next year.

This is obviously an incomplete list. But the bottom line for us fans to remember is this: the teams that have the most playoff success, going to and/or winning Super Bowls use the salary cap AS A TOOL TO WIN, NOT A ROADBLOCK TO WINNING.

The organizations who know this and act accordingly are raising Lombardis not making excuses about cap restrictions.

Bob, you’ve covered this before but the core difference here is there is no pressure to win. The GM’s job isn’t on the line.

The rest of the league is willing to mortgage their future and take bigger risk because they won’t survive without more success.

Jethro’s biggest fear is hitting rock bottom.

 

[kskboys]

Your logic on Mahomes is flawed. It's about AAV or average annual value. He could have gotten a higher AAV on a shorter contract that gets him back to free agency again for another deal. That's how you maximize your value. It's what the scumbag here has tried to do every time that POS has negotiated a new deal.

Instead Mahomes took a longer deal with a lower AAV than he's warranted to give his team more flexibility in free agency during the life of his contract.

It's kinda shocking that people don't understand the value of longer contracts to a team.