Basic Myths and Truths about the salary cap

[CowboyFrog]

anyone know anybody who has the yatch schedule? will it be in dock on FA day 1?

 

[Chasing6]

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 It’s completely outdated.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.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_maximum_space2

Can you look at this, take a look at this?

Can Elon please do an Audit on our Salary Cap.

 

[fivetwos]

We live in an era where disinformation and fake news sells. And the more those who want to support such it grows into them believing it’s the gospel.

Jethro , Thursday at the NFL Honors, was already claiming the Cowboys should be Super Bowl contenders not in any kind of rebuilding mode. And he’ll be spinning the upcoming season as such.

Many fans will buy into the hype without any factual data besides what they believe or want to believe. After last year the sell will be tougher but it won’t stop him from doing so.

Also essentially said they will be sitting out free agency again. Pure delusion.

Washington is going to be aggressive to get to the next level, and the Giants are in position to at least have a shot at a QB. If the latter actually materializes, Dallas is in the basement for the next five years easily.

Those past few seasons they like to brag over were full of many easy division wins.

For the life of me, I’ll never figure out why Jerry thinks that paying more to the same players that couldn’t win, minus key depth, will add up to success.

Really…it’s gotta be the ‘Im paying Dak top dollar so he ought to win’ type of crap he truly believes.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Also essentially said they will be sitting out free agency again. Pure delusion.

Washington is going to be aggressive to get to the next level, and the Giants are in position to at least have a shot at a QB. If the latter actually materializes, Dallas is in the basement for the next five years easily.

Those past few seasons they like to brag over were full of many easy division wins.

For the life of me, I’ll never figure out why Jerry thinks that paying more to the same players that couldn’t win, minus key depth, will add up to success.

Really…it’s gotta be the ‘Im paying Dak top dollar so he ought to win’ type of crap he truly believes.

The GB game spooked him. I'm still convinced his intention was to build on that team, but the stark realisation that it failed meant he edged his bet.....relied upon his 'elite' paid stars, but expecting them to earn their money.
He's spending something in spending in FA, the bigger issue is why he didn't trade away the 2023 team....and start the rebuild properly in the draft.

 

[Bobhaze]

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_maximum_space2

Can you look at this, take a look at this?

Can Elon please do an Audit on our Salary Cap.

This time of year is not a good time to evaluate cap space for the coming season because there many people on the payroll that won’t be in 2-3 months.

We don’t yet know who will be designated as a June 1 release, who they may or may not extend, how the Prescott/Lamb contracts will be spread out…it’s just too early to really know what kind of space we will have until at least after the draft.

 

[fivetwos]

The GB game spooked him. I'm still convinced his intention was to build on that team, but the stark realisation that it failed meant he edged his bet.....relied upon his 'elite' paid stars, but expecting them to earn their money.
He's spending something in spending in FA, the bigger issue is why he didn't trade away the 2023 team....and start the rebuild properly in the draft.

Well yeah. As a fan, I’m fine with losing…as long as you’re building toward eventually winning.

This team is neither. It’s really beginning to become apparent how incapable these two are. It’ll show more so on the field in the coming seasons and hopefully will result in Jerry being humiliated and bringing in a Parcells type to run the whole thing eventually.

 

[Chasing6]

This time of year is not a good time to evaluate cap space for the coming season because there many people on the payroll that won’t be in 2-3 months.

We don’t yet know who will be designated as a June 1 release, who they may or may not extend, how the Prescott/Lamb contracts will be spread out…it’s just too early to really know what kind of space we will have until at least after the draft.

You can always compare something in real time.

 

[FVSTONE]

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.

Bobby H, what team in the NFL other that the Cowboys, has an ownership group that is outdated, greedy and insanely stupid??????? It's a trick question, there aren't any.................

 

[buybuydandavis]

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.

"We like our guys"

And it's usually with the 7 figure players that we get dumb. We've always got a few guys just eating cap at the top after we know they just aren't worth it anymore.

 

[BobSacamano]

In contrasting between the Cowboy’s way of managing the cap and the Eagles‘ way, I just ask two things:

Who is in better cap shape? Who is generating more on field success?

The Cowboys can not answer in the affirmative on either question.

Anyone in charge of the cap who has a minimum of self reflection could clearly see that that is an issue in need of an overhaul. Is Stephen capable of introspection?

 

[Bobhaze]

In contrasting between the Cowboy’s way of managing the cap and the Eagles‘ way, I just ask two things:

Who is in better cap shape? Who is generating more on field success?

The Cowboys can not answer in the affirmative on either question.

Anyone in charge of the cap who has a minimum of self reflection could clearly see that that is an issue in need of an overhaul. Is Stephen capable of introspection?

No. Stephen Jones’ greatest job qualification is his birth certificate. Which guarantees him his job for life regardless of results. What could possibly go wrong with this formula?

 

[Diehardblues]

Also essentially said they will be sitting out free agency again. Pure delusion.

Washington is going to be aggressive to get to the next level, and the Giants are in position to at least have a shot at a QB. If the latter actually materializes, Dallas is in the basement for the next five years easily.

Those past few seasons they like to brag over were full of many easy division wins.

For the life of me, I’ll never figure out why Jerry thinks that paying more to the same players that couldn’t win, minus key depth, will add up to success.

Really…it’s gotta be the ‘Im paying Dak top dollar so he ought to win’ type of crap he truly believes.

That’s part of it. But remember what we measure success with and Jethro measures differs. In his mind 12 win playoff seasons is success. And why he’s willing to anty up for these core stars.

 

[ArtClink]

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 think Jerry and son have done an outstanding job at paying players and coaches less to maximize profits. We all know that being the most profitable franchise is all we fans care about.

 

[Chasing6]

No. Stephen Jones’ greatest job qualification is his birth certificate. Which guarantees him his job for life regardless of results. What could possibly go wrong with this formula?

The only organization in the NFL that believes the road to winning a SB is through the Draft and Comp picks.

 

[Bobhaze]

The only organization in the NFL that believes the road to winning a SB is through the Draft and Comp picks.

And right now the ONLY organization in the entire NFC that hasn’t been to a conference championship this century.

 

[Chasing6]

And right now the ONLY organization in the entire NFC that hasn’t been to a conference championship this century.

Since the year 2,000 GM Jethro has won less than 52% of his games played as a GM.

Jerry Jones (.538): The Cowboys won 63 percent of their games with three Super Bowl victories during the 1990s. They have won less than 52 percent of their games without reaching a Super Bowl since then, despite some successes in the draft. Jones earned a spot in the Hall of Fame on the strength of that 1990s success combined with his obvious business acumen, not for his accomplishments as a GM over the past couple decades. It’s no coincidence that the GMs with the worst won-lost records in this category own their teams.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

The reality is that the worst case scenario only lasts one season. Everything gets prorated at once you take your medicine for a season and it is over. The term for this scenario is 'cap hell' which implies that it lasts forever. Sensationalism is great isn't it?

Conversely the accounting allows team to amortize any incurred payroll cost for 5 years and teams can be clever and extend that over later years with how they structure the guarantees.

Now compare that with what US consumers where we have interest rates and credit scores. The system is rigged for the teams to succeed. They have the people that wrote the language to analyze possible outcomes.

 

[Chasing6]

The reality is that the worst case scenario only lasts one season. Everything gets prorated at once you take your medicine for a season and it is over. The term for this scenario is 'cap hell' which implies that it lasts forever. Sensationalism is great isn't it?

Conversely the accounting allows team to amortize any incurred payroll cost for 5 years and teams can be clever and extend that over later years with how they structure the guarantees.

Now compare that with what US consumers where we have interest rates and credit scores. The system is rigged for the teams to succeed. They have the people that wrote the language to analyze possible outcomes.

It is in the leagues best interest for the most popular team in the league, not to win, and just hang out at the rim. To grow they need other teams to have success. That is the whole point of the salary cap and the draft order.

It takes a talented GM, to overcome the designed parity of the league and we don't have one.

 

[kskboys]

The GB game spooked him. I'm still convinced his intention was to build on that team, but the stark realisation that it failed meant he edged his bet.....relied upon his 'elite' paid stars, but expecting them to earn their money.
He's spending something in spending in FA, the bigger issue is why he didn't trade away the 2023 team....and start the rebuild properly in the draft.

And the answer is because he is football dumb. He believes like many of the casual fans do, that the words rebuild and tank and trading away assets are dirty words. Jerry cannot stand the thought of giving up talent and/or wins in order to win in the future. He is simply that dumb.

 

[kskboys]

And right now the ONLY organization in the entire NFC that hasn’t been to a conference championship this century.

And won't as long as we keep drafting the Schooners and Mazis in rounds 1 and 2.