Mike McCarthy explains ‘big-picture’ decision to release LB Jaylon Smith

[Doomsday101]

They reviewed each player on the team’s roster and decided: It was time.

“This was a big-picture roster move,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday morning.

Former Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith, who has started 56 games for the Cowboys since 2017, was released.

The decision was multifaceted. Smith’s contract, his play and the Cowboys’ young starters developing quicker than expected factored in. The leverage given to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in his first season was also a component in pulling the trigger. In 2019, Smith signed a five-year extension through 2025 worth $64 million with $35.5 million guaranteed, including his 2021 salary of $7.2 million. Smith is still owed that salary this year. But the Cowboys wanted to avoid another contract implication: the $9.2 million injury guarantee for 2022 that would have triggered should Smith had been hurt this year.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy explains ‘big-picture’ decision to release LB Jaylon Smith (msn.com)

 

[NotForLong]

They reviewed each player on the team’s roster and decided: It was time.

“This was a big-picture roster move,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday morning.

Former Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith, who has started 56 games for the Cowboys since 2017, was released.

The decision was multifaceted. Smith’s contract, his play and the Cowboys’ young starters developing quicker than expected factored in. The leverage given to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in his first season was also a component in pulling the trigger. In 2019, Smith signed a five-year extension through 2025 worth $64 million with $35.5 million guaranteed, including his 2021 salary of $7.2 million. Smith is still owed that salary this year. But the Cowboys wanted to avoid another contract implication: the $9.2 million injury guarantee for 2022 that would have triggered should Smith had been hurt this year.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy explains ‘big-picture’ decision to release LB Jaylon Smith (msn.com)

You need to see the "Big Picture" in order to Get a "Clear Eye View"

 

[CATCH17]

For any of us fans that are as tuned in as us on this site it should be no surprise that he was cut. It’s more of a surprise he’s on the team.

 

[Teague31]

How bout, “cause he can’t play”?

 

[conner01]

More about the injury guarantee than anything else
We have better options so the risk was too high to keep him around

 

[America's Cowboy]

The bigger question is...who is next?

 

[Risen Star]

So Quinn was a factor too.

What was all that improved stride extension talk?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

They reviewed each player on the team’s roster and decided: It was time.

“This was a big-picture roster move,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday morning.

Former Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith, who has started 56 games for the Cowboys since 2017, was released.

The decision was multifaceted. Smith’s contract, his play and the Cowboys’ young starters developing quicker than expected factored in. The leverage given to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in his first season was also a component in pulling the trigger. In 2019, Smith signed a five-year extension through 2025 worth $64 million with $35.5 million guaranteed, including his 2021 salary of $7.2 million. Smith is still owed that salary this year. But the Cowboys wanted to avoid another contract implication: the $9.2 million injury guarantee for 2022 that would have triggered should Smith had been hurt this year.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy explains ‘big-picture’ decision to release LB Jaylon Smith (msn.com)

so that was not a bad move at all, even without the savings. his salary was gauarnteed back early in 2021 when we paid him his bonus...

but the 9.2M and it wouldn't surprise me for Jaylon to have claimed that towards end of the season when he obviously is seeing the writing on the wall....he could always point to his knee...

 

[fivetwos]

Why in the world did Jerry Jones, master negotiator of many multi million dollar business deals, give up all these crazy guarantees to a player they weren't trying to entice to come here nor were in danger of losing?

I wonder if Elliotts agent didn't see all that and insist on much of the same.

I still say the Smith contract was in part to piss off Elliott.

(Disclaimer: this is NOT Ezekiel Elliott "hate." He is playing very well but the way his contract is structured has handcuffed the team to a degree, and I fully understand he didnt give that contract to himself)

 

[The Quest for Six]

‘big-picture’
Too bad this organization didn't use that theory prior to handing out ridiculous contracts to players that have one and two years still left on their contracts

 

[The Quest for Six]

The bigger question is...who is next?

Lawrence

 

[Cebrin]

They reviewed each player on the team’s roster and decided: It was time.

“This was a big-picture roster move,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy

The sheer magnitude of that picture to be considered big by Fat Mike.

 

[zrinkill]

One less hotboy

 

[BAT]

They reviewed each player on the team’s roster and decided: It was time.

“This was a big-picture roster move,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday morning.

Former Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith, who has started 56 games for the Cowboys since 2017, was released.

The decision was multifaceted. Smith’s contract, his play and the Cowboys’ young starters developing quicker than expected factored in. The leverage given to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in his first season was also a component in pulling the trigger. In 2019, Smith signed a five-year extension through 2025 worth $64 million with $35.5 million guaranteed, including his 2021 salary of $7.2 million. Smith is still owed that salary this year. But the Cowboys wanted to avoid another contract implication: the $9.2 million injury guarantee for 2022 that would have triggered should Smith had been hurt this year.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy explains ‘big-picture’ decision to release LB Jaylon Smith (msn.com)

McCarthy handled this well.

Kudos.



More playing time for Cox.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

I'd re-sign J. Smith right now, if I was Jerry. For the vet minimal.

 

[darthseinfeld]

For any of us fans that are as tuned in as us on this site it should be no surprise that he was cut. It’s more of a surprise he’s on the team.

Cowboys should have released him before the new league year when they had a chance. He would have been easy to replace cheaply in FA, and they were delusional if they thought they would be able to trade him

 

[john van brocklin]

Lawrence

Nope

 

[fivetwos]

For any of us fans that are as tuned in as us on this site it should be no surprise that he was cut. It’s more of a surprise he’s on the team.

I'm surprised he was cut NOW.

They kept him after some ridiculously poor play, then he finally has a decent game spying Hurts, THEN they cut him.

After the salary was fully guaranteed.

If you listen to MM this is about having to face some tough roster decisions coming up.

I'm still shocked they did this, but not in the kind of way thats upsetting.

 

[Cydios]

I think Herd explains it best..

 

[rambo2]

The bigger question is...who is next?

Nobody at this point. The team is playing great and in a good position to keep winning.