The Fan on FA Sam Williams future as a Cowboy

[Reality]

Cowboys fans have been conditioned to believe in a “scarcity mentality” by the leaders of this organization. They talk that way all the time.

Here are some examples of “scarcity mentality”:

• “If we cut this guy (starter or backup player who has done nothing or almost nothing) who are we going to get?” Answer: I don’t know. How about someone else who could possibly give us more? We already know this guy couldn’t, so why keep him? Surprise! There are lots of talented football players out there.
• “If we sign this free agent, we will be in cap hell in 2 years.” Answer: How about the rams, eagles, and chiefs? All have newly acquired Lombardis and have been in and out of “cap hell” multiple times. And between them have won 50 playoff games in the cap era.

Stephen Jones acts like the cap is un-manipulatable. Meanwhile the better FOs say, “Hold my beer” and put together a great roster.

Putting even more succinctly: The GOAL of a serious NFL franchise should be to win a SB not have a “great cap situation”.

I have said this many times over the years, but the misconception is that the Cowboys motivation that drives their salary cap strategies is not based on salary cap management or efficiency, but rather its part of an economic strategy focused on persistent annual revenue.

Now I know to most people when I say that all they hear is, "The Jones family only cares about making money" and in general, that is true of course.

However, when I say that I'm referring to their business model, more so than their desire become even wealthier.

Jerry is a businessman and in business, the goal is sustained revenue. In sports, the goal is to win.

The mistake Jerry has made for 30+ years is not being cheap or not trying to win, but rather operating within the framework and limits of his business model.

It's not that Jerry doesn't want to win, it's that he wants to win within a traditional business model and that simply does not mesh well with sports organizational models.

Sports organizations have to take risks to win championships and the Cowboys have not been willing to do that since Jerry fired Landry outside of an overpaid trade here and there.

As I have said many times, Jerry wants the Cowboys competing for a division title as long as possible every season. Their focus is on maintaining playoff chance for as close to 17 games as possible.

To the Jones family, the playoffs are a byproduct, not a strategic goal. They rate each season based on how many weeks they remain in playoff contention, not post-season success.

If the Cowboys remain in playoff content until the last week of the season or make the playoffs but lose in the first round, the Jones family considers that a solid business year.

Jerry will find a way to keep the Cowboys relevant during the playoffs so they get pseudo marketing/recognition while the best teams actually play football games.

The problem Jerry has now is that he's very old and the older Cowboys fans, the ones that have been hanging around for 30+ years have finally started realizing there is no carrot.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

So TMC let me ask two quick questions…

1. Are you saying there will no other player out there as good or better than Sam Williams in the draft or in FA?
2. So we must have Sam Williams next year in order to get significantly better as a defense?

Not at all. To me whether we spend a 4th or 5th on a guy or spend free agency….its gonna be the same level talent. Except it’s gonna be someone another team didn’t want.

I liked Sam two years ago. After that he got hurt and then sucked under Eberflus. I think there may be some untapped potential there.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

There is something sad about a young, physically gifted player not being able to take a starting spot after four years on the team.

It will be up to Parker and his defensive line staff of Marcus Dixon and Demeitre Brim to determine if they can work with Williams and if there is any value there on the second year coming back from ACL and MCL surgery.

I tell people there’s a story on Sam that made me change my perception on him. People call him stupid and what not. I didn’t know it at the time but he was incredibly raw when we got him. Not an excuse at all but he hasn’t played football very long. So doing that and then having different coaches every year in the league it’s gonna stunt development.

 

[Cowboyny]

When did that happen? He wasn’t here last year and the year before Sam missed the whole season. When did Dan take him out of the rotation?

Last yr when Quinn was here, his was regulated to st

 

[Bobhaze]

Not at all. To me whether we spend a 4th or 5th on a guy or spend free agency….its gonna be the same level talent. Except it’s gonna be someone another team didn’t want.

I liked Sam two years ago. After that he got hurt and then sucked under Eberflus. I think there may be some untapped potential there.

After 4 years of waiting on Sam Williams to develop into a reliable starter or at least a reliable rotation guy I think it sends the right organizational message to all players who under-achieve:

• If you want to wear the Star long enough to get a second contract, you better show us something in your first contract.

Maybe even a more succinct way of putting it is asking this question: Would Jimmy Johnson keep a guy like Sam Williams around? Answer: Williams would have been cut earlier.

 

[Bobhaze]

I have said this many times over the years, but the misconception is that the Cowboys motivation that drives their salary cap strategies is not based on salary cap management or efficiency, but rather its part of an economic strategy focused on persistent annual revenue.

Now I know to most people when I say that all they hear is, "The Jones family only cares about making money" and in general, that is true of course.

However, when I say that I'm referring to their business model, more so than their desire become even wealthier.

Jerry is a businessman and in business, the goal is sustained revenue. In sports, the goal is to win.

The mistake Jerry has made for 30+ years is not being cheap or not trying to win, but rather operating within the framework and limits of his business model.

It's not that Jerry doesn't want to win, it's that he wants to win within a traditional business model and that simply does not mesh well with sports organizational models.

Sports organizations have to take risks to win championships and the Cowboys have not been willing to do that since Jerry fired Landry outside of an overpaid trade here and there.

As I have said many times, Jerry wants the Cowboys competing for a division title as long as possible every season. Their focus is on maintaining playoff chance for as close to 17 games as possible.

To the Jones family, the playoffs are a byproduct, not a strategic goal. They rate each season based on how many weeks they remain in playoff contention, not post-season success.

If the Cowboys remain in playoff content until the last week of the season or make the playoffs but lose in the first round, the Jones family considers that a solid business year.

Jerry will find a way to keep the Cowboys relevant during the playoffs so they get pseudo marketing/recognition while the best teams actually play football games.

The problem Jerry has now is that he's very old and the older Cowboys fans, the ones that have been hanging around for 30+ years have finally started realizing there is no carrot.

À very insightful and big picture way of describing the Jones’ way of running this team.

I literally laugh out loud every time Stephen Jones says the phrase, “We can’t afford _____” (fill-in the blank on a player) because of the almighty salary cap. He either literally does not understand how it works or he and his old man have no desire to be aggressive. Maybe both.

As you said, winning a championship should always be the first and foremost goal here. The entire organization’s energy and imagination should be focused on that. And whatever road blocks to achieving that should be removed.

But that’s not how they operate. When some Cowboys fans say “Jerry wants to win”, it’s not “at all costs”. Which is the opposite of the myriad of teams who have won SBs since our last.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

After 4 years of waiting on Sam Williams to develop into a reliable starter or at least a reliable rotation guy I think it sends the right organizational message to all players who under-achieve:

• If you want to wear the Star long enough to get a second contract, you better show us something in your first contract.

Maybe even a more succinct way of putting it is asking this question: Would Jimmy Johnson keep a guy like Sam Williams around? Answer: Williams would have been cut earlier.

Jimmy would’ve done a lot of things that doesn’t mean it was right. Jimmy coached here in a era where there was no salary cap so it’s tough to say what he’d do in 2026.
Im
Trying to build a football team with limited resources. This team doesn’t have a 2nd or 3rd and doesn’t like to spend in free agency.

I think there’s potentially more there. If they move on i will understand as well.

Last yr when Quinn was here, his was regulated to st

When? It says he has 309 snaps in a reserve role. 3rd most on the team…..he played special team and defense.

 

[phildadon86]

I don’t know anything about the guys intellect or him outside of football. I don’t listen to post game interviews so you could be right in that regard. I like his physical tools and yes I’d like to see him in the new scheme change. If it doesn’t work oh well. He will get it. If low risk potential high reward.

You’re way too passionate about this lol. I’d like to see him in a new scheme. If they move on I swear life will go on lol.

He’s been in 3 schemes.

Hes sucked.

4th times a charm?

And yes im passionate about it because he was a wasted second rounder because jerry refuses to stop taking risks on dumb players in the second round.

He’s done nothing in 4 years dude.

 

[phildadon86]

There is something sad about a young, physically gifted player not being able to take a starting spot after four years on the team.

It will be up to Parker and his defensive line staff of Marcus Dixon and Demeitre Brim to determine if they can work with Williams and if there is any value there on the second year coming back from ACL and MCL surgery.

There isn’t.

3 coordinators. 0 results. He’s a knucklehead. Let him be someone else’s problem.

 

[Floatyworm]

Hard pass........
Sam had 4 years ........... he's replaceable

I'm done with dumb players......

 

[Floatyworm]

I’ve seen tight ends totally remove him from the play .

......Inexcusable for a man his size to get blocked like that. He should be rag dolling people....Instead he gets abused by 240lb receiving TEs....Or he's completely lost where the ball is....

I'm done....

 

[lwehlers]

I have never understood the philosophy of giving a “project” player who needs “time to develop” four full years to develop….then after they do not develop, say, “let’s re-sign this guy”.

To me this is exactly the kind of thinking that has given us the last 30 years.

i see the jones overpaying for williams and then he underperforms or gets hurt and misses a lot of games.

 

[Plankton]

I am not a fan of dumb players, and Sam Williams is 265 pounds of dumb player. They need to cut bait.

 

[EPL0c0]

Good guy but time to move on.

I'd rather go after Jaelen Phillips if he's healthy (as a good price)

 

[32BellyOption]

Pass. Sam gives us next to nothing.

 

[Risen Star]

As reserve and budget friendly deal. The 3 years for $9M sounds reasonable to avoid creating another hole to fill.

This is what the fans do this time of year. Lets keep every bum who has never been good enough so we can lose again next year.

The hole is already there because Sam Williams sucks.

 

[Risen Star]

I defer to CP. if he thinks he can work with him and the deal is fair, bring him back.

You defer to someone who has no track record whatsoever in evaluating talent. He was an assistant who coached talent, he didn't acquire it.

And he didn't even coach Sam's position.

Go Cowboys, bro.

I'll trust what I've seen for 4 years and I really don't care what Christian Parker thinks about it. Sam Williams is a waste of time.

 

[conner01]

I am ok bringing him back on a 2 year deal, maybe $5 million total. Is that reasonable compared to 3 years at 9 million?
He has some tools and potential, but needs to get more disciplined to rid himself of knucklehead plays.
Can Parker be able to do that.

I will be fine if they move on as well.

Or even one year. Gives him a chance to improve his market value

 

[rambo2]

Not only do they re-sign him, they make it a deal to sign him for big money. Then they complain about the cap preventing them from signing top free agents. I cannot understand this philosophy either.

They have plenty of money to sign whoever they want.

 

[The Natural]

The lane was wide open for him to prove his worth and the response was loud and clear. Cut bait.