What is the Cowboys reasoning for delaying contract signings?

[deerhunter11]

From 1989 to now, it’s hard to believe Jerry has never spoken to an agent. Sometimes, when he’s busy with numerous contracts, he delegates the task to his legal team, which is just smart business. The Parsons situation is being misunderstood—just because he didn’t want to deal with David, the agent, doesn’t mean he avoids all agents. He’s handled thousands of contracts in football and other businesses, and with 1,200 employees and a billionaire’s résumé, he’s met plenty of agents in person. Using one isolated incident where he didn’t like an agent’s attitude to claim he never talks to agents is misleading; he probably interacts directly with about 75% of them. And not every contract requires an in-person meeting—Zoom, FaceTime, email, or phone calls work until the final details need to be signed off. The Parsons matter was just a one-off where Jerry didn’t like David’s response, not a reflection of how he handles all negotiations.




Let’s remember you don’t always need to handle contracts in person—you can negotiate over Zoom, FaceTime, email, or phone calls. You don’t have to meet with agents until it’s time to cross every T and dot every I, when things get serious.

He definitely meets with agents, but they’ve already gone through all this before, especially when discussing the Parsons situation.

That was a one-off where he didn’t like the response from David, who basically said not to bother sending something over because it would just be torn up unless they talked first.

Jerry might have embellished the exchange, but when David showed attitude, Jerry simply said “OK, never mind” and walked away.

This is a guy who talks to hundreds of agents, yet somehow one rare incident has people convinced he avoids them altogether.

If you believe that, I’ve also got the Brooklyn Bridge for sale—just send me the money and I’ll get you the paperwork. LMAO.

If Jerry does not want to talk to Pickens agent, then he should have someone else within the organization do it. Let Brian Schottenheimer or Klayton Adams take a shot at this, it would be beneficial to know what the agent and Pickens would settle for in a yearly salary as soon as possible. Then Dallas would know which way to go, sign the player long term or trade the player for draft capital. Jerry has a bad habit of waiting too long to act on contract negotiations that costs both money and chances at adding more talent to the team through free agency. The money saved can get you more talent at positions that need it the most. The longer you wait on a contract the more they cost and this is bad business. Fans are tired of seeing Jerry continue to wait too long to act on contract negotiations. I would like to keep George Pickens, I just don't think he wants to play on the tag. Good post Blueblood70:

 

[Redsfan_83]

Your number 1 thing on your list was to stay in the news, was it mistaken on what you were saying?

Re-read what you said. Jerry has to do/say something in order to stay in the news, do you not agree? If he does nothing, then attention goes elsewhere and he no likey

 

[Redsfan_83]

^This^. What is surprising to me is how many apologists there are for a sports franchise that has found limited success in 3 decades.

It's not like we are following a non-profit organization or trying to solve world hunger here.

This is about putting together a consistent organization that is focused on learnig to get better in order to win a SuperBowl.

You say Dak, I say Derrick Henry. There are numerous examples of head scratching behaviour out of this front office. The front office with the most monetary resources, best facilities and supposedly the player talent whisperer named Will McClay.

Bob Haze posted almost two years to this day a listing of the oldest GMs in the league. Jerry is by far the oldest. Balke and Loomis are on the list, but it feels like this Cowboys front office is one of the oldest with very little new blood coming in at the top.

So even though the ideas are fresh coming from below the older decision makers may prove to be the barrier to change. There are multiple research studies done on how this mgmt structure turns into a paradox and a actual barrier to improvement.

At the end of the day the research shows in all humans that you cannot expect more form the perosn than what they are capable of. Hence the need for churn. This applies tot he roster and it also applies to the front office.

Understand the the guy I quoted will go off saying how people are out of there minds for being critical, then someone like me posts something that contradicts his comments and he is ghosting. The apologists will have nothing of the sort, and have to try to rationalize the 3 decades of losing that you mention

 

[MapleLeaf]

Understand the the guy I quoted will go off saying how people are out of there minds for being critical, then someone like me posts something that contradicts his comments and he is ghosting. The apologists will have nothing of the sort, and have to try to rationalize the 3 decades of losing that you mention

What I can't understand is, "There is no shame in trying something different to see if you can get better results."

It should be fine for Jerry to let someone take his legacy and make it better. There is something weirdly and disturbingly egotistical about not letting go and not churning the ship every so often.

When do we move on from McClay? When he is 89? When he wants to? When does Jerry give up the reins to the Cowboys mgmt decisions? When he can't move his wheelchair forward anymore?

I am ready to see something different. I will also give Jerry all the credit for doing something different in the upper mgmt ranks.

 

[Redsfan_83]

What I can't understand is, "There is no shame in trying something different to see if you can get better results."

It should be fine for Jerry to let someone take his legacy and make it better. There is something weirdly and disturbingly egotistical about not letting go and not churning the ship every so often.

When do we move on from McClay? When he is 89? When he wants to? When does Jerry give up the reins to the Cowboys mgmt decisions? When he can't move his wheelchair forward anymore?

I am ready to see something different. I will also give Jerry all the credit for doing something different in the upper mgmt ranks.

If he gave anything up it would mean he has failed, and Jerry the businessman is not about admitting failure, it's all about power. Until the totally loses his marbles and the family puts him in a home, nothing will change. Even then, Jr will be just as bad, if not worse

 

[Reid1boys]

Re-read what you said. Jerry has to do/say something in order to stay in the news, do you not agree? If he does nothing, then attention goes elsewhere and he no likey

I’m thinking you may need to reread what I said. What you said above is not what I said.

 

[Kwyn]

And you think the cowboys have cash flow problems? Bahahahahahahahana

Depends in what you call a “problem”

There is a reason Jerry hates to payout bonuses. It’s because it’s a check he has to write *today*.

He keeps all of his liquidity devoted to his businesses outside the Cowboys and to make that work, he runs the team as if they *are* cash poor.

Think of it like this.

Team brings in $100m profit.

Jerry doesn’t keep that within the team to pay for things like signing bonuses. He takes $80m of it and puts it into his oil business ventures (as an example), as a “loan” and then repays it with interest. If the venture doesn’t make moneys I’m sure there’s forgiveness built into the deals he makes with himself.

The Cowboys are essentially his bank that he uses to loan money to his other businesses

So, yes, they do have a cash flow “problem” as far as we are concerned, but for Jerry it’s all part of the plan. The money just passes right through the org but isn’t used by the team.

Cash over Cap teams borrows from the future cap to have money today for big bonuses. They make big long term deals and worry about the cap later. It’s usually the way rich owners operate. Broncos, Seahawks, Chiefs, Rams all have really rich owners and run their teams this way.

Jerry is the sixth richest owner but runs the team like he’s the Raiders, Bengals or Steelers. Teams with relatively “poor” owners.

 

[Kwyn]

If Jerry does not want to talk to Pickens agent, then he should have someone else within the organization do it. Let Brian Schottenheimer or Klayton Adams take a shot at this, it would be beneficial to know what the agent and Pickens would settle for in a yearly salary as soon as possible. Then Dallas would know which way to go, sign the player long term or trade the player for draft capital. Jerry has a bad habit of waiting too long to act on contract negotiations that costs both money and chances at adding more talent to the team through free agency. The money saved can get you more talent at positions that need it the most. The longer you wait on a contract the more they cost and this is bad business. Fans are tired of seeing Jerry continue to wait too long to act on contract negotiations. I would like to keep George Pickens, I just don't think he wants to play on the tag. Good post Blueblood70:

He has Adam Prasifka to handle contacts and the cap. People call Stephen “Cap Boy” but that’s actually Prasifka who was a Razorback equipment manager and has never had anything other than internships and that job before Jerry hired him $26 years ago.

So, that the true guy he forces agents to deal with. Don’t listen to that other guy. Jerry said himself he doesn’t talk to agents and in the Micah press conference when he started to insult agents and said he does all the deals himself with the player, Stephen cut him off and said “we understand the agent needs to eh uncorked and we encourage players to use an agent if they prefer. Our team has had many successful contracts negotiators firstly with agents”. He mentored Tyler Smith I believe as someone who said “talk to my agent.”

The problem is that Jerry, being the snake he is, likes to have a “conversation” with the player. He’ll send the wife or mama out shopping or to a fancy meal while he and the player have drinks and he casually brings up the r contract and before you know it, it’s 60 years and $20b dollars of experience going against a guy whose barely negotiated a car lease.

He considers this “good bidness” and I’m sure it gives his wrinkled old self a little thrill every time he pulls it off

 

[Redsfan_83]

I’m thinking you may need to reread what I said. What you said above is not what I said.

Honestly, leaving this at where it is, b

I’m thinking you may need to reread what I said. What you said above is not what I said.

I'll take your word for it, too much back and forth in this thread

 

[KingCorcoran]

He has Adam Prasifka to handle contacts and the cap. People call Stephen “Cap Boy” but that’s actually Prasifka who was a Razorback equipment manager and has never had anything other than internships and that job before Jerry hired him $26 years ago.

So, that the true guy he forces agents to deal with. Don’t listen to that other guy. Jerry said himself he doesn’t talk to agents and in the Micah press conference when he started to insult agents and said he does all the deals himself with the player, Stephen cut him off and said “we understand the agent needs to eh uncorked and we encourage players to use an agent if they prefer. Our team has had many successful contracts negotiators firstly with agents”. He mentored Tyler Smith I believe as someone who said “talk to my agent.”

The problem is that Jerry, being the snake he is, likes to have a “conversation” with the player. He’ll send the wife or mama out shopping or to a fancy meal while he and the player have drinks and he casually brings up the r contract and before you know it, it’s 60 years and $20b dollars of experience going against a guy whose barely negotiated a car lease.

He considers this “good bidness” and I’m sure it gives his wrinkled old self a little thrill every time he pulls it off

Since Tyler Smith is the Cowboys NFLPA Player Representative I’m sure he’s been tasked by the Union to make sure Cowboys players don’t have contract conversations directly with Jerry Jones.

While discussions of that nature are not prohibited. They are also pointless. The CBA mandates players may only select agents from the Union’s authorized list, they may not be represented by an agent not authorized by the Union. Unless they formally declare they represent themselves (Lamar Jackson) any agreement without the agent’s direct consent cannot be approved by the league or the Union.

Jerry knows this. Any sentiments he shares otherwise is showboating.

 

[Bullflop]

Jerry and Stephen think stalling makes them tough negotiators, even though it hurts them badly. They have zero to weak expertise when it comes to evaluating talent. That's a major weakness, for certain. Trying to manage their team despite those issues make success extremely difficult, if not, impossible. They're also horrible when it comes to practicing decent negotiating skill, by acting poorly.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I honestly don’t understand why the Cowboys handle contracts the way they do. It’s been going on for years, and every time it happens I’m left scratching my head. We always hear the same things: “We want the player back,” “He’s a big part of what we’re doing,” “We feel good about where things are headed.” Then… nothing. They wait. And wait. And somehow we’re supposed to believe this is a smart move.

I don’t see it.

If you believe in a guy, why drag it out? If he’s proven himself and you know he fits your plans, just get the deal done. I get wanting to see how the market shakes out, but Dallas takes that idea way too far. Most of the time, waiting doesn’t save them money — it does the opposite. The price goes up, not down.

This is where I really put the blame on Stephen Jones. It feels like he’s always trying to squeeze every dollar and thinks delaying gives the Cowboys leverage. It doesn’t. All it does is annoy the player, make fans nervous, and in the end the team gives in anyway. We’ve already seen this play out.

Just look at Dak. Look at CeeDee Lamb. Same story both times: long delays, vague optimism, fans arguing about it for months — and then they sign massive contracts that probably would’ve been cheaper if Dallas had acted sooner. So what was the point of waiting?

What bugs me the most is the mixed signals. You can’t constantly talk up a player and say how much you want him back, then move like you’re unsure. Pick a lane. Either he’s part of the future or he isn’t. This in‑between approach just makes the team look indecisive.

Maybe other teams do this too, but the Cowboys seem to make a habit out of it. And until they change how they approach contracts, we’re going to keep seeing the same thing: delay, lose leverage, overpay, repeat.

That’s not strategy. It’s just frustrating.

 

[L-O-Jete]

They’ve read “The Art of the Deal”… twice!

 

[TwentyOne]

They are master negotiators, using a complex strategy you couldn't possibly understand.

Yes, after following them for 30+ years i think too thats the reason.

 

[TwentyOne]

Could someone please help me understand why we do this, why we think this is some kind of special tactic to use? I'm sure "other teams do this too" but we're focusing on the cowboys. What is the reasoning, has the player not shown enough, is it the agent, is it both, or the Cowboys just aren't sure the player fits in their plans?

It's kind of hard to believe as the Cowboys have great things to say about every player. If you ask them, you always hear positive feedback on how they WANT said player to return and play for them, yet they stall and take their time. I realize it's good to see what the market is set at, but find out what the market is, and get the player signed. Often times we run the price up by waiting too long, doing the opposite of what we want to do. We all know they're cheap, yet they wait and wait things out, only to see the price increase! Please give your thoughts on this

Contrary to all those good opinions here in this thread i think the reason is very simple:

The just have other priorities and therefore dont put much time and effort into negotiation and contract talks. So it takes much longer to get deals done.

In essence: They just dont care. Football is not the priority of the Joneses business plan.

 

[phildadon86]

Could someone please help me understand why we do this, why we think this is some kind of special tactic to use? I'm sure "other teams do this too" but we're focusing on the cowboys. What is the reasoning, has the player not shown enough, is it the agent, is it both, or the Cowboys just aren't sure the player fits in their plans?

It's kind of hard to believe as the Cowboys have great things to say about every player. If you ask them, you always hear positive feedback on how they WANT said player to return and play for them, yet they stall and take their time. I realize it's good to see what the market is set at, but find out what the market is, and get the player signed. Often times we run the price up by waiting too long, doing the opposite of what we want to do. We all know they're cheap, yet they wait and wait things out, only to see the price increase! Please give your thoughts on this

They would want you to believe it’s because they don’t want to over pay.

Then they end up drawing up record setting contracts after saying they don’t want to set the market.

In short. They like the media attention it brings. It’s all about the brand baby. Winning is secondary

 

[CowboyFanInLexKy]

Because the Jones idiots are not football guys. Jerry doesn't know or have any idea of who he should or shouldn't pay as it relates to football. He goes off entertainment value and because of this he relies on a team of people to tell him if he should or shouldn't extend someone. He is way more involved in making his other business deals but when it comes to the Cowboys he relies on others to tell him what he should do. That's part of it and the other part he's still stuck 40 years in the past when it comes to negotiating. He thinks the players will be homeless if they don't sign a contract so he drags things out until right before the season starts to begin actively negotiating. He thinks the season opener is the deadline for the players but the players rightlfully use this against the old hag.

Let me re-phrase this for you so as to make it more accurate. They have a team of "advisors" (who actually know what they're doing) however the Jones Boys don't listen to them half of the time. They think they're smarter. And what has been the outcome of that? Truth of the matter, they're cheap. They figure of they pay a couple people high dollar, they can cut corners everywhere else. Even in places where it matters most.

 

[atlantacowboy]

I'd like to say bc it keep them in the news, but I'm beginning to believe they just aren't paying attention and are distracted by other interests or just don't care.

 

[Teague31]

A. Arrogance
B. Laziness
C. Stupidity
D. All of the above

 

[Coogiguy03]

They would want you to believe it’s because they don’t want to over pay.

Then they end up drawing up record setting contracts after saying they don’t want to set the market.

In short. They like the media attention it brings. It’s all about the brand baby. Winning is secondary

It's so secondary that we shouldn't even go into a season thinking we have a chance to win anything. I don't see what's the joy and fascination in running a franchise this way like come on, let's try to actually win something, instead of media attention.

I'd like to say bc it keep them in the news, but I'm beginning to believe they just aren't paying attention and are distracted by other interests or just don't care.

Interesting thought right there, if that were ever true, give the job to the football people (Troy AIKMAN or will mcclay) Jones family step away

Let me re-phrase this for you so as to make it more accurate. They have a team of "advisors" (who actually know what they're doing) however the Jones Boys don't listen to them half of the time. They think they're smarter. And what has been the outcome of that? Truth of the matter, they're cheap. They figure of they pay a couple people high dollar, they can cut corners everywhere else. Even in places where it matters most.

They only think that because they are loaded with money, not loaded with football knowledge