Cowboys losing Ground? For the Record . reinforces how 2016 was a missed opportunity ***MERGED***

[Plankton]

Wake me up when the offseason ends. Until the team, and the league, for that matter, has completed the draft, we have no idea whether this team is better or worse.

Aside from Ron Leary, the Cowboys haven't lost a player that anyone would deem to be critical to how they play. Or, anyone that most would say is a lynchpin to success. Most people have decried these very same guys (Doug Free was ripped by a ton of fans, Jack Crawford was consistently ridiculed, and Barry Church/J.J. Wilcox weren't far behind), and now their losses are a problem? Seriously?

Yes, they still have to address depth in areas, and ultimately find starters at SS (Heath can do the job, but it opens up holes in the dime and special teams), RT and a defensive end that can threaten a QB. But, they are bringing back 9 of 11 starters on offense, and were faced with having to upgrade the defense anyway. Let's allow the rest of the offseason to play out before making any formal declarations.

 

[jazzcat22]

Personally I'm kind of excited to rotate some new blood into this defense. Yeah, sucks we lost some guys, but it's not like we lost pieces that aren't replaceable. Maybe some guys can step in and create a new energy on this defense. We watched it happen on the offense with just Zeke and Dak.

Agree.
People whine while those players are here, and whine when they leave.

 

[Idgit]

Do you think people will?
Every year a few come around to this idea that McClay and Stephen has started. But also it seems more show up not accepting this idea...I think they are manufacturing them in the wood work.

I don't actually think they will, no. . But it seems like something you say to nudge people who've been seeing the same exact thing for seven years in a row now but still aren't picking up the pattern.

 

[noshame]

Quick let's dump Dak and make Romo the starter then you'll be on here tomorrow telling us what a wonderful opportunity we have

Promise me when we cut him you'll follow him to the Canadian Football League or wherever he ends up

 

[MileyDancer]

Do you always prematurely shoot your wad? How embarrassing for you.

If I had said this, I'd be benched.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

If you strictly look at this from a fans point of view, it probably was a wasted opportunity but if you take a step back and actually think about it from the perspective of the team, I am not sure they see it that way. The honest truth of the matter is that the team never saw Dak coming. They saw a guys still on the board that they viewed as "BPA" at the QB position. They never thought Dak was going to have a pro bowl season. They never saw 13-3 coming. They, in truth, were preparing for a season with Tony coming back off injury and finding out what they really had in Tony. They intended to use this year to figure out what the future would be and prepare for it IMO. What we are seeing today is probably the plan the team had the whole time. Plan for a huge cap year in 18 and use this season and last to get our ship in order and prepare to get younger.

To the team, I'm not at all sure that they are not looking at this and seeing it as "Way Ahead of Schedule", rather then a "Missed Opportunity" type of situation.

JMO

 

[CowboyStar88]

Everybody is scared of Alshon Jefferey / Torrey Smith ... Brandon Marshall ... Terrelle Pryor??? Come on man.

Who will be covering them?

Who will be rushing Cousins, Manning and Wentz?

This defense played its heart out last year and have lost 2 safeties and both corners and haven't added anything to the outside pass rush. Nolan Carroll doesn't have a great reputation for being a sound corner. Who else is playing corner? Brown? Ok sounds good but was his first year a fluke? Scandrick wasn't great last year, and the workout warrior is the only starting safety. Frazier? Who knows what they have there. Sorry this team lost a lot of decent players and now add Free retiring and Leary gone? Lots of holes

 

[CowboyRoy]

Just weird to practically have a 14-2 team and then essentially not do anything in FA to help shore up some issues on defense.

They cant do anything. They have mismanaged the cap so horribly they cannot. Its that simple. Could they mortgage the future again and do a few things, yes. But then that flies in the face of scrimping to they can finally be free of the problems.

 

[JoeKing]

If I had said this, I'd be benched.

Why? You have all the abilities that anyone else has that post on here. Don't sell your lady parts so short.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Agree.
People whine while those players are here, and whine when they leave.

No, the smart posters know that these guys are average or worse and have watched them play for 4-6 years now.

The other crowd simply loves everything Cowboy and thinks one solid year from some of them makes them all pro types.

 

[LocimusPrime]

First off, I did not. Last season, I said 10-6.

New England quiet during free agency? LOL

Randy Moss, Chris Long, Brandin Cooks, Martellus Bennett, Lagarette Blount, Corey Dillon, Brandon Lloyd, Donte Stallworth, Albert Haynesworth, Brian Waters, Will Allen, Alge Crumpler, Fred Taylor, Joey Galloway.......

I could go on and on.

Do Ealy, Gilmore, and Allen count? They were traded for last week but weren't technically free agents. The patriots have been busy trading lol

 

[CowboyRoy]

That is the area where I think they "make due". Just too much else to address and too little to do it with.

Well..........He cant be much worse that Wilcox. Although enjoyed watching some bigger hits this year with Wilcox, the other 4 year or so he was just horrid.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Romo was gone regardless. Free was in major decline. Carr and Mo are still a possibility, though it appears Mo will go to Baltimore. Paea = McClain. Carroll is going to be fine. Heath will take S spot and is better play maker than either Wilcox/Church. And, like I said, a lot things to play out before getting worked up about losing the players Dallas has.

Spoken like a true cheerleader. I dont agree with one thing you said other than Romo was gone no matter what. But then again, that has nothing to do with losing him is worse. The team is worse without Romo as a backup.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think losing Church is going to hurt us, unless we can bring in somebody who can improve that position. You bring in the same guy and you still lose. The knowledge of the system will not be there. The knowledge of the players on the team will not be there. Weather we admit it or not, the leadership will not immediately be there. Lots of important areas that will suffer with this loss IMO. A better guy, that obviously changes things. That's an upgrade to the position but the same guy, that's a downgrade in the short term, at best, IMO.

 

[erod]

Do Ealy, Gilmore, and Allen count? They were traded for last week but weren't technically free agents. The patriots have been busy trading lol

The point was made that the Patriots are quiet during free agency. They are louder than anybody. LOL

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

When we have the worst cap situation in the entire league, it may tell you who's running the ship.

When the Patriots win the Super Bowl, and still have more than $30 mil available ... that may tell you who's running the ship.

It's sad.

This early into FA the pats have shored up their running and passing game and have the best backup QB in Garrapolo, who, in turn could fetch the Pats a really nice draft pick from a needy team.
I keep thinking the league will see the inequity of a championship team getting even better and step in and save the rest of the league, but that is not the way it works.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I think losing Church is going to hurt us, unless we can bring in somebody who can improve that position. You bring in the same guy and you still lose. The knowledge of the system will not be there. The knowledge of the players on the team will not be there. Weather we admit it or not, the leadership will not immediately be there. Lots of important areas that will suffer with this loss IMO. A better guy, that obviously changes things. That's an upgrade to the position but the same guy, that's a downgrade in the short term, at best, IMO.

Excellent points, adobe lad!

 

[DallasEast]

The funny thing about pointing fingers is that many people point one and waste up to nine more.

 

[MileyDancer]

Why? You have all the abilities that anyone else has that post on here. Don't sell your lady parts so short.

How many times do I have to say I don't identify with that gender? My gender is attack helicopter.

 

[JoeKing]

How many times do I have to say I don't identify with that gender? My gender is attack helicopter.

That gender can most certainly say what I said without getting benched.