Let's cut Dez

[T-RO]

Per Over the Cap, they will have $42MM in cap space in 2018. They don't have cap contraints.

That money will go fast w/Martin, Lawrence, Hitchens, Irving....etc. Dez just doesn't help the team much. And those here thinking anything will improve much w/Dez or with Dak-Dez at this point are dreaming.

 

[Stash]

Per Over the Cap, they will have $42MM in cap space in 2018. They don't have cap contraints.

I think there are constraints by position. They're already set to pay Nelson and Cobb $25 million in cap costs for 2018. Can they allocate another $10 million plus to another receiver?

 

[Risen Star]

So your argument is that you won't have a #1 receiver? We don't have one now.

Yeah and he's only fixated on 2018. Using that logic we should only draft running backs as veterans are more likely to produce than rookies.

I don't know if Dez should be cut but I do know the wheels have to start moving toward a post Dez Bryant era. We don't want him here very much longer. So the WR position must be upgraded in the offseason.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

It seems to be a suggestion/plan that keeps gaining steam with some around here. I don't get it but let's explore it.

For starters, let's look at the cap implications. If you cut him in the 2018 league year, you take an $8MM dead cap hit but save $8.5MM. If you make him a June 1 designee, that's $4MM in dead money and $12.5MM in cap savings. More than likely, they would want the cap savings immediately because they will have holes to fill in FA.

Now let's look at roster implications.

Bryant is gone. Who is your #1 WR? The answer seems to be "Oh, just draft your new #1". This logic is folly on a few levels. For one, few WRs come in and immediately plant their flag as a legit #1 WR. Second, this isn't a strong draft in terms of WRs to begin with. There is no Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, AJ Green, Dez Bryant type in this draft.

Oh, maybe we can just sign a FA WR. OK...... here are the Top 3 WRs in free agency - Pryor, Wallace and Watkins. Any of those three strike you as legit #1s? Maybe Pryor with his upside but he's going to cost you and eat up whatever cap savings you had with cutting Bryant. And are you really better off with Pryor over Bryant? This might work IF you could get Pryor on a one year deal like Washington has. Little risk in that if he doesn't improve you have no long term implications but I am not sure he makes you better than if you had Bryant.

So I am fascinated by this cut Dez talk. I truly would love to see the plan some of you have come up with that involves cutting Dez and yet still improving the WR corps.

 

[panchucko]

There is no plan, it’s just cut the whipping player of week, even though Dez has been getting whipped all season on this board

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I'd rather restructure the contract too. But knowing the emotional person and player that Dez is, I'm not sure he would handle any request to do that well, but rather see it as an insult.

Let's face it, he's certainly voiced his frustrations over not getting enough action. Now exo citing him to take a paycut for something he doesn't feel is his fault?

I'm not optimistic things would go well.

Meh.

A lot of the times that Dez has supposedly been 'upset' on the sidelines is just media hysteria nonsense looking for a story. Like the Detroit game a few years ago when, if anything, it sounded like he was trying to pump up his teammates. Jason Witten has really taken a liking to him as well.

Perhaps Dez will see this as a slight and be motivated to prove the team wrong. Either way, he's got too much tread left on the tire to let go at this point. Restructure, draft a legitimate WR that is a deep pass threat and see how it plays out. Going into the draft without an X-Receiver is just relying on luck for it to work out.





YR

 

[The Natural]

Most players don't take paycuts and especially someone like Dez. Time to trade him if you can and cut him if you can't.

Who is 'someone like Dez'? By all accounts one of the best teammates and a standup guy off the field, so tell us more about this.

 

[Stash]

You don't cut Dez you cut that horrible contract in half.

If I could? Certainly! Absolutely!

I'm just not sure the player would go for it in any way, shape, or form.

I don't think he thinks any lack of production is in any way his fault.

 

[Oh_Canada]

As much as I love Dez, I think Dak would be better without him.

You lose both he and Butler.

Sign Allen Robinson coming of an acl for cheap or Donte Moncrief under-utilized in Indy.

Bring in Jeff Janis for a look.

Draft Ridley or Kirk in first or a next tier in second/third rd (hello Anthony Miller)

I think in the end you would have a much more diverse attack and Prescott won't feel the need to appease his alpha wr anymore.

Dez is still a good wr, but he isn't great any longer. Eight mill in cap space is too hard to ignore.

 

[LittleD]

Who is 'someone like Dez'? By all accounts one of the best teammates and a standup guy off the field, so tell us more about this.

Great teammate but, he held out to get his money from Jerry and no way he is going to give some of it back. He has lots of mouths to feed you know. Besides, he's starting to slow down like Witten did. Time to cut bait and reload.

 

[superonyx]

Exactly my thought. Pay Prior or Watkins half of what you were going to pay Dez, and we would get the same production - plus, also be able to sign another player or two with that cap space.

My problem isn't Dez, the man. My problem is Dez, the contract.

Dak's game is changed because you can see that he makes a concerted effort to throw it to Dez. And even with catchable targets, you never know if he is going to even catch them. I have no idea how someone's ability to catch a football can go from great to horrible, like it has for Dez.

Dez supporters would argue that Dak couldn't gain chemistry in just one off-season if we were to cut Dez and sign a FA. Well, Dak doesn't have chemistry with Dez either!

Now, if Dez were willing to cut his salary in half ... by all means, let's keep him around.

But Dez lives in the past. He thinks he's still one of the best WR in the game, and I seriously doubt he's take a pay cut.

Why should he? Look at how much the eagles just paid Alshon Jefferey.
There isn’t a team in this league that would take Alshon Jefferey over Dez Bryant.

Who are we using this salary cap space on? You know we don’t participate in free agency because it’s paying good players like they are great players.

Look at how much the browns paid Kenny Britt a season ago because he was a free agent.

 

[LittleD]

Nobody's trading for that contract. Not when they can clearly see the returns aren't there.

I pretty much agree with you. Make him a june 1st cut along with Witten and reload.

 

[Stash]

Philly doesn't have the space.

GB has the space but would likely just want to keep their guy in Adams

I could see NE taking a flier on him. Cooks and Bryant as the top 2 WRs? That offense would be legendary.

New England hasn't needed to. They simply plug and play guys like Welker, Amendola, Edelman, and Chris Hogan and don't miss a beat.

They go after rebound guys on the cheap. Like Michael Floyd and Kenny Britt.

 

[Sydla]

I think there are constraints by position. They're already set to pay Nelson and Cobb $25 million in cap costs for 2018. Can they allocate another $10 million plus to another receiver?

They certainly can if they want. They have the overall cap space to do it. Plus, they can cut Nelson starting the 2018 cap year and save over $10MM against the cap, with only around $2MM in dead money. After 2018, he's a FA.

Same with Cobb. They can cut him in March 2018, save around $9MM on the cap, with $3MM in dead money. After 2018, he's a free agent.

So at worst, they'd only have to pay all three WRs for one more season.

 

[Sydla]

New England hasn't needed to. They simply plug and play guys like Welker, Amendola, Edelman, and Chris Hogan and don't miss a beat.

They go after rebound guys on the cheap. Like Michael Floyd and Kenny Britt.

They traded a #1 pick for Brandon Cooks this past offseason.

 

[Stash]

The problem with this logic is that you just assume the returns aren't there because of Dez.

Maybe the returns aren't there because of other factors?

Something tells me if Bryant were playing in NE or Philly or LA Rams, people wouldn't be worrying about his lack of return on investment.

No, not at all.

I'm not assuming that at all. It's nit all on him, not by a long shot. And I explained that in another post.

Prescott simply isn't that type of passer and this is no longer that type of offense with him like it was with Romo. Or like it is in other places.

And that leaves you with three choices:

A) Realize that, and do something about the Bryant contract situation

B) Make a change at the quarterback position to a more refined passer

C) Keep trying to force things to happen, despite the fact that they haven't in almost two years' time

 

[Sydla]

Yeah and he's only fixated on 2018. Using that logic we should only draft running backs as veterans are more likely to produce than rookies.

I don't know if Dez should be cut but I do know the wheels have to start moving toward a post Dez Bryant era. We don't want him here very much longer. So the WR position must be upgraded in the offseason.

Simplistic review of my thoughts.

Nowhere did I say they shouldn't look to improve the WRs this offseason. My point was it's silly to say just cut Bryant and we'll find our new #1 in this draft for sure......... a draft that isn't very strong in WRs this year.

 

[Sydla]

No, not at all.

I'm not assuming that at all. It's nit all on him, not by a long shot. And I explained that in another post.

Prescott simply isn't that type of passer and this is no longer that type of offense with him like it was with Romo. Or like it is in other places.

And that leaves you with three choices:

A) Realize that, and do something about the Bryant contract situation

B) Make a change at the quarterback position to a more refined passer

C) Keep trying to force things to happen, despite the fact that they haven't in almost two years' time

D) Get a new coaching staff

Hee, hee.

 

[erod]

How much of that is not having Tony at QB? Nothing against Dak, as it is more the coaches.
How much of that is this team and it's stupid offense of not having WR's go any longer downfield that 15 yards routes?

Hard to get 100 yards on dink and dunk 10 yard passes. Unless they can break free such as Dez and the 50 yarder, need a few of those a game.

They run downfield routes. They just don't throw to them.

 

[Longboysfan]

Philly doesn't have the space.

GB has the space but would likely just want to keep their guy in Adams

I could see NE taking a flier on him. Cooks and Bryant as the top 2 WRs? That offense would be legendary.

Yes. The Eagles are at the top of their CAP for 2018. Well about 1.2 million over on current active contracts for 2018 as of now.