Earl Thomas will be a Cowboy by Mid August- Book it

[T-RO]

Seattle has over 10mill of cap space?

The beginning of the year they had .1 mil in cap space—before rookie signings and free agency! They kicked the can on some guys, released others. I read somewhere tonight they only had $2mil. I don’t know the latest number w/certainty.

 

[Cowpolk]

I was thinking along these lines until I saw ‘Hawks cap situation. Seattle needs to deal so they can make other deals.

There are two ways to view Earl:
-As a one-year rental
-As long term guy

I say a third round pick is worthwhile for 1 year of an all-pro.

I want him here for 3 years maybe 4 as a starter

 

[T-RO]

I want him here for 3 years maybe 4 as a starter

On what terms?

 

[king987]

If they truly are interested in ET, which it sure seems like they are, it looks like they're playing it smart. Last report I saw, the Hawks wanted a 2nd Round pick for ET. That's a hefty price. 2nd Round Pick is expected to be a 5-10 year starter for your team, hopefully closer to 10. I like ET, but Dallas would be very lucky to get 5 good years out of him.

Trade-wise, it's clear the Hawks are not in a good position here. They have little leverage with such a talented yet disgruntled player. If I were Dallas, I'd wait until they submit to a 3rd Round Pick. Hell, if things got real ugly, I'd see if I could get away with a 4th first. It might get bad enough that Hawks just want him off the books. It's not like their cap space is good, anyway.

I like ET, but I covet that 2nd Rounder. I would rather keep the 2nd and see what we get out of the young guys this year.

 

[T-RO]

If they truly are interested in ET, which it sure seems like they are, it looks like they're playing it smart. Last report I saw, the Hawks wanted a 2nd Round pick for ET. That's a hefty price. 2nd Round Pick is expected to be a 5-10 year starter for your team, hopefully closer to 10. I like ET, but Dallas would be very lucky to get 5 good years out of him.

Trade-wise, it's clear the Hawks are not in a good position here. They have little leverage with such a talented yet disgruntled player. If I were Dallas, I'd wait until they submit to a 3rd Round Pick. Hell, if things got real ugly, I'd see if I could get away with a 4th first. It might get bad enough that Hawks just want him off the books. It's not like their cap space is good, anyway.

I like ET, but I covet that 2nd Rounder. I would rather keep the 2nd and see what we get out of the young guys this year.

Agree on all points. The reason I say mid August is to give time for reality to set in for Seahawks. If I’m Dallas front office lead guy I don’t communicate at all until Aug 15 or so.

I’ve read there are bad feelings towards Thomas from fellow Seattle players because of his Cowboys love. Things in Seattle are ugly and this is just one small piece of it. There is dead fish in the air that will only smell worse by the day. If there aren’t any other serious bidders the price can only fall further.

The other consideration in waiting: If he lands in Dallas on August 20 the Cowboys will have the option of saying it’s too late to negotiate a long term deal.

 

[Hardline]

I would book it that he will be here but I already got it booked he won't.

 

[JoeKing]

After researching the ET situation I think it is virtually inevitable that Seattle and Dallas will work out a deal that makes Earl a Cowboy. The trade will happen between August 5 and Aug 20

I’ll break this up in a few posts:
Part I. Why Seattle wants, even needs to deal

We already know that the Hawks actively shopped Earl at draft time. That is one of the three elephants in the room. Seattle front office has played their hand. We’ll address the other elephants In upcoming posts.

Earl has applied the heat and it is working. “Trade me” he says. This is bad PR for the team and bad locker room mojo. Camp is starting without him there and dead fish start to stink. On top of that Thomas’ comments are puncturing any leverage the ‘Hawks have in their hopes to get a good return.

Seattle has lost most of the legion of doom. Everyone knows they are rebuilding. Thomas cannot really help Seattle as a player...there are no real playoff chances...he can only help them as a commodity.

Seattle only has 2$ million in cap space and they still have a number of young players they need to sign or extend. Earl is due $10.4 mil. What is a rebuilding team that is in cap trouble? Answer = a selling team. Hawks will most certainly sell to hasten their restructuring.

Fans, bloggers and media guys in the northwest understand the corner the ‘Hawks are in. Listen up to a Seahawks media member:

First of all, it's "Legion of Boom" not Doom. Second, Seattle is not letting go of ET this season. ET can help mentor Seattle's younger players. Dallas will have to wait til ET is a free agent.

 

[xwalker]

After researching the ET situation I think it is virtually inevitable that Seattle and Dallas will work out a deal that makes Earl a Cowboy. The trade will happen between August 5 and Aug 20

I’ll break this up in a few posts:
Part I. Why Seattle wants, even needs to deal

We already know that the Hawks actively shopped Earl at draft time. That is one of the three elephants in the room. Seattle front office has played their hand. We’ll address the other elephants In upcoming posts.

Earl has applied the heat and it is working. “Trade me” he says. This is bad PR for the team and bad locker room mojo. Camp is starting without him there and dead fish start to stink. On top of that Thomas’ comments are puncturing any leverage the ‘Hawks have in their hopes to get a good return.

Seattle has lost most of the legion of doom. Everyone knows they are rebuilding. Thomas cannot really help Seattle as a player...there are no real playoff chances...he can only help them as a commodity.

Seattle only has 2$ million in cap space and they still have a number of young players they need to sign or extend. Earl is due $10.4 mil. What is a rebuilding team that is in cap trouble? Answer = a selling team. Hawks will most certainly sell to hasten their restructuring.

Fans, bloggers and media guys in the northwest understand the corner the ‘Hawks are in. Listen up to a Seahawks media member:

They don't have real cap problems.

If you look at the combined cap space for 3 years (2018 to 2020) they are in better shape than many other teams.

 

[T-RO]

They don't have real cap problems.

If you look at the combined cap space for 3 years (2018 to 2020) they are in better shape than many other teams.

They have five guys they need to sign/extend. That was one of the reasons (excuses) they gave to Earl while they couldn’t do a deal right now.

 

[T-RO]

First of all, it's "Legion of Boom" not Doom. Second, Seattle is not letting go of ET this season. ET can help mentor Seattle's younger players. Dallas will have to wait til ET is a free agent.

I spelled it correctly 50% of the time on page 1. That’s an A grade when posting after midnight.

As for “mentoring younger players” ... you want a leader on your team who has repeatedly been vocal about wanting to play somewhere else?

 

[LittleD]

Let me ask you this: How would you feel if the Cowboys got Earl for a third round pick?

I would hate it. Poor use of cap funds for an aging, declining player who wants a new contract at 12mil per season. Heck, I would rather pay Dez who at least would score a few touchdowns...ET is not going to score many touchdowns. The safety position is not a "money 5" position. Be smart.

 

[visionary]

Earl Thomas = progress stopper for Jeff Heath
#earlthomas2.0

 

[WillieBeamen]

I hope youre right

 

[starfan1]

Gee another Earl Thomas thread I’m so shocked

 

[Stash]

ESPN listed possible trading partners. But none of them have the combination of need and available funds that the Cowboys have.

Dallas can get this done for a third round pick... The other trading partners will be scared off or dissuaded. Seattle has no leverage and a compelling need to move on.

Unless Dallas has changed their mind* this will happen. Terms will be a third round pick—perhaps slightly sweetened.

So let me summarize:
T-Ro says this:
Seattle will trade Thomas to Dallas between August 5 and August 20. The trade will be a third round pick, perhaps slightly sweetened.

*Possible

You've got some company here. While I'm still on the fence personally over whether or not this trade/extension is the best move long term, I am now in the camp that believes that it will happen.

I'm not sure if you saw it, but the Star Telegram had the following tidbit in their article:

Will the Cowboys trade for Earl Thomas?
Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas plans to hold out from camp with the Seattle Seahawks if he doesn’t get a new contract. He is interested in joining the Cowboys, just as Dallas is interested in the former Longhorn. The trade could happen during camp or before the start of the season. Secondary coach Kris Richard came to Dallas in offseason after serving as the defensive coordinator in Seattle. He envisions Thomas become the quarterback of the Cowboys defense. Per a source, Thomas would already be with the Cowboys if a contract extension was the only obstacle. It’s a matter of finding an agreeable trade with the Seahawks, whose demands so far have been too high.


https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article215350520

If that source isn't accurate, there's no going back now. Thomas knows the Cowboys will give him the extension, so there's no way he will now show up and play out his one remaining year in Seattle. The cat's out of the bag now and there's no way he's would wait another year and risk injury and never seeing that money again.

I agree with you that I think the compsormise in compensation will ultimately be that 3rd round draft pick. And that I'd be OK with, I'd just have to see what the size of the extension would be before I determined whether I feel it's a smart move or not.

 

[Stash]

I could live with that. Do you think Seattle will give him up for a 3rd?

I think that's ultimately what the deal becomes. With the Cowboys possibly throwing in a player as a "sweetener" type gesture.

I'd gladly give them Terrance Williams. They seem to like idiots with off-field issues anyway.

 

[Stash]

I was thinking along these lines until I saw ‘Hawks cap situation. Seattle needs to deal so they can make other deals.

There are two ways to view Earl:
-As a one-year rental
-As long term guy

I say a third round pick is worthwhile for 1 year of an all-pro.

I disagree on their cap situation. They're right this year, but this year only. They'll have $58 million freed up next year.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2019/

As for the Cowboys? I think it's a given that if they trade for him, an extension is already agreed upon. Otherwise, they'd have the very same unhappy camper that the Seahawks do now.

 

[Stash]

Okay, who’s on meth right now and who’s the insomniacs?

Earl for a third and fifth all day, but I want Tank locked up, first. I don’t think we can fit both under the cap. Maybe @Nightman could shed some light?

We're in fine cap position. And it only gets better.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2019/

$38 million in 2019, almost $100 million free for 2020 when they need to worry about that Prescott deal if everything works out.

We're in fine shape cap-wise.

 

[buybuydandavis]

After researching the ET situation I think it is virtually inevitable that Seattle and Dallas will work out a deal that makes Earl a Cowboy. The trade will happen between August 5 and Aug 20
...
Seattle only has 2$ million in cap space and they still have a number of young players they need to sign or extend. Earl is due $10.4 mil.

Thomas is only *due* 8.5 salary. 10.4 is his total cap hit.

Every week of training camp Earl misses is a decrease in his value to us. No only does he not get on board himself, but the help he could presumably give the rest of the secondary on Richard's schemes is lost.

If Seattle is desperate to reduce cap, maybe they get rid of him.

But I don't see them letting Thomas roll them. Bad for business. If they're rebuilding anyway, it's a low cost time to send a message to the rest of the players.

What is Earl gonna do? Sit, miss paychecks, and damage his free agent value? If he's all about the money, he'll be a pro, realize he doesn't have the leverage, be ready for the season, and play.

 

[buybuydandavis]

We're in fine cap position. And it only gets better.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2019/

$38 million in 2019, almost $100 million free for 2020 when they need to worry about that Prescott deal if everything works out.

I can see Prescott holding out next year. He's been way underpaid, even by rookie salary standards.