Eric Berry visits Tuesday

[TheMarathonContinues]

Philly used a combination of drafting and free agency to reach the Super Bowl. LA did the same thing last year. There may be sacrifices that you have to make down the line, but unless you are New England, it isn't likely that you are going to be a Super Bowl contender every year.

However, I believe it's a myth to think you can't sign your own difference makers and add a couple in free agency. Contracts can be managed and balanced in ways to let you do that.

You can. Most definitely. But the Cowboys have 4 or 5 guys who are about to be max players in the next two years....that’s also acknowledging how much money you have invested in your offensive line.
Not saying it’s a excuse because it’s not. But it’s also a rare situation we are about to come in cross. Like what other team out there has to pay their quarterback and 3 or 4 other guys max money?

 

[Stash]

WHO DIS?

Eric Berry. The headline said he was visiting tomorrow, isn't he?

 

[gimmesix]

Yeah but I think it’s easier to find depth than difference makers. Your difference makers will have to come from the draft or already on your team.

The last two Super Bowl representatives for the NFL supplemented their rosters with difference-making FAs. New England wouldn't have won all the Super Bowls it has without some key FA signings.

The problem is that you are going to strike out at times, and it's going to cost you, but the reward can be significant if you hit on the right player.

 

[Vinnie2u]

I wonder when Robert Blanton is going to make his visit.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The last two Super Bowl representatives for the NFL supplemented their rosters with difference-making FAs. New England wouldn't have won all the Super Bowls it has without some key FA signings.

The problem is that you are going to strike out at times, and it's going to cost you, but the reward can be significant if you hit on the right player.

Ok what difference makers? Off the top it’s slipping my mind. We know that the Pats are a different animal.

 

[Beaker42]

I think this is a bit extreme..do you know how many starting safeties in the entire nfl can make that play on Goff that heath made in the playoff game? The bootleg play where Goff kept it

All of them. Ours was the only one incapable of deciding the play.

THIS JUST IN - HEATH SUCKS.

 

[gimmesix]

You can. Most definitely. But the Cowboys have 4 or 5 guys who are about to be max players in the next two years....that’s also acknowledging how much money you have invested in your offensive line.
Not saying it’s a excuse because it’s not. But it’s also a rare situation we are about to come in cross. Like what other team out there has to pay their quarterback and 3 or 4 other guys max money?

I think that situation is more common than you think, but it also sets up a scenario where you are paying these guys max money, but you're not doing anything to maximize on it. It turns into a Romo situation or Witten situation (before he came back) where you have these max-pay players and nothing really to show for it because you didn't take the steps necessary to win.

Frankly, I'd trade a Super Bowl for not being able to pay 3 or 4 guys max money and having to start the rebuilding process all over again. Because being just good enough to make the playoffs year after year isn't good enough.

 

[Paradox]

Don't let the man leave Tues without a deal.

The last time Jerry took that attitude toward a player was another former Chiefs DB, Brandon Carr. And he overpaid for him. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy and there is a need there, but not one so desperate that we have to give him a key to the vault before our own guys get signed.

 

[TheFinisher]

 

[gimmesix]

Ok what difference makers? Off the top it’s slipping my mind. We know that the Pats are a different animal.

Alshon Jeffrey was probably the big signing for Philly in 2017 that helped the Eagles get over the top. (Nick Foles might have been more important ultimately, but I wouldn't have considered him a big signing.) Essentially, one difference maker made a huge difference.

The Rams got good production for Suh, but probably more important were trades they made for Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Those were difference makers that helped put them over the top.

The list for the Patriots is extensive over the years, but you can feel free to look them up if you need to know.

 

[charron]

You can. Most definitely. But the Cowboys have 4 or 5 guys who are about to be max players in the next two years....that’s also acknowledging how much money you have invested in your offensive line.
Not saying it’s a excuse because it’s not. But it’s also a rare situation we are about to come in cross. Like what other team out there has to pay their quarterback and 3 or 4 other guys max money?

Now that is the problem. We can't pay them all 20+ million. We need to do better trading exp players like Byron instead of just letting them walk for comp picks.

 

[speedkilz88]

Alshon Jeffrey was probably the big signing for Philly in 2017 that helped the Eagles get over the top. (Nick Foles might have been more important ultimately, but I wouldn't have considered him a big signing.) Essentially, one difference maker made a huge difference.

The Rams got good production for Suh, but probably more important were trades they made for Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Those were difference makers that helped put them over the top.

The list for the Patriots is extensive over the years, but you can feel free to look them up if you need to know.

2018 Philadelphia Eagles 13 13 65 843 13.0 52 6
2017 Philadelphia Eagles 16 16 57 789 13.8 53T 9

 

[gimmesix]

Hope has always been a strategy with this organization in terms of talent acquisition.

The funny (in a sad way) thing is Jerry used to pay to bring in the best free agents (some turning out and others not) back when we drafted poorly. Now, that we're drafting well, we're not even willing to pay to bring in one of the best available. Instead, we're relying on McClay to uncover gems.

 

[gimmesix]

2018 Philadelphia Eagles 13 13 65 843 13.0 52 6
2017 Philadelphia Eagles 16 16 57 789 13.8 53T 9

2017 Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles

A difference maker isn't all about the statistics. It's about making the team better, which is what Jeffrey did. We're signing depth players who most likely keep us about the same.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Exactly. How many of those previous cheap signings that we made produced players who put us over the top. Those who are praising these signings point to Antwaun Woods as the type of player they can be produce. That's true and it's what we hope for.

But for every Woods, you end up with a Hurns, Deonte Thompson, Joe Thomas, Cameron Fleming, Kony Ealy, etc. ... good backups and special teammers at best.

I don't see anything so far that Dallas has done that I can say is proof that the team has improved over 2018. I'll hope, but that's as far as I can take it.

Same amount as those "big" signings put us over the top, Carr, Hardy etc. Same thing happens with name or higher profile FA signings, many of them get paid starters money but produce at backups level and aren't the difference makers team hope they would be. Last season people were griping about not getting Sammy Watkins, the tune changed after seeing how much he got paid and then his production. People get amnesia this time of year, thinking every big name is bringing big game production. The problem isn't expensive versus cheap, it's about evaluating talent and finding the right players that will improve the team. I'm not defending the FO, because they could do a much better job in evaluating talent for FA, but so can a lot of teams.

 

[speedkilz88]

2017 Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles

Jeffrey is not a top talent. Eagles schemed their way to the super bowl.

 

[gimmesix]

Jeffrey is not a top talent. Eagles schemed their way to the super bowl.

We're talking difference makers. Signing Jeffrey helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl. It isn't like they went out and signed Allen Hurns to be one of their top receivers.

 

[gimmesix]

Same amount as those "big" signings put us over the top, Carr, Hardy etc. Same thing happens with name or higher profile FA signings, many of them get paid starters money but produce at backups level and aren't the difference makers team hope they would be. Last season people were griping about not getting Sammy Watkins, the tune changed after seeing how much he got paid and then his production. People get amnesia this time of year, thinking every big name is bringing big game production. The problem isn't expensive versus cheap, it's about evaluating talent and finding the right players that will improve the team. I'm not defending the FO, because they could do a much better job in evaluating talent for FA, but so can a lot of teams.

There is a balance that has to be struck. You can't draft like we did in 2009 and expect to win with FAs. You can't draft like we did in 2016 and expect to not win with FAs.

There's a lot of risk involved with FA but there's a lot of reward if you get it right. Not taking any chances only means you have no chance of getting it right.

 

[cowboyec]

DOMINANT

 

[Rayman70]

Carr played decent for us for a long while.