News: Now this is how you handle malcontents who don’t honor the contract they signed

[AbeBeta]

What exactly has it done? I don't see a contract.

Please. You know where that deal will come in.

 

[waldoputty]

the size of the pie is governed by the cba.
the minimum size of the pie is dictated by the cba.
the remainder is available to all, but a very small number of stars get the majority of the remainder.
the large a piece each star gets, the less there is remainder to go to smaller stars and mid level players.
is it going to become like the nba with teams with a few stars and a bunch of minimums?

after the cba is negotiated, the interest of the owner, the fans and average players are aligned.
except for those who choose to live vicariously through the stars' salaries.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Please. You know where that deal will come in.

So your anwer is, "I don't want to answer that question....."

Gotcha.

 

[Northern_Cowboy]

How is that working both ways? A massive % of salaries are non-guaranteed[/QUOTE

Teams are the only side of the equation that have to honour anything in a contract because of the guaranteed cash, if there is no guarantee then there is no obligation to keep the player around, so ya it sucks for them but say in Gurley's case after this year he can not play anymore because of his arthritic knee, well the team still has to pay the remaining guaranteed part of the contract. As far as the massive amount of salaries that are not guaranted well what's wrong with having to earn his contract? I never saw a player worth his contract get cut for any reason other than the team mismanaging his contract the previous years (turning salaries guaranteed or not into signing bonus' ) then not being able to keep him.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I actually asked AB a similar question earlier. Should Luck give back the Guaranteed money he got, should Tony? Never answered..........

 

[Northern_Cowboy]

I actually asked AB a similar question earlier. Should Luck give back the Guaranteed money he got, should Tony? Never answered..........

No player would ever give it back but in Luck's case the team could go after it. I don't think the Cowboys would have been able to go after anything from Tony as they were the ones releasing him

 

[Corso]

Why is it that __ are so obsessed with "owning" these young men and are so opposed to them looking out for their own best interests, to the point that you side with billionaire owners? Just look at the glee that OP had in creating this thread, I really dont get it.

Salary cap and people want their team that they root for to win. For better, or for worse.
And then there are the moral high-grounders...

All good. Actually nothing to really stress about in real life. It's a game, a sport, a group of men we don't know trying to attain a very difficult goal for us fans and things like this can hinder that process.
Some don't take it that seriously and many do.

I find the whole debate extremely illuminating on us Zoners and how we feel about many things beyond the NFL.
Quite enjoyable.

 

[KJJ]

All of this is true KJJ but here's the thing. Zeke is going to continue to carry this kind of load, regardless of who he plays for. What I mean by this is if we limited his carries, in an attempt to try and save his career, he'd be pissed off and eventually either force an increased role in the offense or force a trade to a team that would increase that. Zeke, IMO, wants the carries because he wants to chase records. But see, the team knows this and so does Zeke. Now this is where it becomes interesting to me. Lets say the team is more interested in saving Zeke to make his career last. Lets say that they would like to see him play for 10 years or so, how do you do that and keep him? I mean, the only real way to justify the type of contract that Zeke wants is to keep him around and productive. RB is not that kind of position. It's short lived by nature and that's just the truth and interestingly enough, it's a truth on both sides of this issue. Those in support of a record contract use that for reason to justify him breaking his contract and holding out. Those who never want to see that kind of contract awarded use it as reason why you don't get into big money, long term deals with RBs because they won't live to the end of it and you end up with large amounts of dead cap.

So if you know all this, then how do you even start to comply with Zeke's demands even if you want to. I mean, there is no way to win this kind of thing. The team is not wrong here, IMO. Zeke wants to get paid big money that will probably end up killing whatever team pays him, to do what he is going to do anyway. He wants his cake and he wants to eat it too. I mean, I don't blame him for that. Heck, who doesn't want that but you can't really blame the team for trying to do the smart thing either.

I would not do it but I'm not making the decision.

Zeke doesn't want his workload reduced and the Cowboys aren't going to reduce it, he just wants to get paid before a serious injury or series of nagging injuries reduce his value. His value to the Cowboys will never be any higher than right now. Zeke and his agent know that this may be the most talented roster the Cowboys have had since 07 and possibly the early 90s. Dak is primed to have his best season by far but he needs Zeke. This season may be the Cowboys best chance to reach a SB since the 95 season and they're not going to get there without Zeke at least you wouldn't think. The team could look very different next season because so many players contracts will be up. If Zeke were playing out his current contract and suffered through an injury plagued season or his level of play dropped off this season and next season, he'll be gone. Any drop off in his play is going to give the team a good excuse not to pay him especially with the off the field concerns.

Zeke saw us move on from Murray after a heavy workload in 2014 despite setting a franchise rushing record and Murray didn't have any off the field concerns. The longer Zeke goes without being paid the less likely he will get paid the kind of money he's looking for. I think the plan was for him to show up for OTAs and mini camp during the installation of the offense under Kellen Moore and catch the team unprepared once training camp started. Stephen Jones was asked about a week ago if the Cowboys can run the same offense without Zeke and he said that some changes would have to be made. Morris was brought back because of experience and he's played in an offense that featured Zeke. The only way Zeke can win in this situation is if the Cowboys get off to a bad start like they did in 93 without Emmitt, forcing Jerry to pay him or watch the 2019 season go down the drain.

If the team gets off to a good start and we're able to generate a solid running game with Pollard and Morris then Zeke is going to end up costing himself a lot of money and whatever offer that was made to him prior to the season my be taken off the table. The worst thing that could happen for Zeke is for Pollard to come out of the gate lighting it up in the running game and as a receiver out of the backfield. I'm not expecting that to happen but anything is possible. We saw with Dak that if a player gets an opportunity, even a rookie they may take full advantage of it. If we don't miss a beat with the backs we currently have we could decide to move on from Zeke and his contract demands and off the field concerns.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

No player would ever give it back but in Luck's case the team could go after it. I don't think the Cowboys would have been able to go after anything from Tony as they were the ones releasing him

Exactly. I mean, people tend to treat owners like they are all the same and all of them are misers. I mean, I wonder how many fans actually realize that Jerry is one of the driving forces around the current NFL and players getting paid what they are getting paid now. He's always been overly generous IMO. I honestly can't think of any one of Jerry's players that he has not been generous with, in terms of salaries. I'm not a Jerry yes man by any stretch. Anybody who has known me for any length of time knows that, I think. I just don't get how any fan of this team can believe that Jerry is an owner who is cheap with his guys. That's just never ever been true, IMO. How in the world can any fan believe that?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Zeke doesn't want his workload reduced and the Cowboys aren't going to reduce it, he just wants to get paid before a serious injury or series of nagging injuries reduce his value. His value to the Cowboys will never be any higher than right now. Zeke and his agent know that this may be the most talented roster the Cowboys have had since 07 and possibly the early 90s. Dak is primed to have his best season by far but he needs Zeke. This season may be the Cowboys best chance to reach a SB since the 95 season and they're not going to get there without Zeke at least you wouldn't think. The team could look very different next season because so many players contracts will be up. If Zeke were playing out his current contract and suffered through an injury plagued season or his level of play dropped off this season and next season, he'll be gone. Any drop off in his play is going to give the team a good excuse not to pay him especially with the off the field concerns.

Zeke saw us move on from Murray after a heavy workload in 2014 despite setting a franchise rushing record and Murray didn't have any off the field concerns. The longer Zeke goes without being paid the less likely he will get paid the kind of money he's looking for. I think the plan was for him to show up for OTAs and mini camp during the installation of the offense under Kellen Moore and catch the team unprepared once training camp started. Stephen Jones was asked about a week ago if the Cowboys can run the same offense without Zeke and he said that some changes would have to be made. Morris was brought back because of experience and he's played in an offense that featured Zeke. The only way Zeke can win in this situation is if the Cowboys get off to a bad start like they did in 93 without Emmitt, forcing Jerry to pay him or watch the 2019 season go down the drain.

If the team gets off to a good start and we're able to generate a solid running game with Pollard and Morris then Zeke is going to end up costing himself a lot of money and whatever offer that was made to him prior to the season my be taken off the table. The worst thing that could happen for Zeke is for Pollard to come out of the gate lighting it up in the running game and as a receiver out of the backfield. I'm not expecting that to happen but anything is possible. We saw with Dak that if a player gets an opportunity, even a rookie they may take full advantage of it. If we don't miss a beat with the backs we currently have we could decide to move on from Zeke and his contract demands and off the field concerns.

This roster will look different because you got multiple guys who insist on getting paid top dollar. If they were willing to be smart, it wouldn't have to happen. Demanding top dollar pretty much assures that eventuality.

 

[Northern_Cowboy]

This roster will look different because you got multiple guys who insist on getting paid top dollar. If they were willing to be smart, it wouldn't have to happen. Demanding top dollar pretty much assures that eventuality.

I think the Cowboys are going to let this play out without Zeke for the 1st 3-4 games of the season. If we go 2-1 or 3-1 then Dak gets paid and Zeke doesn't if we got 1-2 or 1-3 then Zeke will get his money and Dak won't. The biggest winner/loser in this scenario will be Dak, if Zeke is not there then it falls on Dak to carry the team and if he does he gets his money (all of it) if he doesn't he won't get even get close to 30m IMO.

 

[Bohuntr97]

No player would ever give it back but in Luck's case the team could go after it. I don't think the Cowboys would have been able to go after anything from Tony as they were the ones releasing him

I believe the Colts issued a statement saying they were not going to ask for a portion of his Bonus back. They could, its up to the ownership. The Lions take a different approach. Calvin Johnson retired early and was asked to pay pack around $1 mill of his signing bonus, which he did.

 

[Cmac]

You guys will just buy any joke that comes down the pike. This team never had a shot as long as Garrett and his Linehan clone are running the offense. Garrett is not a viable
HC and this team will never win another trophy until Jerry clears his head and hires a real coach. Sorry...just not happening.

I agree...can't understand why mediocrity gets tenure and cowbell doesn't.

 

[birdwells1]

Could have started his hold out during OTA’s and mini camp. We got no indication of any possible hold out until a few days before training camp. He didn’t give us much time to hammer out a new deal with him. It was pretty much a surprise to everyone when he didn’t show up for training camp. Everyone was predicting he would show up.

Deadlines make deals, the only thing telling them in ota's would give the Jones's more time to spout off to the media because in April they don't have any games or training camps to miss.

 

[JBond]

You are making a national holiday political?

Is it not then political to wish vets a happy Veterans Day? Or to honor those lost in service to the nation on Memorial Day? Heck, we sometimes have pinned threads for those holidays.

Remind Zeke to come to work on Tuesday.

 

[birdwells1]

the human body ages even without playing football
he cannot afford to lose earning money during the remaining ~3 years of his prime
they should rescind that overly generous contract offer

Again it's always tough talk from people that dont have a dog in the fight. If you were the Jones's you would be doing the same thing, making offers and negotiating through the media.

 

[waldoputty]

Again it's always tough talk from people that dont have a dog in the fight. If you were the Jones's you would be doing the same thing, making offers and negotiating through the media.

no i would not be making offers.
i have all the leverage so why bend and be weak.
i definitely would not have said the negotiation starts with gurley's salary
i would have drafted another rb higher than the 7th round and not left myself under prepared at rb.
and if i could have have drafted another rb, i would have traded for a 2nd tier one.
much better to take money away from zeke and give that money to another rb than to lose a negotiation that could hurt future negotiations.
and the concept of setting a negotiation reputation is something i have learned in school and at work. even if it is a loss leader.

 

[KJJ]

Deadlines make deals, the only thing telling them in ota's would give the Jones's more time to spout off to the media because in April they don't have any games or training camps to miss.

We’ll find out if a deadline makes this deal. The deadline is fast approaching if he’s going to play in the opener. Emmitt wasn’t under contract when he missed the first two games of the regular season and 93. Missing those two games didn’t cost him game checks. Zeke is taking a big gamble if he plans on missing games. He may end up having to play out his current contract if we play well without him. If he’s been offered more than Bell got he better take it.

 

[birdwells1]

All of this is true KJJ but here's the thing. Zeke is going to continue to carry this kind of load, regardless of who he plays for. What I mean by this is if we limited his carries, in an attempt to try and save his career, he'd be pissed off and eventually either force an increased role in the offense or force a trade to a team that would increase that. Zeke, IMO, wants the carries because he wants to chase records. But see, the team knows this and so does Zeke. Now this is where it becomes interesting to me. Lets say the team is more interested in saving Zeke to make his career last. Lets say that they would like to see him play for 10 years or so, how do you do that and keep him? I mean, the only real way to justify the type of contract that Zeke wants is to keep him around and productive. RB is not that kind of position. It's short lived by nature and that's just the truth and interestingly enough, it's a truth on both sides of this issue. Those in support of a record contract use that for reason to justify him breaking his contract and holding out. Those who never want to see that kind of contract awarded use it as reason why you don't get into big money, long term deals with RBs because they won't live to the end of it and you end up with large amounts of dead cap.

So if you know all this, then how do you even start to comply with Zeke's demands even if you want to. I mean, there is no way to win this kind of thing. The team is not wrong here, IMO. Zeke wants to get paid big money that will probably end up killing whatever team pays him, to do what he is going to do anyway. He wants his cake and he wants to eat it too. I mean, I don't blame him for that. Heck, who doesn't want that but you can't really blame the team for trying to do the smart thing either.

I would not do it but I'm not making the decision.

No team ever wants to reduce an elite rb carries especially on his rookie deal.

 

[birdwells1]

Injuries are the name of the game and if you've been a beast for 3 years without injury, you don't want to chance it any more than you have to before you get paid, especially for a running back as you've said which is why this year is the opportune time to push the envelope. It's not without precedent, so you're not wrong for going about it this way. The team can choose to deal or not. The team is choosing to try to get a deal done which means it was a good move on Zeke's end (WITH leverage) contrary to the "bad advice" spiel by the "deny Zeke anything" crew, posting on begrudged feelings. Business sans emotion is a good policy. Money now is always better than money later no matter what industry, thus here we are.

This is pretty much it right he, people are all in their feelings about a holdout which is business as usual in the NFL.