Cavanaugh on Cooper and Lawrence

fivetwos

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1) I hope they can trade Cooper for something and not just outright cut him

2) I like this approach. Lawrence isn't "elite" but he's still quite good and better than any DE option on our roster BY FAR

3) It comes down to cost. I would like to have Gregory back but if they have to sign him to some ridiculous, deal, pass. Granted, if they can't figure out a way to keep Lawrence, then they might be stuck overpaying for Gregory

4) They should have crap canned the OL coach. That would have been move #1 in fixing the OL. I hope this draft is heavy on OL and DL.

I'd like to see them bring back Kearse and Hooker if possible on cheapish deals.
I think Cooper carries some sort of value to a win now team.

Sure 20 plus mil per is steep, but it's only a two year commitment, and they don't have to fork over a large bonus to get him.

He would probably command more than two years on the open market (he will be 28 in June)....as well as a decent sized bonus.

I can see him being worth a third.

Now....will our FO be able to make that happen or just take the "nice guy" approach and do whats best for Amari and release him so he can cash in again and go where he wants?
 

Bowdown27

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I think the writing has been on the wall for coop. Which is a mistake unless they pay a free agent to come in. Look how well we did after we released dez. Tavon Austin was our number one until we traded for coop
 

CowboyoWales

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Yeah, the smiling and laughing was a bit much.

I'm sure it was a bewildered "I can't believe this is happening" type of reaction, but still, it's not a good look when your making season ending mistakes that never should have happened to begin with.

I wonder if one of the combine measurements will be length of smile. It appears some people may be putting too much emphasis on a penalty and a smile.
 

MountaineerCowboy

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I wonder if one of the combine measurements will be length of smile. It appears some people may be putting too much emphasis on a penalty and a smile.
Those boneheaded penalties by him put us in really bad situations in a very important part of the game.

Sure, 1 or 2 penalties don't win or lose a game for you, but the situation in which those penalties occur can be game altering. All penalties are not created equal.

Also, the penalties were just flat out dumb. He tackled an offensive linemen on a running play that he had no chance of making the tackle on for crying out loud.

The smile thing is just him being him. The penalties concern me much more than his smile.
 

AKATheRake

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They haven't got a plan if we DO keep them.

Couldn't have said it any better.

There's 1 of 2 things we'll find out after FA.

If we keep all these guys that shiuld just go and collect the comp picks for doing so. Then we know MM has literally no say and this is as it's been the last 26 years going into next season.

If they do let the majority of those 21 UFAs from the 53 man roster leave the HC and his coaches are getting their guys and alot more say than years past.
 

Texas_Pete

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Think Cooper will not be a Cowboy in 2022 talking to people

Whispers are Lawrence will be asked to take a paycut.

#1 priority this offseason is to sign Randy Gregory.

Fixing the OL is a priority this offseason.


Tank's contract situation is understandable, but not Coop's. Tank was pretty foul with the Joneses when he got his extension. Stephen will not forget that. Other than his run defense, he hasn't produced the sacks needed to justify his contract. Paycut is merited.

When Coop was out with the Rona, Cee Dee didn't exactly light it up as WR1. Unless Kellen Moore changes the scheme, letting Coop go will be a mistake.

Sean Payton would solve the Cowboys inability to scheme his weapons open but it doesn't look like he'll be an option as of now.
 

Sydla

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I think the writing has been on the wall for coop. Which is a mistake unless they pay a free agent to come in. Look how well we did after we released dez. Tavon Austin was our number one until we traded for coop

This is a bad comparison IMO.

The team has Lamb who is more talented and better than any WR on the Cowboys roster the season after we let Dez go. And likely, one or both of Gallup and Wilson would be back if Cooper is traded/cut. WR would be in way better shape now than it was a few years ago.
 

Proof

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Gregory is #1 priority? Why?

I mean, I know ya'll think he's an All-Pro and all, but this dude had like 4 good games and that was it. He make bonehead decisions, still seems immature, and will surly want more than he is worth (And Jerry will give it to him). The sad thing is he will 100% get more from the Cowboys then he would in free agency simply because of the way this organization over values talent that it drafts.

I feel Gregory is just another example of one of Jerry's guys that he just refuses to let go when it would be best to just walk away from this one.

the talent is evident, and he flashed the ability to be incredibly disruptive, AND we're not really in a position to let talent walk on the d line.
 

Doomsday101

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the talent is evident, and he flashed the ability to be incredibly disruptive, AND we're not really in a position to let talent walk on the d line.

I agree and think it would be foolish to let both starting DE leave. I don't see Gregory getting top 5 money hell I don't see him getting top 10 money.
 

fivetwos

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If we release Coop, I hope it doesn't bite us in the behind. I ain't sold on Lamb being a #1. His routes leave a lot to be desired and there's those alligator arms.
I agree, but there's definitely choices to be made.

As you've been recently told, the cap is real lol.

Maybe it's time to focus on a solid OL and playing more two TE sets and having a semblance of a running game as opposed to a star studded WR group on paper.

So yeah, I definitely hear those that say losing Cooper makes us worse. It does, but realistically we need to get the ball out of the hands of the QB and into the hands of a RB not named Elliott to have the best shot at actual success as opposed to beating the hell out of bad teams backups and admiring stats.
 

CowboyoWales

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Those boneheaded penalties by him put us in really bad situations in a very important part of the game.

Sure, 1 or 2 penalties don't win or lose a game for you, but the situation in which those penalties occur can be game altering. All penalties are not created equal.

Also, the penalties were just flat out dumb. He tackled an offensive linemen on a running play that he had no chance of making the tackle on for crying out loud.

The smile thing is just him being him. The penalties concern me much more than his smile.

Those appear a set of subjective reasons against the positives he showed and brings. Smiling, a couple of penalties (on a team that's compiled league worst figures) and a missed run play which in 2022 Golston/Basham to be on the field in the vast majority of those situations.
It's all about the CAP and unfortunately, Tank is probably the greater saving especially as we could probably spread Gregory into the relatively haven of the CAP in 2024.
 

DasTex

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The thing with Gregory is he is already 29. This is gonna be his "pay day" in regards to his career. I'd love to think he would take a pay cut and stay on a 2-3 year deal, but if someone comes in and offers him a big money deal that sets him up for years to come - I don't see how he turns that down. He seems to be a really smart guy (no matter what you think about his past drug issues) and has to know this is gonna be his best chance.

With that said, I sure would feel ALOT more comfortable with him and Tank both coming back next year at DE. If they lose both, the defense is gonna take a couple steps back.

Best case for this next season would be:

Trade Cooper for picks - I'm ok with restructure here as well - still saves $11 million on cap this year and doesn't weaken your WR core
Gallup and Gregory both sign 1 year deals so they can hit FA next year hopefully coming off healthier years.
Tank takes a pay cut
LVE signs small 2 year deal - still young enough to rebuild his stock
Zeke comes into the same shape he did last year (I really thought he looked great the first part of the season)
Dak regains confidence
They reshape the Oline - with new LG and C and hopefully a new coaching and blocking scheme
Restructure of your 6 biggest contracts (except Zeke) gets you at $27 million in cap to work with

If things don't work out this next year - then you have the reset button option with Payton waiting in the wings and letting him build his team.
 

ItzKelz

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Of the 2 keep Coop if you gonna game plan for him involved
 

Creeper

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The weird thing about football players is they consider being asked by their team to take a pay cut an insult. But after they are cut, they will sign with another team for even less money.

DLaw is not going to agree to a pay cut. But if the Cowboys cut him, another team will sign him for less money.

And why ask Lawrence to take a pay cut? Jerry made all these bad deals. He should take some responsibility first.

And what about Dak? Did he play like a $40 million QB last year?
 

Creeper

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The thing with Gregory is he is already 29. This is gonna be his "pay day" in regards to his career. I'd love to think he would take a pay cut and stay on a 2-3 year deal, but if someone comes in and offers him a big money deal that sets him up for years to come - I don't see how he turns that down. He seems to be a really smart guy (no matter what you think about his past drug issues) and has to know this is gonna be his best chance.

With that said, I sure would feel ALOT more comfortable with him and Tank both coming back next year at DE. If they lose both, the defense is gonna take a couple steps back.

Best case for this next season would be:

Trade Cooper for picks - I'm ok with restructure here as well - still saves $11 million on cap this year and doesn't weaken your WR core
Gallup and Gregory both sign 1 year deals so they can hit FA next year hopefully coming off healthier years.
Tank takes a pay cut
LVE signs small 2 year deal - still young enough to rebuild his stock
Zeke comes into the same shape he did last year (I really thought he looked great the first part of the season)
Dak regains confidence
They reshape the Oline - with new LG and C and hopefully a new coaching and blocking scheme
Restructure of your 6 biggest contracts (except Zeke) gets you at $27 million in cap to work with

If things don't work out this next year - then you have the reset button option with Payton waiting in the wings and letting him build his team.

I agree with you about Gregory. He may give the Cowboys a light discount, but f he gets a $16 million offer from another team and Jerry offers $12 million, Gregory would be an idiot not to take the bigger paycheck.

Cooper is the most tradeable player I think. He is only 25 and he is a very good receiver. If Julio Jones can get $22 million, then someone in this league might be willing to part with a draft pick to get Cooper. Trading players give the Cowboys the chance to at least pick the teams they go to, to a certain extent.

I struggle with LVE. I am worried if we sign him he will regress. How do we know his better play at the end of the year was not the result of desperation knowing he was in a contract year? I am leaning to wanting him back, but they have Jabril Cox waiting to come back from a knee injury. Do they need LVE?

I think Gallup will sign elsewhere. More likely the Cowboys sign Wilson and Malik Turner. I thought Turner showed some YAC ability when he got in their. Maybe he will be the surprise player in 2022 the way Wilson was in 2021.

They can clear about $54 million by restructuring Lawrence, Tyron Smith, Collins, Zack Martin, and Dak, while trading Cooper. That would give them about $30 million to sign Gregory and some other players.

I think they should focus on making the defense better in 2022. Balance the offense and clean up the mistakes. That is their quickest path to championship contention.
 

johneric8

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Those boneheaded penalties by him put us in really bad situations in a very important part of the game.

Sure, 1 or 2 penalties don't win or lose a game for you, but the situation in which those penalties occur can be game altering. All penalties are not created equal.

Also, the penalties were just flat out dumb. He tackled an offensive linemen on a running play that he had no chance of making the tackle on for crying out loud.

The smile thing is just him being him. The penalties concern me much more than his smile.
Well, the smile did really bother me as well, I mean really bother me..
 
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