Method to their Madness

sjmike

sjmike

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I know it's frustrating being a Cowboy fan in the offseason when everyone else is going out and making splash signings in free agency while the fans throw up their arms in disgust and what could have been. But for every Deion Sanders and Reggie White signing that pays dividends in the long run, there are ten signings that wind up being busts, put their new team in cap hell or just backfire in the long run. I know that the Rams went all in last year and won it all but that is very rare in today's NFL.
The way the Cowboys approach it is to utilize their very good drafts to stock the team and to wait till training camp or at least the second or third tier of free agents before they take the temperature of the team and grab much more reasonably priced free agents at positions of need. Look at last year when they grabbed Kearse, Hooker, Basham, etc. to short deals that helped lead to a 12-5 record and a playoff appearance.
With the signing of Anthony Barr today, that influx of talent has started for this year. Look for them to sign a receiver and offensive tackle in the next week to help solidify this year's squad. They have the cap space to go shopping for positions of need leading up to the season they don't break the bank on older players getting long-term contracts. As much as I wanted Von Miller, 6 years at 20 million a year at almost 33 years old is a disaster waiting to happen. The top tier free agents demand long-term contracts and that is very risky indeed.
However, the Cowboys do sign big name free agents; their own. They value the players they know best more than players they don't know. More information usually means taking more of a risk. Smart business.
Yeah, I know it's been 27 years without a sniff of the Super Bowl but I think their way of free agency will prove to be the smart way in the long run. As long as they have Will McCray making draft picks, using this strategy to fortify the team is the smart way to go. What say you?
 
HungryLion

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Their approach to things will certainly work out in the long run.

we just don’t know how much longer that is. 5 years? 10? 15? 20? Who knows. But might as well keep doing it.


I sleep well at night, knowing that Stephen Jones is rollin’ up his sleeves and gettin to work.
 
ShortRound

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You think the Jone's have a plan?

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Bobhaze

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sjmike said:
I know it's frustrating being a Cowboy fan in the offseason when everyone else is going out and making splash signings in free agency while the fans throw up their arms in disgust and what could have been. But for every Deion Sanders and Reggie White signing that pays dividends in the long run, there are ten signings that wind up being busts, put their new team in cap hell or just backfire in the long run. I know that the Rams went all in last year and won it all but that is very rare in today's NFL.
The way the Cowboys approach it is to utilize their very good drafts to stock the team and to wait till training camp or at least the second or third tier of free agents before they take the temperature of the team and grab much more reasonably priced free agents at positions of need. Look at last year when they grabbed Kearse, Hooker, Basham, etc. to short deals that helped lead to a 12-5 record and a playoff appearance.
With the signing of Anthony Barr today, that influx of talent has started for this year. Look for them to sign a receiver and offensive tackle in the next week to help solidify this year's squad. They have the cap space to go shopping for positions of need leading up to the season they don't break the bank on older players getting long-term contracts. As much as I wanted Von Miller, 6 years at 20 million a year at almost 33 years old is a disaster waiting to happen. The top tier free agents demand long-term contracts and that is very risky indeed.
However, the Cowboys do sign big name free agents; their own. They value the players they know best more than players they don't know. More information usually means taking more of a risk. Smart business.
Yeah, I know it's been 27 years without a sniff of the Super Bowl but I think their way of free agency will prove to be the smart way in the long run. As long as they have Will McCray making draft picks, using this strategy to fortify the team is the smart way to go. What say you?
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The problem with a delay in signing a FA at WR or OT or whatever position of need is if you wait too long, you can lose out on some people who got picked up by other teams. You can wait until cuts happen in early Sept. There are usually some good players available then. But then they haven’t had time to practice like they do in TC.
 
Dak_Attack_09

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Bobhaze said:
The problem with a delay in signing a FA at WR or OT or whatever position of need is if you wait too long, you can lose out on some people who got picked up by other teams. You can wait until cuts happen in early Sept. There are usually some good players available then. But then they haven’t had time to practice like they do in TC.
Click to expand...

On point, this is more of a reactionary signing due to their pet cat Cox being injured. This is the same logic they are using on UDFA WRs saying they don’t need to sign anyone.
 
zrinkill

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sjmike said:
Smart business.
Yeah, I know it's been 27 years without a sniff of the Super Bowl but I think their way of free agency will prove to be the smart way in the long run. As long as they have Will McCray making draft picks, using this strategy to fortify the team is the smart way to go. What say you?
Click to expand...

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ESisback

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sjmike said:
I know it's frustrating being a Cowboy fan in the offseason when everyone else is going out and making splash signings in free agency while the fans throw up their arms in disgust and what could have been. But for every Deion Sanders and Reggie White signing that pays dividends in the long run, there are ten signings that wind up being busts, put their new team in cap hell or just backfire in the long run. I know that the Rams went all in last year and won it all but that is very rare in today's NFL.
The way the Cowboys approach it is to utilize their very good drafts to stock the team and to wait till training camp or at least the second or third tier of free agents before they take the temperature of the team and grab much more reasonably priced free agents at positions of need. Look at last year when they grabbed Kearse, Hooker, Basham, etc. to short deals that helped lead to a 12-5 record and a playoff appearance.
With the signing of Anthony Barr today, that influx of talent has started for this year. Look for them to sign a receiver and offensive tackle in the next week to help solidify this year's squad. They have the cap space to go shopping for positions of need leading up to the season they don't break the bank on older players getting long-term contracts. As much as I wanted Von Miller, 6 years at 20 million a year at almost 33 years old is a disaster waiting to happen. The top tier free agents demand long-term contracts and that is very risky indeed.
However, the Cowboys do sign big name free agents; their own. They value the players they know best more than players they don't know. More information usually means taking more of a risk. Smart business.
Yeah, I know it's been 27 years without a sniff of the Super Bowl but I think their way of free agency will prove to be the smart way in the long run. As long as they have Will McCray making draft picks, using this strategy to fortify the team is the smart way to go. What say you?
Click to expand...
Sounds reasonable to me, but prepare to be scoffed at. Crying 24/7 is trendy.
 
TequilaCowboy

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sjmike said:
I know it's frustrating being a Cowboy fan in the offseason when everyone else is going out and making splash signings in free agency while the fans throw up their arms in disgust and what could have been. But for every Deion Sanders and Reggie White signing that pays dividends in the long run, there are ten signings that wind up being busts, put their new team in cap hell or just backfire in the long run. I know that the Rams went all in last year and won it all but that is very rare in today's NFL.
The way the Cowboys approach it is to utilize their very good drafts to stock the team and to wait till training camp or at least the second or third tier of free agents before they take the temperature of the team and grab much more reasonably priced free agents at positions of need. Look at last year when they grabbed Kearse, Hooker, Basham, etc. to short deals that helped lead to a 12-5 record and a playoff appearance.
With the signing of Anthony Barr today, that influx of talent has started for this year. Look for them to sign a receiver and offensive tackle in the next week to help solidify this year's squad. They have the cap space to go shopping for positions of need leading up to the season they don't break the bank on older players getting long-term contracts. As much as I wanted Von Miller, 6 years at 20 million a year at almost 33 years old is a disaster waiting to happen. The top tier free agents demand long-term contracts and that is very risky indeed.
However, the Cowboys do sign big name free agents; their own. They value the players they know best more than players they don't know. More information usually means taking more of a risk. Smart business.
Yeah, I know it's been 27 years without a sniff of the Super Bowl but I think their way of free agency will prove to be the smart way in the long run. As long as they have Will McCray making draft picks, using this strategy to fortify the team is the smart way to go. What say you?
Click to expand...

LOL, its like we finally got them to sign Barr kicking and screaming and twisting their arm, since we had been saying this for weeks or even months. As for this dynamic duo, remember they tried signing Gregory to that huge contract and luckily Randy declined it and went to Denver instead. That would have been another horrendous mistake. I'll believe the WR and OT signing when i actually see it. . So don't give them too much credit for having this master plan which is running into its third decade of rebuilding and now we are to have patience to wait a few more years for it to come to fruition. Ok then.
 
Verdict

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I’m ok with the way the team approaches free agency for the most part. The problem I have is that we FAR overvalue average and sometimes not very good players on our own team. We way overpaid to keep Witten and a few others.

Paying your own is a solid strategy, but if you are going to do that you have to be very honest in your self evaluation and not overpay your own. Resigning bad players to big deals is a cap killer and limits your participation in outside free agency.
 
plymkr

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I'm happy they signed Barr. Better front 7 helps the secondary. Also Barr will let Quinn be more flexible with Parsons. So good signing. He could be a Javon Kearse of this year. I'm also happy that we are making the front 7 stronger cuz I'm still concerned KJ will get suspended for the year or a significant part of the season so a solid front 7 can help out a weaker secondary. I would like an OT for insurance cuz of Tyron's injury issues. So we'll see. I'm not too worried about WR if the offensive line is healthy cuz Dak will get the ball to the WRs if he has time. Hopefully.
 

mperfection

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Will their "method" also include signing a stout DT (Suh) to solidify the defensive line? I still think we need a vet WR, OT, and someone like Suh and we should be ready to rock.
 
Hagman

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Why, there’s perfectly good players left in those dumpsters. Plus, best of all, they’re cheap.
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John813

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Draft only goes so far with free agency for drafted players beginning after year 4 in the league. Big contracts to certain positions causes teams to lose out on good players they drafted, leaving them to redraft the same position and hope to get the same production.

Dallas may draft well but it only goes so far. They rebuilt the offensive line to a dominant force in the early to mid 2010's but ignored the defense which lead to the team blowing leads in 2013, unable to stop an one leg Rodgers in 2014 postseason and in 2016 postseason Rodgers had his way again.

Now the once great wall is aging and holes at LT and RG will form leading to the team having to spend more draft resources there in the future if they don't get lucky and Ball/Matt W don't exceed expectations. It becomes an endless cycle.

Teams get 7 picks a year and a good draft is landing 3 starting/key depth players. Rosters go through decent churning each year. Fodder to average to good players can leave each year.
 
Vtwin

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The "future" in NFL team building terms is about five years. At the front end of that five year period smart teams build through the draft and avoid huge dollar free agents, see the current New England Patriots. Teams farther along who feel ready to seriously contend add the final pieces through free agency, see last years LA Rams.

In order to avoid having to acquire a big time FA or two to put the team over the top you have to hit pay dirt in the draft every year, which is very unlikely.

A system which allowed teams salary cap relief for players they drafted would change things for the better and allow teams to build mostly through the draft with less reliance on FA signings. I miss those days, from my fan perspective.
 
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