A weird division

erod · Apr 3, 2014

The Giants are grasping. The Commanders are trapped. The Eagles are mistaken. And the Cowboys drift in limbo.

Ifs and buts drip from the NFC East rafters, but there's nothing handy to keep them from seeping through the floor. The whole division sits in a purgatorial position, not bad enough to stink, but not good enough to matter.

Nobody's making any sense.

Snyder continues to throw darts blindly, despite his fatally flawed franchise quarterback. Mara watches his team wither in age and poor drafting. Lurie wrestles with a team not built right to play with the big boys and locked into Boy Genius' egomaniacal and unproven madness.

And then there's Jerry, driven daily by a single thought in his rapidly aging mind. "One more, please, that they can't credit to Jimmy."

Valley Ranch smells of desperation. Jerry doesn't draft centers or release Demarcus Wareseses. He doesn't miss opportunities to dive head-long into spotlights, or miss chances to steal headlines. He doesn't defer, and he doesn't apologize. Least of which, he does not bide his time through the offseason.

So what are we to make of this offseason?

Is this quiet confidence? Or, is this uh-oh, duck? Perhaps it's just a big "I don't know".

I don't know. Dallas is more mysterious than the other three.

All I know is that I see four first-place teams that could finish last, and four last-place teams that could finish first. Mediocrity and parity crystallized and defined by the NFC East.

guag · Apr 3, 2014

This is a big change in their roster management philosophy. Stay young, don't overpay in free agency, build through the draft, let players come to you instead of chasing them, etc. Dare I say that Jerry and company are learning from their mistakes, and trying to emulate Seattle's success? I don't see their actions thus far (or lack of actions) as trying to avoid the spotlight -- rather, the front office is finally getting on board with the way that the likes of New England, Seattle, etc have been working for a while now.

17yearsandcounting · Apr 3, 2014

guag said:
This is a big change in their roster management philosophy. Stay young, don't overpay in free agency, build through the draft, let players come to you instead of chasing them, etc. Dare I say that Jerry and company are learning from their mistakes, and trying to emulate Seattle's success?

The only thing Jerral ever does is try to emulate other teams success. It goes back to him having to have his own McNabb and reaching for Wincy Carter, to more recently his obsession with New England's two TE sets.

BoysFan4ever · Apr 3, 2014

I heard back in the day the NFC East was a tough division.

DFWJC · Apr 3, 2014

I can't stand the Eagles, but I don't see where they took a step back this offseason.
The argument could be made regarding DJax, but Maclin can replace his production...they already liked him anyway.

I do think Dallas is being more methodical in their approach vs overreacting or panicking themselves into making bad deals.

Nova · Apr 3, 2014

I don't think it's weird at all. I just think that we refuse to believe we're THAT division now. The NFCW from a handful of years ago.

Alexander · Apr 3, 2014

guag said:
This is a big change in their roster management philosophy. Stay young, don't overpay in free agency, build through the draft, let players come to you instead of chasing them, etc. Dare I say that Jerry and company are learning from their mistakes, and trying to emulate Seattle's success? I don't see their actions thus far (or lack of actions) as trying to avoid the spotlight -- rather, the front office is finally getting on board with the way that the likes of New England, Seattle, etc have been working for a while now.

While I think what Dallas is doing is more out of necessity than a change in philosophy it should be interesting how we compare what the Giants did in FA this year and compare to what we did. It is like the two franchises switched minds. We have signed exactly four free agents compared to their thirteen.

guag · Apr 3, 2014

17yearsandcounting said:
The only thing Jerral ever does is try to emulate other teams success. It goes back to him having to have his own McNabb and reaching for Wincy Carter, to more recently his obsession with New England's two TE sets.

True, but many of Jerry's previous attempts at emulation involved specific positions, formations, and such. I feel like the overall philosophy as a whole is changing, which would be huge. But then again, it could just be that Dallas is too cap-strapped to do what they actually want to do. But it doesn't feel that way - I think we could have easily acquired the likes of Jared Allen, Peppers, Ayers, and so on if we really wanted to, and in previous years I believe we would have made such a move.

DBOY3141 · Apr 3, 2014

DFWJC said:
I can't stand the Eagles, but I don't see where they took a step back this offseason.
The argument could be made regarding DJax, but Maclin can replace his production...they already liked him anyway.

I do think Dallas is being more methodical in their approach vs overreacting or panicking themselves into making bad deals.

The big question mark for Maclin will be his recovery to his ACL.

Future · Apr 3, 2014

There's nothing weird, its just 4 crappy teams.

jnday · Apr 3, 2014

Alexander said:
While I think what Dallas is doing is more out of necessity than a change in philosophy it should be interesting how we compare what the Giants did in FA this year and compare to what we did. It is like the two franchises switched minds. We have signed exactly four free agents compared to their thirteen.

I think Jerry found himself in a situation that made him change direction. The salary cap made him do the right thing for the team over the long term. If he would have had the cap room to work with, he would have repeated his past mistakes.

LittleBoyBlue · Apr 3, 2014

Nothing weird really. We spanked our division last year. If Romo played last game maybe we sweep.

If we go 50/50 in division it's still a win for us.

visionary · Apr 3, 2014

17yearsandcounting said:
The only thing Jerral ever does is try to emulate other teams success. It goes back to him having to have his own McNabb and reaching for Wincy Carter, to more recently his obsession with New England's two TE sets.

unfortunately that still hasnt changed

the reason we are upgrading the DL and going to "bring the DL in waves" is only because that is how seattle won it, not because the franchise has suddently changed their philosophy

fans grasp at straws as per usual, hoping against hope

jerry/stephen/jason are a joke, they couldnt build a franchise if their life depended on it

these guys just want to be relevent

"if you are not outraged, you are not paying attention"

pathetic

dfense · Apr 3, 2014

erod said:
The Giants are grasping. The Commanders are trapped. The Eagles are mistaken. And the Cowboys drift in limbo.

Ifs and buts drip from the NFC East rafters, but there's nothing handy to keep them from seeping through the floor. The whole division sits in a purgatorial position, not bad enough to stink, but not good enough to matter.

Nobody's making any sense.

Snyder continues to throw darts blindly, despite his fatally flawed franchise quarterback. Mara watches his team wither in age and poor drafting. Lurie wrestles with a team not built right to play with the big boys and locked into Boy Genius' egomaniacal and unproven madness.

And then there's Jerry, driven daily by a single thought in his rapidly aging mind. "One more, please, that they can't credit to Jimmy."

Valley Ranch smells of desperation. Jerry doesn't draft centers or release Demarcus Wareseses. He doesn't miss opportunities to dive head-long into spotlights, or miss chances to steal headlines. He doesn't defer, and he doesn't apologize. Least of which, he does not bide his time through the offseason.

So what are we to make of this offseason?

Is this quiet confidence? Or, is this uh-oh, duck? Perhaps it's just a big "I don't know".

I don't know. Dallas is more mysterious than the other three.

All I know is that I see four first-place teams that could finish last, and four last-place teams that could finish first. Mediocrity and parity crystallized and defined by the NFC East.

ESPN has Woodson and Dawkins doing the NFC east power pole. Dawkins has Dallas at #4 . Even with no Dline and almost sweeping the division. So the 3-13 Commanders are this years powerhouse eh?

Lonestar94 · Apr 3, 2014

I feel like Washington had one lucky year. They will be very bad this year and the next. After all, they are Washington.

Giants are also very bad, just look over their roster.

It's either us or the Eagles this year.

zack · Apr 3, 2014

guag said:
This is a big change in their roster management philosophy. Stay young, don't overpay in free agency, build through the draft, let players come to you instead of chasing them, etc. Dare I say that Jerry and company are learning from their mistakes, and trying to emulate Seattle's success? I don't see their actions thus far (or lack of actions) as trying to avoid the spotlight -- rather, the front office is finally getting on board with the way that the likes of New England, Seattle, etc have been working for a while now.

In order for it to be a change, it will have to trend for more than just this year. I hope that is the direction. But we need to see a couple more years evidence of that plan.

Woods · Apr 3, 2014

I think there are times to get the player you need in FA and then there are times to be more prudent. I think it depends on the roster, salary cap, etc. For example, if the Cowboys actually get two very good drafts this year and next, and they find themselves in a position to make a serious push . . . . if there is that one player like Haley, etc. that can put them over the top, then it may make sense.

On the other hand, we clearly need 2 years to re-build the defense (and that's assuming very good drafts), and I don't think it is realistic to think we an "elite" team today. There is no one player who is going to put us over the top. We need to focus on building good depth. You don't do that my splurging like crazy in FA at this stage, imo. You need to improve the middle and bottom of your roster first.

theSHOW · Apr 3, 2014

Lonestar94 said:
I feel like Washington had one lucky year. They will be very bad this year and the next. After all, they are Washington.

Giants are also very bad, just look over their roster.

It's either us or the Eagles this year.

Watch each year how many cellar teams turn it around and win the division. That said, I also agree that Dallas and Filthy are the class of the division.

Alexander said:
While I think what Dallas is doing is more out of necessity than a change in philosophy it should be interesting how we compare what the Giants did in FA this year and compare to what we did. It is like the two franchises switched minds. We have signed exactly four free agents compared to their thirteen.

I am glad you brought that FA info up. Dallas is very young and has not a lot of need for heavy free agent acquisitions. The team has been on this draft your team strategy for 3 years now. Year 4 coming up...lets enjoy a fruitful draft.

noshame · Apr 3, 2014

I don't trust Coughlin, every time I write him off he makes chicken salad out of....well, you know what.

If the eagles totally buy into the system, they'll be good. The skins, who knows, but I'd like to think we'll be better than them.

Hoofbite · Apr 3, 2014

theSHOW said:
I am glad you brought that FA info up. Dallas is very young and has not a lot of need for heavy free agent acquisitions. The team has been on this draft your team strategy for 3 years now. Year 4 coming up...lets enjoy a fruitful draft.

Being young doesn't mean you don't have a need for free agents. Age says nothing about ability, or lack thereof.

Not even sure about the "draft your team" idea.

Wasn't but 2 years ago they signed Carr, Livings, Bernardeau, Vickers and Connor. Also the same year Stephen laughed and said the team could do whatever it wanted.

Now this offseason they've made numerous statements about the tightness of the cap.

2012 they say they can do whatever they want and make sure everyone knows it by signing a load of guys. This year they pretty much say they're limited because of the cap which means they're operating out of situation and circumstance rather than strategic desires.

No real strategy, just making moves when there's more freedom and standing pay when there's less.

A weird division

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Ntegrase96

What's it going to be then, eh?

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I'm not dead yet......

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