Since when did being "broke" become a "strategy"?

What impact does “winning the offseason” have on win-loss records in the NFL?

Six of the 12 teams that have ranked in the top three in free-agent spending since 2011 did not improve their win total, including all three of last year’s top spending teams. The below information comes from spotrac.com.

2014 Offseason
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($147 million), Denver Broncos ($128M) and New York Giants($111M) spent the most in terms of cash value during the offseason, but the trio averaged a two-win drop-off compared to 2013 (including playoffs). The Patriots, who won Super Bowl XLIX, ranked 16th in free-agent spending last offseason.

2013 Offseason
The Miami Dolphins ($160M), Indianapolis Colts ($129M) and Tennessee Titans ($133M) each added one win compared to their 2012 totals. The Colts were the only team to make it to the postseason. The Seattle Seahawks, winners of Super Bowl XLVIII, ranked 24th in total cash value spent that offseason.

2012 Offseason
The Buccaneers ($162M) were big spenders in 2012 and added three wins to their 2011 total of four. Peyton Manning’s move to Denver helped the Broncos ($151M) improve from eight to 13 wins. The Bills ($129M) made headlines by signing defensive end Mario Williams but finished with another 6-10 season. The Super Bowl XLVII champion Baltimore Ravens ranked sixth in free-agent spending that year.

2011 Offseason
The Carolina Panthers ($198M) spent big the year they drafted Cam Newton, which was after a two-win 2010 season. They won six games in 2011. The win totals of both the Seahawks ($134M) and Falcons ($125M) decreased from 2010 to 2011. The Giants ranked 17th in total cash value that offseason before winning Super Bowl XLVI.

How are champions built?
The spending habits of the past four Super Bowl champions varied, but there was one common thread -- none of the major free-agent acquisitions underperformed on teams that won the Super Bowl. All signings at least met or exceeded the cap value of their contracts.

The below information comes from the Roster Management System.

The Patriots spent heavily in the 2014 free-agent market, signing three of the team’s top four defensive backs in snaps played from outside the organization (Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Patrick Chung). Brandon LaFell and LeGarrette Blount played important roles in New England’s Super Bowl run as well.

The 2013 Seahawks used a pair of offseason acquisitions (Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril) to fuel a pass rush that pressured opposing quarterbacks on a league-high 33 percent of dropbacks.

Both the 2012 Ravens and 2011 Giants spent heavily on internal free agents. Baltimore found some bargains with external free agents that cost less than $2 million each, but spent a combined $7.4 million of their 2012 cap to bring back defensive contributors Lardarius Webb, Cary Williams, Jameel McClain, Dannell Ellerbe and Brendon Ayanbadejo. The Giants took a similar approach, committing $9.1 million on Ahmad Bradshaw, Kevin Boothe, Mathias Kiwanuka and Deon Grant.

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/102703/can-free-agent-spending-buy-a-title

Zordon said:

This team is broke....yet again. They are sitting on the sidelines by force, not by choice. Let's not spin this into a strategy.

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Nope. We always do whatever we want in free agency every year and LOL @ cap hell.

Risen Star said:

Nope. We always do whatever we want in free agency every year and LOL @ cap hell.

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Every year the same nonsense on CZ.

Not sure how anybody can look at the patterns of the last several offseasons under Jason Garrett and conclude this is anything but part of the overall strategy. They say as much going into every offseason. This season, they even have the club options sitting right there to exercise if they want to, and have money to spend on top of the franchise tender to Dez. It's not that hard to look at the facts and to conclude the obvious.

Between the limitations from the new CBA and the cap penalty for the Austin contract that the league ratified and then penalized us for, we were definitely caught with pants down a couple seasons back. But we're clearly emerging from that in a big way and will be in good shape with the cap and fielding a very young team again by this time next season.

This offseason we're going to sign the important players already on the roster and are going to upgrade again where we can with moderate free agents. And, as usual, people are going to complain about those signings before even seeing them play a snap. And then hide from those posts when it turns out they were wrong. Remember all the snarky pot-shots at signings like McClain and Mincey? Get ready for it, because we're going to hear it again as we continue to put placeholders in place and to develop young players behind them for the long run.

Zordon said:

Every year the same nonsense on CZ.

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Zordon said:

This team is broke....yet again. They are sitting on the sidelines by force, not by choice. Let's not spin this into a strategy.

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Truth that gets moved to the rant zone lol. Gotta love it.

8 million dollars to replace Murray, Carter, Melton, Durant, McClain, Spencer, Moore, Harris, Parnell, Selvie and Hayden (am I missing anyone?)

No matter which way you slice it, that's A TON to replace on defense, a swing tackle, return man/WR depth, and not to mention the reigning offensive player of the year.

Our success last season was due to our ability to dominate the clock with an all pro workhorse RB and a deep defensive rotation that played with high effort. But we're supposed to believe we can let all of that walk because we were 12-4 and WE'RE BACK!! or something like that.

Those of us that keep it real know what no defensive depth and a middling running game get this team, that's a pass happy 8-8 or worse campaign. The two years where we had a good/great running game and an above average defense in the Tony Romo era were also the only two years we won a playoff game. Imagine that.

I kept saying it, but you'd think Romo could have sacrificed just a tiny bit of his league high 27 million dollar cap hit like we see Brady and Manning doing to keep some of the pieces of what worked in tact.

I'm also disgusted with the way the fan base has under appreciated Murray. Not just under appreciate, but just flat out disrespectful. The guy carried you to the best season we've had in 2 decades, gave everything he had to this team, and all you wanna say is "don't let the door hit you on your ***". Are you kidding me?!

Zordon said:

This team is broke....yet again. They are sitting on the sidelines by force, not by choice. Let's not spin this into a strategy.

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The Cowboys said before FA began what they were going to do. They are not forced into this position as they could create all kinds of salary cap room if they want to. They simply don't want to restructure Romo and I don't blame them. But we are far from broke. Just as importantly they don't want to overpay for FA's which is what always happens on day one.

Nation said:

In 2014 free agency 3 of the 4 highest spending teams in guaranteed money missed the playoffs, including the #1 spending Bucs who will now be drafting #1 overall. In 2013 3 of the highest 4 spending teams in guaranteed money missed the playoffs as well.

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How many of these teams were a player away and have a guy like Romo at QB who is closing in on the end of his career potentially?

khiladi said:

How many of these teams were a player away and have a guy like Romo at QB who is closing in on the end of his career potentially?

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We are only one player away? I'd argue that you could very easily upgrade 3 out of 4 Defensive Linemen starters, 1-2 LBs, 1 CB, and 1 Safety. Denver was coming off a Super Bowl appearance and spent a ton last year and didn't have a playoff win to show for it.

We're far from broke or in 'cap hell.' We re-signed Free and Beasley. We lost Durant who played by far the best he's ever played last year, but turns 30 years old and we have a lot of depth at LB if we re-sign McClain and Carter (Ro, Bruce, Lee and Hitchens).

We lost Harris, who was not effective in his punt returns the past 2 years and was never very good on kickoffs. As a WR, Harris was mainly there because he is such a good *blocker*. I think the Giants clearly overpaid for Harris and that's fine by me. Then Parnell got an incredible deal from the Jags and he's just not worth that much money. We also tendered Dunbar (and Chris Jones).

The front office has shifted its philosophy in offseason personnel acquisition and contracts. They are now driving a hard bargain, avoiding players 30+ years old like the plague (or if they sign them, it is to a favorable contract towards the team) and they are now being patient. Patience usually wins in the offseason and impulsive moves kill your team.

To me, it's about time.





YR

Nation said:

We are only one player away? I'd argue that you could very easily upgrade 3 out of 4 Defensive Linemen starters, 1-2 LBs, 1 CB, and 1 Safety. Denver was coming off a Super Bowl appearance and spent a ton last year and didn't have a playoff win to show for it.

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We are pretty close.

Denver spent a lot, but Manning was injured by the end of the season, meaning the time-frame is short when your all-star calibre QB is close to the end. Additionally, I wouldn't necessarily argue spending on Ware, at the end of his career, was a good move. I'm just saying comparing a team like Tampa or Jacksonville spending a lot in free agency is not a valid comparison with respect to the Cowboys.

khiladi said:

We are pretty close.

Denver spent a lot, but Manning was injured by the end of the season, meaning the time-frame is short when your all-star calibre QB is close to the end. Additionally, I wouldn't necessarily argue spending on Ware, at the end of his career, was a good move. I'm just saying comparing a team like Tampa or Jacksonville spending a lot in free agency is not a valid comparison with respect to the Cowboys.

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They had Peyton healthy when they played midseason and they still got handled pretty thoroughly against New England. Spending big on Ware in hindsight was a bad move but we can't make any moves today with the benefit of hindsight unfortunately.

If they made the Super Bowl I don't think there was any 1 player you could have inserted on the 2014 Cowboys who could have resulted in them getting a pass rush on Brady or slowing Gronk and Edelman.

Dallas has committed

12.8 mil to Dez for just one year (12.8)
13.6 mil for 4 years to Beasley (5)
15 mil for 3 years to Free (6)
much more to come

So already 22 mil in guarantees and just getting started

This is not "doing nothing and being broke".

DFWJC said:

Dallas has committed

12.8 mil to Dez for just one year (12.8)
13.6 mil for 4 years to Beasley (5)
15 mil for 3 years to Free (6)
much more to come

So already 22 mil in guarantees and just getting started

This is not "doing nothing and being broke".

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Yep.

Some are butt hurt because this is going exactly like we were told it was going to. Some of understood that after seeing how the Cowboys have handled free agency the last couple of years. I don't have a problem with it at all. I see the goofy contracts handed out left and right and soon that nonsense will be over with and players can be acquired more so for what they are actually worth.

MichaelWinicki said:

I see the goofy contracts handed out left and right and soon that nonsense will be over with and players can be acquired more so for what they are actually worth.

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Looks like that story continues today.

Nation said:

They had Peyton healthy when they played midseason and they still got handled pretty thoroughly against New England. Spending big on Ware in hindsight was a bad move but we can't make any moves today with the benefit of hindsight unfortunately.

If they made the Super Bowl I don't think there was any 1 player you could have inserted on the 2014 Cowboys who could have resulted in them getting a pass rush on Brady or slowing Gronk and Edelman.

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We could have beat the Patriots either way, because of our OL and rushing attack, with a much better passing game than the Seahawks. The Ravens were dominating the Patriots, until they pulled the eligible, ineligible WR that resulted in them overcoming 14 points.

I just think a definitive rusher on the DL could very easily put us over the top.

Titleist said:

If we're "broke" I'm curious to know what the Eagles status is

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They beez mo broker

Nation said:

Plenty of room to make moves if they made sense to do. The smart teams don't make their moves in March.

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Yep, tell that to Seattle and NE

BlueStar22 said:

Quiet last year...12-4

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But we must win free agency!!!