Franchise Tag: Demarcus Lawrence & the Salary Cap

stasheroo said:

Punching bag.

Absolute joke.

Embarrassment.

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stasheroo said:

Oh, it absolutely is! Because you don't have a "guy". You have a scenario. A dream scenario inside your head that doesn't exist. Where 15-as k players grow on trees and you simply replace one with another. Madden land.



So one mistake compounding another? Mistake one, anyone would give up a 1st or 2nd rounder for a guy obviously being dumped for injury.

Mistake two, somehow thinking either pick could ever be worth having no left tackle and taking an $18 million dead cap hit.

The forum can decide which of those two glaring, embarrassing mistakes is worse.



Yet another claim not thought through. Tyron Smith just turned 27 years old on Dec 12th. Not even in Madden football is that "almost 30".

You are truly awful at all of this.

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Galian Beast said:

Now you're just going with ad hominem... You're terrible at this.

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stasheroo said:

Look up some other words that help you to feel smarter than you actually are.

You, and your thread are an embarrassment.

Hang your head.

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Galian Beast said:

1. Never said players "grow on trees" - Straw man

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2A. You have posters here who still think Tyron is the best T in the NFL. Whether he has injury concern or not that has significant value.

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2B. You have to move on at some point. Is Tyron's back getting better do you think y/n? You won't answer this.

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3. Back to argumentum ad populum. You love this one.

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4. He'll be 30 in 3 years, that's almost 30. You're really reaching now huh?

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Galian Beast said:

More ad hominem.

Let me help you out in life

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stasheroo said:

Actually, it's your go-to whenever you get taken to school. To help you feel smarter after the spanking.

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kevm3 said:

If we let Lawrence walk, our defense goes right back into the gutter. We finally have a guy to get to the qb. I'm not taking a risk and letting that guy walk... and we'll be headed towards another 8 and 8 year because we won't be drafting to improve, we'd be drafting to replace. Taco will probably end up with 6 or 7 sacks next year and our rookie will be getting stonewalled as rookie DE's often do.

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Galian Beast said:

Even in a perfect world if he were to perform as he did this year, next year, the risk involved with injury is far too great.

Again, please find me a "war daddy" that has recently won a super bowl.

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Galian Beast said:

Under no circumstances should the Cowboys put the franchise tag on Demarcus Lawrence. As great as Lawrence was for us this season it would be financial maleficence to tag him with a contract near 20 million for the year.

You're talking about a player who missed for one reason or another 16 games in a 64 game period and is known to have back issues. You're also talking about a player who has only really shown up for more than one full year.

Is he likely to show up again in a contract tagged year? My guess is yes, but my argument is that even if he were to show up and stay healthy, the cost associated with it makes no sense.

If you want to sign him long-term, do so (but I wouldn't do that either). None of these double-digit defensive ends are winning super bowls for a reason. While they are the best defensive ends in the league, they aren't good enough to impact plays consistently enough to make their team win and win big, nor are they able to stay healthy enough.

Please imagine for instance 18 or so million dollars sitting on the bench due to an injury (see JJ Watt) and what impact that has on the rest of the team, rather than having 3-5 really really good players with salaries ranging from 5-6 million each, hell even two 9 million dollar players helps spread the risk to a significant degree better than lumping it all into one player who as I said before hasn't even shown up consistently. It's a recipe to get burnt.

The Patriots have two players who earn double-digit salaries. Brady and an elite CB that was drafted in the 1st round, and who they took away from their division rivals. A young veteran whose contract they can get out of within 3 or 4 years if they have to. His average salary is only 13 million. Nowhere near the 17-19 million, it will take to franchise Lawrence.

I mentioned players who make 5-6 million each being a better investment. Guess how many players the Patriots pay over 5 million dollars? 10 guys...

Even without Romo (1) on the active roster, he cost us 9 million dollars this year. Even without paying for an elite QB on the active roster we have two players in the double digits, Tyrone Smith (2) and Dez Bryant (3).

Without Romo, Bryant is worthless. Cutting him saves 8.5 million next year and 16.5 million the year after. You've lost the chance to trade him but you do need to cut him at this point.

I'm actually stunned the Cowboys haven't tried to trade Smith while they can. I'm stunned they didn't use this awful year as a signal that real change needed to happen and started fairly fresh (great time to get rid of Garrett and refocus on a growing talent pool on defense). Smith is only 27 years old, but 7 years pro. I wonder if Smith is going to get healthier as he gets older? I'm doubtful. When was the last time we got a 1st round draft pick for a player? How about a 2nd? or a 3rd? The Cowboys never get value for top talented players. They just wait until they wither away on our salary cap.

Tyrone Crawford (4) costs us 9 million a year and hasn't so much as sniffed a pro bowl. One of the worst contracts in the Jason Garrett era, and like Carr we have never tried to move on from it.

Sean Lee (5) costs 7 million a year and is worth every penny when he is on the field... We need to draft a linebacker high and start preparing for life after Lee. We need to move Lee back to middle linebacker and move Jaylon to the weak side. Let Hitchens walk. We should probably draft two linebackers within the first five picks next year.

Jason Witten (6) makes 7.4 million and has never been a true red zone threat. He had less than 600 yards receiving this year and only 5 TDs... But I guess we're paying him for his "leadership".

Ezekiel Elliott (7) is one of the best players in the league. A true game changer in my opinion. I lobbied hard for us to draft him and don't regret it. At the time though, I was making the argument as an extension of Romo's career. With Dak (and not to make this about Dak) I don't see our offense being robust enough to warrant a 1st round (top 5 pick) running back. Until teams are afraid of Dak's arm, we're never going to see how good Elliott could be.

La'el Collins (8) was extended after the team saw him play RT in the offseason. I'm not saying this was a bad idea, but along the same lines of paying so much for Elliott (draft and cap wise) we're now saying we're going to have an elite offensive line, but an average offense? This smacks in the face of common sense. Now we're in a position where we have no choice but to pay Martin, who is probably our best healthy lineman.

I'm sure it won't be popular, but I say you let Lawrence (9?) walk and let someone else give him his big payday and instead pick up the comp pick. Draft a defensive end in the first round and trade up if you have to, to get the right guy. Then you hope that Taco Charlton wasn't the boneheaded draft choice I think he was and pair the two together for the next 4 years.

While he costs less than 5 million dollars, we can't even cut Terrance Williams until 2019 because his contract is all guaranteed money up front.

So to sum up the cap mismanagement:
1. 8 players making over 5 million dollars
2. 6 of the 8 players all play on offense.
3. Of the 8, 7 have red flags.
4. Of the 2 players on defense, both have red flags.
5. There is someone out there that thinks it would be a good idea to have a 9th, who will actually become the best-paid player on the team?

Off season suggestions
1. Fire Garrett and Linehan and the entire offensive coaching staff (not happening).
2. Cut Dez Bryant (probably not happening).
3. Trade Tyron Smith, his cap hit gets MUCH smaller as it goes, so hopefully, we could still get some really good value here. Major cap hit for moving him now. Hopefully for a 1st or 2nd.
4. Do everyone a favor (himself included) and cut Jason Witten. Promote Hanna and Swaim, hopefully, get something from Gathers.
5. Take the major hit and cut Tyrone Crawford now. Sign a free agent NT in free agency. Would like to look at Dontari Poe.
6. Cut Orlando Scandrick. Move Byron Jones to cornerback. Inquire about Earl Thomas.
7. Do everyone a favor and trade Cole Beasley (himself included) to the 49ers, hopefully for a 3rd. Promote Switzer.
8. Inquire about re-signing Jonathan Cooper at a decent price.
9. Sign Michael Crabtree once he is cut.

2018 Draft Priorities
1. DE
2. T (if Tyron Smith is moved)
3. LB (2x)
4. QB
5. S
6. WR

Chidobe Awuzie - Earl Thomas - Kavon Frazier or Rookie Safety - Jourdan Lewis - Byron Jones (flex)
Jaylon Smith - Sean Lee - Rookie LB (flex)
Rookie DE - Maliek Collins/David Irving - Dontari Poe - Taco Charlton

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TwentyOne said:

Man how i hate these stupid posts.

Tell me where was our great dlaw player when sean lee was injured ? Then btw everybody was yelling this whole defense stands and falls with him. Now suddenly when dlaw leaves our defense will fall apart.

Seriously. Switch your brain on before typing.

He had one good year. In 4 years with us. You really want to invest 17 mills into that kind of player? This kid may have 2 or 3 more seasons in him and he may be injured for min. 4 games next season.

Where has he been the last 7 games when DCs finally accounted for him ? MIA.

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Galian Beast said:

Under no circumstances should the Cowboys put the franchise tag on Demarcus Lawrence. As great as Lawrence was for us this season it would be financial maleficence to tag him with a contract near 20 million for the year.

You're talking about a player who missed for one reason or another 16 games in a 64 game period and is known to have back issues. You're also talking about a player who has only really shown up for more than one full year.

Is he likely to show up again in a contract tagged year? My guess is yes, but my argument is that even if he were to show up and stay healthy, the cost associated with it makes no sense.

If you want to sign him long-term, do so (but I wouldn't do that either). None of these double-digit defensive ends are winning super bowls for a reason. While they are the best defensive ends in the league, they aren't good enough to impact plays consistently enough to make their team win and win big, nor are they able to stay healthy enough.

Please imagine for instance 18 or so million dollars sitting on the bench due to an injury (see JJ Watt) and what impact that has on the rest of the team, rather than having 3-5 really really good players with salaries ranging from 5-6 million each, hell even two 9 million dollar players helps spread the risk to a significant degree better than lumping it all into one player who as I said before hasn't even shown up consistently. It's a recipe to get burnt.

The Patriots have two players who earn double-digit salaries. Brady and an elite CB that was drafted in the 1st round, and who they took away from their division rivals. A young veteran whose contract they can get out of within 3 or 4 years if they have to. His average salary is only 13 million. Nowhere near the 17-19 million, it will take to franchise Lawrence.

I mentioned players who make 5-6 million each being a better investment. Guess how many players the Patriots pay over 5 million dollars? 10 guys...

Even without Romo (1) on the active roster, he cost us 9 million dollars this year. Even without paying for an elite QB on the active roster we have two players in the double digits, Tyrone Smith (2) and Dez Bryant (3).

Without Romo, Bryant is worthless. Cutting him saves 8.5 million next year and 16.5 million the year after. You've lost the chance to trade him but you do need to cut him at this point.

I'm actually stunned the Cowboys haven't tried to trade Smith while they can. I'm stunned they didn't use this awful year as a signal that real change needed to happen and started fairly fresh (great time to get rid of Garrett and refocus on a growing talent pool on defense). Smith is only 27 years old, but 7 years pro. I wonder if Smith is going to get healthier as he gets older? I'm doubtful. When was the last time we got a 1st round draft pick for a player? How about a 2nd? or a 3rd? The Cowboys never get value for top talented players. They just wait until they wither away on our salary cap.

Tyrone Crawford (4) costs us 9 million a year and hasn't so much as sniffed a pro bowl. One of the worst contracts in the Jason Garrett era, and like Carr we have never tried to move on from it.

Sean Lee (5) costs 7 million a year and is worth every penny when he is on the field... We need to draft a linebacker high and start preparing for life after Lee. We need to move Lee back to middle linebacker and move Jaylon to the weak side. Let Hitchens walk. We should probably draft two linebackers within the first five picks next year.

Jason Witten (6) makes 7.4 million and has never been a true red zone threat. He had less than 600 yards receiving this year and only 5 TDs... But I guess we're paying him for his "leadership".

Ezekiel Elliott (7) is one of the best players in the league. A true game changer in my opinion. I lobbied hard for us to draft him and don't regret it. At the time though, I was making the argument as an extension of Romo's career. With Dak (and not to make this about Dak) I don't see our offense being robust enough to warrant a 1st round (top 5 pick) running back. Until teams are afraid of Dak's arm, we're never going to see how good Elliott could be.

La'el Collins (8) was extended after the team saw him play RT in the offseason. I'm not saying this was a bad idea, but along the same lines of paying so much for Elliott (draft and cap wise) we're now saying we're going to have an elite offensive line, but an average offense? This smacks in the face of common sense. Now we're in a position where we have no choice but to pay Martin, who is probably our best healthy lineman.

I'm sure it won't be popular, but I say you let Lawrence (9?) walk and let someone else give him his big payday and instead pick up the comp pick. Draft a defensive end in the first round and trade up if you have to, to get the right guy. Then you hope that Taco Charlton wasn't the boneheaded draft choice I think he was and pair the two together for the next 4 years.

While he costs less than 5 million dollars, we can't even cut Terrance Williams until 2019 because his contract is all guaranteed money up front.

So to sum up the cap mismanagement:
1. 8 players making over 5 million dollars
2. 6 of the 8 players all play on offense.
3. Of the 8, 7 have red flags.
4. Of the 2 players on defense, both have red flags.
5. There is someone out there that thinks it would be a good idea to have a 9th, who will actually become the best-paid player on the team?

Off season suggestions
1. Fire Garrett and Linehan and the entire offensive coaching staff (not happening).
2. Cut Dez Bryant (probably not happening).
3. Trade Tyron Smith, his cap hit gets MUCH smaller as it goes, so hopefully, we could still get some really good value here. Major cap hit for moving him now. Hopefully for a 1st or 2nd.
4. Do everyone a favor (himself included) and cut Jason Witten. Promote Hanna and Swaim, hopefully, get something from Gathers.
5. Take the major hit and cut Tyrone Crawford now. Sign a free agent NT in free agency. Would like to look at Dontari Poe.
6. Cut Orlando Scandrick. Move Byron Jones to cornerback. Inquire about Earl Thomas.
7. Do everyone a favor and trade Cole Beasley (himself included) to the 49ers, hopefully for a 3rd. Promote Switzer.
8. Inquire about re-signing Jonathan Cooper at a decent price.
9. Sign Michael Crabtree once he is cut.

2018 Draft Priorities
1. DE
2. T (if Tyron Smith is moved)
3. LB (2x)
4. QB
5. S
6. WR

Chidobe Awuzie - Earl Thomas - Kavon Frazier or Rookie Safety - Jourdan Lewis - Byron Jones (flex)
Jaylon Smith - Sean Lee - Rookie LB (flex)
Rookie DE - Maliek Collins/David Irving - Dontari Poe - Taco Charlton

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Galian Beast said:

The following players were signed between 5 and 6 million dollars.



Mike Remmers RT 28 CAR MIN 5 $30,000,000 $6,000,000
A.J. Klein ILB 26 CAR NO 4 $24,000,000 $6,000,000
Dion Sims TE 26 MIA CHI 3 $18,000,000 $6,000,000
Lawrence Timmons ILB 31 PIT MIA 2 $12,000,000 $6,000,000
Brian Hoyer QB 32 CHI SF 2 $12,000,000 $6,000,000
Josh McCown QB 38 CLE NYJ 1 $6,000,000 $6,000,000
Terrelle Pryor WR 28 CLE WAS 1 $6,000,000 $6,000,000
Brandon Carr CB 31 DAL BAL 4 $23,500,000 $5,875,000
J.C. Tretter C 26 GB CLE 3 $16,750,000 $5,583,333
Sylvester Williams DT 29 DEN TEN 3 $16,500,000 $5,500,000
Darrelle Revis CB 32 NYJ KC 2 $11,000,000 $5,500,000
Jeremy Maclin WR 29 KC BAL 2 $11,000,000 $5,500,000
Nick Foles QB 28 KC PHI 2 $11,000,000 $5,500,000
Markus Wheaton WR 26 PIT CHI 2 $11,000,000 $5,500,000
Brandon Marshall WR 33 NYJ NYG 2 $11,000,000 $5,500,000
Marcus Cooper CB 27 ARI CHI 3 $16,000,000 $5,333,333
Malcolm Smith OLB 28 OAK SF 5 $26,500,000 $5,300,000
Jared Cook TE 30 GB OAK 2 $10,600,000 $5,300,000
Terrell McClain DE 29 DAL WAS 4 $21,000,000 $5,250,000
Kyle Juszczyk FB 26 BAL SF 4 $21,000,000 $5,250,000
Chris Baker DT 30 WAS TB 3 $15,750,000 $5,250,000
Benjamin Ijalana RT 28 NYJ NYJ 2 $10,250,000 $5,125,000
Austin Howard RT 30 OAK BAL 3 $15,025,000 $5,008,333
Stacy McGee DT 27 OAK WAS 5 $25,000,000 $5,000,000
Latavius Murray RB 26 OAK MIN 3 $15,000,000 $5,000,000
Torrey Smith WR 28 SF PHI 3 $15,000,000 $5,000,000
Morris Claiborne CB 27 DAL NYJ 1 $5,000,000 $5,000,000


All players signed between 5-6 million

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Galian Beast said:

If you want to sign him long-term, do so (but I wouldn't do that either).

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Galian Beast said:

Even in a perfect world if he were to perform as he did this year, next year, the risk involved with injury is far too great.

Again, please find me a "war daddy" that has recently won a super bowl.

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Manwiththeplan said:

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Manwiththeplan said:

can you define "war daddy?" I'm not 100% sure what one is, but I would assume Von Miller counts as one (2015), or one of several players on the 2013 Seahawks. JPP on the 2011 Giants may count as well.

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baltcowboy said:

Name me 4 of those guys you would sign over Lawrence for next season.

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Galian Beast said:

He can grumble all he wants.

The Patriots aren't the only team that has done this. Many teams around the league focus primarily on defense with good results. Not as good as the Patriots mind you, but good none the less.

The Seahawks were extremely successful when they focused on defense. When they shifted course to offense they began to struggle.

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Galian Beast said:

Depends as FA impacts the draft, but on that list, I would probably say Revis, Marshall, and Cook.

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