Actions not words

[shabazz]

Haha! Good stuff Shab.

The “something feels different” comments have already started. I cannot say anything is different until it is. And by different I mean at least making a conference championship game.

Until then it’s just “blah, blah, blah…”.

I can start "buying in" if our GM simply does what every other GM does, which is buy quality FAs to shore up weaknesses.

Here is an example from 2025 in quotations to show they are not my words but remains a fact;

"21 teams have given a free agent a contract of at least $10 Million per year this offseason. Of the 11 who haven’t, 7 did last offseason, 1 team did it last in the 2023 offseason, and 2 last did in the 2022 offseason. That leaves one team: the Dallas Cowboys, who last paid a FA 10 M/Year in 2015."

Gregg Hardy and Brandon Carr?

 

[Sully]

After two straight years of not making the playoffs, and watching a terrible defense that borders on league worst, we head into a very important off-season if we want to return to at least playoff relevance.

This is the time of year when serious organizations with serious and well-thought out plans of actions begin to take action. Emphasis on action. Not press conferences.

And as usual, we are seeing guys named Jones talking a lot. Jerry says he wants to “break the budget” to turn this team around. He also said this week he wants George Pickens to be a Cowboy for the rest of his career. Hey, he’s basically once again crowing that he’s “all in”.

Yesterday on Dallas sports station The Ticket, I also hear that JJ is talking to George Pickens but NOT to his agent, David Mulugheta. Oh…I’ve heard this before. Then today we hear that “sources”inside the Cowboys organization (translation it’s SJ orJJ) say they will try to franchise tag Pickens.

Bottom line: They should shut up. Actions speak louder than a Jones. I won’t believe a syllable these guys say. I will believe action when it happens.

Some fans get excited when Jerry says stuff like “we’re gonna break the bank”. Feel free to believe that stuff if you choose. I’m waiting on the actions that back it up and the results on the scoreboard.

Jerry is in the business to sell FOOLS GOLD to Cowboys fans each year. They are already lining up

 

[cristglo]

This will be Cowboy Fans when FA starts.

 

[Bobhaze]

I can start "buying in" if our GM simply does what every other GM does, which is buy quality FAs to shore up weaknesses.

Here is an example from 2025 in quotations to show they are not my words but remains a fact;

"21 teams have given a free agent a contract of at least $10 Million per year this offseason. Of the 11 who haven’t, 7 did last offseason, 1 team did it last in the 2023 offseason, and 2 last did in the 2022 offseason. That leaves one team: the Dallas Cowboys, who last paid a FA 10 M/Year in 2015."

Gregg Hardy and Brandon Carr?

It was discussed a lot this week that the two SB teams were two of the best 5 defenses in the league in 2025.

But it has not been discussed enough that NE was ranked #1 in FA spending in 2025 and Sea was ranked 4th. Not coincidently the Cowboys ranked 28th. We were 32nd in 2024.

It seems there is a correlation. Hmmmm….

 

[OGSixshooter]

Good points. I’m not convinced keeping George Pickens is as important as finding a ton of defensive talent.

Put another way - having the most expensive QB and WR room does not make you a SB contender. It makes you the Cincinnati Bengals.

Preach! Watching the playoffs I kept thinking, "Even with Pickens and Lamb...are we outscoring that team?" It's not clear to me that we do...even if we improve our defense. They have a special defense and NE's not bad themselves. But NE added 30 new players this year! Can't do that when all the cap dollars are wrapped up in 3 players.

 

[OGSixshooter]

It was discussed a lot this week that the two SB teams were two of the best 5 defenses in the league in 2025.

But it has not been discussed enough that NE was ranked #1 in FA spending in 2025 and Sea was ranked 4th. Not coincidently the Cowboys ranked 28th. We were 32nd in 2024.

It seems there is a correlation. Hmmmm….

They added 30 players. Seattle got rid of Metcalf.

"It's a young man's sport." - Parcells after he retired from COACHING.

Jerry wants to prove he is smart and he validates that by signing and negotiating the player to a new "deal". All ego-driven and counterproductive because we REALLY NEED to be getting younger...not doubling down on past performance!

 

[kramskoi]

You’re right that Burrow missing time due to injuries has been a big reason Cincy has performed poorly. But it’s not the only reason. And yes, they have accomplished more than our Cowboys lately.

Their defense is the only one worse than ours. And one reason for that is their lack of cap space for defensive talent.

I’m not saying Cincy is always bad. Burrow is legit. And so are their WRs. But the problem is that’s where their talent cap space is mostly concentrated. They have a bad OL and their defensive cupboard is bare.

IMO - Having the best WR room is not a formula for SB wins.

I hear you but still. They don't spend any more money on their two main WRs than the Eagles do (about 56 - 58 million/yr). Burrow is a 55 mil/yr quarterback...but is it in the best interests of a team to let a talent like Burrow go once his rookie deal is up? Some players have to be paid...full stop. You can pinch around the edges at other positions but QB is one you have to get right. The Eagles are now in the same boat. They have the most expensive offense and it crashes and burns down the stretch in two of the last three seasons. Hurts is eating up 51 - 52 mil/yr. They still field one the best defenses in the NFC.

I just think that the Cowboys are not an organization that can win a championship on the cheap. It might take something like what happened with the Rams in 2020. A heavy infusion of talent that becomes quality from quantity. They are NOT the Patriots.

I don't think any team is coming for Pickens...not with what they would have to surrender for his services. The Cowboy could always do something stupid like they did with Cooper after the 2021 season, but I'm not sure the team would be better for it. They would immediately have to go out and get a #2 in FA. Flournoy could possibly be that guy but we need to see it for a full season. If I knew for certain that Flournoy could be the guy then I would have no problem with the Cowboys moving on from Pickens but this situation is really sticky. Getting less than at least ONE first rounder for him seems like something not worth doing, which leaves him playing on the tag and eating up 29 million in cap space for '26. Otherwise, it's looking more and more like Jones will have few choices other than to pay him close to what he wants. It's a different situation than the Parsons negotiation. Pickens is more boxed in because of the tag...so the Cowboys are not without leverage.

 

[kramskoi]

True, but it does take 2……unless you are giving his agent a blank check.

My opinion…you make him a good, fair offer you can live with. If he doesn’t accept it, you tag him. Then you continue to negotiate, but you also find out what his market is in a trade.

They are going to tag him before they pay him. It boxes him in and plays to their advantage. The tag is their leverage.

 

[Captain-Crash]

Jerry said keep on watching and dreaming, it gets better.

 

[Whyjerry]

George Pickens should already be signed

Then what? They have no cap space.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Jerry is the emperor with no clothes on. In the 30 years of not making it to an NFCCG let alone win a Superbowl, the franchise value has increased 15+ billion dollars. All he has to do is say catch phrases like “All in” or “Break the budget “ he knows fans will shut up and cheer. Jerry is so smart that he even got the YouTubers who used to call him out getting behind him. I guess giving jobs to certain media guys is smart. Jerry is a brilliant businessman.

this a 10000000000000000000000%
been saying the exact samething for years.



p.s.

how is baltimore? I used to live ride down the road from there in Columbia

 

[baltcowboy]

this a 10000000000000000000000%
been saying the exact samething for years.



p.s.

how is baltimore? I used to live ride down the road from there in Columbia

Cold…….. I am actually from Columbia, Maryland. For the last month or so the temperature has been under 30 degrees for a high. It snowed two weeks ago and it has barely melted.