Stash
Staff member
- Messages
- 78,391
- Reaction score
- 102,350
As this is a slow time of year for legitimate news, I thought it might be fun to engage in a hypothetical scenario to encourage conversation and debate. Before we get started, I'd like to preface by telling everyone that it's simply an expertise, with no real impact or weight. Don't get worked up about it! This is simply an exercise for fun, and based on individual opinions. There is no right or wrong answer.
Here the scenario, "You have the Comm", you steer the Cowboys ship and can do whatever you'd like.
What one decision would you make that you can safely assume would be unpopular with many of your fellow Cowboys fans, but one that you feel would be in the team's best interests long term?
For example, would you trade Prescott rather than paying him?
Would you trade or cut another player on the team?
Would you give Garrett an extension before or during the season?
Something along those lines.
Here's mine:
I would try to showcase Byron Jones for a trade rather than attempting to re-sign him. My thinking is this. I believe that it is more about Kri Richard's techniques, player attributes, and system than it is about first round athletic talent. And it is more about aggressiveness and physicality than it is about pure speed. I think that Richard is capable of developing cornerbacks who are good enough that the team won't have to pay what would likely be another huge contract to keep Jones.
And I think that process has already begun. I think he has systematically restocked the cornerback room with "his guys", and players who meet his athletic requirements. He has kept Donovan Olumba on the roster, and added Michael Jackson in the draft, along with UDFA Chris Westry' "his kind of guys".
I believe that the Cowboys made one mistake in this year's draft, they decided to take Tony Pollard ahead of Houston CB Isaiah Johnson. I think they had a decision to make on which player they needed to draft first, and they guessed wrong. I can only speculate, but I believe that Pollard would have been there with their second fourth round pick whereas Johnson was drafted by the Raiders immediately after the Pollard pick. I think they'd like to have that one back (though they'd never admit it!)
The cornerback position is entering a transition period, much like wide receivers did. Players were shipped out and replaced and I think Richard is doing the same with his corners. Jones and Anthony Brown are due for free agency next year and I think the team is actively pursuing replacements for either or both.
This is not a knock on Jones, a fine player and upstanding person, he's a great team guy. But I think the team is faced with having too many big contracts to pay out, and something has got to give. I'd make the decision to trade Byron Jones for what I could get in draft capital for next season and not have to worry about that big contract or losing him for a 2021 comp pick. I realize it would be short term pain for a team I think can contend, but I trust that as he did with Jones and Awuzie, Richard could quickly have a capable replacement ready to step in.
I know it won't be popular, hence the premise of this thread, but that's the way I'd play it.
Anyone else have any unpopular decisions they'd make?
Here the scenario, "You have the Comm", you steer the Cowboys ship and can do whatever you'd like.
What one decision would you make that you can safely assume would be unpopular with many of your fellow Cowboys fans, but one that you feel would be in the team's best interests long term?
For example, would you trade Prescott rather than paying him?
Would you trade or cut another player on the team?
Would you give Garrett an extension before or during the season?
Something along those lines.
Here's mine:
I would try to showcase Byron Jones for a trade rather than attempting to re-sign him. My thinking is this. I believe that it is more about Kri Richard's techniques, player attributes, and system than it is about first round athletic talent. And it is more about aggressiveness and physicality than it is about pure speed. I think that Richard is capable of developing cornerbacks who are good enough that the team won't have to pay what would likely be another huge contract to keep Jones.
And I think that process has already begun. I think he has systematically restocked the cornerback room with "his guys", and players who meet his athletic requirements. He has kept Donovan Olumba on the roster, and added Michael Jackson in the draft, along with UDFA Chris Westry' "his kind of guys".
I believe that the Cowboys made one mistake in this year's draft, they decided to take Tony Pollard ahead of Houston CB Isaiah Johnson. I think they had a decision to make on which player they needed to draft first, and they guessed wrong. I can only speculate, but I believe that Pollard would have been there with their second fourth round pick whereas Johnson was drafted by the Raiders immediately after the Pollard pick. I think they'd like to have that one back (though they'd never admit it!)
The cornerback position is entering a transition period, much like wide receivers did. Players were shipped out and replaced and I think Richard is doing the same with his corners. Jones and Anthony Brown are due for free agency next year and I think the team is actively pursuing replacements for either or both.
This is not a knock on Jones, a fine player and upstanding person, he's a great team guy. But I think the team is faced with having too many big contracts to pay out, and something has got to give. I'd make the decision to trade Byron Jones for what I could get in draft capital for next season and not have to worry about that big contract or losing him for a 2021 comp pick. I realize it would be short term pain for a team I think can contend, but I trust that as he did with Jones and Awuzie, Richard could quickly have a capable replacement ready to step in.
I know it won't be popular, hence the premise of this thread, but that's the way I'd play it.
Anyone else have any unpopular decisions they'd make?