At some point, teams are going to shift their thinking on QB contracts

[kskboys]

I understand what you are saying but it's a horrible idea to overpay for Andy Dalton, or Ryan Tannehill. That's how these teams get mired in mediocrity.

Part of the problem is the insistence on the "formula" of one franchise QB that stays in the pocket and passes the ball 40 times per game.

A team could add three low level QBs to the roster that have jets for legs, who can pass a little bit, and turn the NFL on its head. The problem hasn't been the success of those teams it is the injuries to the QBs.

At some point the worm will turn in the same way that running backs have experienced a resurgence. There are not enough Pat Mahommes in the world to put one on every team.

I've often had the same thought. I mean, sure, it's prolly better to have that one guy, but there's only so many to go around. Why not switch it up more? Esp since OC's/HC's can have headsets and be in the QB's ear til right before the snap.

Think about the headaches it would cause DC's!!!!

 

[Diehardblues]

The only cycle we have seen is QB's get paid more than everyone else even as the cap goes up every year; if I am wrong about this please share. I dont get why fans care; but Dak deserves to get paid. 20 mil is only 3 million more than Romo got on his big contract back in 2013 after leading his team to 3 straight 8-8 seasons. Not only has the cap gone up significantly since then but Dak the last 3 seasons has led his team to the second most wins in the NFL since he has been in the NFL.

I don’t have a problem with Dak getting paid either but the amount could have effects in surrounding him and why it’s so critical with these less than elite QB’s to have success early like with Wilson in Seattle before you have to start paying everyone splitting up the core of talent.

I’d imagine most would have thought with Dak and Zeke it was critical to have success early in their careers before we had to pay them. Once we do, we won’t be able to surround them with as much support.

 

[kskboys]

Yes. But I'm saying that is part of the problem. They are paying bad QBs a lot of money.

Absolutely. However, that's due to the importance of the position, and the shortage of good ones.

Will teams learn? Man, most of us already knew that the Dalton's and Tannehill's of the NFL should not have been paid. How did they not know? At this point, I'm not sure I'd pay Cam, and he's better than both.

 

[ItzKelz]

I don’t have a problem with Dak getting paid either but the amount could have effects in surrounding him and why it’s so critical with these less than elite QB’s to have success early like with Wilson in Seattle before you have to start paying everyone splitting up the core of talent.

I’d imagine most would have thought with Dak and Zeke it was critical to have success early in their careers before we had to pay them. Once we do, we won’t be able to surround them with as much support.

That is not actually what happened in Seattle. Players got old and brittle is why that team broke up. Not one foundational piece left due to not being able to pay them. If those players were still playing at a high level most if not all would still be on the team. But once it was clear that the nucleus of the defense could not stay healthy they went into another direction; hence Kris Richard is a Cowboy.

 

[Diehardblues]

I've often had the same thought. I mean, sure, it's prolly better to have that one guy, but there's only so many to go around. Why not switch it up more? Esp since OC's/HC's can have headsets and be in the QB's ear til right before the snap.

Think about the headaches it would cause DC's!!!!

No doubt.

I was so hopeful once Romo was done we’d draft or at least have an opportunity to draft one of those guys for I believe especially with our dysfunctional organization which has been so talent dependent would have made the job easier.

 

[Diehardblues]

That is not actually what happened in Seattle. Players got old and brittle is why that team broke up. Not one foundational piece left due to not being able to pay them. If those players were still playing at a high level most if not all would still be on the team. But once it was clear that the nucleus of the defense could not stay healthy they went into another direction; hence Kris Richard is a Cowboy.

They didn’t lose their stud RB and DT to FA?

 

[cowboyfan4lyfe]

I think everything runs in cycles, and the QB market has become such a high percentage of the cap that eventually the pendulum will have to swing back the other way.

Running backs were considered the franchise player 20 years ago. Then over time the position became devalued. Now it seems to be going back the other way.

It's one thing to have Tom Brady eating up 10 to 15 percent of your cap, but it's a very different matter if you have Andy Dalton eating up 75 percent of that.

Does a team with Blake Bortles, Andy Dalton, Case Keenam, or the like have a high probability of beating a Brady led team? Probably not, in large part to the QB deficit.

Teams are winning SBs with QBs on their rookie deals. Russell Wilson is a recent example of it, as was Ruthlessraper. Dak won 13 games as a rookie. That just goes to show you that if you surround a young QB with a lot of talent he can win.

Conversely, if you pay a QB to carry your team, he had better be able to carry the team. I like Dak Prescott, even though I think Tony should have been the QB when he was healthy. I'm still a Dak fan. But to pay Dak $30M per year would be beyond stupid.

Offer Dak a good deal. $20M per year for 3 years total is plenty. Then they can check out his contract again in two years. If Dak won't go for that, make him play for peanuts this year and if he looks like he is going to sit out, draft a QB early.

If Dak wants outrageous money (he may not be looking for outrageous money) play him and tag him twice. But realistically, there is no way a team is going to be able to afford to sign a player after that second tag, because all of the leverage goes to the player at that point.

That will never happen. QB's are too important.

 

[kskboys]

Yes. But I'm saying that is part of the problem. They are paying bad QBs a lot of money.

That's because if you don't have a QB, you have nothing. So, reaches and overpays are going to be common. That will never change.

 

[Diehardblues]

Absolutely. However, that's due to the importance of the position, and the shortage of good ones.

Will teams learn? Man, most of us already knew that the Dalton's and Tannehill's of the NFL should not have been paid. How did they not know? At this point, I'm not sure I'd pay Cam, and he's better than both.

You can’t see Dak falling into that same category?

 

[ItzKelz]

They didn’t lose their stud RB and DT to FA?

RB retired. DT was out the door due to nearly the entire Legion of Boom being hurt and moving in another direction.

 

[Diehardblues]

That's because if you don't have a QB, you have nothing. So, reaches and overpays are going to be common. That will never change.

Right..

And why I’d continue swinging for the fences until I hit.

It’s almost impossible in Cap era to surround otherwise without a generational defense unless you do it before you have to pay them.

 

[cowboyfan4lyfe]

I agree that the current situation has to change and the salaries are just out of hand, to the point where merely good quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins are getting $28 million a year fully guaranteed for three years. That's insanity, and the Vikings must already have buyers' remorse. And the Commanders do for sure as well. They got fleeced in that Alex Smith deal, even before the injury, but are now sunk paying $42 million to a quarterback who may never play again.

And I don't think the Packers will be able to contend again as long as Aaron Rodgers is taking up so much of their cap. He's a great quarterback, but not even the very best can carry a team single-handedly and I think Green Bay finds that out the hard way.

Like you, I would offer Prescott the $20 million per year deal now, and if he wants more, I'm willing to let this year play out and franchise tag him for 2020, and possibly 2021. At that point, either I'm sure he's the guy and I happily back up the truck, or I'm sure he's not and I've had two more years to be sure of that.

The problem is not the player's salaries. It's the salary structure, needs to be change where teams can keep their home grown talent.

 

[Diehardblues]

RB retired. DT was out the door due to nearly the entire Legion of Boom being hurt and moving in another direction.

Yea, he retired cause they didn’t want to pay him. And DT left for FA despite the circumstances. But I hear ya. Lynch’s situation was different.

 

[Diehardblues]

The problem is not the player's salaries. It's the salary structure, needs to be change where teams can keep their home grown talent.

The owners aren’t interested in changing. Their priorities are different from ours. QB not only are the driving force and foundation of the team but in promoting their product to generate revenue.

The QB are also the driving force in Fantasy Football. The entire success of the league revolves around QB .

 

[kskboys]

That is not actually what happened in Seattle. Players got old and brittle is why that team broke up. Not one foundational piece left due to not being able to pay them. If those players were still playing at a high level most if not all would still be on the team. But once it was clear that the nucleus of the defense could not stay healthy they went into another direction; hence Kris Richard is a Cowboy.

Not even that.

SEA lost their edge when they overpaid Sherman and let Red Bryant, Chris Clemons, and Clinton McDonald walk. The real strength of that team was a deep, talented DLine.

Don't get me wrong, Sherman was a stud, but you simply cannot pay a CB that much.

You could really see it in the TO differential and drop in both sacks and INT's.

 

[cowboyfan4lyfe]

The owners aren’t interested in changing. Their priorities are different from ours. QB not only are the driving force and foundation of the team but in promoting their product to generate revenue.

The QB are also the driving force in Fantasy Football. The entire success of the league revolves around QB .

True, that's why I found it hard to believe that the NFL was interested in hiring Adam Silver to be the next Commissioner. He's too much of a progressive for this league

 

[kskboys]

You can’t see Dak falling into that same category?

No idea.

Dak is loaded w/ the intangibles that both those guys lack, but he may not be able to overcome his shortcomings.

 

[Diehardblues]

No idea.

Dak is loaded w/ the intangibles that both those guys lack, but he may not be able to overcome his shortcomings.

I understand we have no idea but we could have some instincts and insight. The point is since Dak isn’t one of those more prolific passers he could fall into that other category. Just saying..it has to be a concern.

And if we’ve poorly evaluated it could cost us.

 

[FLCowboyFan]

At the risk of sounding like a socialist, I don't like any of the key players taking a huge % of the money. It puts the team in a position to have to leave holes in the team. Then those key players end up on a team that never reaches a super bowl. I want my key players to get paid well but to leave enough in the bucket to pay for the rest of the team. The problem is that you have 5 players on the Cowboys that can easily suck up half of the cap space.

I'm crossing my fingers that Dak, DLaw, and Zeke see the bigger picture and find a way to leave enough to build a strong team around them.

 

[Diehardblues]

My concern with our evaluation of Dak is Jerry’s motivations to insist on Dak being the guy could over shadow the instincts he’s been advised of. Not many are surving Daks wrath. Dez was a casualty , Witten retired early. Two QB coaches, an OC and probably another soon and ultimately a HC. I’m not sure if anyone will survive.

Is it possible that Jerry’s determination to make his decision to go with Dak supersedes any sound evaluations. Dak has illustrated just enough intangible assets to promote him as our future all while looking the other way on his more obvious shortcomings and weaknesses.

In the end winning cures all ills but at some point down the road if those goals aren’t met then these decisions will be more heavily criticized and deservedly so especially if the motivation was more of a personal agenda for Jerry than what was best for Cowboys Football.