Cap be Damned

[tyke1doe]

AP's the best running back in football. Its hard to see why he'd take a pay cut now.

After all his baggage, he may come cheap. He may want out of Minnesota and may just want a fresh start.

 

[Chuck 54]

If we are going to continue with the Tampa 2, and I think it would be ridiculous to change now (among other things, our DBs are just starting to improve in zone), then we certainly don't need a top CB. We simply need more depth. Our LBs are not the disaster we anticipated, so our huge need is DL, especially pass rushers, and we still desperately need to improve the safety position.

We also need to draft or sign depth at OT, possibly another RB, and we should continue looking at WRs every year because while T Williams does not look anything like a #1, when his rookie contract is up, someone will offer him more as a #2 than we will be able to afford after Dez gets his big pay day.

I'd like to keep Murray, but I'm not going to wring my hands if someone offers him more than 4-5 million per year and we let him walk.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

After all his baggage, he may come cheap. He may want out of Minnesota and may just want a fresh start.

There's no baggage though lol. Oakland right now would give AP 8-10 million a year if he wanted to play for them lol.

 

[Bluestang]

You know what this is.

This is you punting on 4th and 1 and me going for it on 4th and 6.

I can appreciate your attitude here. But only time will decide what the right call will be.

 

[tyke1doe]

There's no baggage though lol. Oakland right now would give AP 8-10 million a year if he wanted to play for them lol.

I think he has baggage. But talent always trumps baggage.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I can appreciate your attitude here. But only time will decide what the right call will be.

The reason it did not work for Wash, and Denver is because Wash doesn't have an elite QB and the one in Denver is past his prime.

Dallas still does, but the clock is ticking.

 

[MikeHoncho]

Save the cap build through draft resign our home grown players

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I understand the knee jerk reaction to spend, spend, spend and go get the title next year.

But nothing is assured.

You could spend all that money and just be devastated by injuries, and then not even make the playoffs.

Then what?

You mortgaged a future of constantly being the hunt for a year or two window that slammed shut on you.

No. You build patiently.

You build through the draft.

You build the right way.

 

[Cowboyz88]

Again, in a salary cap era, I'd rather be a team that has a long-term plan and will be a major contender for many years as a result of said plan.

Going all out (disregarding sound cap management, throwing away picks, etc) for a one or two year shot at the expense of a long-term plan seems foolish to me.

As many teams have proven — most recently Denver — it seldom, if ever works, whereas teams like Seattle, Green Bay, NE, Pitt and even NYG (built with home-grown talent) have had more success than failures over the long term.

I realize that Romo is on or near the downside of his career, but IMO, if the plan of building an entire team with home-grown talent (which includes finding a QB) is properly addressed, I like our chances.

 

[Nightman]

Again, in a salary cap era, I'd rather be a team that has a long-term plan and will be a major contender for many years as a result of said plan.

Going all out (disregarding sound cap management, throwing away picks, etc) for a one or two year shot at the expense of a long-term plan seems foolish to me.

As many teams have proven — most recently Denver — it seldom, if ever works, whereas teams like Seattle, Green Bay, NE, Pitt and even NYG (built with home-grown talent) have had more success than failures over the long term.

I realize that Romo is on or near the downside of his career, but IMO, if the plan of building an entire team with home-grown talent (which includes finding a QB) is properly addressed, I like our chances.

I wouldn't throw any picks away, but I would be loose with the money. The cap is going up every year and Dallas has a lot of young cheap guys.

Romo, Witten, Carr and Free will be gone soon. Dez, TSmith, Lee, Scandrick and Suh will be the next wave. Then the OL will come due.

Dallas also has the cash on hand to get around the cap when needed by doing restructures and signing bonuses.

Keep drafting well, but don't be afraid to spend some money on the DL and FS.

 

[TrailBlazer]

I'd go all in for next year. It will likely be romo's last chance. I think dallas should try to put the best pieces around him to make a playoff run. Superbowl or bust. Get 2 pass rushers and somebody that can lock down elite receivers.

 

[windward]

Of course.

Going "all in" doesn't work in the NFL.

Sheard and Paea would be the bee-knees.

I'd rather have a team that is consistently 11-5 than one that is 13-3 and then goes 9-7... 5-11... 3-13.

Make the right moves and we could be looking at another 12 plus win season. I agree though going all in on Suh or somebody like that isn't the best way to do that. Sign Dez, give Murray a competitive offer then either bring him back or bring a cost effective replacement. We don't need to have one guy producing the same amount of yards to be just as effective running the ball. Some mid tier guys would do wonders and focus on infusing our team it's young talent.

 

[Leadbelly]

The whole reason for being judicious with cap management is so a team can jump when opportunity knocks. Opportunity is knocking. Teams don't get extra points depending on how good their cap situation looks come playoff time. If we're not willing to sign the Murrays and Carters, what are we holding the cap space for?

Signing Suh would be equivalent to Green Bay signing Reggie White. We had Aikman, Emmitt, Michael, Haley, and Deion on the same team and found room for guys like Darren Woodson, Erik Williams, Leon Lett, Russell Maryland, Moose, Novacek, Kevin Smith and others.

I don't think very many folks here are saying Jerry should go full Steinbrenner and sign 5+ top level free agents. Most seem to be saying go hard after a difference maker on the DL and maybe a RB if Murray can't be signed. Everything else is signing a few of our own and drafting well.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Suh isn't coming to Dallas.

 

[Nation]

The Cowboys need to do whatever they can to keep the most important pieces of an elite offensive line together for as long as people.

Signing big free agent contracts that will lead to Carr-like dead money in years 3 & 4 of those deals will be killer.

 

[Alexander]

You mean do what the Bronco's did that resulted in them losing in the 1st round of the playoffs?

The Broncos committed the Cardinal sin, they paid age. There are other free agency avenues. If the Cowboys want to get back to this stage again, they cannot sit back idle. If the goal is long term, fine. But there is a legitimate window closing with Romo and Witten.

 

[daveferr33]

I couldn't disagree more. I follow a simple rule--If it looks like a Jerry Jones move, its probably a bad one. Always do the opposite of what Jerry would do.

My biggest fear for this offseason is that Jerry thinks this team is close.

I believe if we just stay on course, continue to build through the draft (especially in the trenches) we can be competitive for the next 5 years r so.

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

I couldn't disagree more. I follow a simple rule--If it looks like a Jerry Jones move, its probably a bad one. Always do the opposite of what Jerry would do.

My biggest fear for this offseason is that Jerry thinks this team is close.

I believe if we just stay on course, continue to build through the draft (especially in the trenches) we can be competitive for the next 5 years r so.

Counterpoint. Our quarterback is 35 next season, so the number immediately drops to 3 years at most.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The Broncos committed the Cardinal sin, they paid age. There are other free agency avenues. If the Cowboys want to get back to this stage again, they cannot sit back idle. If the goal is long term, fine. But there is a legitimate window closing with Romo and Witten.

Certainly you make a good point about paying for age.

But the other problem is that its simply human nature that a large and secure contract will (and does) make a lot of players "less hungry". It is what it is. Year in and year out we see many, if not most of the big-paid free agents fail to meet the production of their contract year.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Counterpoint. Our quarterback is 35 next season, so the number immediately drops to 3 years at most.

I don't want this to sound like a wise-guy comment, but they're going to have to get another QB (soon).

Everyone, including I would luv to see Romo get a ring. But I survived Danny White not getting one as a starting QB... It happens. Lot's great QB's don't.

That doesn't mean they don't try improving the team. What it means is that they don't mortgage the future so we don't have to live with three "5-11's" again.