Costa gets extension, per Eatman...***2yr 2.7mil Post #61***

[RastaRocket]

It's scary how bad we are at evaluating talent.

I'd literally take a cap hit just to get him off the roster.

Eh, this contract is as minimal as it gets. It's not that big of a deal. I'm completely with you when it comes to being frustrated about the state of the O-Line, but this isn't that bad at all. Now we need to work on upgrading past Costa, and keep him as depth. This salary is a depth salary so hopefully it happens sooner rather than later.

 

[Alexander]

The fact remains, we don't get to see these guys on a regular basis. The coaching staff does.

The coaching staffs on bad football teams see their players every day. Dave Campo saw all of his players each and every day in practice.

Did he make the decisions?

Everyone sees them in games.

Now, perhaps the coaching staff has misjudged these guys. Definite possibility.
Or, it could be due to the salary cap, we have to "settle" for 2nd/3rd tier
guys to fill out the roster because we haven't consistently drafted well, and
the staff is just giving the corporate line. Perhaps.

Very good. At least you have some hope.

We absolutely are in "settle" mode here.

But, when you look at Costa's extension, we're not likely talking about a lot of guaranteed money. In fact, even for a reserve, it's not like the Cowboys are paying through their nose. Costa's deal doesn't prevent us from drafting a OC/OG type either. In fact, JJ has stated they are specifically looking for that type of OL, whether in FA or the Draft.

No, but when the owner sees said supposed "reserve" as a future starter for several years, a rational person would look at this investment as saying they believe they are set at the position.

And let us be clear. Jones stated he was looking for a C-OG type. We just signed our "starting center" to a nice cheap contract. That does not tell me we will make the position a focus. We are more likely to invest a lower choice to backup the same positions, not relegate this player to a reserve role.

Even with Church's package, I don't think the guaranteed portion was significant (going on memory). And, reading the Valley Ranch tea leaves, it appears that adding a quality Safety is still high on the priority list.

Opposite Church. Not to replace him. Sensabaugh has a target on his back because he earns too much.

We clearly tier positions and pick our poisons so to speak.

It is too bad that we often overpay special teams role players and reserves because they are viewed as core (Hurd and Proctor come to mind). We apparently have the same idea about Danny McCray, who quite frankly could be easily replaced.

All in all, this roster is composed to be low maintenance. Everyone is assigned to pay tiers. And all in all, that, more than anything else determines what resources are spent and who is considered in jeopardy of a job.

Giving a player like this a two year contract virtually assures him of a roster spot, just as much as the bonuses paid out to Livings and Bernadeau.

 

[weaver21]

Are people seriously complaining about a 2 yr, 2.7 mil contract? Some of you guys are unbelievable. You guys act like Costa is already penciled in as the starter for next season. Jerry has already has stated their going to look for a G/C in the draft so I don't understand the uproar over this. Sure, Costa is average and probably not even a NFL-starting center, but some of your acting like he's the worst football player in the world.

:laugh2:

Oh, this board. This is more like a comedy board than a football board. Some of the guys on here are hilarious.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Between Costa and Barry Church, I have never seen any NFL team allow what amounts to less than 20 total quarters of real play in the previous season affect their decision making to this kind of degree.

They are not being viewed as nice young players to bring back cheaply to continue to develop.

Make no mistake, they are being viewed as long term starters and cornerstones going forward.

Yeah because guaranteeing him less than the league minimum is what you do for long term starters.

It's $450k guaranteed.

 

[Alexander]

are u really complaining about 2 yrs 2.7 mil?

Nobody complained when Proctor was raking in two million per.

You are so right.

It is silly to even worry about.

 

[Alexander]

Yeah because guaranteeing him less than the league minimum is what you do for long term starters.

It's $450k guaranteed.

And that miminal investment is what makes him now untouchable.

Cheap players have value when you are juggling the cap, and it makes you overlook the fact they really are not that good. The "just good enough" become quite valuable when you are overpaying other portions of the roster.

 

[Woods]

The coaching staffs on bad football teams see their players every day. Dave Campo saw all of his players each and every day in practice.

Did he make the decisions?

Everyone sees them in games.



Very good. At least you have some hope.

We absolutely are in "settle" mode here.



No, but when the owner sees said supposed "reserve" as a future starter for several years, a rational person would look at this investment as saying they believe they are set at the position.

And let us be clear. Jones stated he was looking for a C-OG type. We just signed our "starting center" to a nice cheap contract. That does not tell me we will make the position a focus. We are more likely to invest a lower choice to backup the same positions, not relegate this player to a reserve role.



Opposite Church. Not to replace him. Sensabaugh has a target on his back because he earns too much.

We clearly tier positions and pick our poisons so to speak.

It is too bad that we often overpay special teams role players and reserves because they are viewed as core (Hurd and Proctor come to mind). We apparently have the same idea about Danny McCray, who quite frankly could be easily replaced.

All in all, this roster is composed to be low maintenance. Everyone is assigned to pay tiers. And all in all, that, more than anything else determines what resources are spent and who is considered in jeopardy of a job.

Giving a player like this a two year contract virtually assures him of a roster spot, just as much as the bonuses paid out to Livings and Bernadeau.

Well, I wouldn't compare Campo's tenure to Garrett's. The staff is completely different, from OL coach, to WRs coach, etc. It's not Campo's decision here.

As for Costa starting, maybe he does. But I would bet we do bring in an OC/OG type, and the best interior OL will see the field. I think Costa will have competition.

I guess we can agree to disagree, but I really don't see this contract for Costa as a big deal either way. IMO, it doesn't force us to start him, and we can still look for an upgrade.

 

[Alexander]

You guys act like Costa is already penciled in as the starter for next season.

I can all but guarantee you that he is the starter for next season. No question.

 

[Alexander]

IMO, it doesn't force us to start him, and we can still look for an upgrade.

That is part of my point. We are more inclined to consider this a spot on the roster we go cheap at. We are not going to double dip and take a center early in this draft.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

And that miminal investment is what makes him now untouchable.

Cheap players have value when you are juggling the cap, and it makes you overlook the fact they really are not that good. The "just good enough" become quite valuable when you are overpaying other portions of the roster.

They sign UDFA to more guaranteed cash and cut them in TC. You are being melodramatic. Put the alcohol down.

The min is less than what is making so if they keep him on the opening day roster he is guaranteed more than that. It's ostensibly a one year contract.

The Church deal I get becuase it seems like an awful move but here I can only really laugh at you.

 

[Woods]

I can all but guarantee you that he is the starter for next season. No question.

I think this is where we disagree. I don't think Costa's contract forces us to play him, and I don't think it prohibits us from drafting a challenger. I think Garrett will try to put the 5 best OL on the field.

 

[Woods]

That is part of my point. We are more inclined to consider this a spot on the roster we go cheap at. We are not going to double dip and take a center early in this draft.

Yes, this is where we disagree.

 

[weaver21]

I can all but guarantee you that he is the starter for next season. No question.

Sorry but I can't agree with you there. Especially considering free agency and the draft haven't occurred yet.

 

[Verdict]

In today's NFL, teams get to practice in full pads a handful of times each season.

Are we really judging players not off of what they do, consistently, in real games and basing it off of what amounts to mostly walk-through pace practices?

Do not answer, because I know what we are doing. We still have Matt Johnson on the roster and based off his whopping four practices, the braintrust is still "excited".

It is interesting that you bring Matt Johnson into this analysis. The Cowboys obviously highly value Matt Johnson because they kept the door open for him to get some playing time late in the season so they must really like him or really want to get a read on whether he is the real deal. It would have been much easier for them to put him on the IR.

So, lets suppose that Matt Johnson turns it on and turns out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread? Are you going to give the organization credit for getting that right? Why is it that the organization gets credit for every bad move and none of the good ones like finding Romo and Austin as UDFA"s?

 

[honyock]

HE dominated someone? Maybe a backup to Ngata

So one backup dominates another and you annoint him a Pro Bowler?

and you DO REMEMBER that the previous week the Chiefs- with NO PASSING GAME AT ALL- ran very well vs the Ravens.

At that time the only guy on the Raven's front playing well at all was Ngata and he got injured early on in our game.

So making anything out of ONE GAME OF THE YEAR is pretty THIN.

Here's some perspective on the whole Costa vs Baltimore/Ngata injury debate:

Ngata injured his thigh in the second quarter, left the game, and came back later in the game, at what it sounded like was less than 100%.

The Cowboys did their best running in the first quarter, before Ngata's injury.

(From the game log on espn.com)
1st quarter: 94 yards, 10.4 yds/run
2nd-4th quarter 119 yards, 4.25 yds/run

Now I don't have the game tape and don't know if Costa looked better in the final three quarters against the backup/post-injury Ngata, vs the first quarter against Ngata. But the running game was most efficient before Ngata's injury.

 

[Risen Star]

Eh, this contract is as minimal as it gets. It's not that big of a deal. I'm completely with you when it comes to being frustrated about the state of the O-Line, but this isn't that bad at all. Now we need to work on upgrading past Costa, and keep him as depth. This salary is a depth salary so hopefully it happens sooner rather than later.

You don't resign a bad player for depth. For that quality of a player, you go young. Anybody. A body. Our cap is in bad enough shape as it is.

Not to mention how his presence on the roster effects future moves. The Jones twins actually think he can play. C is not a need. We just need Stiffasaurus to get healthy.

 

[Risen Star]

It is interesting that you bring Matt Johnson into this analysis. The Cowboys obviously highly value Matt Johnson because they kept the door open for him to get some playing time late in the season so they must really like him or really want to get a read on whether he is the real deal. It would have been much easier for them to put him on the IR.

So, lets suppose that Matt Johnson turns it on and turns out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread? Are you going to give the organization credit for getting that right? Why is it that the organization gets credit for every bad move and none of the good ones like finding Romo and Austin as UDFA"s?

Bill Parcells found Romo and Austin in UDFA. Let's be real here. The twins responsible for the personnel moves of 1994-2002 didn't suddenly reverse course.

 

[LatinMind]

Nobody complained when Proctor was raking in two million per.

You are so right.

It is silly to even worry about.

1.35 mil for Costa is virtually pennies.

 

[ajk23az]

IRONIC

:laugh2:

 

[Alexander]

It is interesting that you bring Matt Johnson into this analysis. The Cowboys obviously highly value Matt Johnson because they kept the door open for him to get some playing time late in the season so they must really like him or really want to get a read on whether he is the real deal. It would have been much easier for them to put him on the IR.

So, lets suppose that Matt Johnson turns it on and turns out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread? Are you going to give the organization credit for getting that right? Why is it that the organization gets credit for every bad move and none of the good ones like finding Romo and Austin as UDFA"s?

Are you willing to bet the mortgage he does?

Matt Johnson is the kind of player that you see cut each and every camp from teams that truly go off of production. He was chewing up a roster spot deep into the season. Those practices must have been pretty impressive is all I can say.

They left Costa laying on the roster the entire remainder of the year, banking on him like he was some sort of savior. That does not make me think he is being viewed as insurance.

I will give the credit where it is due, but I will just use your examples as a case in point on how finances and investments determine how we view and judge talent.

Austin was nowhere close to seeing the field until Jerry Jones' prized bell cow, Roy Williams got hurt. Romo also was a cheap reserve who quite honestly could have been cut as well had Drew Henson not been as awful as he was.