Cowboys Free Agency Philosophy

[Ken]

I'll step right in and say do you really think we were a 4-12 team? Save the "X backup could have won a couple", great we'd be 7-9 and in a worse place today.

If Romo was healthy we were a 9-10 win team. If you really want to argue with me, Vegas over/under next year is 9 wins. There are millions backing that up, which is worth way more than our opinions.

You are what your record says you are. I would hate to go into next season with everyone having the mindset that romo and dez were the only reason we won 4 games.

We have a LOT of work to do and we can't be sitting here getting cute and resigning guys like McClain that barely have the motivation to play the game!

Sorry, not usually critical of their plan but I don't want to see more of the same

 

[endersdragon]

I also should add, we have a lot of young guys on defense who will look to improve on good years last year, guys like Hitchens, Wilson (not such a good year last year, but showed flashes of potential), DLaw (really came on strong at the end of last year), Jones, Crawford (you can argue we overpaid for him, but he still did have a good year for a DT), etc. If we can develop these players more that's almost better than getting someone decent in FA who's last team probably didn't want them for whatever reason.

 

[Idgit]

When is buying at the top of a market ever a good idea? In a zero sum game, no less?

Unless you need a QB or an impact pressure player who's just not available otherwise, it's just a bad bet. And the fact that it sometimes pays off just makes it all the more tempting, but it doesn't make it the right probability play.

 

[SHAMSzy]

Dez Bryant is not overpaid.

 

[Shinaoi]

I'll clown on the front office all day long with the best of them when they make foolish choices. But we made the right choices by standing pat and not throwing money at the wind. It's the right choice for now. I couldn't be more happy with letting people over pay for middle of the line free angents at huge prices. We win by walking away and saying nope. Well pay our offensive line with that money. Well secure what we got and build on the team in the draft the right way.

 

[rpntex]

The difference is, Hardy is a nutball and he isn't. The difference is, i watched Vernon destroy Tyrone and Hardy not.

Now Tyron gets to see him twice a year.

So you think Vernon is that great because of ONE GAME? As I posted in another thread, he got a total of 7.5 sacks last year. This $2.27m per sack, per season.

Tell us how that's any different than the Eagles signing Byron Maxwell to his contract?

 

[Garret]

I'll step right in and say do you really think we were a 4-12 team? Save the "X backup could have won a couple", great we'd be 7-9 and in a worse place today.

If Romo was healthy we were a 9-10 win team. If you really want to argue with me, Vegas over/under next year is 9 wins. There are millions backing that up, which is worth way more than our opinions.

Yeah I will argue with you all day long this was a 12-4 the year before with Romo and Dez. I know it doesn't guarantee a repeat following year . But to totally dismiss the success of the year before and injuries of this makes you look foolish. We need to get better for sure but this core has been improving just have to know what to look for.

 

[Ken]

So you think Vernon is that great because of ONE GAME? As I posted in another thread, he got a total of 7.5 sacks last year. This $2.27m per sack, per season.

Tell us how that's any different than the Eagles signing Byron Maxwell to his contract?

Because the whole Miami defense struggled to get sacks last year...they went a number of games into the season without one. Whoever is the d coordinator there clearly failed with the talent he had on hand. BTW, that 7.5 led the team. He also ended 5th on the team in tackles which tells me he is more than a one trick pony.

He also had a year two years ago that had 11.5, which....also led the team. He is only 25 and will fit perfectly in Spagnola's attacking scheme. Perfectly.

Maxwell was CLEARLY overated...in every sense of the word. He played on an all time great defense with amazing safeties. He did not excell either.
He also was brought in to cover #1 and paid like it when he really is a mediocre #2 corner.

 

[Ken]

The cowboys recent FA Philosophy and what it has yielded the past two years:

2014

Went EXTREMELY frugal due to cap more than anything a spent a total of 1.8 million in salary cap money. Yielded Henry Melton,Jeremy Mincey,Terrell McClain, Brandon Weeden, and Jack Crawford as the most notable.

Melton had 5 sacks but did most of that in a couple of games. Faded badly down the stretch and ultimately was not resigned. Mincey played well but is ultimately a role player and not a difference maker. Weeden was a big reason for 4-12. Crawford is strictly a rotation guy, and Terrell McClain seems like he could be a nice player but struggles with injuries. I guess you get what you pay for with this group.

2015
Darren McFadden is the crown jewell of our recent FA philosophy as we got great production from a guy who cost us very little and most critized. Greg Hardy was a healthy bigger swing and the results were a mixed bag. He had moments of brilliance and disappeared for stretches on the field but overall was probably our best DL. His off the field is why we were able to get him and is why we are probably not going to resign him.

Then more of the same from the rest of the dumpster diving Andrew Gachkar, Jasper Brinkley, Keith Rivers, and Jeb Collins- all garbage.

So in total, if my calculations are correct....we spent about 3 million in signing bonus money in 2015 FA.


So last two years FA, we have Mincey, McFadden, and Terrell McClain to show for it.

Do you think there is a problem?

 

[CowboyRoy]

I'm on the fence when it comes to how the Cowboys have acted in Free Agency the last few years. Part of me would say that their fear of signing players to bad contracts has prevented them from bringing in truly catalytic players, and they aren't drafting well enough. developing players well enough, or getting young players opportunities enough, to put together a super bowl quality team.

They may think that they were truly close in 2014 when we went 12-4, but those teams really struggled to keep the running game going in the playoffs and we still don't have a pass rush.

I don't think you can just sign your own players in free agency. I don't think you necessarily save money by doing so, rather you're just limiting your pool of players. The only benefit I see to that is you don't swing and miss as much. You know how a player fits in your system, and as long as they're staying in your system and scheme, they should get better in general as long as they are healthy.

Brandon Carr is the last really bad free agent contract we have on the books right now, though I could argue than unless Crawford turns things around that he was a bad contract, and Dez could easily have been a bad contract as well.

Next year, we only have to worry about re-signing Travis Frederick.

They've signed McClain who I think was integral.

The may sign Matt Moore who I think is a more than capable backup for Tony Romo.

I think if we sign Hardy to a 1 year deal with stipulations and incentives, and get a replacement for Hayden, we may be going into the draft strong.

I know we're torn on this, but at that point I still say go get Ezekiel Elliott in the first, and then focus on the rest of the defense with the rest of the picks. Still have to do something to replace Carr and Claiborne. I would be happy with that team.

I would be happy until Romo went down again and then it would all fall apart. Now if Romo stayed healthy for two more years maybe we make the playoffs one year and maybe we win a playoff game. But then what? Having Elliot isnt going to make a bit of difference if we dont have the next franchise QB grooming in the wings to take over. Think Vikings with Peterson and no QB.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The building an all star team through Free Agency thing has not worked out well for most teams. So many examples of failure lately. I'd rather see the Cowboys save their money for the OL studs. Draft a future QB and go in deep on defense the rest of the draft. This draft is loaded on Defense for the most part. Maybe sign a couple FA's to reasonable contracts to help out. RB and another veteran corner. There are still some available that will not command Jenkins type money.

You draft for the future, you dont draft for the present.

Cowboys are doing it right if Romo truly has 4 or 5 years left. Cowboys believe that their youth and young players getting better year to year is what will improve this team. That was a big part in our 2013 season. There's a core of young guys who should be making a big jump this year. Lawrence should be doing that. Tyrone Crawford should be. Gregory should be. The offensive line should get even more dominant. Hitchens should be better. Byron Jones should be better.

The Cowboys should be a better team simply for players progressing. Not saying this is all you rely on. But if you believe in these players and fill in the rest of your holes with solid veterans....its the winning approach they feel. They won 12 games with it two season ago. Went out and got Greg Hardy and took a step back.

Yah, if Romo was in his prime and he had 5 great years left it would be a completely different story. The problem is that he is not.

 

[LittleD]

It is one thing to sit back and let the market come to you when you are 12-4. It is entirely a whole other thing when you are 4-12 and let all the talent upgrades sign elsewhere. The Giants got a lot better today.

How in the heck can you know that... How may times did the Deadskins, Bucs, Jags do the same thing. How
has that worked out for them. Geez, some of you guys are clueless. We have our own history of overpaying
for yesterday's news and has been players haven't we. Only bridge players in FA and build the team with the
draft. It works!

 

[CowboyRoy]

The cowboys recent FA Philosophy and what it has yielded the past two years:

2014

Went EXTREMELY frugal due to cap more than anything a spent a total of 1.8 million in salary cap money. Yielded Henry Melton,Jeremy Mincey,Terrell McClain, Brandon Weeden, and Jack Crawford as the most notable.

Melton had 5 sacks but did most of that in a couple of games. Faded badly down the stretch and ultimately was not resigned. Mincey played well but is ultimately a role player and not a difference maker. Weeden was a big reason for 4-12. Crawford is strictly a rotation guy, and Terrell McClain seems like he could be a nice player but struggles with injuries. I guess you get what you pay for with this group.

2015
Darren McFadden is the crown jewell of our recent FA philosophy as we got great production from a guy who cost us very little and most critized. Greg Hardy was a healthy bigger swing and the results were a mixed bag. He had moments of brilliance and disappeared for stretches on the field but overall was probably our best DL. His off the field is why we were able to get him and is why we are probably not going to resign him.

Then more of the same from the rest of the dumpster diving Andrew Gachkar, Jasper Brinkley, Keith Rivers, and Jeb Collins- all garbage.

So in total, if my calculations are correct....we spent about 3 million in signing bonus money in 2015 FA.


So last two years FA, we have Mincey, McFadden, and Terrell McClain to show for it.

Do you think there is a problem?

All Mcfadden proved was that if a half decent RB stays healthy and is given enough carries behind the best line in football, that he will produce. But by all accounts he was not the difference maker this offense needs.

 

[CowboyRoy]

How in the heck can you know that... How may times did the Deadskins, Bucs, Jags do the same thing. How
has that worked out for them. Geez, some of you guys are clueless. We have our own history of overpaying
for yesterday's news and has been players haven't we. Only bridge players in FA and build the team with the
draft. It works!

Yah it works!!! 4-12

 

[Ken]

All Mcfadden proved was that if a half decent RB stays healthy and is given enough carries behind the best line in football, that he will produce. But by all accounts he was not the difference maker this offense needs.

Just to be clear..I am not saying he is or was. His production was off the charts for what he was paid though.

 

[Ken]

How in the heck can you know that... How may times did the Deadskins, Bucs, Jags do the same thing. How
has that worked out for them. Geez, some of you guys are clueless. We have our own history of overpaying
for yesterday's news and has been players haven't we. Only bridge players in FA and build the team with the
draft. It works!

The Commanders problems is that they were dumb all the way around. They literally had a philosophy of the draft is useless and we can build it through FA and trading our draft picks. They also drafted horribly like the other two.

There is a happy median, it isn't all in on FA and it isn't all out on FA like ours is.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Just to be clear..I am not saying he is or was. His production was off the charts for what he was paid though.

Yah, I just struggle with "off the charts" for anything when it comes to McFadden. We have had 2 RB's in a row that have had career years behind this line. Its pretty telling that its the line and not the backs. For the money, his production certainly came cheap. But were not going anywhere if Jerry thinks that going 2nd rate at RB is the route to go. When you have the best blocking line in football, you need to double down on that and get a stud RB to maximize the benefit. It would be like having Aaron Rogers as your QB and giving him no one to throw to.

 

[LittleD]

The Commanders problems is that they were dumb all the way around. They literally had a philosophy of the draft is useless and we can build it through FA and trading our draft picks. They also drafted horribly like the other two.

There is a happy median, it isn't all in on FA and it isn't all out on FA like ours is.

I agree with you on one point...The Cowboys are practicing the "happy medium" approach you suggest.
They are bringing 3 players into VR today and there likely to be more. They are going to sign players
who fill holes until their next crop of draft picks can fill them. They are not going to sign big dollar
contracts period so get use to it. Stephen has said as much several times now. Zoners don't listen.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The Commanders problems is that they were dumb all the way around. They literally had a philosophy of the draft is useless and we can build it through FA and trading our draft picks. They also drafted horribly like the other two.

There is a happy median, it isn't all in on FA and it isn't all out on FA like ours is.

I actually applaud the Cowboys not going out and spending big. But there were some nice veteran backs available and they didnt get big contracts.

 

[Ken]

I agree with you on one point...The Cowboys are practicing the "happy medium" approach you suggest.
They are bringing 3 players into VR today and there likely to be more. They are going to sign players
who fill holes until their next crop of draft picks can fill them. They are not going to sign big dollar
contracts period so get use to it. Stephen has said as much several times now. Zoners don't listen.

Oh I am used to it. I just don't agree with it. It isn't working.