Cowboys have contacted OL Tyson Clabo

[SMCowboy]

I disagree.

If they sign Winston or Clabo, Free is gone. When Free goes, you have your money for your draft picks.

Besides, a first round pick costs what it costs, offensive lineman or not.

The problem is that there are other needs that need to be filled as well. Dallas does not have the salary cap space to spend starters money on Winston and also draft one of the top OT's in round 1 or 2. Sure, it fits under the salary cap, but it takes money away that could be spent on a OG, or DT, ect.

Now IF, and that is a HUGE IF, Clabo is viewed as a OG/OT type player. Just because some stupid message board poster says he can means nothing to me, I want an opinion of someone that actually knows something, and most message board posters don't know anything. Then, I am all for signing Clabo before the draft. As if you draft an OT, he could be your second OG, if you draft an OG, he is your RT.

But other than that, wait till after the draft, there will still be plenty of talent available, plus there will be more players available that make decent 1 or 2 year stop gaps after June 1st as well.

 

[SMCowboy]

We do have the room to sign Clabo right now. If we let Free go or designate him a June 1st cut, we would have 7mil from Free and 2mil from Spears to sign draft picks or last ditch free agents. We currently have 4.4mil in the bank to sign Clabo and we could easily sign him to a 3 or 4 year deal backended with a descent signing bonus spread over the years.

Wonderful, fit him under the cap, but that money tied up in Clabo is money that is then NOT available to sign a DT, or OG, or C, ect.

As I said in the previous post, IF Clabo can indeed play and is viewed as an OG/OT then by all means sign him now, but if that is just some stupid message board fans opinion, then wait till after the draft.

This team will have more holes to fill after the draft. And there will be plenty of good talent available to fill stop gap holes after the draft, there is every year. Plus, there will be at least a few OL that are released after June 1st as well, and at least a few of them will be decent 1 to 2 year stop gaps.

 

[LittleD]

Wonderful, fit him under the cap, but that money tied up in Clabo is money that is then NOT available to sign a DT, or OG, or C, ect.

As I said in the previous post, IF Clabo can indeed play and is viewed as an OG/OT then by all means sign him now, but if that is just some stupid message board fans opinion, then wait till after the draft.

This team will have more holes to fill after the draft. And there will be plenty of good talent available to fill stop gap holes after the draft, there is every year. Plus, there will be at least a few OL that are released after June 1st as well, and at least a few of them will be decent 1 to 2 year stop gaps.

I am coming from the viewpoint that our most important need on the team is fixing the OL. We invested heavily and drafted for defense last year so its time to address our weakest link me thinks. I would like to get Clabo, Winston, or Moore before the draft and use at least 3 draft picks to pick young players at guard, tackle, center, safety and defensive tackle. We can't have all-pros at every position so we just have to try and plug the dikes with the available money we have.

By the way, I don't think we have a snowballs chance to win a SB next year so this is just trying to go along with Jerry's all-in philosophy of get to the dance and then hope for the best. We just have to help Tony by stopping the bull rush up the middle and finding a running game.

 

[SMCowboy]

I am coming from the viewpoint that our most important need on the team is fixing the OL. We invested heavily and drafted for defense last year so its time to address our weakest link me thinks. I would like to get Clabo, Winston, or Moore before the draft and use at least 3 draft picks to pick young players at guard, tackle, center, safety and defensive tackle. We can't have all-pros at every position so we just have to try and plug the dikes with the available money we have.

By the way, I don't think we have a snowballs chance to win a SB next year so this is just trying to go along with Jerry's all-in philosophy of get to the dance and then hope for the best. We just have to help Tony by stopping the bull rush up the middle and finding a running game.

I agree completely that the OL needs to be fixed. But what we don't know is who will be available when we are drafting. What happens if we sign Clabo (and he actually can't play OG, that is just some message board fans opinion), and when we are up at 18 Johnson, Cooper, Warmack, Vaccaro are all gone, but Fluker is available. Or we are able to get Terron Armstead in round 2. Do we want to also have Winston or Clabo tied up for 3 or 4 years at RT, with Armstead and Parnell? But then no OG, and maybe not money to sign a decent OG?

In the end, we almost surely will need to sign an OL guy, unless we are really lucky and we can get a Warmack/Cooper in round 1 and an Armstead or other top OT in round 2. But, before we go sign guys and partially handcuff ourselves on who we are able to draft, because if we do sign a Clabo or Winston I don't think we have the resources (draft picks and money) to also draft a Fluker, Armstead, ect. in the first two rounds.

History has shown that there will be quality stop gap OG's and OT's available after the draft, and there will also be decent stop gap OG's and OT's that are cut after June 1st.

Let's wait till after the draft and see who we end up drafting. Maybe Cooper and Warmack are gone by 18, and the best value is a DT at #18 (still a "need position"), and in the second round we are able to get say Armstead. Then the smart use of the money is not to sign Clabo, but to go after a Brandon Moore, or other solid stop gap OG. And let Armstead and Parnell battle it our for the starting RT spot. Given what we saw from Parnell last year, I would feel very comfortable that we get at worst decent OT play out of the winner of a Parnell/Armstead battle.

 

[Ultimategamer5567]

Anyone think we can win with a line of: Smith-Moore-Cooper-Livings-Clabo?





I do.

 

[Stash]

The problem is that there are other needs that need to be filled as well. Dallas does not have the salary cap space to spend starters money on Winston and also draft one of the top OT's in round 1 or 2. Sure, it fits under the salary cap, but it takes money away that could be spent on a OG, or DT, ect.

Now IF, and that is a HUGE IF, Clabo is viewed as a OG/OT type player. Just because some stupid message board poster says he can means nothing to me, I want an opinion of someone that actually knows something, and most message board posters don't know anything. Then, I am all for signing Clabo before the draft. As if you draft an OT, he could be your second OG, if you draft an OG, he is your RT.

But other than that, wait till after the draft, there will still be plenty of talent available, plus there will be more players available that make decent 1 or 2 year stop gaps after June 1st as well.

So who are the OG or DT options that you prefer?

You are worried about Clabo preventing us from signing other players. I'm interested to know what a better use of the money would be?

 

[SMCowboy]

So who are the OG or DT options that you prefer?

You are worried about Clabo preventing us from signing other players. I'm interested to know what a better use of the money would be?

I don't have any preferred options. I don't claim to know much about any of the college players. All I know is that all the experts say that this draft is very deep at OL and DL. And I want us to be able to draft which ever one happens to be the highest ranked one still available at #18, be it a OT, an OG, or a DT.

I also know that cap space is a limited item, and we don't have the money to be able to have a $4 or $5 million dollar a year OT as our backup OT for the next 3 or 4 years. Maybe this year, it doesn't stop us from signing anyone, but it is $4 or $5 million dollars we don't have to use to sign a FA next year.

And I also know that history has proven that there will be solid stop gap OT's and OG's available after the draft.

I don't have any "pet cats", be they current college players, or current NFL FA's. I just want us to by the time training camp rolls around have picked up at least one OG, one OT, and preferably a young DT sometimes between the first 3 rounds of the draft and FA.

 

[honyock]

Now IF, and that is a HUGE IF, Clabo is viewed as a OG/OT type player. Just because some stupid message board poster says he can means nothing to me, I want an opinion of someone that actually knows something, and most message board posters don't know anything. Then, I am all for signing Clabo before the draft. As if you draft an OT, he could be your second OG, if you draft an OG, he is your RT.

Clabo played guard his first year with Atlanta, in 2006, and started 10 games for them. They moved him to right tackle the next year.

He played goth guard and tackle at Wake Forest. He was their starting tackle as a sophomore, started at left guard as a junior, then moved back to tackle as a senior. So he has played guard at the collegiate and NFL level.

 

[SMCowboy]

Clabo played guard his first year with Atlanta, in 2006, and started 10 games for them. They moved him to right tackle the next year.

He played goth guard and tackle at Wake Forest. He was their starting tackle as a sophomore, started at left guard as a junior, then moved back to tackle as a senior. So he has played guard at the collegiate and NFL level.

Just because he did it in college and in 2006 doesn't mean he can certainly do it in 2013. But it certainly does make it much more likely that he can.

Something else people need to keep in mind, with the draft now less than 3 weeks away. This is the time that most all FA signings stop every year, while teams concentrate on the draft. So most all, if not all of the guys we might be interested in, that are on the market now, will also be available in 3 weeks after the draft.

If someone becomes available that you want to say be your starting RT for the next 4 years, then fine sign them. But, I am not convinced that any of the guys available are ideal starting RT's for the next 4 years. Just decent stop gap guys till we can draft/develop our ideal starting RT.

In which case, let the draft play out, and see who is available when you draft before you reach for stop gaps that you would rather not have to start.

 

[Stash]

I don't have any preferred options. I don't claim to know much about any of the college players. All I know is that all the experts say that this draft is very deep at OL and DL. And I want us to be able to draft which ever one happens to be the highest ranked one still available at #18, be it a OT, an OG, or a DT.

I also know that cap space is a limited item, and we don't have the money to be able to have a $4 or $5 million dollar a year OT as our backup OT for the next 3 or 4 years. Maybe this year, it doesn't stop us from signing anyone, but it is $4 or $5 million dollars we don't have to use to sign a FA next year.

And I also know that history has proven that there will be solid stop gap OT's and OG's available after the draft.

I don't have any "pet cats", be they current college players, or current NFL FA's. I just want us to by the time training camp rolls around have picked up at least one OG, one OT, and preferably a young DT sometimes between the first 3 rounds of the draft and FA.

I think signing the OL free agents gives us more options, not less.

We won't be forced to fill a need but rather have the option to go best player available.

 

[SMCowboy]

One other reason that we might be waiting on offering Clabo even if he can play OG. Is maybe we have offered Brandon Moore, like his agent claims, and he is our top choice at OG. And his agent has told us that they want to wait till after the draft to sign.

 

[honyock]

Just because he did it in college and in 2006 doesn't mean he can certainly do it in 2013. But it certainly does make it much more likely that he can.

Something else people need to keep in mind, with the draft now less than 3 weeks away. This is the time that most all FA signings stop every year, while teams concentrate on the draft. So most all, if not all of the guys we might be interested in, that are on the market now, will also be available in 3 weeks after the draft.

If someone becomes available that you want to say be your starting RT for the next 4 years, then fine sign them. But, I am not convinced that any of the guys available are ideal starting RT's for the next 4 years. Just decent stop gap guys till we can draft/develop our ideal starting RT.

In which case, let the draft play out, and see who is available when you draft before you reach for stop gaps that you would rather not have to start.

Well, at his age he may only get a two year deal, or a three year deal that's two years in reality. From googling around last night, it sounds like beat writers and fans all over the league are drooling over Clabo. I'd guess he's going to be pretty attractive to several GM's as well on a short term contract, given his his versatility and track record.

But I sure hope we have a talk with him. It's not exactly a sellers market at the moment, so you never know, he might come cheaper than starting tackle money. I have no problem in bringing a veteran guard or tackle in on a stop-gap deal. He could start at right tackle for one year, then Parnell or a draftee might be ready to push him the next year. He could step in at guard for a year, then Leary might be ready to push him. Then you have a veteran swing guard/tackle for the second year of his contract.

I hope we kick the tires, and if the money works, it'd be nice to have him in hand before the draft for the freedom to take either the best guard or the best tackle if the opportunity is there.

 

[Blast From The Past]

Ironic considering you're writing off Clabo for one bad game. Clabo only gave up four sacks last season and is immensely better than Free.

That is what I was thinking. Anyone can have an off day. But an off year? Free needs gone to free up some cap space,

 

[SMCowboy]

I think signing the OL free agents gives us more options, not less.

We won't be forced to fill a need but rather have the option to go best player available.

All absolutely must fill holes have been filled. Worst case scenario we can get buy with Parnell and Free fighting for the starting RT spot. Is it the ideal scenario, absolutely not. But Parnell showed promise in his limited snaps, and the second half of the season Free's play improved. Everything I've read points to the Cowboys being comfortable with worst case (and this would likely be 4th or 5th in their list of ideal scenarios) go with Parnell as the starting RT with Free fighting him for the starting job.

Sure, THIS year we can afford to sign a Winston or Clabo to a 4 year deal for $4 or $5 mill a year. And also draft a Lane Johnson (yes a very long shot, but not impossible), or a Fluker, or a Armstead. The problem though is most likely next year you are stuck with either $4 or $5 million in dead space, or a $4 or $5 million dollar backup RT. That is $4 or $5 million dollars that next year we would really need or at least really like to have.

OG, is the one spot where we arguably could sign a guy, AND still draft a Warmack/Cooper. But, according to Brandon Moore's agent we did offer him.

And we are just three weeks till the draft this is the time of year that FA activity slows down greatly, as teams are concentrating on the draft. Worst case, atleast two of Smith/Winston/Clabo will still be available after the draft if we don't draft an OT. And most likely all three will be. History have proven this over and over again.

 

[SMCowboy]

Well, at his age he may only get a two year deal, or a three year deal that's two years in reality. From googling around last night, it sounds like beat writers and fans all over the league are drooling over Clabo. I'd guess he's going to be pretty attractive to several GM's as well on a short term contract, given his his versatility and track record.

But I sure hope we have a talk with him. It's not exactly a sellers market at the moment, so you never know, he might come cheaper than starting tackle money. I have no problem in bringing a veteran guard or tackle in on a stop-gap deal. He could start at right tackle for one year, then Parnell or a draftee might be ready to push him the next year. He could step in at guard for a year, then Leary might be ready to push him. Then you have a veteran swing guard/tackle for the second year of his contract.

I hope we kick the tires, and if the money works, it'd be nice to have him in hand before the draft for the freedom to take either the best guard or the best tackle if the opportunity is there.

And this article is saying we have CONTACTED Clabo. Keep is mind it also is not uncommon for veteran FA's, that know they are signing their final contract to want to wait till AFTER the draft, especially if it isn't a sellers market. To see if a team is desperate because they where not able to whole in the draft like they had expected to, and thus are willing to "overpay" on market price in a short term deal to fill the hole.

 

[conner01]

Clabo is the better player?
I disagree

Winston is younger and played for Houston and KC both zone blocking scheme.
Clabo is 31, will be 32 in october.

Sorry but IMO Winston is a much better fit and better player than Clabo

i don't see how anyone can say winston is a better player. he may fit the scheme better, he may be younger. but he is not near as good of a player. clabo is gonna likely be too expensive. but he could set the market for winston and make signing him easier. clabo will get more money than winston because every nfl gm knows clabo is a better player. there is a reason he is getting reach outs after one day and winston is not

 

[Denim Chicken]

I'm just happy that it looks likely we're not going to roll the same 5 guys out from last year.

 

[xwalker]

All absolutely must fill holes have been filled. Worst case scenario we can get buy with Parnell and Free fighting for the starting RT spot. Is it the ideal scenario, absolutely not. But Parnell showed promise in his limited snaps, and the second half of the season Free's play improved. Everything I've read points to the Cowboys being comfortable with worst case (and this would likely be 4th or 5th in their list of ideal scenarios) go with Parnell as the starting RT with Free fighting him for the starting job.

Free's base salary is 7M. Why would you want to keep him?

 

[Idgit]

I'm just happy that it looks likely we're not going to roll the same 5 guys out from last year.

The team knows it's had OL problems for the last three years. It's just that the OTs were the biggest need, then we had to address the CB position while trying to bandaid the interior OL. Next we'll address interior OL.

I agree, it looks pretty obvious that we're going to add an OL in FA and take one early in the draft if we can find the value to do it.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I agree, it looks pretty obvious that we're going to add an OL in FA and take one early in the draft if we can find the value to do it.

I hope so, I would be very exited to see Tony play behind a competent line. A few more rushing TDs would be nice too.