Cowboys interested in Peppers

[Fla Cowpoke]

At this point, isn't a swap of Ware/Hatcher for Peppers/Melton pretty much even on the field, and much cheaper on the cap?

We could fit Peppers and Melton into the first year space left by Ware's cutting...and yes, I would say the results on the field would be at least as good.

 

[Hook'em#11]

So.. They get rid of an old guy on defense.
Now, they are interested in an OLDER guy for Defense..

Jesus.. Just wake me when it's September so I can be pissed at this team then.

 

[HappyOnions]

Is he better than anyone we have now? Yes? Okay bring him in.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I wouldn't either. Would be nice to see a batted down football once in awhile as well with Peppers on the line. I swear I haven't seen our Dlines in 10 years bat down a dang ball.

Melton I am not as enthusiastic about, only because I want Donald bad. We could get Melton and then Donald fall in our laps at 16 and could see us thinking we are set instead of getting more pass rushers. That's the way we think around here.

I want Donald badly also. However, I believe if Melton were to leave Chicago I can also guarantee that they're going to be selecting Donald before us. Maybe its a good thing if Melton stays in Chicago.

 

[starfrombirth]

I like Jernigan, despite this board's collective fart in his direction. I think the guy can play the 1 or 3 and that versatility is very valuable.

So maybe....

Peppers Melton Jernigan Selvie

This is one of the few times I can say I agree with you. I've liked him from the very get go.

 

[kramskoi]

And now Jared Allen's name is bouncing around here.

Call me crazy, but did Dallas play this right? Instead of setting the market, have they waited until the money dried up to sweep in for bargains on useful veterans with pedigree?

This is precisely what the plan is since they have so little to spend! I think you know that the longer the FA period goes on, the less leverage the remaining players have.

 

[AKATheRake]

So who's gonna be the salt to Julius' pepper?

 

[ConstantReboot]

In Ware's contract his 2014 and later salaries were placeholders to add years. His previous base salaries were all 6M of less. It jumped to 12.25M in 2014.

Making the base salaries in the later years of a contract is a method to extend the contract over multiple years to spread out cap hit of the bonus money. They make it a really big number to get the player to agree to it but the team is not planning on paying that amount at the time of the original contract.

Technically, Ware wouldn't have taken a pay cut if they had paid him 6M this year. If he has not made over 6M in past years, it's not really a "pay cut" to play for 6M again. It's just not as much as the placeholder number that was in the contract.

Which is too bad really that one of the most feared passrushers in all of football never got over 10 million in any given year he played here. Yet you have a player like Mario Williams who easily takes in 15 million per. year. Heck Matt Ryan takes home over 20 million per. year and what has he done so far?

 

[erod]

This is precisely what the plan is since they have so little to spend! I think you know that the longer the FA period goes on, the less leverage the remaining players have.

They have pretty much whatever they want to spend if they restructure.

I think McClay and Garrett are driving this bus right now. Garrett has turned over pretty much the whole roster since he arrived.

 

[xwalker]

That's base salary. He received a big signing bonus when he signed the contract. The total that he received including the signing bonus probably averaged out to over 10M per year.

 

[kramskoi]

That's base salary. He received a big signing bonus when he signed the contract. The total that he received including the signing bonus probably averaged out to over 10M per year.

I think the haul was 75 million total...someone can correct me on this though.

 

[OhSnap]

Per Watkins on Twitter...

So the same guy that thinks the Cowboys are in rebuild mode also thinks they want a 34 year old DE to get the ball rolling.

 

[kramskoi]

They have pretty much whatever they want to spend if they restructure.

I think McClay and Garrett are driving this bus right now. Garrett has turned over pretty much the whole roster since he arrived.

Point taken Erod, but they ain't flushed, that's for sure. My opinion is that if you are going to make a clean break with age then do it the right way, take the step back, realize that the 2014 campaign is a wash, even though you can't admit it publicly and get this team on the right path. The quandary for Jones is that such a strategic plan would surely end in the demise of his prized head coach. I wonder what the plan is for that?

 

[MrMom]

The Cowboys also have interest in defensive ends Julius Peppers and Jared Allen if either of their price tags comes down, according to a source.

Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.co...ers-and-allen-if-eithers-p.html#storylink=cpy

If I had my druthers I would rather Allen than Peppers, but it looks like Allen was hoping for a Ware-esque payday. Threatening retirement rather than playing for peanuts.

Regardless, still need to draft some young defensive end talent. As of today with Crawford potentially playing inside our starters would be Martez Wilson and Selive?

 

[Bullflop]

well i can see it for a year or two. but like many have said, $ has to be right. i prefer him over melton at this point. the more i hear about him and his eating habit, the less interested i am in that kind of player. but if they sign him, oh well. they know more than i do about the entire situatino.



wild, isn't it? except that we *were* willing to give ware around $6mil a year, so paying an older player isn't the issue. paying according to production is. reporters have to write something every day, esp on the 'net so i just ignore them for the most part. but if we can get a solid proven vet for around $5mil a year, i'm in.

I'd be surprised if Peppers agreed to that modest of a contract and even then, since he's 34, I wouldn't want it to exceed one year. That'd hold us over long enough to locate a highly promising youngster to take his spot. I'm extremely doubtful he and his agent would be willing to accomodate us to that extent, though. Given the choice between him and Melton, I'd probably elect to go with Peppers on that short-term and 5-mil deal we mentioned. Besides having a serious injury that's not yet rehabilitated, Melton has had an alcohol problem, problems with the law and various character issues to cast doubts on his character. That's a lot of red flags to deal with, imo. Buyer beware.

 

[erod]

Point taken Erod, but they ain't flushed, that's for sure. My opinion is that if you are going to make a clean break with age then do it the right way, take the step back, realize that the 2014 campaign is a wash, even though you can't admit it publicly and get this team on the right path. The quandary for Jones is that such a strategic plan would surely end in the demise of his prized head coach. I wonder what the plan is for that?

Why? Your offense is good, you can finally run the ball, and you have a lot of young talent in the back half of your defense.

This team needs a pass rush, and it has as good a chance as anyone to win the East.

 

[erod]

If I had my druthers I would rather Allen than Peppers, but it looks like Allen was hoping for a Ware-esque payday. Threatening retirement rather than playing for peanuts.

Regardless, still need to draft some young defensive end talent. As of today with Crawford potentially playing inside our starters would be Martez Wilson and Selive?

Overpay Allen for one year. Just don't saddle the cap with a longterm deal.

 

[cowboys1985]

Ware and Hatcher aren't gone because they old, they gone because they are highly paid older vets. Pepppers while old, wont be high priced. At least if he joins Dallas he wont be high priced.

 

[Gaede]

I think McClay and Garrett are driving this bus right now. Garrett has turned over pretty much the whole roster since he arrived.

Thank God! The loser culture that gave us two division titles and one playoff win has finally been rooted out of this team. About time!

By year 15 of the Garrett training project, we may finally get back to the playoffs. With the RKG of course

 

[NJ22]

He did get 11.5 sacks playing for Marinelli in 2012. I would be happy if free agency got us Melton on a 5 year deal and peppers on a 1 or 2 year deal. At least we'd have a viable front 4 and can add to it in the draft and address safety in the draft early.