Cowboys Sacred Cows

[Verdict]

I find it interesting that certain players seem immune to criticism by Cowboys fans and members of this board in particular.

Dez Bryant and Jason Witten immediately come to mind. Both are arguably underperforming their contracts and their best days may be behind them, especially in the case of Witten.

I find it very interesting that any realistic criticism of them (and others) can lead to melt downs of epic proportions, calling detractors not real fans or worse.

These guys seem to be beyond criticism among many. I personally think both of these guys are good players and have value to the team, but my chief complaint is that both are underperforming their contracts and Dez' mental lapses and/or the perception that he is a bit weak minded.

Many seem to believe that based on what they have done previously that they essentially walk on water and cannot be criticized.

Some would say that Romo also fits into this category, and he may for some. Romo has arguably done more to keep this organization relevant than Dez and Wiiten have done combined. Yet many of those same people vilify Romo.

I would argue that Romo still has more value than Dez and Witten have combined. I understand that whether Romo or Dak is better, etc. is the subject of legitimate debate. The value of trading Romo, etc. is also a legitimate exercise. I just think that it is funny how much different the standard is for Romo than Witten and Dez.

 

[perrykemp]

I don't know that I want to enter into a debate on whether or not the Cowboys have 'sacred cows' and which players those sacred cows might be, however...

I've always admired the Patriots under BB have always been the 'anti'-sacred cows team.

Anybody and everybody on the Patrots, good or bad, is a potential cut depending on performance, availability, remaining number of years on a contract, whether there is a cheaper/younger guy on the roster to take your place (even if they aren't quite as good as you), etc, etc, etc.

I very much admire that about NE.

 

[RS12]

I don't know that I want to enter into a debate on whether or not the Cowboys have 'sacred cows' and which players those sacred cows might be, however...

I've always admired the Patriots under BB have always been the 'anti'-sacred cows team.

Anybody and everybody on the Patrots, good or bad, is a potential cut depending on performance, availability, remaining number of years on a contract, whether there is a cheaper/younger guy on the roster to take your place (even if they aren't quite as good as you), etc, etc, etc.

I very much admire that about NE.

Yeah, the hoodie found out Jamie Collins liked playing video games more than football. Now he plays video games in Cleveland.

 

[gmoney112]

I find it interesting that certain players seem immune to criticism by Cowboys fans and members of this board in particular.

Dez Bryant and Jason Witten immediately come to mind. Both are arguably underperforming their contracts and their best days may be behind them, especially in the case of Witten.

I find it very interesting that any realistic criticism of them (and others) can lead to melt downs of epic proportions, calling detractors not real fans or worse.

These guys seem to be beyond criticism among many. I personally think both of these guys are good players and have value to the team, but my chief complaint is that both are underperforming their contracts and Dez' mental lapses and/or the perception that he is a bit weak minded.

Many seem to believe that based on what they have done previously that they essentially walk on water and cannot be criticized.

Some would say that Romo also fits into this category, and he may for some. Romo has arguably done more to keep this organization relevant than Dez and Wiiten have done combined. Yet many of those same people vilify Romo.

I would argue that Romo still has more value than Dez and Witten have combined. I understand that whether Romo or Dak is better, etc. is the subject of legitimate debate. The value of trading Romo, etc. is also a legitimate exercise. I just think that it is funny how much different the standard is for Romo than Witten and Dez.

How many posts do you need to make where you exclaim certain players are overpaid according to your standards?

When, in actuality, neither of them are.

I'm going to guess you'll have at least 20 more posts through the offseason.

 

[Verdict]

How many posts do you need to make where you exclaim certain players are overpaid according to your standards?

When, in actuality, neither of them are.

I'm going to guess you'll have at least 20 more posts through the offseason.

You saying neither of them are overpaid is your opinion. Your opinion differs from mine. Bloated contracts impede future player acquisitions. That is why Garrett jettisoned so many players when he took over to help straighten out the cap.

Crawford is also overpaid as it pertains to cap hit vs. performance. But Crawford does not appear to be a sacred Cow around here for the most part.

 

[Verdict]

How many posts do you need to make where you exclaim certain players are overpaid according to your standards?

When, in actuality, neither of them are.

I'm going to guess you'll have at least 20 more posts through the offseason.

If I have 20 posts about it then ignore them 20 times. I wish the team was more realistic about keeping the cap more in line with player performance. We seem to be doing a better job lately by making Carr take a cut in pay, etc. We are doing a lot better at it, except for the sacred cows. What chaps my *** is that they are the wrong sacred cows.

 

[AsthmaField]

I can certainly see how Witten's contract vs. performance could be viewed as him not playing up to his contract. Looking at it from a simple black and white perspective (Pay vs. Production), it looks out of whack. However, football teams deal in many shades of gray and things aren't always clear cut. What Witten means to this franchise goes well beyond his on-field production... and I'm not talking about sentimental aspects either. I mean the leadership and work ethic that he brings to the team. The stability and the precision. The pressure he puts on defenses to just keep an eye on him helps those around him and his run blocking is still near the top of the league for TE's.

There are a ton of things that he does that helps Dallas win games and none of them have anything to do with legacy.

Can he stretch a defense down the seam much? No. Can he get yards after the catch? Hell no. But there are so many things that he does that helps the W/L column... in the locker room. At practice. And still on the field.

Now, would I like to see what an O.J. Howard could do with Dak and Elliott? Oh, hell yeah. The passing game would be harder to stop with that kind of athleticism at TE. However, his run blocking wouldn't be as good as Witten's. His leadership would be a tiny fraction of what Jason brings to the huddle, and his reliability would be much less for Dak at least for a couple of seasons.

Bottom line is, I would love an athletic TE too but fans don't see everything that Witten brings to the table and his significant contributions that can't be quantified are all too often overlooked or forgotten about entirely.

And I consider you to be a pretty well informed fan verdict, so I'm not putting down anything you said... just giving my perspective on this subject.

As for Dez... I'm too sleepy to get into that one. Maybe another day, lol.

 

[SHAMSzy]

I find it interesting that certain players seem immune to criticism by Cowboys fans and members of this board in particular.

Dez Bryant and Jason Witten immediately come to mind. Both are arguably underperforming their contracts and their best days may be behind them, especially in the case of Witten.

I find it very interesting that any realistic criticism of them (and others) can lead to melt downs of epic proportions, calling detractors not real fans or worse.

These guys seem to be beyond criticism among many. I personally think both of these guys are good players and have value to the team, but my chief complaint is that both are underperforming their contracts and Dez' mental lapses and/or the perception that he is a bit weak minded.

Many seem to believe that based on what they have done previously that they essentially walk on water and cannot be criticized.

Some would say that Romo also fits into this category, and he may for some. Romo has arguably done more to keep this organization relevant than Dez and Wiiten have done combined. Yet many of those same people vilify Romo.

I would argue that Romo still has more value than Dez and Witten have combined. I understand that whether Romo or Dak is better, etc. is the subject of legitimate debate. The value of trading Romo, etc. is also a legitimate exercise. I just think that it is funny how much different the standard is for Romo than Witten and Dez.

We'd be dog**** without Dez / Wit, thats why

 

[LocimusPrime]

There are sacred cows here but I'll sit this one out. It gets gruesome

 

[Irvin88_4life]

We'd be dog**** without Dez / Wit, thats why

I wanna keep Dez and Witten but Dak didn't slow down one bit with Dez out.......that being said Dez started being a beast again by the end of the season and I think it's because he is finally healthy. We will see him from game 1 this coming year and maybe we start out with a W

 

[Idgit]

"Dez Bryant" and "immune to criticism." Hmm.

Jason Witten is immune because he's consistently good.

 

[xvendettax914]

"Dez Bryant" and "immune to criticism." Hmm.

Jason Witten is immune because he's consistently good.

Think this about ends this "debate"..

 

[JoeKing]

"Dez Bryant" and "immune to criticism." Hmm.

Jason Witten is immune because he's consistently good.

You like you some Jason Witten... guess you like his consistent penalties and running a 9 yard route when we needed 10. He's the absolute worst at fighting for that last yard... especially when it's 3rd down.

 

[Bullflop]

"Dez Bryant" and "immune to criticism." Hmm.

Jason Witten is immune because he's consistently good.

I think it's fair to say Dez is better put into the category of "controversial" rather than "immune." He does get his fair share of criticism. Then, again, Witten is getting an increasing amount of criticism as well, as his career appears to be winding down. Whether it's deserved or not, nobody's totally "immune" around here, to be completely accurate. Immunity around here depends greatly upon perfection and that's pretty tough to come by.

 

[Cowboys_22]

Dez was #1 on a 13-3 team and played big in the finale. Seems to be worthy of his hire to me but what do I know?

Go Cowboys!

 

[Virginia-Dave]

You like you some Jason Witten... guess you like his consistent penalties and running a 9 yard route when we needed 10. He's the absolute worst at fighting for that last yard... especially when it's 3rd down.

He was called for a whopping 5 penalties in 2016, cut him immediately!

 

[noshame]

I love Witten, but let's face it, he struggles to reach his blocks and his receiving routes are limited. We've at least got to find the next guy and start splitting reps. Dez, I think could be the best #2 in the league, but as a #1 he's average at best. But in order for Dez to thrive you need a guy to draw the doubles.

 

[DandyDon52]

I find it interesting that certain players seem immune to criticism by Cowboys fans and members of this board in particular.

They are, but that is how fans are. Even if they play bad fans wont like them being criticized.
Then about overpaid, that is on jerry and his boy, fans dont decide that.
Jerry wants some players to play their whole career as cowboys, and some fans do too, so that means taking the end years as
not as productive too.

One thing about witten, it depends on how the team uses him, as blocker, or receiver, and how many plays he is in on.
Some teams with a older player like witten would only use them as 3rd down receiver, but cowboys let or have him play
every play, which then tires him out so he isnt as effective as he might be if used less ??

Then with romo witten would be more effective or get more targets, than with other qb's which has been the case last 2 years,
and they used him more as a blocker than receiver out of necessity.
Dallas doesnt use their TE's as effectively as other teams do also.

Dez is a good receiver, but not worth the big contract, but they already signed him so they have to live with that.
Dez was also more effective with Romo, so there is that too, and since Romo is most likely gone , it just depends
on if Dak can do as good or better with Dez.

ON NE, they might cut witten or Dez, but then they might also use them more effectively?
In SB they had a rookie making big catches, and he had a brace on his arm lol !

 

[DandyDon52]

I love Witten, but let's face it, he struggles to reach his blocks and his receiving routes are limited. We've at least got to find the next guy and start splitting reps. Dez, I think could be the best #2 in the league, but as a #1 he's average at best. But in order for Dez to thrive you need a guy to draw the doubles.

Well dallas could have aquired cook, but had no interest, we could use a te like him. Keep witten for 3rd downs,
but thing is witten wants to play full time.
So until they resolve that issue it is pointless to get another good TE.
And Dez is paid as a # 1 so they will continue to see him as a # 1.
And if they did get a good # 2 it would help dez and the team, but I think they resign TW lol.

 

[Proximo]

I find it interesting that certain players seem immune to criticism by Cowboys fans and members of this board in particular.

Dez Bryant and Jason Witten immediately come to mind.

LOL wut?

Stopped reading right there.

Using the name Dez Bryant and the words "immune from criticism" in the same sentence is LAUGHABLE.

He is easily one the most polarizing and heavily criticized Cowboys "stars" since he was drafted. Especially on this board.

Sacred cow? Far from it.