Cowboys victory means win for 'Skins

[Alexander]

Cowboys victory means win for 'Skins
Posted by Mike Florio on January 12, 2010 7:59 AM ET
In less than two months, and barring an unlikely agreement between the NFL and the players union on a new CBA, the salary cap will disappear.

Since the salary floor also will evaporate, it's believed that more teams will spend less, not more, in 2010.

The exceptions are expected to be the Cowboys and the Commanders, teams many believe will launch a Red Sox-Yankees-style spending spree in the hopes of buying the Super Bowl that will be played in, of all places, Dallas.

But with the Cowboys winning a postseason game for the first time since 1996, they now fall within the "Final Eight Plan," a measure aimed at ensuring competitive balance in an environment with no spending limits.

Under Article XXI, Section 3 of the CBA, the Cowboys, Cardinals, Vikings, Saints, Jets, Ravens, Chargers, and Colts will be limited in their ability to sign unrestricted free agents in 2010.

First, the Final Eight teams may sign any unrestricted free agent who obtained that status by being released and clearing waivers.

Second, the Final Eight teams may sign any unrestricted free agent who was under contract with that team at the conclusion of the 2009 league year.

Third, one unrestricted free agent may be signed for each unrestricted free agent that a Final Eight team loses, but only at the same first-year salary the departed player receives elsewhere, with limitations on future growth of the deal.

Fourth, the Final Eight teams may sign one unrestricted free agent at a first-year salary of $4.925 million (plus the annual percentage increases in total football revenue since 2006), and an unlimited number unrestricted free agents at a first-year salary of $3.275 million (plus the percentage increases of total football revenue since 2006), with limitations on future growth of the deal.

The teams that win this weekend will be further limited, with the fourth option explained above disappearing.

So, basically, Commanders fans should be rooting for the Cowboys to win this weekend, and then to be "blowed out" in the NFC title game.

 

[Cowboys22]

I was hoping to get some clarification about this from Adam. I was wondering if these rules applied to only those UFA's whose contracts expired or does it apply to all free agents, even those veterans cut with years remaining on their contract. Also, does it apply to a team's free agents? I don't see how the league can put a rule in place that keeps teams from signing their own free agents.

I don't see this as a huge deal as there won't be alot of free agents worth having this year but there may be some guys cut for salary reasons that would be worth a look. The key for Dallas is keeping this team intact and simply supplementing it through the draft.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

That's a great theory if there were any true UFA worth a darn available. Most of the talent will switch from UFA to RFA.

Add that teams get an additional franchise and transition tag and it will be the worst year for free agents in history. It's like having a million dollars in your pocket and the store only has one loaf of stale bread left.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I was hoping to get some clarification about this from Adam. I was wondering if these rules applied to only those UFA's whose contracts expired or does it apply to all free agents, even those veterans cut with years remaining on their contract. Also, does it apply to a team's free agents? I don't see how the league can put a rule in place that keeps teams from signing their own free agents.

I don't see this as a huge deal as there won't be alot of free agents worth having this year but there may be some guys cut for salary reasons that would be worth a look. The key for Dallas is keeping this team intact and simply supplementing it through the draft.

It does not apply to players that are cut for salary or other purposes.

 

[SultanOfSix]

This isn't a big deal. SBs are won by drafting good players, and then filling possible missing pieces with experienced veterans or a superstar who will benefit the team to put them over the top.

The 'Skins have continuously tried and failed miserably at attempts of "buying" a SB through free agency.

So, I'm not really sure what the point of this article is.

 

[Hypnotoad]

I'm sure if Jerry wanted a free agent he would find a loop hole to make it happen.

 

[Big Dakota]

Ah yes, another Skins win when there's no football article.

 

[pgreptom]

A lot of our playoff run comes down to players we signed in FA.

Igor, Brooking, Bigg, Kosier, Hamlin, Sensabaugh...

A lot of the playoff teams signed big FA names.. Vikings signed Allen, and Favre.. and a few years ago, didn't they get Hutchinson?

 

[Alexander]

This isn't a big deal. SBs are won by drafting good players, and then filling possible missing pieces with experienced veterans or a superstar who will benefit the team to put them over the top.

Very true. It is a rare circumstance that a big name free agent is going to give that push. However, you will see the smarter middle tier signings (like Hamlin, Sensabaugh and Olshansky) that are signed for fit or familiarity that give teams the chance to flesh out a roster and make up for lost players. This is about the only area where I would be concerned. With big money comes even bigger egos. The Giants learned that this year when there high dollar free agents simply did not fit in.

So, I'm not really sure what the point of this article is.

It is a sloppy reactionary piece to the hysterical assumption that Jerry Jones is going to go out and buy a team to win a Super Bowl in his stadium.

 

[Alexander]

A lot of our playoff run comes down to players we signed in FA.

Igor, Brooking, Bigg, Kosier, Hamlin, Sensabaugh...

A lot of the playoff teams signed big FA names.. Vikings signed Allen, and Favre.. and a few years ago, didn't they get Hutchinson?

They traded for Allen and Favre was technically a street free agent as he was off the Jets retired list I believe.

 

[theebs]

A lot of our playoff run comes down to players we signed in FA.

Igor, Brooking, Bigg, Kosier, Hamlin, Sensabaugh...

A lot of the playoff teams signed big FA names.. Vikings signed Allen, and Favre.. and a few years ago, didn't they get Hutchinson?

the vikings could change their name to the minnesota free agents.

Favre, berrian, taylor, hutchinson, winfield, pat williams, v.shancioe, jared allen, artis hicks, jimmy kennedy, greg lewis, ryan longwell, sage rosenfels.

almost every skill position is from outside the organization. Qb, wr, pass rush, tight end, kicker, cornerback.

Of course no one will bring that up, especially not a moron like florio. his article about Dallas buying free agents was ********.

 

[the kid 05]

A lot of our playoff run comes down to players we signed in FA.

Igor, Brooking, Bigg, Kosier, Hamlin, Sensabaugh...

A lot of the playoff teams signed big FA names.. Vikings signed Allen, and Favre.. and a few years ago, didn't they get Hutchinson?

the Vikes traded for Allen and signed Farve and Hutch, remember the huge deal about the "posion pill"

 

[CowboyWay]

It does not apply to players that are cut for salary or other purposes.

When you say it doesn't apply to players cut, are you saying that dallas could sign those players and they don't fall under the undrafted free agent rules?

I agree with you that this years crop of FA's is pretty poor, but I think there could be a ton of players dropped from their teams because their contracts are too big, and teams want to get rid of them.

Not that those are the types of players you want to build a team around, but still, I have to thinkt here will be alot of them out there.

 

[THUMPER]

This isn't a big deal. SBs are won by drafting good players, and then filling possible missing pieces with experienced veterans or a superstar who will benefit the team to put them over the top.

The 'Skins have continuously tried and failed miserably at attempts of "buying" a SB through free agency.

So, I'm not really sure what the point of this article is.

I was thinking the same thing, how is this any different than any other season? Little Danny has been trying to buy a championship since he bought the Commanders and it hasn't worked so far.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

Drat, i hope we lose and really stick it to the 'Skins. Truthfully, if we win the SB, how many FAs do we need?

 

[JonJon]

There isn't anybody worth getting anyway. The only free agent I really want signed long term is currently on our team, and thats Miles Austin.

 

[robb01]

I dont put much stock in that theory at all

 

[speedkilz88]

1. There just won't be many free agents available. Most will be older players.

2. Teams are probably going to dump players this year and those free agents will not be restricted to the Cowboys.

 

[Cowboys22]

It does not apply to players that are cut for salary or other purposes.

If this is true, this is a total non-issue. The best players available this year in free agency will be salary induced cuts.

Am I also correct that there is no limit on signing your own free agents? If so, Jerry can keep this relatively young team together for a long time and simply add one or two pieces here and there as needed.

 

[TD-33]

Ah yes, another Skins win when there's no football article.

No one can match their off season prowess.