Dallas Cowboys ON SI: Pickens' projected contract

[America's Cowboy]

Well, it’s because Jerry hires people he’s comfortable with. It’s why we had Garrett for 10 years.

The single most important qualification to be with Jerry for a long long time is loyalty and a willingness to go along.

There are numerous stories of people getting iced out for disagreeing with or challenging Jerry.

It’s the reason why we always say that the biggest requirement of being a HC here is a willingness to put up with Jerry’s nonsense.

I’m sure that holds true at all levels.

And, for this guy, being a Razorback has to help, lol

It still makes no sense to have kept him for the past 25 years and counting if you keep losing during contract negotiations. Stubborn craziness.

 

[Verdict]

I coached competitive softball for 20 years. Every year I would get some kid that would come tryout for my team and I would have multiple people telling me... oh you dont want that player, or their parents are toxic, stay away from them. And every year I woud add that player and never have any problem with them.

I remember this one year a teams opposing shortstop was cussing her coach up and down during the game because we were running hi teams arse off the field and he didnt know what to do to stop us. Keep in mind, this happened OFTEN, when an opposing coach did not know how to defend us on the bases or with our ability to hit away or play small ball. This girl was pissed, and rightfully so as the coach was yelling at his players, but it wasnt their faut, it was his fault. That same ss came and tried out for my team the following season and I gladly took her and only had 1 minor issue with her in 3 years, and it was basically because she was too competitive and wanted to fight a kid that put on a pretty hard tag on her.


Moral to my story? Pickens was pissed in steelerland just like AJ Brown and now Justin Jefferson are pissed. When you play with crap at the qb and you are a stud and want to win... it causes problems.

Pickens its getting extended to a huge deal... better start getting used to is.

I think you will find that Pickens will eventually be a cancer/problem. Time will tell. If we extend him, I hope you are right and I am wrong.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

You don't get it brother. The owners run a business where they have a salary cap restricting them on how much to pay overall for their team. The problem is the NFL has no position limits, so it allows the players and agents to yearly keep seeking ridiculous overpaid new contracts that teams simply can't afford if they want to keep a playoff capable team intact. The players and their greediness is what is destroying teams from being able to be playoff competitive.

So it’s the players? Even though the owners could abolish the salary cap if they wanted to? The salary cap can be manipulated.

 

[KingCorcoran]

You don't get it brother. The owners run a business where they have a salary cap restricting them on how much to pay overall for their team. The problem is the NFL has no position limits, so it allows the players and agents to yearly keep seeking ridiculous overpaid new contracts that teams simply can't afford if they want to keep a playoff capable team intact. The players and their greediness is what is destroying teams from being able to be playoff competitive.

The players agreed to the salary cap and the circumstances that make it greater or lesser. It has nothing to do with greed. It’s a business. 14 teams will go to the playoffs this season, same as last season and the season before. How is it that players are stopping any team from being “playoff competitive”?

 

[America's Cowboy]

So it’s the players? Even though the owners could abolish the salary cap if they wanted to? The salary cap can be manipulated.

You don't believe Jerry would like to get rid of the salary cap? Of course, he would. The problem is the majority of owners want a salary cap since it enables their teams to remain relevant and competitive.

 

[America's Cowboy]

The players agreed to the salary cap and the circumstances that make it greater or lesser. It has nothing to do with greed. It’s a business. 14 teams will go to the playoffs this season, same as last season and the season before. How is it that players are stopping any team from being “playoff competitive”?

You also don't get it.

 

[Rayman70]

A handshake deal on nfl contracts is strictly non-enforceable according to the CBA. If a player has an agent. The agent and the player, both have to sign a written contract.

Yep, makes sense

 

[Rayman70]

Didn't Jerry admit to it? Didn't he say we shook hands I'm not talking to his agent?

Yes, but unless there's more paper trail proof, and the will by the to league to enforce the rule, nothing matters.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

You don't believe Jerry would like to get rid of the salary cap? Of course, he would. The problem is the majority of owners want a salary cap since it enables their teams to remain relevant and competitive.

No I don’t. The salary cap was brought in because of Jerry. He loves it.

 

[blueblood70]

Yep, everything works together. I think for the first time in many years we are actually realky close to having a real playoff team that’s a threat to win it all. If we can keep lamb and Pickens, our trio of DT’s all together. That’s a huge thing. I’d love to keep RB the same but he’s earned a nice contract and this is his first chance to get paid. I don’t know if it’s possible to keep him. Hope we can. Then we need Jerry to build on what’s he’s done this year. It’s hard to praise Jerry but this year he’s really did a nice job. Wish it could have came sooner but deals are there when they are there. He now has to hit on these 2 picks, or parlay them into more picks, but we have to get it right. Personally I’d rather have 2 realky goid players than 3-4 picks. But who knows who will be there when we pick. No tacos, get good solid prospects. Don’t reach for need. I’d rather pick a guy at a position that’s not a big need, but get a great player.

Well I don't think that can happen this year there's no way they're going to reach for a player like Taco or Mazi because they don't have the picks these kicks are going to be super important, I think they know that.

Given the fact, that you usually use the draft more than they do free agency, and trades,

well they don't have a complete draft to lean on this year ,they're over the cap, they've used a lot of picks already in trades They got a lot of guys to keep...

so yeah, they're going to have to hit on like two really good ones that's probably all you're going to get from this draft...

I'm not sure if Jerry has it in him to look at 2026 as the year that's it his last stand,

If he does they could be the all in year they've already started technically most of the stuff they've done this year has been for next year probably not by design but that's how it's worked out if they don't make the playoffs this year they know they have the pieces in place that if you add a few quality pieces they might even dip in the 2027 take some of those draft picks and trade them for some for this year's draft...

by the way

I believe some guys like Phil Mafah and even maybe Blue some of these young players from the last two drafts will actually give us something for twenty twenty six versus this year so there's that..

The more I look at this the more I see that 2026 probably is it the window and leaning on Prescott's best years might be behind him after that I think that that would be the smart move is to try to put all your pieces in for twenty twenty six just really go for it.

I'm not Jerry so I don't know maybe he's also getting old maybe he also sees the writing on the wall and and that's what he does figures out a way to do all he can for 2026 without worrying about anything else but 2026.....

I pray that some of these guys who just made it back off IR you know like overshown, finally finish the season healthy, gets through training camp it's actually here game one like we can start the season without waiting on like 6 guys to get off IR...

That's what I'm looking at these last five games I mean I just hope a lot of these guys find that rhythm play well but make it to training camp next year healthy...

 

[blueblood70]

Considering Jerry runs the team like a circus, going for the juggler is likely.

First of all, it's not a circus, we get it he has a flare for the dramatics, he doesn't mind drama... There isn't a camera he doesn't love or a mic he passes up on I get it.....


He's done a lot of good things this year,

so you could try to sweep it under the rug all you want,

maybe in some ways given the experience with Parsons, that he handles this a little bit better, but again he doesn't have all the chips you have two others in the agent and the player that could see the giant bag, and try to go get it elsewhere, they are part of this don't act like Parsons didn't enjoy that circus he played the game until the end it actually crossed a line I didn't know Jerry had..

There is a limit to what you can pay a player when you already have a premier receiver making that kind of money you can't expect Jerry to keep him you just hope they find a way to keep him but if he leaves you can't blame Jerry the dude has earned a contract that might be top five and you cannot pay a player you already paying at the same position top five money.

It's not how you build a good team I mean I love it that our offense would be dynamic that's why I hope we can keep him...

The fact is there's others involved and maybe George Pickens wants to be a number one wide receiver somewhere else and he's going to push it to get out of here so other people control this decision it's not just Jerry because you can't just hand him starter money and expect to be able to finish out your team and a year that might be the last big push for the Dak Prescott era....

It's going to be interesting offseason for sure...

 

[blueblood70]

No I don’t. The salary cap was brought in because of Jerry. He loves it.

So it wasn't just Jerry,

I feel bad if you think he has all the power in the NFL there's 32 teams they all vote they all had a vote or when he came in the league there were like 30, I don't remember when it expanded, but they all vote this is democracy this is not a one person league, you're trying to tell me that Jerry controlled the current Group of owners and the union and whoever was the commissioner at the time??

like Jerry was new to the league, I realized they had a lot of success early, but you act like he's the one that wanted this too no it's all billionaires.

As a matter of fact, right now Jerry 7th in the league in what is total worth is not what the team's worth but his total worth his net worth as a person, not as an owner in this league, right now at a 32 teams ,he's seventh..

He is not the king of the hill I mean he hasn't won anything in 30 years right in that what we keep saying how does he have any control in this league I realized at the time he was an influencer and he probably did a good job of it but that still doesn't mean he can win over those people unless they want to be won over there was a lot of moving parts getting that in place...

Pretty much all the leagues have some kind of cap,

I mean the NBA is a more of a soft moving cap with the luxury tax, baseball's a little lacks, but I'm pretty sure there's a cap in all sports, they try to do it for parity...

it wasn't just Jerry they're trying to do it, they try to keep some ownership group who's worth ,I don't know let's say Amazon bought a team or a corporate entity like that google, microsoft , coke etc

they can come in and just spend as much money as possible and build a super team and then the league would not be very competitive, and it would not look good to the masses, you can't have just one team dominate so much anymore ,and then keep people interested.

I mean that is put in place so all 32 teams fan bases stay interested in most of the season you got to have hope for all and that is why they have a cap..

Some owners in GM's have figured a way to circumvent the cap a little bit manipulate it like the Eagles and run up so much credit to try to win now that they'll eventually have to pay but they have found a little crack in the cap so if they want to do it they can do it....


In the end tell me this if the rest of the owners didn't like the cap why didn't they just vote it out change it I haven't heard a single peep from anyone saying that the cap needs to be changed I think they're happy with the parity..

I mean I say this because we know there are far richer and more dominant owners in this league now if they wanted to change they can get it changed they can out vote jerry..

 

[KingCorcoran]

You also don't get it.

You don’t get it. Every team is subject to the same salary cap parameters. Each team manages their business. Players’ salaries or a particular player’s salary are not why a team is not competitive.

 

[blueblood70]

Yeah the Hall of Famer Davonte Adams is a slouch.

I don't know where they're getting their information plus they're deeper than that It's it's like when you look over at Minnesota it's not just like they have Jefferson they have that other guy that's really good that's gonna be do a contract but they're they're 3Deep..

Yeah I agree they they act like somehow Stafford doesn't have a great surrounding cast and he does even the running back is underrated But I can tell you what they do have that's better than us and I know it's improved but you can't be better than Sean Mcveigh when he has enough toys He's one of the best offensive minds in football he also does a great job as a head coach keeping it all together I don't know if their defense is as good as it was back when they won the Super Bowl with Aaron Donald and everyone that defense was no joke it was a championship defense I think they have to do more on offense this year..

Yeah the Rams are for real from the top to bottom they have the supporting cast it's not even funny that people are trying to undersell it like Matthew Stafford's carrying that team with nobody...lmao

 

[conner01]

Well I don't think that can happen this year there's no way they're going to reach for a player like Taco or Mazi because they don't have the picks these kicks are going to be super important, I think they know that.

Given the fact, that you usually use the draft more than they do free agency, and trades,

well they don't have a complete draft to lean on this year ,they're over the cap, they've used a lot of picks already in trades They got a lot of guys to keep...

so yeah, they're going to have to hit on like two really good ones that's probably all you're going to get from this draft...

I'm not sure if Jerry has it in him to look at 2026 as the year that's it his last stand,

If he does they could be the all in year they've already started technically most of the stuff they've done this year has been for next year probably not by design but that's how it's worked out if they don't make the playoffs this year they know they have the pieces in place that if you add a few quality pieces they might even dip in the 2027 take some of those draft picks and trade them for some for this year's draft...

by the way

I believe some guys like Phil Mafah and even maybe Blue some of these young players from the last two drafts will actually give us something for twenty twenty six versus this year so there's that..

The more I look at this the more I see that 2026 probably is it the window and leaning on Prescott's best years might be behind him after that I think that that would be the smart move is to try to put all your pieces in for twenty twenty six just really go for it.

I'm not Jerry so I don't know maybe he's also getting old maybe he also sees the writing on the wall and and that's what he does figures out a way to do all he can for 2026 without worrying about anything else but 2026.....

I pray that some of these guys who just made it back off IR you know like overshown, finally finish the season healthy, gets through training camp it's actually here game one like we can start the season without waiting on like 6 guys to get off IR...

That's what I'm looking at these last five games I mean I just hope a lot of these guys find that rhythm play well but make it to training camp next year healthy...

If Jerry can keep the vote of this roster together. Pickens, the DT’s and hit on a stud in the draft. 2026 could be huge. I’d be shocked if Jerry picks twice in first round. I think he trades down for picks. That may be the right move depending on who’s there, but just forget about need and draft great prospects. There are positions I wouldn’t draft. I wouldn’t draft interior oline for example. But I’d draft a true LT if a stud fell and just cut Steele and move Guyton to RT. I’d draft a safety though only one is first rnd worthy. I wouldn’t draft a DT but I’d sure look at an edge guy since Williams is gone and guys like Fowler are older. I’m more about quality than quantity but Jerry like quantity and I expect him to trade. The good news is we will own the fifth rnd lol

 

[America's Cowboy]

You don’t get it. Every team is subject to the same salary cap parameters. Each team manages their business. Players’ salaries or a particular player’s salary are not why a team is not competitive.

Talk about a contradictory statement. ^^^^

 

[blueblood70]

If Jerry can keep the vote of this roster together. Pickens, the DT’s and hit on a stud in the draft. 2026 could be huge. I’d be shocked if Jerry picks twice in first round. I think he trades down for picks. That may be the right move depending on who’s there, but just forget about need and draft great prospects. There are positions I wouldn’t draft. I wouldn’t draft interior oline for example. But I’d draft a true LT if a stud fell and just cut Steele and move Guyton to RT. I’d draft a safety though only one is first rnd worthy. I wouldn’t draft a DT but I’d sure look at an edge guy since Williams is gone and guys like Fowler are older. I’m more about quality than quantity but Jerry like quantity and I expect him to trade. The good news is we will own the fifth rnd lol

Yes an edge guy is a priority, whether it's an outside linebacker that you turn into a pass rusher, IE parsons, just get a stud that's fast and strong and rushing the passer is not that difficult.lol just need a high athletic person to be there....

Plenty of those in the draft if they have to default to a safety or even a middle linebacker ,It's definitely going to be leaning towards defense hell if they see a top corner that they know it can't miss on that's actually healthy, they can start game one, by the way ,I think they will take that it's definitely going to be heavy on defense as it should...


Right now, as it stands, I don't think they have any holes on offense that need a dressing in the draft.. Although you should always do BPA they have to be keeping defense top of mind...

 

[conner01]

No I don’t. The salary cap was brought in because of Jerry. He loves it.

No owners want to get rid of the salary cap, I may be in the minority but I think the cap is good for the league. Jerry isn’t super rich compared to some owners. But he’s a business msn and wants to make money. Having a third of the league being competitive, having well run teams being able to go from worst to the playoffs in a few short years is goid for the league.

 

[America's Cowboy]

No I don’t. The salary cap was brought in because of Jerry. He loves it.

Why would Jerry love the salary cap if it is the main reason for why Jerry has been unable to get the team to reach another conference championship game since the early 1990s Super Bowls? Makes absolutely no sense.

 

[conner01]

Yes an edge guy is a priority, whether it's an outside linebacker that you turn into a pass rusher, IE parsons, just get a stud that's fast and strong and rushing the passer is not that difficult.lol just need a high athletic person to be there....

Plenty of those in the draft if they have to default to a safety or even a middle linebacker ,It's definitely going to be leaning towards defense hell if they see a top corner that they know it can't miss on that's actually healthy, they can start game one, by the way ,I think they will take that it's definitely going to be heavy on defense as it should...


Right now, as it stands, I don't think they have any holes on offense that need a dressing in the draft.. Although you should always do BPA they have to be keeping defense top of mind...

I would love a true big bodied MLB but they don’t seem to be as many coming out as a decade ago. It’s all about speed now. A true free safety could be huge but only one is first rnd talent and he’s gonna be gone. This draft hss a nice combination of edge rushers. Some actual big guys abd speed guys. I think talent wise that’s the most likely position for talent to fall to us because there is a few guys. But I think Jerry is gonna get a second rnd pick somehow. Don’t have the ammo right now to trade up but a trade down I see very likely with one ir even bith picks. I don’t like need drafting though it’s always a factor. Just get a real good player