News: Dallas Cowboys only spend on damage control and discounts

[LittleD]

But not a Super Bowl caliber team. That's the problem. They will have to eventually bite the bullet. One or two big contracts, done in a smart way, isn't bad. Throwing tons of money at big stars (to sell more tickets), like they used to do, is bad.

As long as Jerry fills the stadium 8 times a year and is making multi-millions with Stephen controlling the purse, they will continue to
be cautious handing out big contracts for just good players.

 

[mugsybows]

Almost all successful teams build their teams through the draft with very few impact free agents sprinkled in (Pittsburgh, N. England, Seattle, etc.)

Like I said previously I know, I was using that to say we're not the spend big in free agency team we used to be. We rely solely on draft to get better. When's the last time we signed a big free agent. I can't even recall. Brandon Carr maybe. We're not the same team giving up first round picks for Roy Williams as the deadline comes down.

 

[Idgit]

When the Patriots spend money in FA, it's always a short term deal of 1 or 2 years. That way if they don't like the deal, they can get out of it quickly. This idea that the Patriots occasionally sign the 6-year deals worth a lot of money for a FA is pure fallacy.

A good case in point for how this works out is with Greg Hardy and Darren McFadden. Both were signed to more 'pay-for-play' type of deals. Hardy didn't work out and we immediately got rid of him. McFadden didn't really work out either, but to a lesser extent. And we still were able to get out from under his contract quickly.

This is how the Patriots operate other than making the occasional trades for a player. And even that hasn't worked out that great as they traded Chandler Jones for a 2nd rounder and Jonathan Cooper. Cooper didn't work out and Jones was very good in Arizona.

I'm happy with the way we are operating in FA. The Pats operate similarly and continually make the playoffs and that increases their chances of winning the Super Bowl. Of course, it helps that they are in the worst division in football, but I also feel that the NFC East is a potential mess in the waiting with the Eagles and Skins having a myriad of issues and the Giants needing to replace Eli and a defense that is likely not to play as well in 2017. I'd rather keep building the team like we have been and make no major mistakes to allow the other NFC East teams to catch up. And let those teams try and chase us thru FA and continue to trip over themselves.

YR

Pretty much what I was going to say.

And the Pats do a lot of things right, but they still make their share of mistakes along the way when it comes to personnel. The key thing is to have a way you like to do things, while remaining flexible enough to take advantage of opportunities when they come along. Then you just have to evaluate personnel correctly, which is what it all comes down to in the end, anyway.

 

[KingintheNorth]

They appropriated a good amount of money for Mr. Hardy/the bum.

We were bidding againt no one on Hardy. Literally no other team wanted him.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Like I said previously I know, I was using that to say we're not the spend big in free agency team we used to be. We rely solely on draft to get better. When's the last time we signed a big free agent. I can't even recall. Brandon Carr maybe. We're not the same team giving up first round picks for Roy Williams as the deadline comes down.

Yep, and that's a good thing.

 

[LittleD]

We were bidding againt no one on Hardy. Literally no other team wanted him.

Even with that, we paid him 1mil per game... Pretty high for the likes of him.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

If the Cowboys had a shot at a elite pass rusher what they would've done would've been championship worthy. But the one year they stink.......there was no pass rusher available other than Joey Bosa. Cowboys are playing this smart.

 

[mugsybows]

As long as Jerry fills the stadium 8 times a year and is making multi-millions with Stephen controlling the purse, they will continue to
be cautious handing out big contracts for just good players.

like it or not this is the team now.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

We were bidding againt no one on Hardy. Literally no other team wanted him.

Not true.

"Earlier Wednesday, agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that his client would choose between the Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers."

"Free agent defensive end Greg Hardy has visits scheduled with the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the next week, according to several media reports."


That's at least 2 other teams.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Meanwhile, the Patriots who have been to 8 Super Bowls in the last 21 years (compared to our 2 playoff wins in the same time span), and have won 5 of those Super Bowls, just signed the top free agent CB available.

They move on from their players, many times trading them before their contracts expire (Richard Seymour, Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins) and getting value for them.

All we get is excuses and made-believe strategies. Yet, every January its the same results.

I remember when we signed the top free agent CB available. That was fun.

Also it's fun to use the Patriots as a foil....but they have the best coach of all time and one of the 3 best quarterbacks of all time. Using their overlapped run as a barometer for anyone is foolishness. And only serves to make one feel bad.

Chris I don't want you to feel bad.

This front office has not been perfect. Not by a long shot. But over the last 5 years...you can quibble here or there...but if you're complaining it's just to complain. They've been well above average on agreeing to a plan and executing on that vision. And they have a young and talented team ready to compete as a result. Not sure what there is to cry about...other than them not being the Patriots dynasty.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

How many off seasons have we heard, " you can't fix the defense in one off season?" That rings true, especially when you don't even try. You can't let talent walk out the door unless you have talent to replace them. The better players of a bad defense are out of here, with no sign of replacements on the roster or otherwise. They can't do it all through the draft. Winning the "comp picks for next year's draft" competition is not quite the same as lifting the Lombardi. They need to hurry up and fix this defense before Dak and Zeke run out of their rookie contracts.

 

[ICP]

Lol, it's almost like the Cowboys are afraid of free agency after getting burned so often. I mean I understand not wanting to overspend in free agency but expecting to build primarily through the draft means you need to hit on a very high percentage of your draft picks, maybe too high of a percentage. Many here are on board with what Dallas is now doing but I would rather see them take an approach similar to what New England does. They are active in both free agency and trades as well as drafting well. But then again Belichick is on an entirely different level than the entire Cowboys brain trust put together IMHO.

 

[LittleD]

like it or not this is the team now.

Lots of NFL owners don't care about winning SB's. They want to put fans in the seats, sell merchandise and
make lots of money. Winning SB's costs lots of money. The NFL is a business for the owner. The owner
just wants to keep the fans interested.

 

[mugsybows]

Lots of NFL owners don't care about winning SB's. They want to put fans in the seats, sell merchandise and
make lots of money. Winning SB's costs lots of money. The NFL is a business for the owner. The owner
just wants to keep the fans interested.

I do think Jerry wants to win again especially for his own football ego with that said after every season he doesn't win a super bowl I bet he's still like welp I'm a billionaire so life ain't that bad. Good problem to have.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Not true.

"Earlier Wednesday, agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that his client would choose between the Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers."

"Free agent defensive end Greg Hardy has visits scheduled with the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the next week, according to several media reports."


That's at least 2 other teams.

I apologize, other teams inquired about him. The Seahawks and Bucs were willing to pay him the vet minimum. The Cowboys were bidding against themselves, drove up the price unnecessarily, and the other teams bowed out.

 

[DenCWBY]

Pretty much what I was going to say.

And the Pats do a lot of things right, but they still make their share of mistakes along the way when it comes to personnel. The key thing is to have a way you like to do things, while remaining flexible enough to take advantage of opportunities when they come along. Then you just have to evaluate personnel correctly, which is what it all comes down to in the end, anyway.

This is a good point. They get rid of their warts very quickly. They must have some amazing talent evaluators and also a system that beckons players with the right football mentality. Starts from the top and every player immediately seems to have their expectations set so no second guessing their roles. They are a well oiled machine and if you don't mentally fit in, your gone in an instant.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I remember when we signed the top free agent CB available. That was fun.

Also it's fun to use the Patriots as a foil....but they have the best coach of all time and one of the 3 best quarterbacks of all time. Using their overlapped run as a barometer for anyone is foolishness. And only serves to make one feel bad.

Chris I don't want you to feel bad.

This front office has not been perfect. Not by a long shot. But over the last 5 years...you can quibble here or there...but if you're complaining it's just to complain. They've been well above average on agreeing to a plan and executing on that vision. And they have a young and talented team ready to compete as a result. Not sure what there is to cry about...other than them not being the Patriots dynasty.

Always the extremes.

If I'm "crying" I would guess you qualify as a mindless cheerleader?

I'm unhappy that this team is not improving. We are not a better team than we were a month ago and we don't make the most of our assets. We are donating away a starting caliber QB. I'm thrilled about Dak, Zeke, and the O Line. The defense will get us beat in the playoffs again. The draft is not enough to make the necessary improvements to the defense.

You can be happy with marketing and merchandising accomplishments, as well as great press conferences. Personally, I want this once great franchise to win in January and show up in an occasional February.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Always the extremes.

If I'm "crying" I would guess you qualify as a mindless cheerleader?

I'm unhappy that this team is not improving. We are not a better team than we were a month ago and we don't make the most of our assets. We are donating away a starting caliber QB. I'm thrilled about Dak, Zeke, and the O Line. The defense will get us beat in the playoffs again. The draft is not enough to make the necessary improvements to the defense.

You can be happy with marketing and merchandising accomplishments, as well as great press conferences. Personally, I want this once great franchise to win in January and show up in an occasional February.

You are happy with the offense. Let me ask you a question. How was it built?

 

[mugsybows]

How many off seasons have we heard, " you can't fix the defense in one off season?" That rings true, especially when you don't even try. You can't let talent walk out the door unless you have talent to replace them. The better players of a bad defense are out of here, with no sign of replacements on the roster or otherwise. They can't do it all through the draft. Winning the "comp picks for next year's draft" competition is not quite the same as lifting the Lombardi. They need to hurry up and fix this defense before Dak and Zeke run out of their rookie contracts.

This is my fear. Eventually draft players get older and if you keep putting subpar talent around them eventually their time will run up too, it's a vicious cycle. We can't lose good players and sign lesser caliber bargain players and expect to be better. For a team that stressed we need a better defense we sure are letting good portions of our defense go and it's not looking like we have a plan to replace. Now it's early but if the last couple years have taught us anything it's don't expect much besides guys to fill the team.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

When the Patriots spend money in FA, it's always a short term deal of 1 or 2 years. That way if they don't like the deal, they can get out of it quickly. This idea that the Patriots occasionally sign the 6-year deals worth a lot of money for a FA is pure fallacy.

A good case in point for how this works out is with Greg Hardy and Darren McFadden. Both were signed to more 'pay-for-play' type of deals. Hardy didn't work out and we immediately got rid of him. McFadden didn't really work out either, but to a lesser extent. And we still were able to get out from under his contract quickly.

This is how the Patriots operate other than making the occasional trades for a player. And even that hasn't worked out that great as they traded Chandler Jones for a 2nd rounder and Jonathan Cooper. Cooper didn't work out and Jones was very good in Arizona.

I'm happy with the way we are operating in FA. The Pats operate similarly and continually make the playoffs and that increases their chances of winning the Super Bowl. Of course, it helps that they are in the worst division in football, but I also feel that the NFC East is a potential mess in the waiting with the Eagles and Skins having a myriad of issues and the Giants needing to replace Eli and a defense that is likely not to play as well in 2017. I'd rather keep building the team like we have been and make no major mistakes to allow the other NFC East teams to catch up. And let those teams try and chase us thru FA and continue to trip over themselves.
YR

Great post. People complaining about us not being like the Pats....and I look around and say you're right from a talent perspective at QB and Coach they outclass us....but we're operating exactly like they do from a roster building perspective.

People say...GO SPEND BIG MONEY...and yet the last four bigger money deals we have done (Dez, Hardy Crawford and Carr) people complain endlessly about.

It's all quite silly.