DallasNews: Time could be of the essence...

[jterrell]

Time could be of the essence in Cowboys' negotiations with Doug Free

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2011/07/time-could-be-of-the-essence-i.html

If they are able to sign Free early in the process, they will have know how much money they have allocated towards their left tackle and in turn have a better understanding of how many other acquisitions they can realistically make as well how many players they need to cut. But if they can't strike a deal with Free in that 72-hour cycle, then the Cowboys could be forced to operate in the dark.

He is the first domino, after all. And if he doesn't fall, then what happens? Can the Cowboys pursue other veteran players? The scenario is a vexing one for the Cowboys, but potentially advantageous for Free, who stands to benefit from the fact that free agency will proceed at warp speed this year.

 

[CCBoy]

This is one dominoe that I expect falls right on time.

 

[jterrell]

This is basically a comment I made previously before the chorus of Bobby McFerrin's got out of hand.

The Cowboys have to cut a huge amount of salary in a very short period of time - 72 hours. At the end of which they can only then hit free agency. If Free isn't signed by then they have to hold cap space for him while trying to fill plenty of starting holes.

No matter how much someone tries to tell you this is a good situation they are wrong. This will requite a ton of Stephen Jones magic and Jerry Jones up front cash (30 or 40 million??) to work out well.

Hopefully the deal is done tomorrow and we see the real stories hit this weekend. By Tuesday you can bet we'll all know a lot more.

 

[Stash]

This is one dominoe that I expect falls right on time.

I sure hope you're right but Doug Free does have a tremendous amount of leverage right now.

I'd put him right there with the most difficult free agent that any team in the league is trying to retain.

 

[Doomsday101]

I sure hope you're right but Doug Free does have a tremendous amount of leverage right now.

I'd put him right there with the most difficult free agent that any team in the league is trying to retain.

I agree. If there is any catch to this it would be the fact Free will be looking for LT money and he very well could end up at RT by next year. I do think this is a deal that needs to be done but it could be he ends up the highest paid RT in the NFL when all is said and done

 

[jterrell]

This is one dominoe that I expect falls right on time.

Tough to determine if it will or not based on precedent.

Dallas has always liked to allow guys to test the market previously unless they were saving significant money with an early signing. Dallas (SJ) hates setting a market.

Free is the top guy at OL. He is the market setter.

Dallas has reason to sign him before he tests things but also has every reason to be careful with overall cap expenditures.

 

[Stash]

I agree. If there is any catch to this it would be the fact Free will be looking for LT money and he very well could end up at RT by next year. I do think this is a deal that needs to be done but it could be he ends up the highest paid RT in the NFL when all is said and done

I wouldn't have a problem is he were the league's highest paid right tackle. He's shown that he can capably play either side and he should be rewarded for that versatility, no matter which side Dallas ultimately decides to play him.

The team simply can't 'afford' to lose him. He knows it, they know it, and all of us know it.

 

[viman96]

Hopefully they have a deal worked out and in place and it just needs to be signed.

 

[CCBoy]

Tough to determine if it will or not based on precedent.

Dallas has always liked to allow guys to test the market previously unless they were saving significant money with an early signing. Dallas (SJ) hates setting a market.

Free is the top guy at OL. He is the market setter.

Dallas has reason to sign him before he tests things but also has every reason to be careful with overall cap expenditures.

The space in the cap was worked out coming into the signing periods for Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware, and Miles Austin. Since there has been a lot of media and fan attention given to the left tackle spot over the past three years, I don't doubt that Jerry and Stephen Jones have paved the way to make this one acquisition before chosing from alternatives as to other moves.

I think that Free will be inked, despite interest by other teams. And that the Cowboys will actually push pretty hard to sign team needs within prior roster players. Except for a question on Sensabaugh. He may be valuing himself slightly more than real interest, market expanded or not.

 

[Stash]

Hopefully they have a deal worked out and in place and it just needs to be signed.

I would be most pleasantly surprised if that happens.

Doug Free is the top offensive lineman this season.

I fully expect he and his agent to test the market rather than immediately re-signing with the Cowboys.

 

[viman96]

Seems like Free's market value grew during the lockout as well.

 

[Stash]

Seems like Free's market value grew during the lockout as well.

Most definitely.

I think they would do it very differently if they had it to do over again.

 

[CoCo]

This is basically a comment I made previously before the chorus of Bobby McFerrin's got out of hand.

The Cowboys have to cut a huge amount of salary in a very short period of time - 72 hours. At the end of which they can only then hit free agency. If Free isn't signed by then they have to hold cap space for him while trying to fill plenty of starting holes.

No matter how much someone tries to tell you this is a good situation they are wrong. This will requite a ton of Stephen Jones magic and Jerry Jones up front cash (30 or 40 million??) to work out well.

Hopefully the deal is done tomorrow and we see the real stories hit this weekend. By Tuesday you can bet we'll all know a lot more.

Bobby McPherrin vs Chicken Little - THE REMATCH

McPherrin won the first bout in a knockout!

:laugh2:

 

[Doomsday101]

I wouldn't have a problem is he were the league's highest paid right tackle. He's shown that he can capably play either side and he should be rewarded for that versatility, no matter which side Dallas ultimately decides to play him.

The team simply can't 'afford' to lose him. He knows it, they know it, and all of us know it.

I agree clearly need him but when you look at what the top LT are paid

The top five offensive linemen salaries all belong to left tackles: Jason Peters (Philadelphia), Jake Long (Miami), D'Brickashaw Ferguson (N.Y. Jets), Marcus McNeill (San Diego) and Jordan Gross (Carolina)

Jason Peters 6 yr/$60,657,000
Jake Long 5 yr/$57,750,000
D'Brickashaw Ferguson 8 yr/$73,600,000
Marcus McNeill 6 yr/$48,980,000
Jordan Gross 6 yr/$60,000,000

 

[jterrell]

The space in the cap was worked out coming into the signing periods for Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware, and Miles Austin. Since there has been a lot of media and fan attention given to the left tackle spot over the past three years, I don't doubt that Jerry and Stephen Jones have paved the way to make this one acquisition before chosing from alternatives as to other moves.

I think that Free will be inked, despite interest by other teams. And that the Cowboys will actually push pretty hard to sign team needs within prior roster players. Except for a question on Sensabaugh. He may be valuing himself slightly more than real interest, market expanded or not.

Austin is a definite planned convert. His contract details that.

Ware is very doable but less valuable in that regard.

Romo makes 9 mil this year and only has 3 years left including this one where pay is flat not reducing. We will save money by converting his cash to a bonus but that becomes really sticky in many ways. He wasn't set up for an easy bonus convert coming into this off-season at all.

In fact the best bet with Romo is contract extension that keeps his averages but reduces his year 1/2/3 cost.

As to the rest we do not have a lot of meat on the bones of the current roster. Dallas can find starters at Safety and DE but only if they pony up int hat 72 hour window to keep them. If they don't well we don;t have players who can fill those roles. Alan Ball and AOA at safety? YIKES!

Again, the big bonus babies we are creating will only get us to the current cap not free up space. That space has to come with other moves. Some contract dumpings will net us savings but only partial savings as we will eat cap pro-rations.

It will get dicey to be sure.

 

[jterrell]

I agree clearly need him but when you look at what the top LT are paid

The top five offensive linemen salaries all belong to left tackles: Jason Peters (Philadelphia), Jake Long (Miami), D'Brickashaw Ferguson (N.Y. Jets), Marcus McNeill (San Diego) and Jordan Gross (Carolina)

Jason Peters 6 yr/$60,657,000
Jake Long 5 yr/$57,750,000
D'Brickashaw Ferguson 8 yr/$73,600,000
Marcus McNeill 6 yr/$48,980,000
Jordan Gross 6 yr/$60,000,000

Not only that but you have to look at the most recent contracts....

10 a year is a very real target for Free's agents.

 

[Stash]

I agree clearly need him but when you look at what the top LT are paid

The top five offensive linemen salaries all belong to left tackles: Jason Peters (Philadelphia), Jake Long (Miami), D'Brickashaw Ferguson (N.Y. Jets), Marcus McNeill (San Diego) and Jordan Gross (Carolina)

Jason Peters 6 yr/$60,657,000
Jake Long 5 yr/$57,750,000
D'Brickashaw Ferguson 8 yr/$73,600,000
Marcus McNeill 6 yr/$48,980,000
Jordan Gross 6 yr/$60,000,000

Yikes!

And none of those players actually had the opportunity to hit the open market!

Free is going to cost this team a ton of money to keep.

Boy, did he ever hit the market at the right time!

I think the 6 years $50 million with $25 million guaranteed figure I threw around looks cheap right now!

 

[Doomsday101]

Not only that but you have to look at the most recent contracts....

10 a year is a very real target for Free's agents.

I'm sure it is I guess I'm wondering is his value that of Jake Long, Ferguson or McNeil?

 

[CCBoy]

Austin is a definite planned convert. His contract details that.

Ware is very doable but less valuable in that regard.

Romo makes 9 mil this year and only has 3 years left including this one where pay is flat not reducing. We will save money by converting his cash to a bonus but that becomes really sticky in many ways. He wasn't set up for an easy bonus convert coming into this off-season at all.

In fact the best bet with Romo is contract extension that keeps his averages but reduces his year 1/2/3 cost.

As to the rest we do not have a lot of meat on the bones of the current roster. Dallas can find starters at Safety and DE but only if they pony up int hat 72 hour window to keep them. If they don't well we don;t have players who can fill those roles. Alan Ball and AOA at safety? YIKES!

Again, the big bonus babies we are creating will only get us to the current cap not free up space. That space has to come with other moves. Some contract dumpings will net us savings but only partial savings as we will eat cap pro-rations.

It will get dicey to be sure.

Agreed...and those answers, as has been stated on site, will be coming very soon and straight forward in appearances once they shake loose. Myself, I wish to retain Cowboy players the team has already groomed and who will assimilate stronger now that a team mental state is being forged with discipline again. Throw in Huff and what we already had, and I'm content to improving a team identity that still is smarting and needing to be vindicated again.

 

[jterrell]

I'm sure it is I guess I'm wondering is his value that of Jake Long, Ferguson or McNeil?

no, it isn't but none of them are free agents right now....

that's what i mean by the when of the signing. he is the top guy available and teams pay franchise LTs 10 mil per year. he is young and has major upside. he is a borderline franchise LT guy imho but with this free agent class it isn't borderline as he is the sole franchise LT prospect available.

i'd say 8.5 to 9 per year is a good final cost to the Boys but that may take a heck of a lot more than 72 hours to get to.

does the team just pay 6/60 to shut it all down and move forward? eat 4 or 5 mil this year....

Free is not some rich guy. He was a mid round pick on a rookie deal. He will be a very rich guy once the ink dries.