DC.COM Blog: How Should The Cowboys Treat RFA Spears?

[Bob Sacamano]

Youre not worried about the injuries?

not really

they weren't the nagging type

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

not really

they weren't the nagging type

Whats your plan then, tender everyone but Hatcher? Then Jones steps in as starter next year if no long term deal is worked out

 

[gimmesix]

When ( which games ) have the Cowboys started Bowen and determined that he's not a solid run defender or that he could not handle Spear's role ?

Let's be honest here, Spears is NOT a " stout " run defender. He's a solid player who's actually underachieved compared to the price that was paid for him, but he's been servicible

No, Spears is a stout run defender. He wasn't the first couple of years because he, like Canty, would let linemen get under his pads and uproot him. Last year, he took a nice step forward and became slightly disruptive at the point of attack. This year, he wasn't as disruptive IMO, but he was harder to move off the line of scrimmage. Both he and Olshansky held the point of attack, which is one of the main reasons our run defense was so good.

When Bowen has been in there against the run, he gets uprooted too often, getting pushed back into the linebackers' way and out of the running back's way. (He relies on quickness/aggression to make plays, but linemen get into his body when that doesn't work.) Watch game tape and you will see this, especially if you watch him in the preseason when he was playing more first and second downs at end against second-team offensive linemen. Neither he nor Hatcher held their ground well against the run.

Do you honestly think that Phillips wouldn't have gotten him more playing time on first and second downs during the season if he was solid against the run? Bowen is the best pass rusher among our defensive ends, so I think Phillips would have wanted him on the field more.

People seem to have a tendency to overlook Spears' play because he has not made many dynamic plays, but he was more of a key to Dallas' defensive success than given credit for. And we should not let him go until we have someone just as good against the run who can also pressure the quarterback (which is not that easy to find).

 

[gimmesix]

Whats your plan then, tender everyone but Hatcher? Then Jones steps in as starter next year if no long term deal is worked out

Yes, tender everyone. Just because Dallas tenders them doesn't mean Dallas has to keep them, since the money's not guaranteed.

 

[Eskimo]

Yes, tender everyone. Just because Dallas tenders them doesn't mean Dallas has to keep them, since the money's not guaranteed.

We'd be foolish not to tender him at least the 2nd round level as we would get a much needed pick if anyone tried to poach one of our players.

 

[gimmesix]

We'd be foolish not to tender him at least the 2nd round level as we would get a much needed pick if anyone tried to poach one of our players.

I still say go for a first-round tender on Spears, because he's a starter. The price isn't very high, and we're likely to only use it as a steppingstone to a long-term deal anyway (although I could live with just letting him play out the tender and continue looking to upgrade with an all-around DE).

Last year, we did the second-round tenders on all our RFAs because it really wasn't that different than giving them a low tender. I feel the same way this year. Give any starters first-round tenders and all the backups second-round tenders. (Franchise Austin if we can't come to an agreement, because I think some team will steal him even if we give him the highest tender.)

Bring our team back to camp and allow competition to determine if they are replaced on the roster or not.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Whats your plan then, tender everyone but Hatcher? Then Jones steps in as starter next year if no long term deal is worked out

tender all of them, and have them all battle it out for roster spots

heck, why not? we tendered Cory Proctor

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Richard Seymour

3 yrs 30 mil. 20 guarenteed.

Let's get it done.

 

[gimmesix]

Richard Seymour

3 yrs 30 mil. 20 guarenteed.

Let's get it done.

Seymour is the type of upgrade we should be looking for, a player who is strong against the run but also effective as a pass rusher. I would be concerned that some wear and tear is beginning to show, though.

The Patriots dumped him on Oakland after a back injury sidelined Seymour for the final game of the 2008 season, and he's had several other "minor" injuries that might be wearing him down.

Would be worth the risk at the right price, though.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

tender all of them, and have them all battle it out for roster spots

heck, why not? we tendered Cory Proctor

Im still not into a DE until late. I just had no beef w/ the DL and Dixons ready to make his move.

I see the point though, theres no guarantee Spears will come cheap this time next year.

 

[newlander]

igor like deal it is. he's solid but not spectacular. nothing more,nothing less.

 

[RS12]

A second round tender is far from reasonable. 5 years, $25M is probably reasonable.

Says who?

 

[CATCH17]

He deserves a fair deal. I think he is a 4 mill a year player.

 

[WoodysGirl]

After looking at this old Canty thread, looks like they were willing to give him something in the range of 6m per year. Not unreasonable to offer something similar to Spears.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147651&highlight=Dallas+offer+Canty

 

[Eskimo]

Richard Seymour

3 yrs 30 mil. 20 guarenteed.

Let's get it done.

This is overpaying for past performance and we've made this mistake many times before. Seymour isn't that much better a player than Spears at this point and there is a good chance he will be the better player 4 years out from now. If we want to go for a more expensive DE, re-signing Spears makes the most sense. Also, never bet against the Patriots letting a player go - they wouldn't let him go if they thought he was going to be a dominant DE the next 4 years.

If we are spending big money in FA it better be at OL or an ILB of superior athletic type ability (think Patrick Willis, Urlacher, James Farrior) and some pass rush ability.

 

[CATCH17]

This is overpaying for past performance and we've made this mistake many times before. Seymour isn't that much better a player than Spears at this point and there is a good chance he will be the better player 4 years out from now. If we want to go for a more expensive DE, re-signing Spears makes the most sense. Also, never bet against the Patriots letting a player go - they wouldn't let him go if they thought he was going to be a dominant DE the next 4 years.

If we are spending big money in FA it better be at OL or an ILB of superior athletic type ability (think Patrick Willis, Urlacher, James Farrior) and some pass rush ability.

Yeah Spears is 26 and home grown.


Seymour is a fantastic player but give me Spears for the price and youth.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Let Spears play for $2.4 mil next year. Maybe add some incentives to the pot. If he gets 8 sacks, another $2 million.

 

[TheCount]

I KNEW he'd bring up Ware's contract.

Either way, I'd keep Spears as long as he is reasonable about his value.

 

[jobberone]

Spears is fine. They aren't going to look at Seymour IMO. I'm not certain they are going to want to mess with what is a pretty successful rotation.

I wonder how they feel about Dixon, Bowen or Hatcher as the starter.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I KNEW he'd bring up Ware's contract.

Either way, I'd keep Spears as long as he is reasonable about his value.

When Canty was here, he brought up Ratliff and Crayton.

They see how the Cowboys do business. If they really feel you're a key player, you don't make it to free agency.

It doesn't mean they don't think well of the player, but they won't have a problem letting the market dictate their decision on the player.