Dez Pay cut coming?

[Jkyle]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Cowboys ask Dez to restructure his contract this coming offseason.
He has demonstrated that he is still a very good receiver but his production/abilities aren't at the elite level.
Some of it isn't his fault because the way our offense is structured, the #1 WR isn't the main focus. And there have been many instances where Dez hasn't taken advantage of his opportunities when the ball has been thrown to him.
Knowing Dez, he will not be a happy camper should that happen and cause a big ruckus.
But he won't have much to argue that a restructure isn't justified.
The Cowboys will have some big contracts to deal with; Martin, Irving, Lawrence, etc. so they will be looking for ways to deal with them.

 

[CATCH17]

He'd probably just leave and go to Green Bay and destroy us on a team that actually knows how to use a WR.

 

[John813]

Two of those potential big contracts, like Irving and Martin, we won't have to worry about till 2019.
You know Dez? Good to know. Tell him to take the pay cut then.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

He'd probably just leave and go to Green Bay and destroy us on a team that actually knows how to use a WR.

NE, GB, SEA, or NO and suddenly we would see a resurgence of Dez and a slew of people on this board saying they knew he never was "slowing down"

 

[superonyx]

Can we create a "Dez Is Underperforming and Makes Too Much Money" Zone?

 

[Aven8]

Dez is probably in too much hock to take a pay cut.

 

[Verdict]

I'm not sure what will happen with Dez contract wise. The most reasonable option would be a pay cut to more fall in line with his production. The Cowboys haven't restructured Dez during this contract and it's a contract that was a restructure candidate. I don't think the lack of restructuring is by accident.

That doesn't mean that the team intends to get rid of Dez but I think it definitely means they have kept their options open in that regard. It signals that the team isn't totally happy or secure with Dez under this contract but it may feel that way for unknown non performance based reasons.

I don't really believe Dez will take a pay cut to stay with Dallas since he held their feet to the fire and made them pay above market value for his services when the contract was signed. If he didn't give Dallas a hometown discount at the time the contract was signed it is probably unrealistic to believe he will willingly agree to take a pay cut.

I also don't think that the Cowboys will cut Dez prematurely before the expiration of his underperforming contract. He does score a few touchdowns and is paying some level of return. I think Jerry cares about what the fan base thinks and cutting Dez would piss off some of the Cowboys fan base, even if it was the smart move.

I think Dez plays out his contract here and won't be resigned is the most likely scenario.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

And why would Dez agree to this? IMO he’d rather be cut and sign up with a true contender. Have you seen the look he gives Dak after some of his throws?

 

[CowboyStar88]

Good god it never ends

 

[ElGatoGrande]

He'd probably just leave and go to Green Bay and destroy us on a team that actually knows how to use a WR.

and a true passer. Dez would be perfect for a QB like that.

 

[mardwin]

Dez is not living up to his contract. He's getting paid as an elite WR but playing at the level of a #2, not all his fault. The play calling that asks him to run straight deep routes is not helping, he should be exclusively running slants and post routes to allow him to get separation.

 

[CWR]

Dez is still a good wr but he may need to take a cut. We will need to resign our book ends and Martin. I hate to say it but this is a run oriented team and as much as we need Dez his importance isnt what it used to be, we saw that last year. Both Dez and Witten are not affordable at thier current salaries. I personally think they are Cowboys for life and will accept pay cuts in order to make a run. But that's only a guess on my part.

 

[jazzcat22]

He'd probably just leave and go to Green Bay and destroy us on a team that actually knows how to use a WR.

But his catches do not count in GB. Rodgers can't have that.

 

[jazzcat22]

Maybe it is Dez is just not living up to the over inflated extremely high exceptions of fans and many posters....seems everyone needs to do a pile on whining of a player(s).

Dez, Brown, J. Smith, B. Jones, Heath (well I agree there), Taco (standard rookie whining)
Anyone else?
coaching, but deserved
FO, for off season FA handling, deserved also but some from hindsight

 

[Verdict]

Dez is still a good wr but he may need to take a cut. We will need to resign our book ends and Martin. I hate to say it but this is a run oriented team and as much as we need Dez his importance isnt what it used to be, we saw that last year. Both Dez and Witten are not affordable at thier current salaries. I personally think they are Cowboys for life and will accept pay cuts in order to make a run. But that's only a guess on my part.

Witten might take a pay cut to continue to play to pad his stats, but he shouldn't be playing every down. It's absurd, really. His play doesn't merit it.

Garrett's biggest downfall is letting players like Witten decide how much they want to play when their play doesn't merit it. Forcing the ball to Dez is another.

 

[John813]

Dez is still a good wr but he may need to take a cut. We will need to resign our book ends and Martin. I hate to say it but this is a run oriented team and as much as we need Dez his importance isnt what it used to be, we saw that last year. Both Dez and Witten are not affordable at thier current salaries. I personally think they are Cowboys for life and will accept pay cuts in order to make a run. But that's only a guess on my part.

Irving will be tendered next year. So, bet on a 1st round tender for him for how well he has played since coming back. No need to give him a huge deal right away unless they are convinced another team will poach him/willing to give up a high pick.
UFA after the 2018 season

Martin is under contract till the end of the 2018 season. Any big deal comes into effect for the 2019 season and they can alter which years get the heavier cap hit if needed.

Lawrence obviously is an UFA at the end of this year, so, yes his salary will blow up one way or another next year.

Witten more than likely will retire at the end of the year. His contract extension wasn't a true extension that he would play out. He has zero guarantees after this year.

While Dez isn't playing at an elite level, there is no reason to force a take a pay cut or else to Dez this year/ upcoming offseason. Ideally he should, to help the squad get more talent-that is if we actually go after good FAs, but that's another topic.

 

[jazzcat22]

Are they really forcing the ball to Dez, Or is it another CZ urban legend whine deal.
Can a film guru look and see what other options were available on each of the plays.
sometimes that is just the play called, maybe someone missed an assignment causing it to seem that way, or didn't clear out a DB to allow Dez to do his job.

 

[LittleD]

Just looking at the tape, you have to realize that Dez was never a great wide receiver. He has great ball catching skills but, he
could never run great routes and did not have the acceleration to create separation. He has certainly regressed over the last two
years and is not worth the money being handed him. Witten was a great TE and does do about any dirty job asked of him to help
the team. He blocks on runs and does get open to catch the 9 year seam passes up the middle. I still have a feeling that both
players are on their last year with the team. If Dez does great on another team like Ware, great for him. We need a young, quick as
lightening WR to pair with Dak for the next 5 years. We need WR's who play to Dak's strengths not Romo's any longer.

 

[CWR]

Irving will be tendered next year. So, bet on a 1st round tender for him for how well he has played since coming back. No need to give him a huge deal right away unless they are convinced another team will poach him/willing to give up a high pick.
UFA after the 2018 season

Martin is under contract till the end of the 2018 season. Any big deal comes into effect for the 2019 season and they can alter which years get the heavier cap hit if needed.

Lawrence obviously is an UFA at the end of this year, so, yes his salary will blow up one way or another next year.

Witten more than likely will retire at the end of the year. His contract extension wasn't a true extension that he would play out. He has zero guarantees after this year.

While Dez isn't playing at an elite level, there is no reason to force a take a pay cut or else to Dez this year/ upcoming offseason. Ideally he should, to help the squad get more talent-that is if we actually go after good FAs, but that's another topic.

Good post. I couldn't care less about a pay cut if we can keep our studs.

 

[erod]

Dez minus Romo equals not much.