Didn't notice this... I guess our offseason is going better than most realize

[fatboygixxer]

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4706998/deals-come-at-good-prices-for-cowboys

IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys’ deals with free agents Justin Durant and Will Allen chew up roughly $1.5 million in salary-cap space this year.

Durant received a two-year deal that included a $400,000 signing bonus and a $715,000 base salary this year and a $1.25 million base in 2014. He can earn more in ’14 based on incentives. Allen received minimum salary benefit contract worth $840,000 but it will count only $620,000 against the salary cap with a $65,000 signing bonus.

That’s two potential starters for half of the $3 million base salary they were set to pay Gerald Sensabaugh before he was cut. That’s two potential starters for less than they were set to pay Marcus Spears ($2 million) before he was cut. That’s not bad shopping in free agency.

Durant gives the Cowboys a veteran to play the strong side linebacker spot. Allen at least gives the Cowboys some cover at safety, but it’s more like SPF-15 when they need SPF-50 on a hot summer day. Safety will remain one of their top priorities entering the draft.

 

[DBOY3141]

I like the two signings. I would like to add Brandon Moore to play RG.

Go into the draft with a BPA approach for OL/safety/DL.

Health and OL play are keys to 2013.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

that's improvement jerruhhhh

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

David Moore ‏@DavidMooreDMN 16h
If you keep count _ that's what salary cap is all about _ Cowboys have re-worked 9 deals & cut 4 players for room to sign 2 stop-gap FAs.
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[Cowboys22]

I don't see how anyone could not like the signings at those prices and with the cap limitations the team was under. Two or three years ago equivalent free agents cost 3-4 times as much. Something strange is definately going on with this free agent market.

 

[Cowboys22]

David Moore ‏@DavidMooreDMN 16h
If you keep count _ that's what salary cap is all about _ Cowboys have re-worked 9 deals & cut 4 players for room to sign 2 stop-gap FAs.
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Thats not true at all. They had to fit a $10 million franchise tag salary in there as well for a very important player.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

David Moore ‏@DavidMooreDMN 16h
If you keep count _ that's what salary cap is all about _ Cowboys have re-worked 9 deals & cut 4 players for room to sign 2 stop-gap FAs.
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Um, I would say that making room to franchise Spencer was also kind of a big deal. What a silly tweet.

 

[Verdict]

With the free agent being a buyer's market we way overpaid to hold on to Spencer. That is why Spencer signed the franchise tender very early on this year as opposed to last year when he waited until right before the start of the draft to sign it.

Let's hope that we don't compound the mistake by over paying Spencer on a long term deal. Paying an exorbitant amount money to franchise him in what equates to a one year rental can be tolerated due to the risk of loss (injury or failing to play up to his contract) being on Spencer, rather than the team. At least he will be playing as hard as possible under the franchise tender because he will be playing to get a long term contract (and his big payday) next year.

 

[AmishCowboy]

I like the two signings. I would like to add Brandon Moore to play RG.

Go into the draft with a BPA approach for OL/safety/DL.

Health and OL play are keys to 2013.

Me too!

 

[Hoofbite]

If Allen is a potential starter than any player on the roster is a potential starter.

The guy's a career backup and role player.

 

[jobberone]

If we sign Moore then look for us to draft either Johnson or Watson at OT. Many have us taking Kenny at S but I think we can address S in the second or third. Either Johnson or Watson have the ability to move to LT if necessary IMO and of course Johnson is being looked at as a LT. But a year at RT would be a plus for him. Watson may turn out to be the best OT in the draft.

http://BAN-INCOMING-IN-3-2-1/draft2013OT.php

 

[DBOY3141]

If we sign Moore then look for us to draft either Johnson or Watson at OT. Many have us taking Kenny at S but I think we can address S in the second or third. Either Johnson or Watson have the ability to move to LT if necessary IMO and of course Johnson is being looked at as a LT. But a year at RT would be a plus for him. Watson may turn out to be the best OT in the draft.

http://BAN-INCOMING-IN-3-2-1/draft2013OT.php

Don't see a tackle in the 1st. I think they really like Parnell. I think Cooper is #1 and Vacarro is #2 on the board. If they trade back, I can see them going with Reid at safety.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Don't see a tackle in the 1st. I think they really like Parnell. I think Cooper is #1 and Vacarro is #2 on the board. If they trade back, I can see them going with Reid at safety.

I'd bet money they take a tackle high. They've worked out Fluker and Armstead.

 

[blackbull]

I'd bet money they take a tackle high. They've worked out Fluker and Armstead.

I wouldn't mind a tackle that's for sure. I'm nOt sold on a guy who can't unseat Doug free

 

[Doomsday101]

FA is going as I kind of expected it. decent FA pickups at low cost. Cowboys have said from the get go that their main focus will be the draft.

 

[xwalker]

I wouldn't mind a tackle that's for sure. I'm nOt sold on a guy who can't unseat Doug free

What do you call it when a player (Parnell) with Zero prior experience at the position in a real NFL games is alternated on an every other series basis with a veteran player (Free)?

I would call it unseating the veteran player.

 

[blackbull]

What do you call it when a player (Parnell) with Zero prior experience at the position in a real NFL games is alternated on an every other series basis with a veteran player (Free)?

I would call it unseating the veteran player.

I'm done with oline projects. Get Flucker and have your two tackles for the next five years. Parnell is an unknown. We need our offense to improve. Limit the amount of unknowns on offense.

 

[xwalker]

I'm done with oline projects. Get Flucker and have your two tackles for the next five years. Parnell is an unknown. We need our offense to improve. Limit the amount of unknowns on offense.

Parnell has blocked NFL pass-rushers at both LT and RT without getting Romo killed.

Fluker's ability to pass-block in the NFL is an unknown. Alabama didn't run anything close to an NFL passing offense.

FYI, it's Fluker not Flucker.

 

[fatboygixxer]

I'm done with oline projects. Get Flucker and have your two tackles for the next five years. Parnell is an unknown. We need our offense to improve. Limit the amount of unknowns on offense.

Parnell may be unknown to you, but not to our coaching staff. Just because YOU haven't seen aot of him from your couch on Sunday, doesn't mean he's unknown. BTW, when Parnell began rotating, our offense DID improve. Parnell not only played pretty well but elevated the play of Free. When Free saw his spot slipping away, he buckled down. Instead of cutting him he should be getting paid two checks. Parnell worked hard, and when his number was called-he did work. That's exactly the kind of player I want on my team..

and PS..ALL rookies are unknown until they step on the field at the NFL level. Ever hear of a draft bust???

 

[JD_KaPow]

Dallas has had a pretty consistent offseason approach in the Garrett era.

1. Cut old/expensive guys who aren't cutting it, whether or not that leaves holes (all the OL a couple years ago, Sensy this year)

2. Use FA to at least get a stop-gap for every hole, so as not to be forced to draft for need. (Coleman & Elam in 2011, Livings, Berny, Pool, Connor last year, Allen & Durant this year)

3. Draft BPA (at least in the first few rounds). The injured ILBs, Dez, Murray, Claiborne: none of them the obvious highest-priority needs, all of them seen as high-value.

4. Accept risk in the draft with injured players, don't accept risk with immature players. With the exception of Dez, these trends are obvious.

5. Get younger. A bit less clear that this is a key principle, but the one big FA signing, Carr, was a very young FA. Plus Tyron, obviously. And no old draftees like Newman that I can recall.

Love the approach, hate the approach, doesn't matter: it's what they do. In the first three rounds of the draft, they'll go BPA, period. If the picks match the needs, it will be because the strength of this draft tends that way, not because we're targeting positions.