DMN Blog: When do the Cowboys look at a new deal for Jason Witten?

[Alexander]

When do the Cowboys look at a new deal for Jason Witten?
8:44 AM Tue, Apr 07, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer E-mail News tips
Kellen Winslow signed a six-year deal worth $36 million with Tampa Bay on Monday that included $20 million in guarantees.

Jason Witten signed a six-year deal worth $29 million with the Cowboys in 2006 that included a $12 million signing bonus.

He is signed through 2012 but it might be time for the Cowboys to look at re-doing Witten's deal now. I understand DeMarcus Ware is the top priority this off-season but Witten should be at the top of the "next" list.

He will earn a $2.5 million base salary this season followed by bases of $2.641 million, $3.391 million and $3.641 million. He is also due roster bonuses of $500,000 in 2010 and '11 and $1 million in 2012.

Witten has played in five straight Pro Bowls. No tight end has more 100-yard receiving games than his eight in franchise history. His 422 catches are the most by a tight end in team history and with another 80-catch or so season in '09 he will trail only Michael Irvin on the team's reception list.

Since 2006, only Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez has more catches and yards among tight ends. Gonzalez has 268 catches for 3,130 yards. Witten has 241 receptions for 2,851 yards. And Winslow has 214 catches for 2,612 yards and missed six games last year in Cleveland.

Another factor in a deal for Witten - he only turns 27 in May. Teams don't want to pay age and by the time Witten would reach the end of another contract he would be in his mid 30s. He's proven to be durable and willing to play in pain.

And remember this too - Jerry Jones has said in the past that Witten is among his top five favorite players.

 

[Vintage]

Well, if we re-do Wittens, we need to re-do Ratliffs, too.

Or... we could do neither, since they are signed long term and wait until they have a year left on their deal.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

They (the Cowboys) would be assinine to redo Witten's contract at this point. Talk about an open invitation to have everyone on the team line right up for a contract redo-- if they deserve it or not.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I'd forgotten he signed that deal in 2006. That means they won't need to address this for at least another 2 seasons. I imagine it will be 2011 before they even worry about the Witten deal, and that's how it should be.

 

[DasTex]

Signed thru 2012 and they need to rework it already?

Just because a player gets crazy money, who plays the same position, does not mean you need to reward your players w/ crazy money also, just so thats it's even.

Might as well line up the whole team

 

[OAM]

We got a good deal done with Witten. Remember, Winslow was playing on his rookie contract, albeit a top 10 pick contract, he still was outperforming it. Although I don't think he's worth his current contract that's a detail that's been left out. From what I remember Witten got a new deal because he was playing on his rookie contract, third round deal, that he clearly outperformed.

Jerry gave JW a new deal before he had to because JW deserved it. Every time another player at any given position gets a ridiculously overpaid contract doesn't mean it's necessary to give another new deal to your player in that same position. Ratliff is another good example and he just got a new deal. Like these guys signed and agreed to these deals just a couple of years ago. It was good then and they have agents advising them, it should be good now.

Jerry lost on the RW31 deal, that's no doubt and up until now has been losing on the Bradie James deal. He hasn't asked for any money back. Looks like he's losing on the Flozell and Hamlin deals right now too. So I don't think Jerry needs to give JW a new contract because he already has and JW agreed to it. Maybe 2 more years into his current deal if there are 5 TE's paid higher than him.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

We got a good deal done with Witten. Remember, Winslow was playing on his rookie contract, albeit a top 10 pick contract, he still was outperforming it. Although I don't think he's worth his current contract that's a detail that's been left out. From what I remember Witten got a new deal because he was playing on his rookie contract, third round deal, that he clearly outperformed.

Jerry gave JW a new deal before he had to because JW deserved it. Every time another player at any given position gets a ridiculously overpaid contract doesn't mean it's necessary to give another new deal to your player in that same position. Ratliff is another good example and he just got a new deal. Like these guys signed and agreed to these deals just a couple of years ago. It was good then and they have agents advising them, it should be good now.

Jerry lost on the RW31 deal, that's no doubt and up until now has been losing on the Bradie James deal. He hasn't asked for any money back. Looks like he's losing on the Flozell and Hamlin deals right now too. So I don't think Jerry needs to give JW a new contract because he already has and JW agreed to it. Maybe 2 more years into his current deal if there are 5 TE's paid higher than him.

I agree with you on the Adams and Hamlin contracts-- but the Brady James deal? 5 years/20 mil with 8 mil guaranteed -- I think based on today's salaries that James has played at or exceeded that contract over the last 2 seasons.

 

[lqmac1]

When do the Cowboys look at a new deal for Jason Witten?
8:44 AM Tue, Apr 07, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer E-mail News tips
Kellen Winslow signed a six-year deal worth $36 million with Tampa Bay on Monday that included $20 million in guarantees.

Jason Witten signed a six-year deal worth $29 million with the Cowboys in 2006 that included a $12 million signing bonus.

He is signed through 2012 but it might be time for the Cowboys to look at re-doing Witten's deal now. I understand DeMarcus Ware is the top priority this off-season but Witten should be at the top of the "next" list.

He will earn a $2.5 million base salary this season followed by bases of $2.641 million, $3.391 million and $3.641 million. He is also due roster bonuses of $500,000 in 2010 and '11 and $1 million in 2012.

Witten has played in five straight Pro Bowls. No tight end has more 100-yard receiving games than his eight in franchise history. His 422 catches are the most by a tight end in team history and with another 80-catch or so season in '09 he will trail only Michael Irvin on the team's reception list.

Since 2006, only Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez has more catches and yards among tight ends. Gonzalez has 268 catches for 3,130 yards. Witten has 241 receptions for 2,851 yards. And Winslow has 214 catches for 2,612 yards and missed six games last year in Cleveland.

Another factor in a deal for Witten - he only turns 27 in May. Teams don't want to pay age and by the time Witten would reach the end of another contract he would be in his mid 30s. He's proven to be durable and willing to play in pain.

And remember this too - Jerry Jones has said in the past that Witten is among his top five favorite players.

well i would'nt jump the gun untill after this season to see what he does without t.o and teams start doubling him.

 

[The30YardSlant]

well i would'nt jump the gun untill after this season to see what he does without t.o and teams start doubling him.

Doubling a tight end is not typically a good defensive strategy in the NFL :laugh2:

 

[Hoofbite]

Until a few players in the league start giving back huge paychecks after a year or two of crappy performance, I don't think any team should have to rework a deal before its half over.

The NFL is turning into the NBA with all the money being thrown around. Its getting ridiculous to even think about having to rework a deal just because some other guy around the league is now making more. Get a grip.

 

[Woods]

Until a few players in the league start giving back huge paychecks after a year or two of crappy performance, I don't think any team should have to rework a deal before its half over.

The NFL is turning into the NBA with all the money being thrown around. Its getting ridiculous to even think about having to rework a deal just because some other guy around the league is now making more. Get a grip.

I agree 100%.

 

[adamknite]

well i would'nt jump the gun untill after this season to see what he does without t.o and teams start doubling him.

The two seasons before TO got here Witten had 153 catches 1737 yards and 12 TD's.

I think he'll be just fine.

 

[magic-sword]

The Winslow contract is just plain stupid. Tampa's front office is getting ripped off. Winslow will be lucky to be in the NFL to complete the deal, the microfracture surgery and weakened knees will be his undoing.


I hate these contracts because it only takes one fool to get ripped off to set the entire League off kilter as far as value.

 

[gimmesix]

Another factor in a deal for Witten - he only turns 27 in May. Teams don't want to pay age and by the time Witten would reach the end of another contract he would be in his mid 30s. He's proven to be durable and willing to play in pain.

This is how you end up with dead money. Keep extending contracts instead of actually seeing if the player will be worth receiving more money when this one gets close to running out.

Witten is a great player, but this game can take a great player downhill in a hurry. There is no way to know at this point if Witten will still be around in his mid-30s, or still be playing well enough at that point. We hope he is, but there is no reason to take that risk at this point contractwise.

Plus, right now, we don't know how the labor negotiations are going to work out, so it's probably best to not touch any more contracts than necessary for the moment.

 

[skinsscalper]

I would re-do Ratliff's deal WAAAAAY before I would re-do Witten's.

If we're just going to re-do everyone's contract every time another player at their position gets a monster contract, then there's no sense in even sigining them to long term deals, give 2-3 year contracts and give yourself the leverage to cut the deadweight (i.e. Adams and Hamlin) without crippling your cap. These players don't seem to mind the deal when they signed for their OWN guaranteed money, yet the owners are all supposed to pony up everytime the Raiders, Skins, and Bucs of the world decide to lose their fricken minds. I'm not a fan of the dumbest of the pack actually leading the pack.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Witten probably doesn't even want a re-do right now

 

[Randy White]

Jerry lost on the RW31 deal, that's no doubt and up until now has been losing on the Bradie James deal. .

Michael Boley ( 27 years old ):

2/28/2009: Signed a five-year, $25 million contract. The deal includes $11 million guaranteed. 2009-2013: Under Contract, 2014: Free Agent

2005: 64 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 ints
2006: 87 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 ints
2007: 109 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 ints
2008: 73 tackles, 0 sacks, 1 int


Bart Scott ( 28 years old ):

2/27/2009: Signed a six-year, $48 million contract. The deal includes $22 million guaranteed. 2009-2013: Under Contract, 2014: "Dummy Year," 2015: Free Agent

2002: 4 tackles, 0 sacks, 1 int
2003: 22 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 ints
2004: 21 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 ints
2005: 94 tackles, 5 sacks, 0 ints
2006: 103 tackles, 10 sacks, 1 ints
2007: 94 tackles, 1 sack, 0 ints
2008: 83 tackles, 2 sacks, 0 ints


Bradie James ( 28 years old ):

2003: 13 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 ints
2004: 46 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 ints
2005: 93 tackles, 3 sacks, 0 ints
2006: 103 tackles, 0 sacks, 1 int
2007: 101 tackles, 3 sacks, 0 ints
2008: 117 tackles, 8 sacks, 0 ints

 

[Randy White]

Bradie James numbers to those of Scott and Boley and tell me again that Jerrah has been losing money with his contract.

 

[Randy White]

Until a few players in the league start giving back huge paychecks after a year or two of crappy performance, I don't think any team should have to rework a deal before its half over..

 

[arync]

Well, if we re-do Wittens, we need to re-do Ratliffs, too.

Or... we could do neither, since they are signed long term and wait until they have a year left on their deal.

Exactly, they should have threw away Greg Ellis's deal years ago. But they didn't and they shouldn't have which is why Witten doesn't deserve a new deal.

Also this blog doesn't make sense. he's 27 and signed through 2012 which would make him 30 when the contract is up. 30 does not = mid 30's by my math