ESPN: A look at the Cowboys bargains

[jobberone]

A look at the Cowboys bargains
February, 7, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas – Earlier in the week Calvin Watkins brought you a post featuring the top-10 salary-cap figures for the Dallas Cowboys in 2014.

For some, it was a little depressing to see the cash and cap figures being sunk into some players that have not lived up to the billing.

In an effort to make you feel a little better, here are 10 bargains on the Cowboys roster.

Safety Barry Church ($1 million base salary, $1.5 million cap figure): He led the Cowboys in tackles in 2013 and was able come back after tearing an Achilles in 2012. The Cowboys were mocked by some when they gave Church an extension when he was hurt, but they have a starting player -- and good player at that -- at an excellent price.

Defensive end George Selvie ($730,000 base salary, $730,000 cap figure): Why are the numbers the same? The Cowboys did not give him a bonus when he joined the team in training camp last summer. They also locked him up for two years. Selvie had a career-high seven sacks last year and started every game. There’s a chance he could be the most decorated defensive linemen returning from 2013, which is also somewhat scary.

Running back DeMarco Murray ($755,469 base salary, $946,094 cap figure): He is coming off his first 1,000-yard season and his first Pro Bowl appearance. He is also entering the last year of his contract, which means he would be due for a pay raise depending on how 2014 plays out for him. This is great value for a player who means as much to the Cowboys as Murray. http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4724215/a-look-at-the-cowboys-bargains

 

[Fredd]

for some reason, I just thought that Church would have been far and away ahead of Selvie...at least in my mind a starter over a back-up (type)....interesting read on the list....but, some of them are going to get paid pretty soon and you will never see them on this list again (ex: Dez, Ty)

 

[starfrombirth]

for some reason, I just thought that Church would have been far and away ahead of Selvie...at least in my mind a starter over a back-up (type)....interesting read on the list....but, some of them are going to get paid pretty soon and you will never see them on this list again (ex: Dez, Ty)

I just don't see how we are going to be able to keep them with what the market is going to be for them. They are both top 5 at their positions and someone is going to pay them big time but our problem has been for awhile now, trying to pay our stars and then not be able to field a competent team around them. So fine, we get rid of Ware and upgrade the Dline and the rest of the defense. That puts us at roughly a wash. But then we have to pay Tyrone and Dez and maybe even Demarco.... now what? We hopefully have a decent defense but no offense. Man... these GM types get paid for a reason! Better them than me

 

[jobberone]

I just don't see how we are going to be able to keep them with what the market is going to be for them. They are both top 5 at their positions and someone is going to pay them big time but our problem has been for awhile now, trying to pay our stars and then not be able to field a competent team around them. So fine, we get rid of Ware and upgrade the Dline and the rest of the defense. That puts us at roughly a wash. But then we have to pay Tyrone and Dez and maybe even Demarco.... now what? We hopefully have a decent defense but no offense. Man... these GM types get paid for a reason! Better them than me

Which is why you have to keep reloading via the draft.

 

[Fredd]

I just don't see how we are going to be able to keep them with what the market is going to be for them. They are both top 5 at their positions and someone is going to pay them big time but our problem has been for awhile now, trying to pay our stars and then not be able to field a competent team around them. So fine, we get rid of Ware and upgrade the Dline and the rest of the defense. That puts us at roughly a wash. But then we have to pay Tyrone and Dez and maybe even Demarco.... now what? We hopefully have a decent defense but no offense. Man... these GM types get paid for a reason! Better them than me

To me, Ty is the bigger priority although I love Dez...they HOPEFULLY have a plan to keep them both, only an idiot would not think that far ahead.....oh wait....


and, the deal should be, sign your "franchise keepers", and build around them. The draft is the most viable way to bring in other talent that is relatively inexpensive (while on rookie contracts)......then, you do what you can to keep those studs and re-tool with the draft, rinse and repeat....

MUST have a philosophy other than to just keep re-upping aging players....

 

[DeaconMoss]

The smart move would be to move Dez for a 1st and a 3rd and maybe a player. Sell high. Sign Tyron at all costs. Try to keep Murray for a deal,or trade him also. we need depth and signing big name talent doesn't really make sense. We need a cheap movement. No more than we run the ball. Murray seems like a luxury signing.

 

[Nightman]

I just don't see how we are going to be able to keep them with what the market is going to be for them. They are both top 5 at their positions and someone is going to pay them big time but our problem has been for awhile now, trying to pay our stars and then not be able to field a competent team around them. So fine, we get rid of Ware and upgrade the Dline and the rest of the defense. That puts us at roughly a wash. But then we have to pay Tyrone and Dez and maybe even Demarco.... now what? We hopefully have a decent defense but no offense. Man... these GM types get paid for a reason! Better them than me

Dallas has always been able to pay their top guys. The way they structure contracts with large signing bonuses, the heavy caps hits don't come until years 3-5 of the deal. By that time other large cap hits will be gone. The problem is that their top guys have underperformed except for Ware, Romo and Witten. Barber, Ratliff, RWilliams, Newman, RWilliams and Austin didn't live up to their contracts. Spencer ate up 20m in cap space in 12-13 and only played one year.

They can 5 guys at 10m each= 50m (Romo, Ware, Austin, Carr, Witten)
Have 5 guys at 5m each= 25m (Lee, Scandrick, Free, Claiborne, Ratliff)
Have 12-16 guys at 1-4m= 35m (some Dead Money guys, Orton, Mack, TSmith, Bryant)
Have 5 guys at 1m= 5m
Have 23 guys at minimums= 15m

In a couple years, at least half of the Top 10 guys will be gone. The cap will go up steadily in the next few years(the TV deals are already signed), so they will have plenty of money to sign Ware and TSmith to big deals. Murray will have to take a lesser deal because RBs are too easy to find. Add a FA like Melton and a couple mid-level guys and they are on their way to rebuilding the D with a strong draft.

 

[CyberB0b]

The smart move would be to move Dez for a 1st and a 3rd and maybe a player. Sell high. Sign Tyron at all costs. Try to keep Murray for a deal,or trade him also. we need depth and signing big name talent doesn't really make sense. We need a cheap movement. No more than we run the ball. Murray seems like a luxury signing.

WRs don't trade for that, at all, unless it is Jerry Jones on the other side of the trade. You would be lucky to get a 2nd for Dez.

 

[Zekeats]

Don't let Jerry see this poll cause once he does all of these guys will be paid lovely

 

[Idgit]

for some reason, I just thought that Church would have been far and away ahead of Selvie...at least in my mind a starter over a back-up (type)....interesting read on the list....but, some of them are going to get paid pretty soon and you will never see them on this list again (ex: Dez, Ty)

Yep. Those two were also relatively expensive in terms of initial draft picks.

For my money, this was a pickem between Murray and Church.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Don't think rookie contracts should be in discussion really.

2 years / $1.36 million for Selvie was a steal. Just wish it was 3 years haha!

 

[Bluefin]

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

Running back DeMarco Murray ($755,469 base salary, $946,094 cap figure): He is coming off his first 1,000-yard season and his first Pro Bowl appearance. He is also entering the last year of his contract, which means he would be due for a pay raise depending on how 2014 plays out for him. This is great value for a player who means as much to the Cowboys as Murray. http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4724215/a-look-at-the-cowboys-bargains

DeMarco Murray will still be a bargain in 2014, but his base salary is going to increase as a result of meeting a clause in the CBA called the Proven Performance Escalator.

2014 is the first year this clause will be in effect, it rewards any player drafted in rounds 3-7 of the 2011 draft who outperforms their contract by playing in 35% of eligible snaps in two of three seasons or 35% cumulatively over all three seasons.

The PPE will increase the player's year four rookie salary (not including signing bonus) to equal the Right of First Refusal Amount for Restricted Free Agents in that league year ($1.389M).

Murray's 2014 cap number is going to increase to $1.554625M.

Murray is the only player to qualify for the PPE from the team's 2011 draft class.

 

[jnday]

I don't think Church is a bargain at all. As long as he is starting at the safety position, the position could always use an upgrade.

 

[JackWagon]

The smart move would be to move Dez for a 1st and a 3rd and maybe a player. Sell high. Sign Tyron at all costs. Try to keep Murray for a deal,or trade him also. we need depth and signing big name talent doesn't really make sense. We need a cheap movement. No more than we run the ball. Murray seems like a luxury signing.

the only GM that would do that deal for Dez already has him.

 

[Future]

Its too hard to make a call between Dez and Tyron. Both are absolute steals considering they are still on their rookie contracts, this will be a more useful poll after they both re-sign (I don't see Jerruh letting either get away).

 

[Direwolf63]

The fact the Archer had to put a long snapper on this list just shows how few real bargains there are on this team.

There are a lot more players playing below their salary level than there are playing above their salary level.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I don't consider rookie contract a bargain--they are what they are according to the CBA, so I vote for Stevie.

 

[DFWJC]

A Pro Bowl left tackle for 2 mil? We have a winner.