News: ESPN: Cowboys deals so far have been cost effective

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Cowboys' deals so far have been cost effective

Rolando McClain carries the biggest cap figure at $3.375 million, but his deal is tied to him being on the field. AP Photo/Brandon Wade
10:31 AM ET

Todd ArcherESPN Staff Writer

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys' exploration into free agency this year has not been flashy but it has been cost effective.

Of their seven signings, Rolando McClain, Cedric Thornton, Morris Claiborne,James Hanna and Kyle Wilber can be called major contributors for the roles they will play on offense, defense and special teams in 2016.

Those players combined to chew up less than $12 million in salary-cap space in 2016, according to a source.

McClain carries the biggest cap figure at $3.375 million, but his deal is tied to him being on the field. He received a $750,000 signing bonus and has a $1.25 million base but he needs to be on the 46-man roster for every game to earn $2 million in roster bonuses. McClain can earn an extra $1 million through play-time incentives.

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[MichaelWinicki]

That's pretty good cap/contract management.

 

[dogunwo]

That's pretty good cap/contract management.

Do we get cap credit back should McClain not be active for whatever reason? This deal looks amazing now and I don't see how any one could complain considering what his potential is and the contract protection for injury AND idiocy.

 

[YosemiteSam]

https://lh3.***BROKEN***/-vY8nLxgxZa0/VuZBNIocf6I/AAAAAAAE1s8/_cKf-1D7Exo/w346-h192/17URL.gif

 

[davey999]

Archer seems to be a shill for the organization right now.

 

[Nation]

Do we get cap credit back should McClain not be active for whatever reason? This deal looks amazing now and I don't see how any one could complain considering what his potential is and the contract protection for injury AND idiocy.

Yes. Teams each year have what they call LTBE (likely to be earned) and NLTBE (Not likely TBE) bonuses. If one is deemed LTBE it would be part of the 2016 Cap and then if the player doesn't hit those they'd get a credit on the cap in 2017. For the NLTBE you don't have them on your 2016 number but if a player hits them anyways they come off your 2017 number.

 

[Alexander]

Archer seems to be a shill for the organization right now.

Spagnola needs to watch his back.

 

[erod]

Still wish they would have ponied up for Lamar Miller to save a high draft pick for something else.

 

[Sydla]

Do we get cap credit back should McClain not be active for whatever reason? This deal looks amazing now and I don't see how any one could complain considering what his potential is and the contract protection for injury AND idiocy.

The only small complaint I can come up with on McClain is that last year he made $3MM with incentives and probably didn't do enough to warrant a 66% pay raise but as I said, it's a small complaint.

Bigger picture, it does seem we have done a decent job resigning some guys and adding Thornton to solid, reasonable deals.

But other than Thornton........... have we gotten better?

 

[erod]

Spagnola needs to watch his back.

I think I saw Mick at the pro shop ordering extra jerseys and pom-poms this morning. Gotta shore up his base.

 

[Risen Star]

The only small complaint I can come up with on McClain is that last year he made $3MM with incentives and probably didn't do enough to warrant a 66% pay raise but as I said, it's a small complaint.

Bigger picture, it does seem we have done a decent job resigning some guys and adding Thornton to solid, reasonable deals.

But other than Thornton........... have we gotten better?

You can also say maybe you just don't want that kind of player in your locker room.

 

[dogunwo]

The only small complaint I can come up with on McClain is that last year he made $3MM with incentives and probably didn't do enough to warrant a 66% pay raise but as I said, it's a small complaint.

Bigger picture, it does seem we have done a decent job resigning some guys and adding Thornton to solid, reasonable deals.

But other than Thornton........... have we gotten better?

I think we are better on defense, even with the uncertainty at the CB position. Jones moving to Safety make that unit better (Church is better than people give him credit for), the LB Corp is solid and DL is the same for the most part. I like our chances to get Jack Crawford back. On offense, the are significant questions at all of the skill positions.

 

[Sydla]

I think we are better on defense, even with the uncertainty at the CB position. Jones moving to Safety make that unit better (Church is better than people give him credit for), the LB Corp is solid and DL is the same for the most part. I like our chances to get Jack Crawford back. On offense, the are significant questions at all of the skill positions.

The defense still has holes. Big holes.

 

[DenCWBY]

The only small complaint I can come up with on McClain is that last year he made $3MM with incentives and probably didn't do enough to warrant a 66% pay raise but as I said, it's a small complaint.

Bigger picture, it does seem we have done a decent job resigning some guys and adding Thornton to solid, reasonable deals.

But other than Thornton........... have we gotten better?

Thanks for the post because I feel the same way. For the most part it looks like we just put contracts together for what was a 4-12 team last year. I like the Thornton move so here's kudos for that.
Perhaps I'm off the reservation (which is nothing new) but it feels like we're in for another 8-8 season (at best) unless we have a windfall of very good contributors in the draft. So that leads me to hope that the FO will get it right and our coaches can improve the play of the veterans. This is where I have little to no confidence at all in this team. A lot of people just seem to be overly concerned about our cap budget and that's nice but when you have the same people in place running/coaching the team/organization, expecting different results, I think it's only wishful thinking that this team is anywhere near a playoff contender.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The defense still has holes. Big holes.

Panthers defense had holes in it as did the Bronco's. I think you are going to have holes in there but you need to be great around those holes. Not sure if we are. But like I said in another thread, there are some guys who should be progressing this year so if we get better years from Crawford, Lawrence, Gregory and Byron Jones? This team will already be better.

 

[superonyx]

Maybe one year we will go from the team who is the most frugal cap managers and instead become the team who wins the SuperBowl.

These offseason awards for cheapest franchise are great and all...but it hasn't produced the results the fans most desire.

 

[bigdnlaca]

I think we are better on defense, even with the uncertainty at the CB position. Jones moving to Safety make that unit better (Church is better than people give him credit for), the LB Corp is solid and DL is the same for the most part. I like our chances to get Jack Crawford back. On offense, the are significant questions at all of the skill positions.

I agree that Church is better and gets a lot of heat. However, the Cowboys haven't had that ball hawk Safety in a very long time and Church plays a lot better close to the line of scrimmage.

I don't mind Church being the Cowboys safety as long as he is used properly. However, I am just about done with JJ since Adams gave that half juke for a TD in the playoffs.

 

[Sydla]

Church is mediocre.

Why do you guys continue to settle for mediocrity? The Eagles have used Malcolm Jenkins in a similar role as Church, playing closer to the line, and yet he can actually cover people too.

Although I have little doubt Church will be back. He's a pet cat of Marinelli it seems. That kind of thinking got us a few years of Hayden getting punked at DT before someone slapped Marinelli upside the head. I was hoping they also smacked him for his choices in the secondary.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Archer seems to be a shill for the organization right now.

ESPN probably forced him to take speaking lessons, go look at his reports now where he is using the presidential hand while he speaks...lol.

They wanted him more professional during video reports as opposed to him and Jacques pontificating on the Cowboys with such a lack of professionalism.

The ESPN machine has taken Todd over completely at this point.

 

[MaineBoy]

so we are pretty good at being a mediocre football team in a cost effective way ? Congrats to us - I guess.