ESPN MacMahon: Cutting Barber makes sense for Cowboys

[Cover 2]

It's good to see people are coming around to getting rid of Barber. I love what he has done for the team, but we can't keep people around based off of past accomplishments.

 

[Doomsday101]

If someone was making an offer for Barber I would at least listen to the offer outside of that no I could not just release him.

 

[SnakePliskin]

Dumb premise. Why cut him - trades do occasionally occur.

Probably more trades this year since a lot of prime free agents are going to be restricted. Also, the top 8 teams are going to have to rely mostly on trades and the draft to improve because of the restrictions. I feel that this year will bring quite afew trades.

 

[Woods]

If someone was making an offer for Barber I would at least listen to the offer outside of that no I could not just release him.

I feel the same way.

I think as a "closer" he could really add a lot to this team.

I just think we're so close to making a legit run for the Super Bowl, and I still think Barber is a quality player (when healthy), and if he's used in the right situation, he adds a different kind of dimension to the offense.

With our RBs, Felix is the home run threat and adds the speed dimension. Choice is a very good back with all-round skills. MBIII is the guy you want to use when you want to play more physical, smash mouth football.

When used properly, these RBs can play any type of football on offense that we want to depending on the opponent.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I feel the same way.

I think as a "closer" he could really add a lot to this team.

I just think we're so close to making a legit run for the Super Bowl, and I still think Barber is a quality player (when healthy), and if he's used in the right situation, he adds a different kind of dimension to the offense.

With our RBs, Felix is the home run threat and adds the speed dimension. Choice is a very good back with all-round skills. MBIII is the guy you want to use when you want to play more physical, smash mouth football.

When used properly, these RBs can play any type of football on offense that we want to depending on the opponent.

One of the variables in all this is MB3 himself.

At some point there will be a "Coming to Jesus" meeting between Barber/Phillips/Jones, where Barber will be told that he's no longer the starting RB on this team.

And that may set OK with him OR it may not.

Once you've been the #1 guy, and you're still in your 20's, that you're no longer the #1 guy, you may not take it so well.

Publicly Barber wouldn't say anything about it. Behind the scenes he may say a lot more.

That in itself could propel his exit from the team. It could be something that BOTH sides end up desiring.

I'm just throwing percentages out here, but I'm thinking it's 50/50 that he won't be on the team next year.

 

[Woods]

One of the variables in all this is MB3 himself.

At some point there will be a "Coming to Jesus" meeting between Barber/Phillips/Jones, where Barber will be told that he's no longer the starting RB on this team.

And that may set OK with him OR it may not.

Once you've been the #1 guy, and you're still in your 20's, that you're no longer the #1 guy, you may not take it so well.

Publicly Barber wouldn't say anything about it. Behind the scenes he may say a lot more.

That in itself could propel his exit from the team. It could be something that BOTH sides end up desiring.

I'm just throwing percentages out here, but I'm thinking it's 50/50 that he won't be on the team next year.

Well, if your scenario that he may want to be the starter is correct, then I would agree, and the Cowboys and MBIII should part ways.

That said, and I could be completely off, but Barber seems the type who is a team player, and he's used to sharing snaps (whether in college or earlier in his pro career).

I have to say that according to various reports, the Cowboys are looking at atleast 1 RB (mid-rounds) at the Senior Bowl, so maybe you're right. The Cowboys are covering their bases just in case . . . .

I just think we've got incredible depth at the RB position, we've got 6 draft picks this year, and we need help/depth on the OL, Secondary for sure. And we could probably use one more ILB and maybe DL.

I hope it's those positions where we end up using our picks, in whatever order.

 

[EPL0c0]

WHY is (almost) everybody so intent on ditching the QUALITY DEPTH at the RB position??

With the talent at RB that Dallas has, it shouldn't be a matter of who's starting and who's not. It should be a matter of Jason Garrett being able to scheme and committ to a gameplan that takes full advantage of all 3 of their (different) abilities.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I cant believe people are even considering this. Barber is still a beast and remember he wasnt given many carries to get things going.

Forget about what you paid him and put him in HIS situations where he was a back that provided PRODUCTION/TD's and not quantity of plays.

2nd half carries/closer.

Unreal.

 

[bbgun]

WHY is (almost) everybody so intent on ditching the QUALITY DEPTH at the RB position??

With the talent at RB that Dallas has, it shouldn't be a matter of who's starting and who's not. It should be a matter of Jason Garrett being able to scheme and committ to a gameplan that takes full advantage of all 3 of their (different) abilities.

Not me. If the choice is between keeping him or releasing him for nothing, I'll go with the former. On the other hand, if releasing him means freeing up $ for potential free agents or trade acquisitions, then I'm all ears.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Not me. If the choice is between keeping him or releasing him for nothing, I'll go with the former. On the other hand, if releasing him means freeing up $ for potential free agents or trade acquisitions, then I'm all ears.

OR alleviating discontent in the RB ranks.

Let's not kid ourselves; having depth at the running back position isn't the same as having good depth at corner or the offensive line.

I think there is only one thing worse than having not enough talent at RB and that's having too much.

It just doesn't work long-term. I watched the Herschel/Dorsett thing play out and I've seen how it works around the league. Two good running backs is fine & dandy. Three is one too many.

 

[bbgun]

OR alleviating discontent in the RB ranks.

Let's not kid ourselves; having depth at the running back position isn't the same as having good depth at corner or the offensive line.

I think there is only one thing worse than having not enough talent at RB and that's having too much.

It just doesn't work long-term. I watched the Herschel/Dorsett thing play out and I've seen how it works around the league. Two good running backs is fine & dandy. Three is one too many.

Except that the guy everyone wants to elevate to the starter's job (Felix) can't stay healthy. I also wonder how effective Choice will be if he's forced to do more of the heavy lifting. I care about depth, not their bruised egos.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Except that the guy everyone wants to elevate to the starter's job (Felix) can't stay healthy. I also wonder how effective Choice will be if he's forced to do more of the heavy lifting. I care about depth, not their bruised egos.

Choice had what 700 attempts and almost 3500 yards in college. Sounds like he can carry the load.

On top of that we've had the rumors already about the Cowboys being interested in drafting another back come April.

Depth is fine & dandy, but you aren't paying a guy $12 mil over the next two years to be either a #2 or worse, the #3.

You may not care about bruised ego's & budgets but they are a fact of life... And they do influence.

 

[bbgun]

Choice had what 700 attempts and almost 3500 yards in college. Sounds like he can carry the load.

He also had one concussion for sure and had his bell rung in the Philly playoff game.

On top of that we've had the rumors already about the Cowboys being interested in drafting another back come April.

But we don't know if that mystery candidate can play.

Depth is fine & dandy, but you aren't paying a guy $12 mil over the next two years to be either a #2 or worse, the #3.

Yet JJ's prepared to bring RW11 back despite the fact that he's more expensive than Marion and less productive at what he does. Jerry is anything but predictable.

You may not care about bruised ego's & budgets but they are a fact of life... And they do influence.

I don't see the parallels to 1986/1987. Dorsett and Walker were alpha studs, whereas the present day backs are more or less interchangeable. Nor have I heard any whispers of discontent.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

He also had one concussion for sure and had his bell rung in the Philly playoff game.



But we don't know if that mystery candidate can play.



Yet JJ's prepared to bring RW11 back despite the fact that he's more expensive than Marion and less productive at what he does. Jerry is anything but predictable.



I don't see the parallels to 1986/1987. Dorsett and Walker were alpha studs, whereas the present day backs are more or less interchangeable. Nor have I heard any whispers of discontent.

Think what you want, but if Barber goes bye-bye, don't say you haven't been warned.

 

[Eskimo]

WHY is (almost) everybody so intent on ditching the QUALITY DEPTH at the RB position??

With the talent at RB that Dallas has, it shouldn't be a matter of who's starting and who's not. It should be a matter of Jason Garrett being able to scheme and committ to a gameplan that takes full advantage of all 3 of their (different) abilities.

No, Garrett would much rather play a hurt Barber than a healthy Felix. This has been shown time and time again.

 

[dbair1967]

So true.

People here are way over-estimating his trade value.

I think Jerry will cut him.

And I'm ok with that.

He definitely has no trade value IMO.

I dont know for sure if he'll be cut, but if he is I'm fine with it. Jones and Choice need to be getting most of the carries now, and we can find a decent 3rd back in the draft.

Of course you wait and see, if we cut him and he goes somewhere and does anything decent, Jones will be ripped left and right for it. Even though cutting him IS the right thing to do IMO.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Think what you want, but if Barber goes bye-bye, don't say you haven't been warned.

That sounds like a "be careful what you ask for" type of statement.

 

[Eskimo]

He definitely has no trade value IMO.

I dont know for sure if he'll be cut, but if he is I'm fine with it. Jones and Choice need to be getting most of the carries now, and we can find a decent 3rd back in the draft.

Of course you wait and see, if we cut him and he goes somewhere and does anything decent, Jones will be ripped left and right for it. Even though cutting him IS the right thing to do IMO.

Cutting him isn't so much an indictment of Barber's ability as I still think he can play RB. It is an indictment of his contract which vastly overrates his ability and you have GM Jerry to blame on that one. Just because the Falcons gave Turner that contract doesn't mean we had to do the same thing with Barber. Turner was a UFA whereas Barber was a RFA - there is a big difference between those stages of a player's career and what the typically earns.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

That sounds like a "be careful what you ask for" type of statement.

LOL!

Hey, it's just a no-win situation for Barber at this point. He excelled early on in his career and was given a huge contract probably a bit too soon. But that's how the NFL works. Now he's expected to perform to that contract. He probably puts a lot of pressure on himself and no doubt the fan base does too... Even Jerry is sounding like he doesn't believe that Barber is a 200 carry a year guy.

The result is Barber is getting paid as a #1 and not performing to that standard.

The difference between he and RW11 is that Barber has one guy behind him who has shown that he's superior. RW11 doesn't have that pressure– yet.

I'll be cool with it either way.

The ultimate success of this team will depend less on the running backs and more on the future make-up and performance of the offensive line.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Jones and Choice will be a deadly combo. Barber is holding everything back IMO. He'll never break a 30 yarder. He doesn't even get short yardage. It's actually hurting the team when he's getting touches.

Get Ben Tate in the 4th. Dude is a beast from Auburn!