ESPN Mosley: Could Dallas be in Austin's rearview mirror?

[SDogo]

February 18, 2009 10:54 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

In case you missed it, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald had a blog item on Cowboys restricted free agent Miles Austin earlier in the week. He thinks there's a chance the Miami Dolphins might make a play for Austin.
Austin

As Salguero points out, there are some poison pills the Dolphins could put in the contract to make it difficult for the Cowboys to match the offer. I know that Bill Parcells and general manager Jeff Ireland love Austin's potential, but I'd be surprised if they did something to put the Cowboys in a bad situation. Because of their familiarity, the Dolphins and Cowboys have tried to work together.

The Cowboys think too highly of Austin not to protect him. But the fact that he wasn't drafted actually makes it more difficult to make that happen. We'll keep you posted.

Austin is a high character player with immense physical tools. He's ready to be a No. 3 receiver for the Cowboys and he could easily become a No. 2 receiver for the Dolphins. Cowboys receivers Sam Hurd and Patrick Crayton hang on Terrell Owens' every word. To his credit, Austin didn't pick sides in the T.O.-Jason Witten dispute. He keeps his mouth shut and constantly works to get better.

The Cowboys can't afford to lose players like him.

 

[Woods]

Dear Mr. Mosley,

We will not lose Austin unless JJ wants to lose Austin.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

If we lose him...we get draft pick(s) once they put the tender on him. If they are willing to let him go it would mean that they don't want to match the offer from another team and they still get something in return.

Guess it depends on how badly another team (dolphins) want him and how bad the cowboys want him....either way it seems we get something out of it.

 

[TheCount]

How did this get turned into yet another T.O. issue? These guys just can't write a Cowboys article without mentioning the guy.

As far as Austin, he should be the #3 this year, but if we lose him for a 2nd round pick, I'm fine with that.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The Cowboys think too highly of Austin not to protect him. But the fact that he wasn't drafted actually makes it more difficult to make that happen. We'll keep you posted.

Come on now, Mosley. You know that's not true.

 

[theogt]

Come on now, Mosley. You know that's not true.

Yeah, I was trying to figure out what that was about. If anything him not being drafted makes us more likely to protect him, since it'd mean we don't get anything in compensation because we'd get no compensatory draft picks.

 

[AbeBeta]

Yeah, I was trying to figure out what that was about. If anything him not being drafted makes us more likely to protect him, since it'd mean we don't get anything in compensation because we'd get no compensatory draft picks.

I think he's just referring to how we need to make a higher tender than lowest level -- the lowest level for say, Canty last year would have got a 4th if we didn't match, whereas the lowest tender for Austin nets nothing but the right to match.

He just didn't write that very well. Actually, he wrote it in a way that makes you have to read his next article for clarification, so maybe that is the point.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

If we lose him...we get draft pick(s) once they put the tender on him. If they are willing to let him go it would mean that they don't want to match the offer from another team and they still get something in return.

Guess it depends on how badly another team (dolphins) want him and how bad the cowboys want him....either way it seems we get something out of it.

O, have we not been down that slippery path before?
Lose/tradde a player only to have to go to the draft and then groom somebody else for 2-3 years?
We've already done that with Fasano/Bennett. We took one step back and then one step forward. With Martellus, the gamble might eventually pay off, but it's a slipper slope.
I believe in the draft. And I believe in keeping them and grooming them and letting them play for us -- not somebody else looking for a seasoned veteran.

Will the Dolls go after Austin? O, you betcha!
Will Jerra cave? Well, dangle some "big names" in front of him and anything is possible.

Oh, yea, Jerra, let's lose ourn youn'uns so we can get over-the-hill high-priced thugs/galloots here. Let's bring in the Lewises, the Haynesworths of the world. Yeah, that will work.

 

[Rack]

If we lose him...we get draft pick(s) once they put the tender on him. If they are willing to let him go it would mean that they don't want to match the offer from another team and they still get something in return.

Guess it depends on how badly another team (dolphins) want him and how bad the cowboys want him....either way it seems we get something out of it.

It would be STUPID to let him go. We don't need any more draft picks and it's not likely we'll find an equal replacement for Austin in the later rounds.


It's simple. Pay him, keep him.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Why is it that Miami will not go after Sam Hurd? He's also a RFA and Dallas isn't going to put a 2nd round tender on him for certain. They can get him for free.

 

[speedkilz88]

If you expect him to be the #3 wr next season then you tender him the 2nd round compensation tag. Its really not that difficult Mosely.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

It would be STUPID to let him go. We don't need any more draft picks and it's not likely we'll find an equal replacement for Austin in the later rounds.


It's simple. Pay him, keep him.

Hence the reason I said...

Guess it depends on how badly another team (dolphins) want him and how bad the cowboys want him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It's simple. Pay him, keep him.

That sounds like a simple solution to me.

Instantly eliminates all rumors.

 

[1fisher]

"He keeps his mouth shut and constantly works to get better."

I wish OTHERS would learn how to do this!

 

[Stash]

Why is it that Miami will not go after Sam Hurd? He's also a RFA and Dallas isn't going to put a 2nd round tender on him for certain. They can get him for free.

There's the guy I would expect to land in Miami.

The Cowboys will simply give Austin the second round tender, or better yet, sign him to a multi-year deal and dump Crayton after the '09 season.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I think it's obvious Dallas puts at least a 2nd round tender on him, but Good Lord do they ever have an inordinate amount of resources and money allocated to the WR position if they do. Especially when you add the TEs to the mix. If Garrett has another year like last year he should be banned from wearing a headset for life.

 

[Verdict]

I think if the Cowboys think Austin has the potential to be the #2, they will definitely resign him to a multi year deal. If he becomes the #2, then he will be a very cheap #2, since he has had limited playing time.

If the Cowboys think that he is a future #2 then there is NO WAY they let him walk away for a 2nd rounder.

 

[dbair1967]

If Jerry were smart, we'd qualify Austin at the highest tender, insuring we keep him. Cut TO, let Austin and Crayton battle for #2 WR spot. If Austin has a quality year you can then sign him long term and know what you have.

But Jerry isn't smart, so he'll keep 35 year old WR Owens, qualify Austin at the 2nd rd tender, watch as another team happily gives up the 2nd to get him, we'll get one so-so year out of TO, other team gets a productive WR with a lot of big play potential. We get a late 2nd rd pick, which could easily be the next Jacob Rogers. And we have a gaping hole next year and beyond at one WR spot.

 

[Stash]

If Jerry were smart, we'd qualify Austin at the highest tender, insuring we keep him. Cut TO, let Austin and Crayton battle for #2 WR spot. If Austin has a quality year you can then sign him long term and know what you have.

But Jerry isn't smart, so he'll keep 35 year old WR Owens, qualify Austin at the 2nd rd tender, watch as another team happily gives up the 2nd to get him, we'll get one so-so year out of TO, other team gets a productive WR with a lot of big play potential. We get a late 2nd rd pick, which could easily be the next Jacob Rogers. And we have a gaping hole next year and beyond at one WR spot.

And I thought I was 'Mr Sunshine' around here!

Yikes!

:laugh2:

 

[Hoofbite]

It would be STUPID to let him go. We don't need any more draft picks and it's not likely we'll find an equal replacement for Austin in the later rounds.

It's simple. Pay him, keep him.

I agree. Developing talent just to let it walk out of town is stupid.