ESPN: Talks upcoming on Anthony Spencer

[jobberone]

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Dallas Cowboys will meet with the agent for linebacker Anthony Spencer during the NFL scouting combine this week in Indianapolis, a source close to the negotiations said.

The Cowboys and agent Jordan Woy have had minimal talks since the season ended about a new deal for Spencer, the free agent-to-be who was named to the Pro Bowl after a career-high 11 sacks in 2012, but that should pick up steam with free agency less than a month away.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story...s-meet-anthony-spencer-agent-indy-source-says

 

[LatinMind]

Of course theyre going to have talks. Every team does with their players. See where they are and what they're looking for. But i suspect when the team finds out what spencer wants, there wont be much more talking.

 

[Idgit]

Of course theyre going to have talks. Every team does with their players. See where they are and what they're looking for. But i suspect when the team finds out what spencer wants, there wont be much more talking.

They already know what he want's. It's not a mystery what top SOLB/DEs get paid in this league. And they certainly had a framework going into the season.

Listening to Woy discuss things, it sounds like we'll know in a week or so what we're likely to do on that front. He sounds optimistic, but guarded, about a deal getting done. That probably means we're in the same neighborhood on a deal, at least, and the question is whether or not the team wants to spend those resources at DE, or thinks it can get better value elsewhere.

 

[JeffInDC]

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Dallas Cowboys will meet with the agent for linebacker Anthony Spencer during the NFL scouting combine this week in Indianapolis, a source close to the negotiations said.

The Cowboys and agent Jordan Woy have had minimal talks since the season ended about a new deal for Spencer, the free agent-to-be who was named to the Pro Bowl after a career-high 11 sacks in 2012, but that should pick up steam with free agency less than a month away.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story...s-meet-anthony-spencer-agent-indy-source-says

The most I would offer is a deal averaging $10M (based on the "market prices"). If he gets a better offer than that, let him walk. He doesn't deserve more for only 1 real year of excellence. If he DOES walk, decide if Hatch/Crawford can do it, and decide this fast. If not, go offer Michael Bennett a deal at around $7-8M a year.

 

[superpunk]

The most I would offer is a deal averaging $10M (based on the "market prices"). If he gets a better offer than that, let him walk. He doesn't deserve more for only 1 real year of excellence. If he DOES walk, decide if Hatch/Crawford can do it, and decide this fast. If not, go offer Michael Bennett a deal at around $7-8M a year.

We gave Ware a 7 for 78 deal when he was 27. Granted it's still a sweet deal because he got 40 guaranteed and thats where the real issue is.

If we do more than 8 or so per for Spencer, with a deal any longer than 4 years (he's 30) and about 15 guaranteed (he's incredibly inconsistent) we are making a monster of a mistake.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

The most I would offer is a deal averaging $10M (based on the "market prices"). If he gets a better offer than that, let him walk. He doesn't deserve more for only 1 real year of excellence. If he DOES walk, decide if Hatch/Crawford can do it, and decide this fast. If not, go offer Michael Bennett a deal at around $7-8M a year.

I'm not sure why Bennett would be significantly cheaper than Spencer. Bennett is a very good run player, has similar pass rush ability, and is a couple years younger. Now, he's not as versatile. 3-4 teams would certainly value Spencer at a much higher price.

I think we ultimately lose him and sign/draft a guy to platoon with Crawford. This would be fine by me... avoid the crippling cost and see what we have in a promising 3rd round pick before sinking big resources on a guy that will never let him see the field.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The most I would offer is a deal averaging $10M (based on the "market prices"). If he gets a better offer than that, let him walk. He doesn't deserve more for only 1 real year of excellence. If he DOES walk, decide if Hatch/Crawford can do it, and decide this fast. If not, go offer Michael Bennett a deal at around $7-8M a year.

10 Million? Really?

 

[CowboysLaw87]

We gave Ware a 7 for 78 deal when he was 27. Granted it's still a sweet deal because he got 40 guaranteed and thats where the real issue is.

If we do more than 8 or so per for Spencer, with a deal any longer than 4 years (he's 30) and about 15 guaranteed (he's incredibly inconsistent) we are making a monster of a mistake.

I'm not an "all in" proponent of giving Spencer a massive contract, but your numbers are ridiculous. First of all, Spencer just turned 29, not 30. Next, look at the deals being signed around the league. Mario Williams, who's been plagued by injury and underachieving play, signed for $16M/year last year. You think Spencer is worth HALF of that? $15M guaranteed is what many rotational players are making. He's a high end starter coming off a Pro Bowl season. $8M/year with $15M guaranteed is wildly unrealistic.

 

[superpunk]

I'm not an "all in" proponent of giving Spencer a massive contract, but your numbers are ridiculous. First of all, Spencer just turned 29, not 30. Next, look at the deals being signed around the league. Mario Williams, who's been plagued by injury and underachieving play, signed for $16M/year last year. You think Spencer is worth HALF of that? $15M guaranteed is what many rotational players are making. He's a high end starter coming off a Pro Bowl season. $8M/year with $15M guaranteed is wildly unrealistic.

Well then let someone else have him.

He's had a season and a half's worth of games where he looked like a player that deserves a big payday. If someone else wants to give it to him, be my guest. How did Mario's contract work out for Buffalo this year? Do you think Houston was sad that they were able to use that money elsewhere and become an even better defense?

These are decisions that smart franchises, who trust themselves to be smart with money and replace talent, make all the time. We made a similar one last season, letting Laurent Robinson walk. Hopefully we show similar restraint with Anthony 20% Spencer.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

Well then let someone else have him.

He's had a season and a half's worth of games where he looked like a player that deserves a big payday. If someone else wants to give it to him, be my guest. How did Mario's contract work out for Buffalo this year? Do you think Houston was sad that they were able to use that money elsewhere and become an even better defense?

These are decisions that smart franchises, who trust themselves to be smart with money and replace talent, make all the time. We made a similar one last season, letting Laurent Robinson walk. Hopefully we show similar restraint with Anthony 20% Spencer.

I can't say I disagree. I imagine he's priced himself out of here, and good for him. I'm just saying that if those are your threshold numbers, then there's a 0% chance he returns. But I agree, I don't think we should roll out the treasury funds to bring him back. We can save the money, put ourselves in better financial position in the long run, get younger along that line, and collect a 3rd round comp pick in 2014 for our troubles.

 

[Idgit]

I'm not an "all in" proponent of giving Spencer a massive contract, but your numbers are ridiculous. First of all, Spencer just turned 29, not 30. Next, look at the deals being signed around the league. Mario Williams, who's been plagued by injury and underachieving play, signed for $16M/year last year. You think Spencer is worth HALF of that? $15M guaranteed is what many rotational players are making. He's a high end starter coming off a Pro Bowl season. $8M/year with $15M guaranteed is wildly unrealistic.

Woy's on record as of last week, saying it's going to be north of $9M. I think we're looking at a starting spot of $10-11M/year for the first three years, amortized over a 5 year term if we want to re-sign him. And, yes, I think that's too rich for our blood, unfortunately. Should have extended him two years ago when we had more leverage and we already knew he was a player.

 

[MissouriCowboy]

Spencer Agent

 

[CowboysLaw87]

Woy's on record as of last week, saying it's going to be north of $9M. I think we're looking at a starting spot of $10-11M/year for the first three years, amortized over a 5 year term if we want to re-sign him. And, yes, I think that's too rich for our blood, unfortunately. Should have extended him two years ago when we had more leverage and we already knew he was a player.

Interesting. That's about the ballpark I was thinking as well. Where did you see/hear Woy say this? Thanks.

 

[FLcowboy]

The most I would offer is a deal averaging $10M (based on the "market prices"). If he gets a better offer than that, let him walk. He doesn't deserve more for only 1 real year of excellence. If he DOES walk, decide if Hatch/Crawford can do it, and decide this fast. If not, go offer Michael Bennett a deal at around $7-8M a year.

Actually, Spencer has been one of the better players on defense the last few years. He's considered to be in the top echelon of run stopping SOLBs, and he played DE in college, so the transition won't be that hard.

Hatcher and Crawford might be candidates to take Spencer's place, but neither could have played SOLB, and Spencer is still the best player of the triumvirate. Frankly, I'd be more worried about Ware. He is wearing down physically.

 

[LatinMind]

10 Million? Really?

i think some team is going to pay him more. watch pittsburgh with this here.

 

[JeffInDC]

10 Million? Really?

Unfortunately, that's probably the market. Just like the CB's last year.

 

[TheSport78]

Let.him.walk

 

[Idgit]

Interesting. That's about the ballpark I was thinking as well. Where did you see/hear Woy say this? Thanks.

It was on a local radio interview back right before Valentines (Feb 11th/12th?). The jocks threw out $8M? $9M? And he responded 'more than that.' And then that he was cautiously optimistic a deal could get done. Not a lot to go on. I can dig up the link later when I've got a bit more time if you can't find it readily. It was really pretty much a surface conversation because we'd only had very preliminary talks at that point.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Unfortunately, that's probably the market. Just like the CB's last year.

Not in my opinion. I mean, I have no doubt that's what he's going to want. However, there is no way that I would do that. I mean, you could Franchise him for that.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

Not in my opinion. I mean, I have no doubt that's what he's going to want. However, there is no way that I would do that. I mean, you could Franchise him for that.

Only technically. With the tag, we'd actually be paying him 10.6M this year, and the cap hit would reflect that exactly. If we extend him, it might average 10M/year but a lot of it would be in that last year or 2 (which he may not see, or at which time the NFL salary cap will be much higher). The cap hit would be much lower these next couple of years. To me, we either lose him or extend him. The tag is a bit of a lose, lose.