Franchise Dez is the right move

[DBOY3141]

I don't think that would work out well for Dez. What's the message you send there? The Cowboys are already worried about Dez long term and big money. They are not unique in that regard. Every team in the NFL likely knows this and has a certain level of concern over the same thing. If Dez sat out, that would only add fuel to the fire. Now you worry about what happens with Dez if he is unhappy. Will he sit out the season?

I don't think that's a message Dez should send. The Cowboys are likely trying to figure out what Dez will do if they franchise him. Stephen didn't have to make that thought public knowledge. He likely did it to see how Dez would react. That will tell them where his head is at. If he reacts poorly, he will likely never see a big long term contract from Dallas. If he reacts positively, I'd bet the Cowboys will offer him a nice long term deal. I'm just guessing here but I'd bet that at least some of this is true.

I agree, but it's been proven time and time again that teams value winning over character. When Mike Vick goes to prison and gets released, then signs a big contract, that tells me everything I need to know about the NFL. It's about winning...period. Joey Galloway sat out half a season...JJ gave up two #1's for him. Someone would pay Dez big money if he hit the open market after sitting out a year...no doubt in my mind. Maybe the Cowboys wouldn't..but someone would.

 

[coult44]

The "socialist" mindset does not work here. Owners own and are price givers to employees (players). Players are price takers (employees)
who decide (if they can) whether to play for a salary or not. This is how it works in the working world and the players can always opt not
to play. I'm sure there are lots of job openings at parking garages and McDonalds for them since they are so skilled. There is no slavery
in America, only "free will" agreements between Owners & Players to play a game for so much money a game. That's
what free enterprise is all about. No player is forced to sign a contract to play...they can always opt to go to Canada too!!!

I completely agree with you in the real world. But, Don't confuse the NFL with the real world. You and I both know the contracts are garbage because of one major issue. The owners of NFL teams do not have to honor the contracts the players sign and agree to follow. They can rip them up at anytime they please, and not be on the hook for what they agreed to. In a real world situation, the owners would be forced to keep the terms of the agreements. Look at the NFL and compare it to MLB. With less variability in its revenue streams and a salary cap limiting player compensation, the N.F.L. structure tends to favor the owners. Meanwhile, the M.L.B. model leads to more revenue risk, and allows greater leverage and thus greater compensation for players. Pro football teams engage in a “national” business, with national broadcast rights making up the largest portion of their revenue stream. Basically, they operate in their own guidelines and you can't compare McDonalds employment agreements with contracts from the NFL.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I agree, but it's been proven time and time again that teams value winning over character. When Mike Vick goes to prison and gets released, then signs a big contract, that tells me everything I need to know about the NFL. It's about winning...period. Joey Galloway sat out half a season...JJ gave up two #1's for him. Someone would pay Dez big money if he hit the open market after sitting out a year...no doubt in my mind. Maybe the Cowboys wouldn't..but someone would.

Not always. I mean, I do agree with you, for the most part. It is about winning but it's also about cap structure. In a completely open market where there is no cap limit, I absolutely think it would play out the way you describe but in a league where you have hard caps, you have to be smart about where you put your money. You can't afford to lose cap on guys who are making up a large percentage of your operational cap.

 

[DBOY3141]

Not always. I mean, I do agree with you, for the most part. It is about winning but it's also about cap structure. In a completely open market where there is no cap limit, I absolutely think it would play out the way you describe but in a league where you have hard caps, you have to be smart about where you put your money. You can't afford to lose cap on guys who are making up a large percentage of your operational cap.

I'm playing devils advocate on this one. First, I'm completely on the Cowboys side. They have to look at the team and the long term. Dez is one piece, a big piece but you don't break the bank for a WR. I was just wondering what would be the ramifications if Dez didn't sign his tag and did hold out. I can only think that Galloway did it, but there may have been others. I'm thinking that JJ and Stephen down deep know, they have a great 2-3 year window here, that they would blink and cave to Dez's demands. I hope they wouldn't, but the thought of a 6th Lombardi may be to big for them.

 

[LittleD]

I completely agree with you in the real world. But, Don't confuse the NFL with the real world. You and I both know the contracts are garbage because of one major issue. The owners of NFL teams do not have to honor the contracts the players sign and agree to follow. They can rip them up at anytime they please, and not be on the hook for what they agreed to. In a real world situation, the owners would be forced to keep the terms of the agreements. Look at the NFL and compare it to MLB. With less variability in its revenue streams and a salary cap limiting player compensation, the N.F.L. structure tends to favor the owners. Meanwhile, the M.L.B. model leads to more revenue risk, and allows greater leverage and thus greater compensation for players. Pro football teams engage in a “national” business, with national broadcast rights making up the largest portion of their revenue stream. Basically, they operate in their own guidelines and you can't compare McDonalds employment agreements with contracts from the NFL.

Just like in our real world contracts without guarantees are not guaranteed contracts. It is employment at will and fire at will in the real world even if you have
a union contract especially if the company is in financial trouble. Bankruptcy courts break contracts all the time. There is no such guarantee as
a forever non-breakable contract.

 

[Nightman]

Just like in our real world contracts without guarantees are not guaranteed contracts. It is employment at will and fire at will in the real world even if you have
a union contract especially if the company is in financial trouble. Bankruptcy courts break contracts all the time. There is no such guarantee as
a forever non-breakable contract.

The salary cap has forced these bogus years to be added to contracts. They have to be able to pro-rate signing bonuses and restructures over 5 years, so they need the extra years. Players and agents know that most of the time it is the guaranteed money that is the most important thing. But if they insist on making a splash and announcing they signed the highest contract then they are almost setting their client up to be cut early.

If they signed deals like TSmith more players might see the end of their contracts.

But no one wants to be like the NBA or MLB where every penny is guaranteed the moment they sign the deal and they get it even if their effort and production falls off a cliff.

 

[supercowboy8]

Thanks. Just thinking if that was the case and Dez is pissed about the tag, he basically holds all the cards on a long term deal if he is willing to sit out the year. No way JJ fields a team in 2015 without Dez, knowing that's another year off the Romo clock. With the right FA's and draft, this team has a shot, but not without Dez.

If Dez wants to hold out the year then trade him. We don't need the BS. That doesn't help him in this. if you don't want to be tagged then sign the deal they offered you.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

It's funny. People are saying don't break the bank on a WR (whatever that means).

Then people turn around and say don't break the bank on a guy like Suh or Hardy.

So you pay QB and Tackle and End and just hoard the rest of your money? Stars get paid. Michael and Smith and Troy didn't play for chump change.

You pay peanuts you get monkeys.