Going all in

[Galian Beast]

Next year is the year for the Cowboys to go all in on.

I mentioned it before, but this is a good opportunity for Romo and Witten to take pay cuts. Again, not as a punishment, but as a way of pushing this team across the finish line and getting their names placed in history. They don't have to, but they should, if they want this team to win. Outside of that they should both be restructured.

You also want to restructure Smith, make Carr a June 1st cut, and don't pick up the option on Melton. You don't pick up the option on Free. Though I do think you may want to revisit both of those players in free agency.

Assuming you restructure Romo whether he takes a pay cut or not this would take us to 49 million dollars of cap space (assuming the cap is 143 million) for 2015. 8 million of that would be unavailable until after June.

You cut Dekoda Watson, Terrell McClain, Josh Brent, and you can bring that number to 52 million under the cap.

These moves aren't designed in order for us to super aggressive in free agency, rather they are designed to give us as much flexibility as we would need.

I would look at re-signing Doug Free to two years 7 million dollars.

I would offer Melton a similar deal to what he had this year, though with a smaller signing bonus, given the dead money of the failure of the first contract.

Henry Melton's cap hit for 2014 was actually only 2.359 million dollars, and the dead money we're looking at is only 750k. I think people are giving up on him too quickly, when a manageable deal can be made, especially a second year away from that ACL.

I think you have to resign Dez, which let's say for the sake of argument is 14 million per year. We give him 14 million per year, but we probably back load that so that we don't take much of a hit in 2015 and slightly more in 2016. His 2015 contract can still be pretty negligible depending on his signing bonus. I'll go more into detail on Dez's contract separately.

I don't think we'll have any trouble bringing players back who we want to bring back. It'll be about market value vs team value, I don't think the cap is much of a factor.

You basically have between 30 and 40 million (more or less depending on the cap size) dollars to maintain and upgrade the defense.

That should be good enough with guys like Lee coming back.

Thinking outside the box, I would actually approach Denver and see if they are interested in swapping 7th round draft picks to get Ware off their books. We could agree to pay some of his guaranteed money, and he would become a very nice rotational player for us. Certainly an upgrade from Spencer. Let's say between 3 and 5 million dollars.

You get Ware for super cheap and he is exclusively a 3rd down rusher, and we get one of our fan favorite players back for a super bowl run like he should have always been. You also get another defensive end in free agency and the draft.

You then have Ware, Lawrence, Free Agent DE, and Mincey.... not a bad deal in my opinion.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I believe we spend this offseason. Let it be wise.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Ehhh....I don't know about going all IN. Your team is young and built to contend with a few years. I think you want to create a solid foundation and culture here atleast for the next 4 years. Going all in like next year is it? Not sure how smart that is.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

We can get to close to 50M under the cap (iirc) just through restructures.

It is the time to go all in. But paycuts aren't happening.

I thought the Cowboys learned their lesson mishandling the cap with restructures....I sure hope they did.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We continue to do what got us to this point. Be free agent smart and draft solid guys.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I thought the Cowboys learned their lesson mishandling the cap with restructures....I sure hope they did.

Managing into an upward rising cap is smart.

 

[Idgit]

We'll add at least one fairly big named player to the DL. Then we'll nibble around the edges some more. Draft smart. Develop the players we've got. Take a shot maybe on a high risk guy (like Rolando McClain last year) or a vet with a bit left in the tank if one shakes loose the way Ware or Peppers or Abraham did the last few seasons.
Other than that, I think what we're seeing around here is the new business as usual in Dallas. Not going to go crazy on high-risk signings, and we're going to build through the draft.

 

[Galian Beast]

Ehhh....I don't know about going all IN. Your team is young and built to contend with a few years. I think you want to create a solid foundation and culture here atleast for the next 4 years. Going all in like next year is it? Not sure how smart that is.

Going all in this year, doesn't take things away from future years. It means this is the time to invest in the team The cap becomes extremely friendly outside the Romo era. You have to balance Romo's contract versus the current salary cap, and manage it appropriately.

 

[Galian Beast]

We'll add at least one fairly big named player to the DL. Then we'll nibble around the edges some more. Draft smart. Develop the players we've got. Take a shot maybe on a high risk guy (like Rolando McClain last year) or a vet with a bit left in the tank if one shakes loose the way Ware or Peppers or Abraham did the last few seasons.
Other than that, I think what we're seeing around here is the new business as usual in Dallas. Not going to go crazy on high-risk signings, and we're going to build through the draft.

I'm not saying go crazy, but I do think we're going to fill holes where we can, especially in the secondary and defensive line. I don't think we go into the draft in a position of weakness as we did this year on the defensive line.

 

[Nightman]

I thought the Cowboys learned their lesson mishandling the cap with restructures....I sure hope they did.

The cap went backwards with the lockout. It was 123min 2009 and didn't get back to 123m until 2013. The owners completely hosed the NFLPA with the new CBA and kept the cap artificially low.

It wasn't because of restructures that Dallas had any problems with the cap. It was a few bad deals like Barber, RWilliams, Hamlin and others that caused some concern. The 10m salary cap penalty didn't help either. But even with all that, Dallas was never really in cap trouble and never to the degree the media portrayed the situation.

Using restructures and large cash signing bonuses is in fact beneficial to the team and gives Dallas a huge advantage over cash poor or cheap teams. Dallas can consistently spend well above the Salary Cap by using these accounting techniques, which is all they are.

Restructures and dead money are basically interest free loans against the future cap. With the TV deals signed and sealed the cap will continue to rise in the short and long term, so the problems of the late 2000s won't be repeated.

Dallas can be aggressive with resigning their own guys and can even add some top FAs. Recent history has shown that FA is not usually the most effective use of resources, but it can't be eliminated as an option. Keep drafting well and don't overpay out of loyalty or past performance and there shouldn't be any major problems.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

We are definitely going too sign one of those top free agent DL. Either JPP, Hardy , Or Hughes no doubt about it.

 

[Galian Beast]

The cap went backwards with the lockout. It was 123min 2009 and didn't get back to 123m until 2013. The owners completely hosed the NFLPA with the new CBA and kept the cap artificially low.

It wasn't because of restructures that Dallas had any problems with the cap. It was a few bad deals like Barber, RWilliams, Hamlin and others that caused some concern. The 10m salary cap penalty didn't help either. But even with all that, Dallas was never really in cap trouble and never to the degree the media portrayed the situation.

Using restructures and large cash signing bonuses is in fact beneficial to the team and gives Dallas a huge advantage over cash poor or cheap teams. Dallas can consistently spend well above the Salary Cap by using these accounting techniques, which is all they are.

Restructures and dead money are basically interest free loans against the future cap. With the TV deals signed and sealed the cap will continue to rise in the short and long term, so the problems of the late 2000s won't be repeated.

Dallas can be aggressive with resigning their own guys and can even add some top FAs. Recent history has shown that FA is not usually the most effective use of resources, but it can't be eliminated as an option. Keep drafting well and don't overpay out of loyalty or past performance and there shouldn't be any major problems.

Is there anyway we can recommend everyone on the board read a post? Because your post is that good. That's the essence of understanding the cap in five concise paragraphs.

 

[Gameover]

We continue to do what got us to this point. Be free agent smart and draft solid guys.

I think they've done a little better than solid.

 

[Nightman]

Is there anyway we can recommend everyone on the board read a post? Because your post is that good. That's the essence of understanding the cap in five concise paragraphs.

Thanks, I think SJones has done a great job of positioning the team for a legitimate title run to end Romo's career. You are right that the time is now to be aggressive. A lot of people think of the cap in terms of a savings account, where the more room you have the better. But unused cap space is not a good thing if you are competing for the playoffs.

It's a balancing act trying not be too far over or too far under, but the real dilemma is choosing the right players to draft, sign, re-sign and release.

 

[Galian Beast]

Thanks, I think SJones has done a great job of positioning the team for a legitimate title run to end Romo's career. You are right that the time is now to be aggressive. A lot of people think of the cap in terms of a savings account, where the more room you have the better. But unused cap space is not a good thing if you are competing for the playoffs.

It's a balancing act trying not be too far over or too far under, but the real dilemma is choosing the right players to draft, sign, re-sign and release.

Exactly right, again.

I don't think people realize that our salary cap management will flip on its head after Romo and Witten are gone.

This gives us opportunities and challenges. First, we can't let them leave Dallas without rings, which means we need to maximize the use of the cap while they are here. Second, it means that once they are gone, significant cap space opens up.

The goal should be building a team that can compete post Romo/Witten, but also one that can win now.

This is why we can't go around drafting more QBs and TEs. It's a waste of value in the short term and does not get full value in the long term.

Put together this defense, and the next QB who comes in here will have a perfect situation to come into. It won't be like finding Troy's replacement and asking them to do everything their rookie year.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The cap went backwards with the lockout. It was 123min 2009 and didn't get back to 123m until 2013. The owners completely hosed the NFLPA with the new CBA and kept the cap artificially low.

It wasn't because of restructures that Dallas had any problems with the cap. It was a few bad deals like Barber, RWilliams, Hamlin and others that caused some concern. The 10m salary cap penalty didn't help either. But even with all that, Dallas was never really in cap trouble and never to the degree the media portrayed the situation.

Using restructures and large cash signing bonuses is in fact beneficial to the team and gives Dallas a huge advantage over cash poor or cheap teams. Dallas can consistently spend well above the Salary Cap by using these accounting techniques, which is all they are.

Restructures and dead money are basically interest free loans against the future cap. With the TV deals signed and sealed the cap will continue to rise in the short and long term, so the problems of the late 2000s won't be repeated.

Dallas can be aggressive with resigning their own guys and can even add some top FAs. Recent history has shown that FA is not usually the most effective use of resources, but it can't be eliminated as an option. Keep drafting well and don't overpay out of loyalty or past performance and there shouldn't be any major problems.

Interest free loans....it just doesn't sound good to me. I guess it sounds good now but there is going to come a time when Fredericks and Zach Martin are going to need to get paid among other guys. And to keep pushing that cap sounds like a mess.

And the Cowboys have had salary cap problems. They've gotten them out of the mess but it did require effort to be done.

Going all in this year, doesn't take things away from future years. It means this is the time to invest in the team The cap becomes extremely friendly outside the Romo era. You have to balance Romo's contract versus the current salary cap, and manage it appropriately.

But what is "Going All in"? When has that ever worked in this league? I mean there's a first time for everything but isn't it a sign that this team got back into contention simply by drafting better and developing chemistry and cohesiveness? I know its not really interesting to sit here and just continue to develop the team with draft picks and signing a few mid-tier free agents but I think that's what it takes to win in this league.

Managing into an upward rising cap is smart.

Ehhh....I disagree but I understand why you feel that way. I'm not a fan of spending money or in this case salary cap that I don't have yet. For instance, what happens if Romo were to go down with a career ending injury and a top flight quarterback is available in free agency but you can't afford him because you have already used that money 2 or 3 years ago. Just not a fan of it but I get it.

 

[Galian Beast]

Interest free loans....it just doesn't sound good to me. I guess it sounds good now but there is going to come a time when Fredericks and Zach Martin are going to need to get paid among other guys. And to keep pushing that cap sounds like a mess.

And the Cowboys have had salary cap problems. They've gotten them out of the mess but it did require effort to be done.



But what is "Going All in"? When has that ever worked in this league? I mean there's a first time for everything but isn't it a sign that this team got back into contention simply by drafting better and developing chemistry and cohesiveness? I know its not really interesting to sit here and just continue to develop the team with draft picks and signing a few mid-tier free agents but I think that's what it takes to win in this league.



Ehhh....I disagree but I understand why you feel that way. I'm not a fan of spending money or in this case salary cap that I don't have yet. For instance, what happens if Romo were to go down with a career ending injury and a top flight quarterback is available in free agency but you can't afford him because you have already used that money 2 or 3 years ago. Just not a fan of it but I get it.

I don't want to offend you, but you don't seem to be a student of the game.

Frederick and Martin aren't free agents until 2017 and 2018.

You have to cultivate at least some basic accounting understand to see how this works, and it seems like you aren't there yet.

If Romo was injured, you deal with his dead money for two years, and with his base salary coming off the books it doesn't really hurt you much. Finding a replacement top flight QB in the draft is also difficult. That's the NFL... that has nothing to do with salary cap.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I don't want to offend you, but you don't seem to be a student of the game.

Frederick and Martin aren't free agents until 2017 and 2018.

You have to cultivate at least some basic accounting understand to see how this works, and it seems like you aren't there yet.

If Romo was injured, you deal with his dead money for two years, and with his base salary coming off the books it doesn't really hurt you much. Finding a replacement top flight QB in the draft is also difficult. That's the NFL... that has nothing to do with salary cap.

Yeah I guess I'm not there yet. I'm more so a student of the NFL then I am in accounting lol.

I said nothing about the draft. I said free agency. Which is a long shot since most teams hold on to solid quarterbacks and re-sign them but i'm just speaking hypothetically. There was a time when no one thought Peyton would be a free agent.

 

[Galian Beast]

Yeah I guess I'm not there yet. I'm more so a student of the NFL then I am in accounting lol.

I said nothing about the draft. I said free agency. Which is a long shot since most teams hold on to solid quarterbacks and re-sign them but i'm just speaking hypothetically. There was a time when no one thought Peyton would be a free agent.

My point is that it's hard to get a QB anywhere in this league. It's not hard to move around money to get a guy like Peyton. When you sign a free agent to a deal, that money doesn't need to be all up front. That isn't how things work.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

My point is that it's hard to get a QB anywhere in this league. It's not hard to move around money to get a guy like Peyton. When you sign a free agent to a deal, that money doesn't need to be all up front. That isn't how things work.

So what happens when you have a few guys who get paid big money and you decide to backload all of them?