I think the Justin Durant talks didn't go as planned

[daveferr33]

Durant was arguably this team's best linebacker during various times last season.

Here's what Marinelli said about him:

“He’s a terrific linebacker. Everybody is seeing it right now,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “He is our captain. He’s a heck of a ball player. He’s aware, heady, fits our system to a T.”

Source: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/i-think-the-justin-durant-talks-didnt-go-as-planned.316736/

I would really like to see him back

 

[Nexx]

He was playing very well in those 6 games until his injury. And there was a drop off in the D after he went out. Though not a great dropoff, but it was noticed. But then again that also could been in part by all the other nagging injuries to MCClain and others in some form of combination.
But his play was missed regardless.

But agree, not worth another million. He was a FA going into last year too, and IIRC he wasn't a priority signing right away last year.

think big picture. the guy is 31 years old. he hasnt played a full season in over 3 years. you dont overpay for age.

 

[Hostile]

Durant wouldnt start over Lee McClain or Hitchens anyways. Dallas seemed to move on from Durant just fine. Dallas seemed to tweak the defense throughout the yr until they found something that worked, and that was switching to more man defense. 3 sacks and 3 TOs avg in the final 3 games of the reg season and 2 playoff games. Dallas had almost half their sacks in the last 3 games of the reg season.

He would start over Hitchens for now.

 

[xwalker]

Now word coming out that Dallas is very interested in Benardick McKinney. Which would be a nice pick at the end of round 1.

McKinney in round 1 is not a good idea. He is limited in coverage.

Last year Dallas "liked" WR John Brown because they thought he might be available in the 5th. Like is relative to where the player is available.

 

[Doomsday101]

He would start over Hitchens for now.

Durant would compete for a starters job I would not go as far as saying he would beat out Hitchens. Let see how Hitchens enters and performs in camp, he is young and learning while Durant is at his peek. In other words Durant is as good as he will ever be and Hitchens future is still ahead of him and should improve

 

[Brooksey]

Im starting to get a feeling talks didnt go as planned. Dallas started negotiations and nothing materialized and a couple days later Dallas signed Keith Rivers. Now word coming out that Dallas is very interested in Benardick McKinney. Which would be a nice pick at the end of round 1.

I know everybdy likes Durant but i dont think Dallas offered the money he wanted. Or he wanted to test out the market first.

I think they would rather have Bruce Carter at SAM. Rivers will back him up.

 

[dallasdave]

B Mckinneys stock has been going way down. I seriously doubt he goes rd 1 and I'm starting to doubt rd 2. If he is the pick at 27, I would be highly disappointed.

Yeah, I don't see him in round one either.

 

[Bullflop]

I'm starting to get a feeling talks didnt go as planned. Dallas started negotiations and nothing materialized and a couple days later Dallas signed Keith Rivers. Now word coming out that Dallas is very interested in Benardick McKinney. Which would be a nice pick at the end of round 1.

I know everybdy likes Durant but i dont think Dallas offered the money he wanted. Or he wanted to test out the market first.

Sometimes, good players with serious downsides (like injuries) tend to overestimate their worth. At least, Dallas is smart enough to know when to allow a player to seek out his value and compare the offers to his own opinion.

Oftentimes, it helps both the original team and the player to arrive at more realistic bargaining positions. Maybe that's the case in this instance. In any event, it appears Dallas is taking a chance to see if it solves the problem.

 

[LittleD]

It's not the end of the world: Durant is getting some years on him and he's missed significant time
the last 2 years, Carter's brain doesn't always allow him to rise to the top floor and McClain gave up
on the season the last 3 games of year. Time for some new Will McClay LB cards to be dealt to the
team. Be patient, for all will be made known in time.

 

[casmith07]

Don't hurt yourself jerking those knees all over the place.

 

[TonyRomo17]

Benardick McKinney would be a terrible pick

 

[BigStar]

He is an oft injured LB that is 31 with Hitchens coming on and the rivers signing they still have positional flex.

Agreed! Durant is JAG and easily replaceable in this scheme.

 

[BigStar]

I like Carter alot. I dont know if they want him back. As strange as it might sound

I thought Rod couldn't stand him? Hitch started over him even when both were healthy. He's an athletic freak but his will wanes and has many mental lapses on top of not being able to properly disengage. I loved the pick initially but he is what he is by now unless the "want to" has developed w/in him (hadn't so far in his career since the switch to 4-3)

 

[jrumann59]

It's not the end of the world: Durant is getting some years on him and he's missed significant time
the last 2 years, Carter's brain doesn't always allow him to rise to the top floor and McClain gave up
on the season the last 3 games of year. Time for some new Will McClay LB cards to be dealt to the
team. Be patient, for all will be made known in time.

He has missed significant time his whole career except 1 season in Jax. Carter is a slow learner or the coaches are bad teachers, he may get a pay day I just think some bad team will sign him and he will go through DC and be released half way through because he has to learn new schemes all the time.. I chalk Ro up to being out for year and not being in "shape" when he came back.

 

[LittleD]

He has missed significant time his whole career except 1 season in Jax. Carter is a slow learner or the coaches are bad teachers, he may get a pay day I just think some bad team will sign him and he will go through DC and be released half way through because he has to learn new schemes all the time.. I chalk Ro up to being out for year and not being in "shape" when he came back.

I can't argue much with your thoughts and I just don't think the world will end if all 3 decide to take some money and run.

 

[jrumann59]

I can't argue much with your thoughts and I just don't think the world will end if all 3 decide to take some money and run.

If I was Gm i would take a chance on carter with team friendly contract same with RoMc. No more than 3-4 years MAX with performance escalators.

 

[ccb04]

I think Durant returns for several reasons.....

- He originally signed with the Boys on what was essentially a cheaper "good faith deal" when the team actually lacked the cap space to sign him right away. They had to first create the cap space to facilitate the deal.

- He's loved by coaches & teammates, who made a captain. Certainly he realizes that he's well liked in Dallas, and that Marinelli's scheme is a good fit for him.

- His options weren't plentiful when he left the Lions on the right side of 30 y/o. And he's certainly well aware that he's missed significant time while with the Boys. That said, he could provide quality depth given he can play any of the 3 LB spots in the scheme, and in the nickel. A top reserve (and perhaps a rotational nickel backer), is the role I'd prefer to see him in.

As far as McKinney...it could be that they're looking at him as a possible replacement for Carter or McClain, and also as a potential DE (at least part-time in certain packages). It was said he looked pretty good in rush drills at his pro day.

 

[speedkilz88]

If 49ers are losing Willis to retirement. I wonder if they go after Carter.

 

[manster4ever]

He is an oft injured LB that is 31 with Hitchens coming on and the rivers signing they still have positional flex.

Great post... He's smaller too. Might have to move on.

 

[darthseinfeld]

People that say the front and back are what drives this defense dont know anything about the Tampa 2. MLB and Will is critical to this defense