If We Weren't Looking @ A Lockout

[Hostile]

How aggressive do you think the Cowboys would be this off season?

Right now, they are not doing anything. They are carefully watching to see what directions they can go. It isn't time where they can do much anyway. But you have to wonder how active they might be if there was a CBA.

We know that right now we are up against the Cap. Do you think some high priced guys would be released to create cap room if there was a CBA?

Here's what I think. I believe about 5 of our guys would be gone and they'd be trying to lock up Free. I think we'd only look at 2 or 3 Free Agents from other teams at most, but they'd be guys who a role players, not big splash names. The reason is the cap.

 

[Hagman]

Hard to say. I think that Jerry likes to wheel and deal sometimes, and go for the big name player, just because it's in his DNA to do so. He'd wheel and deal as much as the cap allows.

But, if Jason Garrett is calling the personnel shots now, as I believe he is, I don't know how he'd go about things. I hope he's into making good value judgments, looking for quality players at a good price.

 

[batman36]

I think the Cowboys would be pretty active in this year's free agency period. Since Jerry Jones heads this thing up, I would guess he wants to 'make right' the season of 2010. Jason Garrett probably has more influence with Jerry than we realize, there-by being able to call a few shots. If Garrett wants to go in a specific direction, I think Jones might be willing to do that.

 

[cowboyjoe]

How aggressive do you think the Cowboys would be this off season?


Here's what I think. I believe about 5 of our guys would be gone and they'd be trying to lock up Free. I think we'd only look at 2 or 3 Free Agents from other teams at most, but they'd be guys who a role players, not big splash names. The reason is the cap.

I think the Cowboys would look at mid range level players, like ROT at either Atlanta or Tampa Bay that are free agents, or safety eugene wilson, not the top level safety like a bob sanders. They, would sign about 4 mid level free agents, unlike last year when they didnt get a kicker and safety or ROT.

That way going into draft, they wouldn't have to reach for a player.

That they would get rid of about 5 cowboys;
Possibly Barber, Leonard Davis, Columbo, either Ball accepts demotion to backup CB/S or he is gone.
Let Hatcher go if they can resign Bowen, and Spears. Probably let Brooking go, and sign the linebacker that Rob Ryan knows that was traded away from Cleveland. Totally agree with locking Free up with longterm contract, he has proved it now, basically 2 years in a row. That's what Jerry Jones needs to do, only sign players to big contracts if they do it over one year. The players must prove they can become good by not just a one year, but 2 years.

 

[RS12]

No reason Free should not have been taken care of. Also the dead wood should have already been cut.

 

[Stautner]

It's hard to say. Jerry sometimes likes to make a big splash and other times is more reserved. I think he would have picked up a free agent maybe, but i think the liklihood of bigger moves would be greater close to the draft.

 

[Hostile]

No reason Free should not have been taken care of. Also the dead wood should have already been cut.

There is a reason why. Until you know how the team can be affected you don't want to move.

It'd be crazy to cut some players and then find out it affects your cap even more than you suspected. Talk about handcuffing yourself.

 

[Stautner]

There is a reason why. Until you know how the team can be affected you don't want to move.

It'd be crazy to cut some players and then find out it affects your cap even more than you suspected. Talk about handcuffing yourself.

Not to mention, with things in limbo there is no way to know who the team could get to replace the players they might dump. As bad as Colombo is, he's at least better than Alex Barron or a scab that just got released from the California State Penal System.

 

[jobberone]

I think we'd target DB, OL, LB and DL particularly NT in FA. Not saying we'd get them all but those would be the positions of interest. My guess is they would sign 2 or 3 FAs. I would be on the lookout for a quick slot type WR and a returner. We need a PK to compete with whatshisname.

I would cut Barber and give him a chance to catch on elsewhere. I wouldn't cut Hatcher now.

 

[burmafrd]

supposedly Steven set things up to dump as much as possible this year so I doubt our cap problems will be as great as some think. We have only one guy who will be looking at a big contract and that is Free. I am willing to bet that Steve gambled that Free would be good and had things set up so that the prospective cap hit would be taken into account over the next few years.
Now we probably can only go after one high caliber free agent or two or three mid caliber guys. I would not be surprised to see them gambling that they can get a good RT in the Draft that can play next season. And then get a mid caliber guy at FS and one at guard. Meanwhile drafting one of each as well.

 

[Verdict]

How aggressive do you think the Cowboys would be this off season?

Right now, they are not doing anything. They are carefully watching to see what directions they can go. It isn't time where they can do much anyway. But you have to wonder how active they might be if there was a CBA.

We know that right now we are up against the Cap. Do you think some high priced guys would be released to create cap room if there was a CBA?

Here's what I think. I believe about 5 of our guys would be gone and they'd be trying to lock up Free. I think we'd only look at 2 or 3 Free Agents from other teams at most, but they'd be guys who a role players, not big splash names. The reason is the cap.

I haven't been paying proper attention, and am a little bit out of the lopp regarding the cap. IIRC there was no cap for this past season, right? What is the salary cap now, and where are we in relation to it? What is our cap health?

 

[burmafrd]

I haven't been paying proper attention, and am a little bit out of the lopp regarding the cap. IIRC there was no cap for this past season, right? What is the salary cap now, and where are we in relation to it? What is our cap health?

the short answer is that no one outside of Steven and probably Jerruh and Red Ball know.

And no one knows what next years cap will look like.

 

[Woods]

How aggressive do you think the Cowboys would be this off season?

Right now, they are not doing anything. They are carefully watching to see what directions they can go. It isn't time where they can do much anyway. But you have to wonder how active they might be if there was a CBA.

We know that right now we are up against the Cap. Do you think some high priced guys would be released to create cap room if there was a CBA?

Here's what I think. I believe about 5 of our guys would be gone and they'd be trying to lock up Free. I think we'd only look at 2 or 3 Free Agents from other teams at most, but they'd be guys who a role players, not big splash names. The reason is the cap.

I generally agree with the bolded bits. I really don't see the Cowboys get big splash FAs this coming season.

I think in FA the Cowboys would likely target a Safety, possibly one DL depending what they do with the 3 FAs, and maybe 1 OL.

I don't see a big time CB, OG, or OT being picked up in FA.

I think the team will look to the draft to get 1-2 quality OL and some more Secondary help.

I think JJ believes that the roster is already a quality roster relative to many other teams.

 

[CCBoy]

Well, Hos, the first concern is getting a new contract into place. Without that, then the whole subject of free agents boils down to trying to keep who you have...as there would then be two groups involved in a lack of learning curve in the off season. This would include both the veterans that one would seek, and then the drafted rookies who would then be learning in training camp, instead of getting up to speed. That puts an even greater strain at retention of team free agents then.

Two offensive line positions have to be made solvent. Here, the team likes to go either starting quality 'rook' or a veteran. The team could conceivably rely upon one from this draft. That probably leaves an interior lineman in free agency?

Then there is the need for a real safety. Ball can be returned to the cornerback group again, and improve depth there.

Your answer would be two to three, IF the majority of defensive end free agents were resigned.