I'll take a different approach and give everyone something new to attack

[Rack]

Ashworth is a RT FA isnt he?? i wouldnt mind ponying up the $ we saved on LA to get him

Just cuz he plays the position doesn't mean we should go after him. He's not good. No point spending money just for the sake of spending money.

I don't just want an upgrade at the position, I want someone GOOD there (or at least very solid).

 

[Wolf2k5]

Just cuz he plays the position doesn't mean we should go after him. He's not good. No point spending money just for the sake of spending money.

I don't just want an upgrade at the position, I want someone GOOD there (or at least very solid).

How can you say that about ashworth??? Wasnt he "fraud monitoring"??

 

[cleverusername]

I, for one, am satisfied with where we are in free agency.

I am happy with the Kozier signing...I believe he was the perfect OL...young, experienced, a starter, and fairly inexpensive and on the up-swing.

I am happy we signed a new LB to play inside with Brady...I hope there will be more to come, but I'd be happy to start with Ware, Brady, Adele, Burnett.

I am happy we resigned Gurode as he can play RG for Rivera if need be, and he is a serious threat to take over the C spot....He's far superior to Tyson Walters, and I never heard similar complaining about keeping that swingman around.

I wish we'd signed Bentley or Hutchinson, but I knew we weren't even going to look at those guys because of the money....and frankly, I would have never paid Hutchinson what he's getting. Maybe I'd have paid Bentley, but clearly he wanted to return home, and he did...can't put that one on JJ or BP.

I am happy that we are going to cut Larry Allen, regardless of whether we attempt to resign him or not, because we'd be idiots to pay him what he was due...we'd be the laughing stock of the league...it was ridiculous. I doubt that he gets anyone offerring him a decent contract...I won't be surprised if we resign him to much much less money after he's had his chance to test the market...if he signs elsewhere, no loss. I do indeed believe Kozier is an upgrade.

I am happy we cut Keyshaun...they knew exactly what they were doing. He was under contract and wanted much more money. If they'd paid him the million bucks, they'd still have the headache of him wanting more money...this way you save the million bucks and he gets to see that no one is going to give him a HUGE payday at this point. He may very well come back to us after testing the market....if not, we move on....it was a wise business decision.

NOW>>>

I do want a kicker, and we'll probably get one...but I don't want a 3 million dollar kicker. We'll be fine with a veteran or even a top rookie...there are two or more excellent kickers rolling out this year.

I do want a FS...they are still out there...what's the rush? You can't meet with every player right away...some of them haven't met with anyone yet...some of them are vacationing or waiting for calls...some floated out too high an asking price and will have to come down before the other teams meet with them....we'll get a FS.

I do want a WR....I don't want T.O., but if that's the plan, why panic...there's plenty of time...T.O. isn't in a rush...he's going to play every team interested against each other for a few weeks until he gets the best he can get. My personal wish would be to resign Key, forget T.O. and draft a WR on day 1. But if it is T.O., then we'll be set at WR.

The only position I'm a little worried about right now is RT. WE're still looking only at Colombo, Tucker, Pettitti???? Well, I guess we were never considering signing a name RT in FA...far as I know, we didn't even talk to one, so clearly that wasn't in BP's plan. My guess is that he'll look for a veteran later...or we draft one.

WE did not bring in the big name FA's this year or dish out the huge money, relative to other teams....but most of the big names already signed were not at the positions we are looking for.

Nope...I am not at all dissatisfied at this point. I think most of our issues will still be addressed before the draft.

Now...if we get into the draft and still have no RT, no WR, no K, no extra TE, no FS ???? Then I'll be upset and worried....but not yet...there's still time to pick up the guys we want at several positions we need to fill.

Good to hear a rational voice in all this mess.

 

[Cbz40]

There is this new invention called a cell phone....check one out sometime

Don't you need batteries for those......

 

[Rack]

How can you say that about ashworth??? Wasnt he "fraud monitoring"??

They should of let him be the director. :laugh2:

 

[5Stars]

Don't you need batteries for those......

Well, this generation does...! Hey, you still got those two Dixie cups and that 40 feet of string? Now, that is a phone that don't need no stinking batteries!

 

[dallasfaniac]

I, for one, am satisfied with.....

I feel the same way.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

I don't blame any fan for being frustrated when free agency doesn't open with a bang. We look forward to the draft, we look forward to the opening of free agency. These are the bright light places at which our teams search for talent. Patience is dull. Patience is boring.

But the most colorful package doesn't always hold the best gift. I'm in favor of building a team made to last a while, and most things built to last are put together with some care and patience. There isn't anything wrong with some flash and dash, but it doesn't always pay the real dividends.

Recall the construction of the 90s Cowboys. I was excited when we picked up Terrence Flagler and Alonzo Highsmith. I yawned when Plan B brought us Jay Novacek.

I was alarmed that Mark Tuinei was counted on to play left tackle - wasn't he just sort of hanging around, waiting to be cut? And what about Nate Newton? Wasn't he a reject?

I can't say that James Washington was an exciting edition. And how did we manage to rely on a late-round draft pick like Larry Brown to play cornerback?

I don't know that it's fair to compare the past to the present -- and yeah, the team thrived by adding superstars like Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith and Charles Haley, the latter especially the result of a pretty bold stroke, when one considers his reputation at the time. I mean, he couldn't get along in San Francisco, the Hawaii of pro football destinations at the time? Surely, nobody could control him...

But it is fair to say that building blocks have been added the past couple of years to the current edition of the Cowboys. And it's also fair to say that the 90s team came together, in large part, because Jimmy Johnson relied on some youth, even at the expense of cutting some extremely popular veteran players.

It's true that more parts are needed, and I'm human -- I fret as much as anyone about the situation at RT, at K, at OLB, and maybe especially, at WR. But there are still sufficient opportunities to add talent. If much of it is young talent, so much the better.

I don't object to Dallas making the next "Haley" move, but I surely hope that it's done as a complement to a good, strategic program that emphasizes the long-term and isn't too reliant on flash and dash.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm not bent out of shape either.

We've improved two positions. I'm happy with that so far.

And we haven't over-paid for a bunch of mediocre players.

 

[InmanRoshi]

There is this new invention called a cell phone....check one out sometime

I don't know about you, but when I'm talking to prospective empployers I would like to sit down with them individualy and have them tell me what kind of situation they have, how I would fit in with their organization, and answer any questions I might have before I make my decision.

If I had 3 employers who were willing to take the time to do that with me face to face and show me sincere interest, and one that was just interested in playing phone tag, there's not a lot of decision that goes into the first cut of elimination.

Plus, just from a PR statement alone, its a bad image for the Cowboys to send to their fanbase and paying customers.

 

[superpunk]

I'm not bent out of shape either.

This is shocking!

Is Bledsoe still our QB?

WTH did I miss????

 

[CoCo]

I, for one, am satisfied with where we are in free agency.

I am happy with the Kozier signing...I believe he was the perfect OL...young, experienced, a starter, and fairly inexpensive and on the up-swing.

I am happy we signed a new LB to play inside with Brady...I hope there will be more to come, but I'd be happy to start with Ware, Brady, Adele, Burnett.

I am happy we resigned Gurode as he can play RG for Rivera if need be, and he is a serious threat to take over the C spot....He's far superior to Tyson Walters, and I never heard similar complaining about keeping that swingman around.

I wish we'd signed Bentley or Hutchinson, but I knew we weren't even going to look at those guys because of the money....and frankly, I would have never paid Hutchinson what he's getting. Maybe I'd have paid Bentley, but clearly he wanted to return home, and he did...can't put that one on JJ or BP.

I am happy that we are going to cut Larry Allen, regardless of whether we attempt to resign him or not, because we'd be idiots to pay him what he was due...we'd be the laughing stock of the league...it was ridiculous. I doubt that he gets anyone offerring him a decent contract...I won't be surprised if we resign him to much much less money after he's had his chance to test the market...if he signs elsewhere, no loss. I do indeed believe Kozier is an upgrade.

I am happy we cut Keyshaun...they knew exactly what they were doing. He was under contract and wanted much more money. If they'd paid him the million bucks, they'd still have the headache of him wanting more money...this way you save the million bucks and he gets to see that no one is going to give him a HUGE payday at this point. He may very well come back to us after testing the market....if not, we move on....it was a wise business decision.

NOW>>>

I do want a kicker, and we'll probably get one...but I don't want a 3 million dollar kicker. We'll be fine with a veteran or even a top rookie...there are two or more excellent kickers rolling out this year.

I do want a FS...they are still out there...what's the rush? You can't meet with every player right away...some of them haven't met with anyone yet...some of them are vacationing or waiting for calls...some floated out too high an asking price and will have to come down before the other teams meet with them....we'll get a FS.

I do want a WR....I don't want T.O., but if that's the plan, why panic...there's plenty of time...T.O. isn't in a rush...he's going to play every team interested against each other for a few weeks until he gets the best he can get. My personal wish would be to resign Key, forget T.O. and draft a WR on day 1. But if it is T.O., then we'll be set at WR.

The only position I'm a little worried about right now is RT. WE're still looking only at Colombo, Tucker, Pettitti???? Well, I guess we were never considering signing a name RT in FA...far as I know, we didn't even talk to one, so clearly that wasn't in BP's plan. My guess is that he'll look for a veteran later...or we draft one.

WE did not bring in the big name FA's this year or dish out the huge money, relative to other teams....but most of the big names already signed were not at the positions we are looking for.

Nope...I am not at all dissatisfied at this point. I think most of our issues will still be addressed before the draft.

Now...if we get into the draft and still have no RT, no WR, no K, no extra TE, no FS ???? Then I'll be upset and worried....but not yet...there's still time to pick up the guys we want at several positions we need to fill.

Largely, I agree with this take.

If you secretly covet Daniel Snyder as your owner I can understand your frustration and disappointment. And how much success has he had? I will give him credit for being able to thus far dodge almost all the cap bullets. Maybe he'll never get hit. But then he hasn't won yet either.

For all the hype about our tremendous 05 offseason, Glenn ( a late April pickup) was a great value. Henry showed significant promise but lost considerable time to injury. Ferguson's impact was negligible. Rivera was reviled. Spending big $$ on free agents is no success guarantee.

Reminder on the recent Pats 'dynasty'. It was built through '2nd tier FA's' and the draft.

I'm ok with our cautious approach to free agency. I really am.

I am very concerned about the WR situation. Not sure I'd have released Keyshawn. I could see TO possibly working out but its also easy to see him totally blowing up once again. I'd prefer to keep him out of our camp. I hope we find some other options. I'll make the best of it if he signs. But I don't want to win THAT bad. Now if he came in repentant... I'm very forgiving. But I am very, very skeptical.

That said, I am not panicking. Lots of offseason left. We shall see.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

This is shocking!

Is Bledsoe still our QB?

WTH did I miss????

You just want me to get riled don't ya? LOL!

I visit Gettysburg all the time... I know where Waynesboro is!

 

[speedkilz88]

I don't know about you, but when I'm talking to prospective empployers I would like to sit down with them individualy and have them tell me what kind of situation they have, how I would fit in with their organization, and answer any questions I might have before I make my decision.

If I had 3 employers who were willing to take the time to do that with me face to face and show me sincere interest, and one that was just interested in playing phone tag, there's not a lot of decision that goes into the first cut of elimination.

Plus, just from a PR statement alone, its a bad image for the Cowboys to send to their fanbase and paying customers.

But do you have an agent that literally sells you to the highest bidder?

 

[billknows]

I agree in principle, but I wonder how many NFL franchises currently have their head coach, general manager and owner all away on vacation at the moment. It doesn't really seem to send much of a message to free agents or agents that they are looking to be competitive when it comes to aquiring players.

They are on vacation and trying to implement thier plan while relaxing with a clear mind on the beach(I'm a blk from the beach myself). Just think how it will brain F@#K little Danny Snyder when we whoop them this yr. WE DO NEED A KICKER ,Bill Knows.....

 

[Bizwah]

Wow.....a positive post.

I've gotta admit. I'm real disappointed with our FA approach. Jerry is a riverboat gambler. We all know that. He's taking a heckuva gamble this offseason.....being patient....especially by cutting Key.

But if you pause and think back, here's what many of us were predicting with FA:

Sign Fabini
Sign Coleman
Sign TO (although, not all of us are fully on board here)
Sign Sowell
Sign Ty Law (ooops...just a dig Nors)
Sign Vinateri

Take a look, all of those players are still there. We also have Flo returning, JJ should be fully recovered, Rivera should be fully recovered, Crayton should be fully recovered, and Henry should be fully recovered.

Who knows what JJ and BP are thinking? Right now, I'm frustrated with them. But you have to wonder....JJ hates to be shown up. This will be Bill's last year with the team. Surely, they aren't going to just stand there and get beaten up?

I don't know....I'm not ready to panic yet. I'm concerned and reminded of 2004 when it appeared that we just didn't care.

Hopefully, something will start to happen.

We're so darn close to being a playoff contender!

Come on JJ!

By the Way:

Winicki....are you a fellow Civil War Buff?

 

[LandryFan]

I don't blame any fan for being frustrated when free agency doesn't open with a bang. We look forward to the draft, we look forward to the opening of free agency. These are the bright light places at which our teams search for talent. Patience is dull. Patience is boring.

But the most colorful package doesn't always hold the best gift. I'm in favor of building a team made to last a while, and most things built to last are put together with some care and patience. There isn't anything wrong with some flash and dash, but it doesn't always pay the real dividends.

Recall the construction of the 90s Cowboys. I was excited when we picked up Terrence Flagler and Alonzo Highsmith. I yawned when Plan B brought us Jay Novacek.

I was alarmed that Mark Tuinei was counted on to play left tackle - wasn't he just sort of hanging around, waiting to be cut? And what about Nate Newton? Wasn't he a reject?

I can't say that James Washington was an exciting edition. And how did we manage to rely on a late-round draft pick like Larry Brown to play cornerback?

I don't know that it's fair to compare the past to the present -- and yeah, the team thrived by adding superstars like Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith and Charles Haley, the latter especially the result of a pretty bold stroke, when one considers his reputation at the time. I mean, he couldn't get along in San Francisco, the Hawaii of pro football destinations at the time? Surely, nobody could control him...

But it is fair to say that building blocks have been added the past couple of years to the current edition of the Cowboys. And it's also fair to say that the 90s team came together, in large part, because Jimmy Johnson relied on some youth, even at the expense of cutting some extremely popular veteran players.

It's true that more parts are needed, and I'm human -- I fret as much as anyone about the situation at RT, at K, at OLB, and maybe especially, at WR. But there are still sufficient opportunities to add talent. If much of it is young talent, so much the better.

I don't object to Dallas making the next "Haley" move, but I surely hope that it's done as a complement to a good, strategic program that emphasizes the long-term and isn't too reliant on flash and dash.

Well stated, Shake!

 

[ndanger]

I'm sorry but this is just Inexcusable.

These same comments were made on this board last year if I remember correctly

 

[joseephuss]

I don't know about you, but when I'm talking to prospective empployers I would like to sit down with them individualy and have them tell me what kind of situation they have, how I would fit in with their organization, and answer any questions I might have before I make my decision.

If I had 3 employers who were willing to take the time to do that with me face to face and show me sincere interest, and one that was just interested in playing phone tag, there's not a lot of decision that goes into the first cut of elimination.

Plus, just from a PR statement alone, its a bad image for the Cowboys to send to their fanbase and paying customers.

That makes sense. I guess it really shows what Jerry and Bill thought about this years crop of free agents. If there was a free agent they truly coveted, then either Jerry, Bill or both would cut their vacations short to come meet face to face with them.

 

[Redball Express]

I agree in principle, but I wonder how many NFL franchises currently have their head coach, general manager and owner all away on vacation at the moment. It doesn't really seem to send much of a message to free agents or agents that they are looking to be competitive when it comes to aquiring players.

..is probably still in the backroom running his calculator into the wee hours in Dallas.

If anything important should happen, the Jerry Jones Jet could sweep into to Florida and pickup BP and they could all be there in a matter of hours.

But right now, you have to assume that most of the FA's they are interested in are still out there and making the rounds and will stop by soon or they are still yet to be released from teams that will being releasing them.

We wait.

The best thing I get out of this is that there is no panic at VR and that there is not a crazy blather of urgency. That there is a plan to continue building the team with good, financially sound decisions and with players that we see as being here not just for a season or 2.

This is a breath of fresh air compared to all the hot air we've been generating lately about BP being here only 2 more years, etc.

That maybe true, but still building the team solidly rather than quickly is the approach we all want.

I'm also wondering if all this doesn't also show that after the results of the draft last year, if there hasn't been a renewed committment to use this draft and next year's to complete the rebuilding with youth rather than keep signing expensive FA's..?

Somebody in another thread noted that with Key, Campbell, Glover and possibly LA gone, that this team suddenly gets a lot younger at key positions where we were loaded with age.

Coincidence..?

Doubt it.

So I'm going to wait and see how this plays out.

parcellswaterboy