Is anyone else happy about our free agent losses?

[DallasDomination]

At this rate there is absolutely no question our defense is going to be hot flaming garbage. Who's gonna even be on the field?

 

[StarBoyz83]

You mean if the refs hadn't called a phantom 15 yd personal foul no one has ever seen...

That and the other times Dallas failed to get points when they shouldve.

 

[T-RO]

Leary hurts. The rest can go...plus some more.

I already knew Leary was gone, so that didn't sting a bit.

Church hurts.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Did anyone expect us to get off to a fast start in the GB game, I didn't, I knew we had problems with slow starts all season, maybe to be expected starting a rookie RB and QB, so I felt all along the defense was going to need to keep it close in the first half, but they didn't...and this is also the same defense that gave up a 3rd and 20 with time running out...sorry this defense is garbage, Is there really an untouchable on this defense, maybe Lee, that's it for me...

I just hate leaving points on the field. Especially when people say our offense was elite. We knew the defense was bad and that we'd have to score a lot to keep up.

 

[gmoney112]

I am.

We just found our franchise QB. We have a nasty OL, an all pro back, good WRs for the most part.

Cut the dead weight on defense now so we don't have to do it 5 years into Daks career. Build it now.

 

[bsbellomy]

These guys are all getting paid thanks to Dak, Zeke, and Meat Mountain up front. On a side note, Tyron Smith's deal now looks like the contract of the century.

 

[LifetimeBoysFan]

Other than not bringing Church back I'm not too surprised so far. McClain and Crawford aren't going to make me lose too much sleep. If Mo or Carr get ridiculous money then oh well, bon voyage. If they were that good we wouldn't be looking to upgrade them and would be at their house with an open check book.

 

[Walker]

So the plan is to replace jags with jags.

 

[Rogerthat12]

So the plan is to replace jags with jags.

The plan is to build the defense through the draft primarily and then after the high paid contracts are played out in free agency address the holes left in the wake.

That is how they roll now like it or not!

 

[willia451]

If you think about it, the only plan that's ever been publically offered was building an OL to protect an injury prone Romo and extend his career. Try to give him one last go at a SB as a Cowboy. Even drafting Zeke was part and parcel with that.

But then Romo got injured again. Dak was a gift from the Gods. And the rest is history.

With Romo heading for the door and Dak and Zeke both sophomores, they probably feel like they have time now. When before, they really didn't.

The dreaded R word ("Rebuilding") comes to mind. We need a defense. And I mean, "A Defense". Like, meaning the whole thing. Because we don't have one.

Not going to happen in one season.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

If you think about it, the only plan that's ever been publically offered was building an OL to protect an injury prone Romo and extend his career. Try to give him one last go at a SB as a Cowboy. Even drafting Zeke was part and parcel with that.

But then Romo got injured again. Dak was a gift from the Gods. And the rest is history.

With Romo heading for the door and Dak and Zeke both sophomores, they probably feel like they have time now. When before, they really didn't.

The dreaded R word ("Rebuilding") comes to mind. We need a defense. And I mean, "A Defense". Like, meaning the whole thing. Because we don't have one.

Not going to happen in one season.

If we really are going to build a D with the draft only, when we are drafting at #28, it will take a long time. DLaw was drafted at #34, what is he doing, dominating the league....nope. The offense will make us good enough to compete, so we will never have a high pick.

I can only see a trade for a player or a trade down for more picks and chances to get that guy, to help us. One thing though, we were 13-3, thats not rebuilding. Right now, we are just hoping to replace JAGs with JAGs on D and add a few more stars on D. That will take some time, especially if Jaylon isn't right.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I do have to add, since Jerry bought the team, we have drafted only 2 players that have more than 60 career sacks, Ware and Ellis.

Those are our drafted 'war daddies'.

Thats a long time fellas (28 years), we can't just assume the draft will save us in that area.

 

[AzorAhai]

I love how the JAG title gets thrown around. The Cowboys lost or are losing some average players in FA. You need average players on your team. You don't overpay them, and it's probably smart to not bring back Church or Williams for what they will be paid. That doesn't mean it's as simple as plucking a guy from the draft or the 2nd week of FA to replace them.

At minimum, the Cowboys have narrowed their margin to stay the same talent wise. They've also further narrowed their likelihood to improve since they are just having to plug holes created via FA.

 

[Silverstar]

Still might bring back a few of our own.

I don't see a lot of interest for TWill, McFadden, Cooper or Carr yet.

 

[Doomsay]

With the talent deficit on defense and lack of immediate resources, this could prove to be a good rebuilding year - no need to pick up any stop-gap FA's or embark on any future compromising restructures, develop some younger players in starting roles.

 

[kevm3]

Losing 1 guy who is replaceable is one thing. Losing a ton of depth and your safety tandem and not even knowing if Claiborne or even Carr are going to be back and having no one in mind to replace them is another.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I do want to make sure we sign one of our CBs, though.

This is all that matters to me. I'd prefer Claiborne's talent but Carr is more dependable so I would go with him.

I don't care if they do not sign any of their other unsigned free agents.

 

[phildadon86]

It is really hilarious how people are freaking out. These guys aren't difference makers. Keeping them we would still need to make some key free agent signings and draft really well.

Terrell McClain - we basically got one year out of him on a three year deal. He was excellent the first half of the season but then tailed off. He would have been fine as a $2-3m a year guy, but as soon as the purchase price went into the $4-5m a year range he was not worth it.

Jack Crawford - again, a cheap body for the last couple years - picked up some garbage sacks but outside of that was just a guy. He is getting 3.5m a year. Just not worth it.

Barry Church - I like Church, but he is a limited player that is a good in the box strong safety but is below average in coverage. He does get some points as a leader, but outside of that, does anyone really think it would have been a good move to pay him 6m a year? That is what the old Cowboys would have done....ala Flozell Adams.

Ron Leary - 8+ million a year. No thanks. He is the 4th best OL we have and the top 3 are all getting paid or will be. We have a guy that is cheap that can be moved right into the spot in Collins. You simply can't pay 4 OL among the highest at their position.

Claiborne has basically been a bust and can't stay healthy. It's not a huge loss. If he can be signed reasonably then I would be ok with it. If he is going to get $7-9m a year somewhere....let someone else pay that.

 

[Doomsday101]

we are letting other teams overpay players we should be replacing with better talent.

that's a good thing.

we are also *not* overpaying for other teams' players.

that's a good thing, too.

it's hard to watch everyone else getting shiny new toys, but this is the smart way to build a roster.

Not happy about losing players but that is the nature of the NFL, teams will lose FA's. Cowboys over the last few season have indicated they will not be major players in FA paying out top money for many players who will not play up to the high price tag they are getting with another team.

 

[Satchel89]

I can't say I'm happy but I'm not real upset either. I will miss Leary. I liked the way he played. I will miss Crawford a little bit too. He was solid on the D-Line and he was pretty flexible. I don't think they're losing anyone that is going to really hamper them going forward.