It makes me sick we missed out on Weddle and Hayward

[CF74]

Funny how it all comes full circle. A few years ago everyone would complain how Cowboys overpaid for washed up players other smarter teams would let walk because they saw the writing on the wall. You really think Weddle would put them over? Ha ha. Just watch the Commanders and tell me how that approach has worked for them.

Have some faith. They've finally managed to shackle Jerry pretty good. They put themselves in a pickle by having a rookie QB in the playoffs. I know it's not fashionable to criticize Dak, and it's not a knock either. But everyone knew their 2016 season days were numbered when a rookie was leading them into the playoffs.

Are u really putting one and done on Dak?

 

[xwalker]

I don't think we were nearly in the running as you may think.

Neither Weedle or Heyward even got to Dallas for a visit. But we did visit with Nolan Carroll, who promptly turned around and went back to Philadelphia.

I would understand if they got wined and dined, or even stood us up at dinner like Chris Long did, but that did not happen.

All we have is the "interest".

Even Stephen Jones stated plain and simple, the numbers were not there with Weddle.

"I guess you could say he's high profile, but we weren't close to the numbers he signed at. We weren't.''

Get used to it. In order to play in free agency, you have to flash some cash.

The Cowboys will likely 'flash some cash" when we least expect it.

They've convinced Jerry that they're following a plan to build the team and they probably used teams like the Patriots as an example to show Jerry; however, now that they've had a 13-3 season, I can see Jerry getting antsy and seeing them as a player or two away from the Super Bowl or "Soup Bowl" as Jerry pronounces it.

 

[perrykemp]

There was no indication that Casey Hayward was going to be an All-Pro CB this year.

He had a good rookie year, however, as average over last 3 years in Green Bay (averaged 1 interception per season).

No-one expected him to be this good. I can't fault the Cowboys FO for not chasing him.

Sometimes players just need a change of venue.

 

[big dog cowboy]

They put themselves in a pickle by having a rookie QB in the playoffs. I know it's not fashionable to criticize Dak, and it's not a knock either. But everyone knew their 2016 season days were numbered when a rookie was leading them into the playoffs.

What the heck?

Oh I forgot it's Dak's fault the defense was swiss cheese.

 

[xwalker]

If there was a season that a huge defensive end splash could be made...this is probably the year. Perhaps tie it in with a legitimate trade or two.

There just aren't many if any good options even if they really wanted to spend big money. Most of the top guys like Chandler Jones will likely re-sign with their current team.

There are some above average guys that will be available, but the elite passer rushers will be few and far between.

 

[dfense]

Are u really putting one and done on Dak?

No, but a rookie has never, ever, gone far in the playoffs. There's a reason.

 

[Kolemmitt]

The consensus is that we are going to try to sign most of our own guys and then add through the draft, but I think last year's off season is going to be a blueprint for this year. No big, expensive, long-term signings, but I think we will try find 2 or 3 mid-priced vets on reasonable deals. Last year, we were only able to get Thornton while missing out on Hayward, Weddle, and Long, but coming off of 4-12, you had to expect that we would have to outbid the other teams to get those guys. This year, there may be a number of vets that want to be the final piece to putting us over the top.

Some of my ideas:
I would not be surprised to see Free cut and a younger RT take his place. Cutting him would save us over 5mil on the cap. Could we sign a solid RT for 5-7 mil a year to take his place on the great wall of Dallas?

There are a number of solid CB's in FA this year that are less injury-prone than Claiborne and more dynamic than Carr, instead of spending money on resigning one or both of them could we get an upgrade? The high number of top-flight corners in this year's draft might lead a few teams to not enter the FA CB market.

It also seems that DWare would fit this description if his physical checks out.

 

[CF74]

No, but a rookie has never, ever, gone far in the playoffs. There's a reason.

Typically it's because the team around said rookie was bad enough to land a #1 pick or an early 1st round pick in the prior draft.

Dak has an offense, the defense was good enough to help win some games (13-4) but got exposed in the Post Season. It got exposed when we got pass happy early and lost control of the ball.

 

[dfense]

Typically it's because the team around said rookie was bad enough to land a #1 pick or an early 1st round pick in the prior draft.

Dak has an offense, the defense was good enough to help win some games (13-4) but got exposed in the Post Season. It got exposed when we got pass happy early and lost control of the ball.

regardless, Weddle wasn't going to make a difference.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Standard operating procedure.

There will come a time where we will sign a big name free agent. I'm not sure this offseason is it.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Well, we wouldn't be wringing our hands right now about what to do with Carr, Church, Wilcox and Claiborne for starters.

Ok if we re-sign them or we won't. I'm. It concerned with the secondary. I'm concerned with the pass rush. That's it. I'll worry about other things later but right now we need a game changer on ther defensive line and that should be our main priority.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I love good free agents, it makes me sick when we don't get some

 

[Idgit]

regardless, Weddle wasn't going to make a difference.

One big play could have been the difference. Not sinking the 34 pick on a defender we couldn't get on the field could have been the difference.

 

[Bullflop]

Smoke screen?

That would be like expecting a big sale to go over well with a closed sign in the door.

It's not uncommon for teams and their FO's to say one thing to mislead potential competitors for a player and do exactly the opposite when the time comes to pursue a coveted talent. Let's consider also that Romo could conceivably enter into a trade scenario with any QB-needy team.

 

[Bullflop]

It's not a smoke screen.

Resign our guys, sign 1-2 low tier guys and draft. Just summed out our free agency

Even if it isn't a smoke screen, trading Romo or someone else to another team could provide impetus for a trade involving a pass rushing talent. Many scenarios are possible, depending upon the teams involved.

 

[big dog cowboy]

regardless, Weddle wasn't going to make a difference.

He would have upgraded the safety position. Without help from the pass rush his difference would have been minimalized.

 

[casmith07]

If we can believe what Stephen Jones has said several times already, you might be 100% right. Was that a smoke screen? We shall see.

Aside from Carr, they just aren't going to make any huge moves. Carr was a good move at the time considering the talent gap via the draft.

We'll plug depth holes on free agency and add a top pass rusher in the draft. Hopefully they'll take the same approach with the offensive line, though, and not the recent defensive line approach of taking guys in rounds 2-4 who are "rated higher."

 

[logan]

That we just missed out on signing Casey Hayward and Weddle. We were in the running on both.

Thornton is the one we land. I am already looking forward to the day he is gone.

Hopefully this offseason is a little friendlier to us.

Imagine if this board existed when we drafted Doug Cosbie over Joe Montana.

 

[haleyrules]

I really hope the club doesn't go crazy in FA. It previously killed the club for years. Look at the Giants and the 17 million a yr to Vernon now they must cut starters to pay JPP. Its a slippery slid. The Patriots are the formula to follow especially if Prescott is the real deal. Draft smart and sign FA that make sense and don't be afraid to move on from players that under perform and replace them quickly. Finding the next Belichick wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Jake]

I'm betting I see more of the Ravens than most here because Weddle wasn't impressive at all this season. He looked old and slow on many occasions, to the frustration of their fans. Yeah, he made the Pro Bowl after two other guys dropped out, but name recognition has a lot to do with it. He's not what he was, which is often the case when signing thirty-something free agents - you end up paying for what they were in the past.