Jabaal Sheard to Pats

[Alexander]

Sheard also had 8.5 sacks as a rookie and 7 sacks as a sophomore in the 4-3. He had his worst year (2 sacks) last year in the 3-4. His years in the 4-3 are a more accurate comparison, and his production in the 4-3 early in his career was far better than Bennett's.

He is also tough, supposedly played on a broken foot last season. Too bad.

 

[BigStar]

Resignings are a big deal. The talent you draft and key is huge for any team's success.
They celebrate the same moves other places.

You sign guys early to lock them up at reasonable rates. You can't always get that bargain rate.

With a guy like Barber or Austin, Dallas probably should have pushed themselves away from the table.
But those last years of the contract were career years.
The players motivated by future paychecks really delivered at a high level.
Not certain removing that motivation is always a good move.

What you described is more of the good business aspect of some of the re-signings (Scan was a good one w/foresight and allowed him to be motivated up to that point, etc.) There is also the willingness on the player to take a long term deal before their rookie deals expire, or on this new 5th year option that is available, so I know the team can't just lock them up because it makes sense for the org. and not the player (Dez-$). Austin was understandable @ the time, but not coupled with the RW trade. Barber probably did give us his best years leading up to the second contract and understand your point in the incentive aspect for young players to not become complacent, or lazy.

I think it is just as critical as the next to resign your home talent even if you have to let the deals get to that point (for whatever reason), but the PR on these signings has replaced what generally are represented as new FA signings. You're new ingredient to help the team: you're newly resigned favorite player? It was more of just how they like to control the message and it has made an impact on the team not being active in FA. But we resigned all of our good players...all teams try do this? We have Romo, Witten, Scan, and Free as the primary re-signings to point to for longevity in this format (Miles, Barber, Rat, Spencer on the bad end). I know FA would have no good players if that were the case for every team, but that also isn't adding anything to help the current group either. Of course stick with the draft as your primary, but looking to add some talent (even higher risk gambles = $) is part of the process too.

 

[jterrell]

What you described is more of the good business aspect of some of the re-signings (Scan was a good one w/foresight and allowed him to be motivated up to that point, etc.) There is also the willingness on the player to take a long term deal before their rookie deals expire, or on this new 5th year option that is available, so I know the team can't just lock them up because it makes sense for the org. and not the player (Dez-$). Austin was understandable @ the time, but not coupled with the RW trade. Barber probably did give us his best years leading up to the second contract and understand your point in the incentive aspect for young players to not become complacent, or lazy.

I think it is just as critical as the next to resign your home talent even if you have to let the deals get to that point (for whatever reason), but the PR on these signings has replaced what generally are represented as new FA signings. You're new ingredient to help the team: you're newly resigned favorite player? It was more of just how they like to control the message and it has made an impact on the team not being active in FA. But we resigned all of our good players...all teams try do this? We have Romo, Witten, Scan, and Free as the primary re-signings to point to for longevity in this format (Miles, Barber, Rat, Spencer on the bad end). I know FA would have no good players if that were the case for every team, but that also isn't adding anything to help the current group either. Of course stick with the draft as your primary, but looking to add some talent (even higher risk gambles = $) is part of the process too.

But PR works the same other places.
Marketing and all that jazz has been a huge Cowboys component for 20 years and we've won less as that was our focus.

PR-aside, the team needs to operate properly.
Selling that model is pretty easy for me but obviously not easy to the base at large given the tenor of the board currently.
Fans want to "win" the off-season.
Until it is over then they just want to win.

Almost every NFL teams key FA task is keeping their own. The few teams where that isn't the case are usually coming off terrible seasons.

Dez was our big signing. Right now we have him for one year but we have him. Given his age, production and trajectory he'd have been the 2nd or 3rd best player in this entire free agent pool. Likewise we signed a RT that would have been a top OL in free agency. And Beasley is a 3rd WR who was signed longer term at the value we like.

All this is to say I am sure Jerry would prefer flashy signings to sell new jerseys but in the long run you have more success selling Dez Bryant jerseys than soem high priced outside FA you overpay for.

 

[jterrell]

He is also tough, supposedly played on a broken foot last season. Too bad.

He would have been a really good fit here as a SDE but we've also overrated him pretty well.
He's coming off a season with 25 tackles and 2 sacks.
The money was definitely right and this smells like a win for the Pats but I am not this 7 months form now anyone will look at Sheard as a guy you should have gotten in on.

I am not sure this player is better than Mincey. I do know he could have been in our rotation immediately and helped.

 

[BigStar]

But PR works the same other places.
Marketing and all that jazz has been a huge Cowboys component for 20 years and we've won less as that was our focus.

PR-aside, the team needs to operate properly.
Selling that model is pretty easy for me but obviously not easy to the base at large given the tenor of the board currently.
Fans want to "win" the off-season.
Until it is over then they just want to win.

Almost every NFL teams key FA task is keeping their own. The few teams where that isn't the case are usually coming off terrible seasons.

Dez was our big signing. Right now we have him for one year but we have him. Given his age, production and trajectory he'd have been the 2nd or 3rd best player in this entire free agent pool. Likewise we signed a RT that would have been a top OL in free agency. And Beasley is a 3rd WR who was signed longer term at the value we like.

All this is to say I am sure Jerry would prefer flashy signings to sell new jerseys but in the long run you have more success selling Dez Bryant jerseys than soem high priced outside FA you overpay for.

I guess it's not such that I covet a "shiney new FA" but a DL that can help the team. I could care less about the name recognition or off season grades, etc. But hardcore fans (like you and I) are aware that the DL is depleted outside of two good prospects in Craw/Lawrence. Ideally, we wouldn't need the shiny toy this off season (or any other) but with Romo's window being limited, I thought the team would've been willing to "bite the bullet" or go off-track to to the good model in place with an impact signing or even trade if necessary.

I don't see the impact DL coming through the draft (initially anyway) though I would prefer for both business reasons and locker room culture, etc. that the team not mimic this strategy every off season (relying on FAs) but the team is somewhat cornered in that regard (or at-least it seemed). Really I'm thinking more like the Pats in FA (though they have drafted average to require these moves admittedly in some instances - Talib-Revis-Moss type of moves). I totally understand that the vast majority of the talent in the league isn't found in FA, but the draft, resigning long term, etc.