sonnyboy
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I touched on this topic/idea in a previous thread, but with the 2010 all but over and serious questions about the furture of this group of Cowboys, I see it as more necessary than ever.
Now I know there's a decent chance of a work stoppage in 2011. Personally I don't think it happens and it really doesn't kill the plan if it does. Just puts a little more burden on Jerry wallet near term. So put that on the back burner and assume we have a neal deal with a salary cap in 2011.
A few months ago, we saw Jerry utilize a loop hole in the current system to basically front load much of Miles Austin's compensation he'll see over the life of his new deal into 2010.
For those of you not paying attention, Jerry paid Austin about 10 mil more in non cap dollars than he needed to. At least by my calculations.
Austin's new deal will pay him about 15 mil in 2010 and has much lower base salaries and more importantly, annual cap #'s going forward.
This team isn't as good as we all hoped/thought it was. And it's not just coaching. Coaching is no doubt the majority of our problem and I think/hope that will be addressed this coming January.
But we need more talent.
We need 2 new starting offensive lineman in 2011. We can not go into the season with Columbo and Davis as slated starters.
Absoluelty, positively can not have that happen.
I don't care what we pay these new lineman. But it must happen.
In addition to these 2 new starters, we need at least 2 new rookie offensive lineman. And neither of them should be selected on the 3rd day.
We need 1 new starting MLB. This could be where we go with our 1st rd pick, maybe not. Perhpas we get him in FA. But we should not rely on James and Lee as slated starters.
None of our MLBs can cover and this is killing us!
We need a new starting FS. Again, if this isn't achieved with a high priced veteran probowl caliber player singning, perhaps we use our 1st pick right here.
We need a 350lb NT. Now this player does not need to be All-Pro caliber. No need to spend a 1st rd pick our 8mil a year. But we do need a quality player in this spot. I want an infusion of run stopping talent into our DL and I want the time Ratliff spends at NT and double teams he gets reduced.
And that's it. Can we use another CB, another RB or WR if we give Williams and Barber the boot? Absolutely! But those spots can and should be filled with 3rd day draft picks and RFAs.
So how do we make this happen? Where's the dollars come from?
Well I think Jerry needs to cheat.
He should select a few key contributers with at least 4 years of quality service left in them and front load new contracts.
These must be cornerstone type guys who will be valued by any new coach and can play in any new scheme.
Romo and Ware top the list. I also think you could include Ratliff, Jenkins, Spencer, Bryant and maybe Newman.
Romo and Ware are easy. There's no doubt you could skim 60-70 mil you'd likely be paying them in years 2011-2114, dump it all into 2010 and assume little to no risk on the investment.
You could argue the other 5 players I listed. Maybe we only redo Newman to 2013 or not at all. Perhpas there are a few other worthy candidates.
But I believe the goal should be to dumb 100-120 million of compensation that most likely would be paid out to high caliber performers in years 2011-2014 into 2010.
This will give us an additional 25-30 mil a year to work with than any other team. It will make the little spending spree I believe we need to go on possible.
Now I know there's a decent chance of a work stoppage in 2011. Personally I don't think it happens and it really doesn't kill the plan if it does. Just puts a little more burden on Jerry wallet near term. So put that on the back burner and assume we have a neal deal with a salary cap in 2011.
A few months ago, we saw Jerry utilize a loop hole in the current system to basically front load much of Miles Austin's compensation he'll see over the life of his new deal into 2010.
For those of you not paying attention, Jerry paid Austin about 10 mil more in non cap dollars than he needed to. At least by my calculations.
Austin's new deal will pay him about 15 mil in 2010 and has much lower base salaries and more importantly, annual cap #'s going forward.
This team isn't as good as we all hoped/thought it was. And it's not just coaching. Coaching is no doubt the majority of our problem and I think/hope that will be addressed this coming January.
But we need more talent.
We need 2 new starting offensive lineman in 2011. We can not go into the season with Columbo and Davis as slated starters.
Absoluelty, positively can not have that happen.
I don't care what we pay these new lineman. But it must happen.
In addition to these 2 new starters, we need at least 2 new rookie offensive lineman. And neither of them should be selected on the 3rd day.
We need 1 new starting MLB. This could be where we go with our 1st rd pick, maybe not. Perhpas we get him in FA. But we should not rely on James and Lee as slated starters.
None of our MLBs can cover and this is killing us!
We need a new starting FS. Again, if this isn't achieved with a high priced veteran probowl caliber player singning, perhaps we use our 1st pick right here.
We need a 350lb NT. Now this player does not need to be All-Pro caliber. No need to spend a 1st rd pick our 8mil a year. But we do need a quality player in this spot. I want an infusion of run stopping talent into our DL and I want the time Ratliff spends at NT and double teams he gets reduced.
And that's it. Can we use another CB, another RB or WR if we give Williams and Barber the boot? Absolutely! But those spots can and should be filled with 3rd day draft picks and RFAs.
So how do we make this happen? Where's the dollars come from?
Well I think Jerry needs to cheat.
He should select a few key contributers with at least 4 years of quality service left in them and front load new contracts.
These must be cornerstone type guys who will be valued by any new coach and can play in any new scheme.
Romo and Ware top the list. I also think you could include Ratliff, Jenkins, Spencer, Bryant and maybe Newman.
Romo and Ware are easy. There's no doubt you could skim 60-70 mil you'd likely be paying them in years 2011-2114, dump it all into 2010 and assume little to no risk on the investment.
You could argue the other 5 players I listed. Maybe we only redo Newman to 2013 or not at all. Perhpas there are a few other worthy candidates.
But I believe the goal should be to dumb 100-120 million of compensation that most likely would be paid out to high caliber performers in years 2011-2014 into 2010.
This will give us an additional 25-30 mil a year to work with than any other team. It will make the little spending spree I believe we need to go on possible.
