Key cut for more than just roster space and bonuses...

[trickblue]

According to Mickey this morning, what we do know for sure is that Key was cut for money issues, and it wasn't bonus related. Attempting to sign TO could also be a factor, but let's take a different look at this situation.

Key was due a one million dollar bonus as of this morning with his current contract. The Cowboys felt that the bonus money would give him leverage for demanding more money. Key has made no bones about the fact that he wants more money, and the Cowboys felt that they could be held captive by Key for a couple of reasons. By receiving his one year bonus, Key would still be under contract to the team. He could then demand more money and use possible retirement as a threat. The Cowboys would be stuck with his contract against the cap if he followed through with the threat, and worse, a depleted WR corp.

At that point the Cowboys could feel backed against the wall and pay him MORE than his market value in order to keep him. By Jerry telling him to find out what he is worth and then coming back and giving us a chance to sign him, he avoids holdouts or bad blood.

Just a theory...

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

I'd also like to point out that at PFT they are saying Keyshawn's agent is no longer allowed to negotiate because of some penalty he received. They say Keyshawn is the guy calling the shots, and if true, seeing as how only TO has a "money ego" bigger than Keyshawn, those could be some tough talks.

 

[Cochese]

I could understand this if the Cowboys were in some dire cap situation, but the fact is that they have the money, and arent spending it on anything inparticular while opening up a huge hole in our roster.

 

[Woods]

I think that makes a lot of sense.

But in addition, I'd like to think (hope) there was a contingency plan in case we did not want to match Key's potential contract.

I just have to think our management and coaching staff would have a "grand" plan in place and not swing in the wind. As Dan Campbell mentioned in an interview several days ago . . . . We were going to make a splash (or something to that effect) pretty soon.

 

[AbeBeta]

it makes sense. I don't like it but it makes sense. you don't just throw money around because you have cap space. overpaying is a slippery slope.

we'll see this issue again when LA's 2 mill bonus is due.

 

[Woods]

it makes sense. I don't like it but it makes sense. you don't just throw money around because you have cap space. overpaying is a slippery slope.

we'll see this issue again when LA's 2 mill bonus is due.

Given what we've done with Campbell, Glover, and now Key, I just don't see us keeping LA unless there is a "significant" re-negotiation. Even then, I don't know if we're keeping LA.

 

[austintodallas]

Now that the initial shock of losing Key is starting to wear off and with the more that I read, I'm starting to feel like Jerry probably did the right thing for the Cowboys in releasing Key.

Hopefully Key is true to his word and gives us a chance to resign him once his market value is determined. I'd love to see him back on our sideline.

 

[TheHustler]

Now that the initial shock of losing Key is starting to wear off and with the more that I read, I'm starting to feel like Jerry probably did the right thing for the Cowboys in releasing Key.

Hopefully Key is true to his word and gives us a chance to resign him once his market value is determined. I'd love to see him back on our sideline.

Exactly. We will have every chance to bring him back @ market value.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Yes but something else has to be considered.

If the TO situation blows up in their faces...say they can not reach an agreement or some other team signs him.

If they can not or just don't want to trade for someone like Moulds or Walker because the other team is asking for too much.

Then once again Key is holding the cards IMO.

 

[TheHustler]

Yes but something else has to be considered.

If the TO situation blows up in their faces...say they can not reach an agreement or some other team signs him.

If they can not or just don't want to trade for someone like Moulds or Walker because the other team is asking for too much.

Then once again Key is holding the cards IMO.

Then we're back to where we started.

Low risk manuver.

 

[Yeagermeister]

This is the second year in a row we have cut a vet over a 1 million dollar bonus and like Jeff Robinson last year we will regret cutting Key.

 

[Alexander]

Yes but something else has to be considered.

If the TO situation blows up in their faces...say they can not reach an agreement or some other team signs him.

If they can not or just don't want to trade for someone like Moulds or Walker because the other team is asking for too much.

Then once again Key is holding the cards IMO.

I agree.

Keyshawn has hand here.

 

[jksmith269]

I could understand this if the Cowboys were in some dire cap situation, but the fact is that they have the money, and arent spending it on anything inparticular while opening up a huge hole in our roster.

The problem is if you let Key hold you captive as Hos said then you open the door for other players to do the same thing. It's a trend as a business owner you can't alow to even start. No matter the cost now you have to look two and three years down the road.

 

[conner01]

for the 6000th time, kj was'nt cut because of his bonus but because he wanted to redo his deal and get paid more. now he can hit the market and just see what is out there. if he does'nt get what he wants then we can always sign him back but his wanting to rework his deal is why he was cut,not a milloion dollars but more like 4 or 5 mil he wanted in extra pay.

 

[Pooz]

This is the second year in a row we have cut a vet over a 1 million dollar bonus and like Jeff Robinson last year we will regret cutting Key.

Who regrets cutting a 4th string 40 year old TE? That's just ridiculous.

 

[trickblue]

Who regrets cutting a 4th string 40 year old TE? That's just ridiculous.

I think the issue was that he was our deep-snapper... and we did have problems there last year...

Plus... he was a TD machine inside the 5 yard line...

 

[Idgit]

Yes but something else has to be considered.

If the TO situation blows up in their faces...say they can not reach an agreement or some other team signs him.

If they can not or just don't want to trade for someone like Moulds or Walker because the other team is asking for too much.

Then once again Key is holding the cards IMO.

Agreed. But that's the rules of supply and demand. If Key's right that his market value is higher than Jerry thought originally, there's no harm in that. I'd be willing to bet we'd have no problem paying him more if that turns out to be the case.

 

[NorthDalal]

Mickey Spagnola is a pretty good Cowboy beat writer who gets way too much abuse on this board for stating a strong opinion occasionally.

He has scored again with this speculation.

The Key release surprised every writer and radio guy in the Dallas area, but Mickeroo may have hit on the essential part of this whole deal.

Keyshawn though he was underpaid the last two years and would have been under contract once he recieved the bonus today. If the cowboys were then confronted with a huge contract demand he might of as he has hinted, moved on to retirement, the Cowboys would then have a substantial cap hit.

Cutting Key allow him to set his market value themn we could get in the mix and possibly even pay him more than most teams out there since he is wired into the offense.

His decline last year was apparent to me(no laying out for overthrows fumbles), but he's worth 3 yrs 2.5 million and a 1/2 million signing bonus.

At this point Rob Gardner, Eric Moulds or even a TC veteren cut matched with a drafted downfield threat would serve us as well as a 34 yr. old Keyshawn in 2006.

Kelley Washington, Nate Burleson, and Kevin Curtis are all restricted Free agents that might becom available for a draft choice as well as the already mentioned Jevon Walker (by Mickey)who has sworn to never play in G.B. again.

 

[wileedog]

I think the issue was that he was our deep-snapper... and we did have problems there last year...

At some point we were going to have to do exactly what we did last year - find a young guy who can do it. If we didn't do it last season, we would probably be going into this season in the exact same situation because Robinson retired halfway through last year.

As it is, the French guy seemed to settle down and be fine going down the stretch, so we're probably okay now.

I really don't see the problem here.

 

[Charles]

According to Mickey this morning, what we do know for sure is that Key was cut for money issues, and it wasn't bonus related. Attempting to sign TO could also be a factor, but let's take a different look at this situation.

Key was due a one million dollar bonus as of this morning with his current contract. The Cowboys felt that the bonus money would give him leverage for demanding more money. Key has made no bones about the fact that he wants more money, and the Cowboys felt that they could be held captive by Key for a couple of reasons. By receiving his one year bonus, Key would still be under contract to the team. He could then demand more money and use possible retirement as a threat. The Cowboys would be stuck with his contract against the cap if he followed through with the threat, and worse, a depleted WR corp.

At that point the Cowboys could feel backed against the wall and pay him MORE than his market value in order to keep him. By Jerry telling him to find out what he is worth and then coming back and giving us a chance to sign him, he avoids holdouts or bad blood.

Just a theory...

It is a great business move by the Cowboys.

Great recap I heard the segment too.