Mailbag: Should The Cowboys Start Extending Young Stars?

[WoodysGirl]

MAX MAKUTA
OLYPHANT, PA

I don't know what the cap will be next year or how much money the Cowboys will have for free agency, but wouldn't it make sense to extend contracts to Sean Lee[URL="http://www.dallascowboys.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif"] [/URL] and Dez Bryant[URL="http://www.dallascowboys.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif"] [/URL] this year?

Bryan: It’s something that Stephen Jones, Todd Williams and Adam Prasifka think about all the time in regards to the budget. My experience with the group is that when they get to training camp they will begin to work on pending deals going forward. Lee has one year left on his deal, while Bryant has two. The goal is to try to get something done at that time but if not they will continue to work on them within the frame work of their budget.

Rowan: Yes. The sooner those players can be locked up, the better, and it’s not just Lee, whose contract’s up at the end of the 2013 season and Bryant, whose deal is up a year later. DeMarco Murray[URL="http://www.dallascowboys.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif"] [/URL]’s deal is also up after the 2014 season, as well as Bruce Carter[URL="http://www.dallascowboys.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif"] [/URL]’s. Everyone knows extending Tony Romo[URL="http://www.dallascowboys.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif"] [/URL] would help keep the franchise quarterback around, but there’s a few other positions the Cowboys also have to think about. Getting and staying under the cap wouldn’t necessarily a bad thing.

More: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...ng-Stars/b57c4b79-6314-477e-b103-33b5c39c36af

 

[Future]

As much as I like them, I'd be hesitant on signing Lee, Carter, and Murray. None of them have had a healthy season yet.

 

[conner01]

lee is the first to come up and there is a good chance he gets done this year. after june 1 cut of free we will have the money to go ahead and lock him up.

 

[Nation]

A Murray extension shouldn't be under consideration in my opinion. He had nearly 1,000 touches in college, and his body is starting to break down. A 6'0 213 pounder with 4.4 speed is still worth having around when you're paying him less than a million a year, but he's not worth second contract money because of the injury risk.

 

[Disturbed]

I think it would be smart to try to get Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, and Dex Bryant on longer deals. Not sure about Murray (ability to stay healthy) and not crazy about long term deal for Tony (age and choking every year at the end of the season).

I would prefer to spend money in the draft whenever possible, avoid FA, and limit any contracts to older players (only very very few should ever be considered after age 30).

Dallas needs to continue to rebuild with young talent, and it looks like they need to overhaul their management style as it relates to the salary cap. Stephen is failing here as bad as his dad is at the GM role.

 

[Risen Star]

I would say no across the board. Lee, Carter and Murray need to prove they can stay on the field and I'm in no hurry to hand Dez a monster contract extension.

 

[Stash]

As much as I like them, I'd be hesitant on signing Lee, Carter, and Murray. None of them have had a healthy season yet.

Unfortunately, you're right about that.

 

[Risen Star]

Stephen is failing here as bad as his dad is at the GM role.

You can't talk about our savior like that.

Our cap is fine. It is a non issue. Don't mention it again.

 

[Stash]

I would say no across the board. Lee, Carter and Murray need to prove they can stay on the field and I'm in no hurry to hand Dez a monster contract extension.

I'm beginning to wonder if they'll be able to even if they wanted.

With all of these restructures and getting further locked into some bad deals, I don't know where the cap money would come from..

 

[burmafrd]

Another way to look at it would be to resign Carter and Lee NOW before they can argue they have made it through a full season. Because then the price goes way up.

Or do Dez ASAP before he has another monster season and we cannot afford him.


Of course there are big risks either way; wait and you have to pay more and do it now and end up signing guys that cannot stay on the field to long term contracts.

Interesting choice.

 

[5Stars]

I would say no across the board. Lee, Carter and Murray need to prove they can stay on the field and I'm in no hurry to hand Dez a monster contract extension.

So, then how or who do you replace them with?

I don't get it with you sometimes! You cannot have pro-bowlers at evey position. Players do get injured, you know.

 

[TheFinisher]

These are the guys we should be focused on locking up and building around, not the aging 30+ vets that can't get over the hump. Unfortunately the FO is in win-now mode and is willing to gamble on our future if it means keeping the band together.

We're already on the books for just 20 players at 110 Million in 2015, and that doesn't include the mega deal Romo is about to get. Lee, Carter, Dez, Murray, and Tyron all have their rookie deals expire by then... you do the math.

 

[burmafrd]

So, then how or who do you replace them with?

I don't get it with you sometimes! You cannot have pro-bowlers at evey position. Players do get injured, you know.

every time someone uses that term 'pro bowlers at every position' I yawn and tune them out. Truly a worthless term.

 

[Risen Star]

Another way to look at it would be to resign Carter and Lee NOW before they can argue they have made it through a full season. Because then the price goes way up.

Or do Dez ASAP before he has another monster season and we cannot afford him.


Of course there are big risks either way; wait and you have to pay more and do it now and end up signing guys that cannot stay on the field to long term contracts.

Interesting choice.

Risks that I don't want our front office to make because they simply lack the qualifications to make them with any success.

 

[Primetime42]

This here is a no-win situation for the front office, the clueless will kill them no matter what decision they make.

 

[burmafrd]

Risks that I don't want our front office to make because they simply lack the qualifications to make them with any success.

history certainly agrees with that. Outside of complete no brainers like Ware and Witten just how often have they been right with extensions?