Matt Johnson Heading To Season Ending IR per Broaddus

[The Natural]

Bu but...I thought we were all gonna be buying his jersey this year.

 

[Risen Star]

This.

Last Years draft was very questionable. give away a second round and the 3rd rd pick is in IR, who knows what he has - drafted as a 3-4, etc. Then you get Wilbur, Johnson, Hanna, and McSurdy.

There is a large probability that we come away with 1 decent player from that draft. Hanna might be ok, but we turn around the next year and and draft a TE in the second Rd, apparently we are going to be New England for the 5th year running - but then draft a WR this year in the 3rd. Anyway after the 2009 debacle (http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4707009/the-bad-2009-class-is-officially-over) there is little doubt why there is some talent and depth issues.

It's looking worse by the week. Potentially another one player class and he came at the cost of 1st and 2nd round picks. We have to avoid those or we are always going to have depth issues.

 

[TheDude]

Or he's just had bad luck in the first 16 months of his career...

I know what would have happened if I had a bad first 16 months of my career.

 

[jnday]

Enjoy.

Another year of jag, fill-in safeties waiting for the great white hope to finally get healthy enough to play a down of football. Next year's draft will see Jerry pass on a good safety prospect because Johnson will be just like an extra draft pick at the position. Three years from now, when the Cowboys wise up, they can ask themselves why didn't they address the safety position instead of wasting years on this injury prone waste of time.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Trying to save face for investing a 4th round pick.

How so? He is legit hurt.

 

[TheDude]

It's looking worse by the week. Potentially another one player class and he came at the cost of 1st and 2nd round picks. We have to avoid those or we are always going to have depth issues.

I dont think posters here really are that enamored with him because of his rare skillset (?). It is the history of the position. Next to OL, safety is a close second to drafting and development/assessing ineptitude. While I like some things about Church, I would be completely lying if I said I knew he can handle the position. He's played one game. Throw in coming off an Achilles injury and coupling him with a complete journeyman in Allen w/ backups like Johnson/Heath and Wilcox (who has played 1 year in div ii college as a safety) and that is not a recipe for certain success.

Add in spending $50M for a press corner and then implement a cover 2 scheme where safeties are more the focal point - I have MAJOR concerns about this defense (and that isn't stating the obvious DLine issues)

 

[gmoney112]

We seem to try and find hidden skill position players with our mid round picks and it hasn't worked out. Granted hindsight is 50/50 but with how many line players you have on the roster it'd make sense to take the biggest, meanest lineman available with these mid round picks. Even if they
Don't start they could still provide depth and contribute. They could still underwhelm but I like a linemans chances to contribute on a team with little line depth than a 4th round safety/corner.

 

[BIGDen]

Another year of jag, fill-in safeties waiting for the great white hope to finally get healthy enough to play a down of football. Next year's draft will see Jerry pass on a good safety prospect because Johnson will be just like an extra draft pick at the position. Three years from now, when the Cowboys wise up, they can ask themselves why didn't they address the safety position instead of wasting years on this injury prone waste of time.

Didn't we just draft Wilcox in the 3rd? Why would you care if we IR Johnson? He has good potential and the coaches have been impressed by him. His injuries are very unfortunate and we're all frustrated by them. I was at the HOF game, saw him make the tackle and get hurt. I was like "You've gotta be kidding me...". The situation totally sucks but there was no need to cut him. He's not taking up a roster spot and not even occupying the IR spot that is eligible to return. As Cowboys fans, I would think we would all be hoping that he'll come back strong next year and compete/add depth at safety.

 

[Avery]

No reason to cut him when they can move him to IR on the cheap.

Next year, however, look for him to be cut if he doesn't bring it.

 

[cowboys2233]

I guess your remark about his potential to start in the future isn't a form of you "pretending to see the future". Oh, but I'm the silly one. In your two replies to my posts you've referred to me as "foolish" and "silly". Didn't some body teach you that name calling gets you no where? Why am I silly or foolish? Because I have an opinion that conflicts with yours? A simple agree to disagree would suffice.

Because your suggestion makes no sense. I said he could potentially be a future starter and there is virtually no reason not to hold onto him and find out. You've decided that he'll never be able to stay healthy which is just silly. You have no way of knowing that. It's crazy talk.

 

[jobberone]

Rediculous.


He is probably close to being healthy.

They should've let McCray walk.

Maybe the STs coach got on the table and screamed and yelled.

 

[cowboys2233]

Wait. Did you just imply Matt Johnson is like a lottery ticket?

Where is the proven value he has demonstrated in college that suggests he is this incredible talent? Grainy YouTube videos?

Teams move on from unreliable players each and every year. And the majority of the time, those decisions are the right ones.

I just struggle to see why this player, who will effectively be a 25 year old "rookie" in 2014, two years removed from prolonged uninterrupted football activities, is viewed in such a light.

Please, not even close to being a rookie. He has been exposed to two separate training camps, he has practiced and played against NFL level talent. He is far from being a wide-eyed rookie just entering his first TC. And he obviously has talent, that was pretty clear in the short time he was on the field and the coaches have likely seen much more in practice. Again, what exactly is the problem with holding onto the guy?

 

[durrrr]

I know what would have happened if I had a bad first 16 months of my career.

Yeah, that's totally relevant.

 

[Alexander]

Please, not even close to being a rookie. He has been exposed to two separate training camps, he has practiced and played against NFL level talent. He is far from being a wide-eyed rookie just entering his first TC. And he obviously has talent, that was pretty clear in the short time he was on the field and the coaches have likely seen much more in practice. Again, what exactly is the problem with holding onto the guy?

"Exposed to two separate training camps"?

So has Danny Coale. So has Caleb McSurdy. Where are the defenders for them?

 

[cowboys1981]

Because your suggestion makes no sense. I said he could potentially be a future starter and there is virtually no reason not to hold onto him and find out. You've decided that he'll never be able to stay healthy which is just silly. You have no way of knowing that. It's crazy talk.

Has he shown otherwise? I was excited to see him help us this season and as it turns out, he can't. Some players have that injury bug and despite its misfortune, we have to adress this in the offseason next year.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

The difference between Johnson and Coale/McSurdy is the Cowboys believe Johnson can play. I think they're afraid of cutting him, seeing him get healthy, then turn into a great player for some other team. Even though that's a longshot.

 

[Alexander]

No reason to cut him when they can move him to IR on the cheap.

Next year, however, look for him to be cut if he doesn't bring it.

They don't necessarily get a drastic reduction in salary on injured reserve. They can "split" the salary to 40 to 70 percent of what they would be making. It is on a case by case basis. We will "save" but the amount is negligible, considering he was only earning less than $480K to begin with.

 

[durrrr]

Has he shown otherwise? I was excited to see him help us this season and as it turns out, he can't. Some players have that injury bug and despite its misfortune, we have to adress this in the offseason next year.

Deciding a player "can't stay healthy" 16 months into his career is ridiculous.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Deciding a player "can't stay healthy" 16 months into his career is ridiculous.

I agree, but Johnson lasted one practice last season. And this year he didn't make it out of one quarter of one preseason game. At some point, "bad luck" has to be thrown out the window.

 

[cowboys1981]

Deciding a player "can't stay healthy" 16 months into his career is ridiculous.

So is wishful thinking that he's somehow going to make a difference when he can't make it on to the field.