Mick Shots: Solidifying the Roster for the Draft

[Motorola]

I like the paragraph where Spagnola outlined the team expenditures that the operating cap covers.

 

[lkelly]

My favorite was this part:

"Wanted to amplify the pass rush of last season? Re-signed Dante Fowler?"

Both because of the thick blue & white glasses needed to see that signing a guy from last year's pass rush group amplifies the pass rush, and the "I'm Ron Burgundy?" question mark that I hope he used out loud in the phrasing as he proofread his work.

What do amplify mean?

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Mickey “Jones” Spagnola, lol.

I don’t hate Mickey. I just find his work repetitive more than insightful. He works for the Cowboys so I‘m sure he is somewhat handcuffed on what he can say.

But my distaste for his work has more to do with how he treats people on the radio who question some of his party-line opinions. He used to be on Dallas sports station the Ticket, but he was so rude and argumentative on any kind of question that went against the kool aid script, they got rid of him. He bristles at even a suggestion of criticism of the Cowboys brass.

He's kind of a cranky guy, you can see it in his interactions with other cowboys beat writers and how they joke about him. I still like some of his content though, especially his Mick Shots show with Everson Walls and that media guy, Bill Jones I think is his name. It's light hearted with a lot of old stories and they give him crap everyday,,, good stuff.

 

[conner01]

He was straight forward, but the hate is preceded.
I bet neither of you even read the article.

I think one of his better articles
Simply facts about the roster

 

[conner01]

My favorite was this part:

"Wanted to amplify the pass rush of last season? Re-signed Dante Fowler?"

Both because of the thick blue & white glasses needed to see that signing a guy from last year's pass rush group amplifies the pass rush, and the "I'm Ron Burgundy?" question mark that I hope he used out loud in the phrasing as he proofread his work.

What do amplify mean?

He actually played really good
6 sacks and 2 FF playing 30% of stats

 

[Rayman70]

So you rather do drive by post, than to discuss football topics.

have it your way.

 

[gimmesix]

Even so I'll bet we draft a RB who could come in and contribute this season, an OG who would be capable of starting, a WR who could upgrade the talent at that position, and a TE.

There's difference in putting putty in the holes and rebuilding a wall that is not structurally sound. The Joneses (and Mickey in this article) try to sell the puttying work as doing enough to be able to draft "pure," but it isn't like RB concerns are fixed by signing a bargain RB in Jones or LG is fixed by signing a bargain guard in Edoga. These are stopgap moves in case the draft doesn't work out to where we can absolutely fix those positions, but no one should act like we've improved because of those signings.

Trading for Gilmore and Cooks are moves to improve their positions. The rest are just so we can say we have a body who can start. They mean little beyond that and those positions still remain a concern. They are comparable to kicker right now, where all we have is Tristan Vizcaino. Like the others, Vizcaino has played in this league, but that doesn't mean we should be satisfied and not have a clear draft goal to improve that position.

 

[morasp]

There's difference in putting putty in the holes and rebuilding a wall that is not structurally sound. The Joneses (and Mickey in this article) try to sell the puttying work as doing enough to be able to draft "pure," but it isn't like RB concerns are fixed by signing a bargain RB in Jones or LG is fixed by signing a bargain guard in Edoga. These are stopgap moves in case the draft doesn't work out to where we can absolutely fix those positions, but no one should act like we've improved because of those signings.

Trading for Gilmore and Cooks are moves to improve their positions. The rest are just so we can say we have a body who can start. They mean little beyond that and those positions still remain a concern. They are comparable to kicker right now, where all we have is Tristan Vizcaino. Like the others, Vizcaino has played in this league, but that doesn't mean we should be satisfied and not have a clear draft goal to improve that position.

Exactly, I'm looking at how are they better than last year defense and offense. Don't tell me about the second year bump for rookies because all 32 teams are counting on that. What have we done that made us better than last season.

 

[Flamma]

There's difference in putting putty in the holes and rebuilding a wall that is not structurally sound. The Joneses (and Mickey in this article) try to sell the puttying work as doing enough to be able to draft "pure," but it isn't like RB concerns are fixed by signing a bargain RB in Jones or LG is fixed by signing a bargain guard in Edoga. These are stopgap moves in case the draft doesn't work out to where we can absolutely fix those positions, but no one should act like we've improved because of those signings.

Trading for Gilmore and Cooks are moves to improve their positions. The rest are just so we can say we have a body who can start. They mean little beyond that and those positions still remain a concern. They are comparable to kicker right now, where all we have is Tristan Vizcaino. Like the others, Vizcaino has played in this league, but that doesn't mean we should be satisfied and not have a clear draft goal to improve that position.

Minus the Cooks and Gilmore trades, this is how the Cowboys operate every off season.

 

[Flamma]

Exactly, I'm looking at how are they better than last year defense and offense. Don't tell me about the second year bump for rookies because all 32 teams are counting on that. What have we done that made us better than last season.

Usually the Cowboys don't do that. Most off seasons are filling holes through cheap FAs and players from the draft. This year we got the two trades. Better than nothing.

 

[lkelly]

He actually played really good
6 sacks and 2 FF playing 30% of stats

That's all well and good, but how does it "amplify the pass rush of last season?"

His involvement is quite literally flatline. You're bringing the same player out on the field as last year, only a year older.

I guess the fact that I have to explain this answers the "Why are there Mickeys in the world?" question.

 

[goshann]

Nobody takes bpa
Teams take bpa across their needs

 

[DanA]

Exactly, I'm looking at how are they better than last year defense and offense. Don't tell me about the second year bump for rookies because all 32 teams are counting on that. What have we done that made us better than last season.

Every team looks for a 2nd year jump but not every team has a draft group perform like Smith, Williams, Ferguson, Bland, Clarke, and Hendershot? We are starting from a pretty high baseline with six guys expected to contribute.

 

[removed_20241105]

Mickey “Jones” Spagnola, lol.

I don’t hate Mickey. I just find his work repetitive more than insightful. He works for the Cowboys so I‘m sure he is somewhat handcuffed on what he can say.

But my distaste for his work has more to do with how he treats people on the radio who question some of his party-line opinions. He used to be on Dallas sports station the Ticket, but he was so rude and argumentative on any kind of question that went against the kool aid script, they got rid of him. He bristles at even a suggestion of criticism of the Cowboys brass.

I hate his work. Dislike him as a person too. He always seems to have a condescension and disdain for fans and I’m not down with that at all. His act is tired and at this point, he’s a caricature of himself.

 

[removed_20241105]

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/mick-shots-solidifying-roster-purifies-the-draft

Some info from Mickey. Pretty much says what we already been saying. Getting the roster to the point of taking BPA without reaching for a player of need. Especially in the 1st round. But he does a good summary of it.

Some other interesting info as well. Pretty much straight forward stuff, no rah-rah team stuff.

A few interesting comments about the NCAA Women's basketball championship as well. And MM's take on how tough it is to win SB's with 2 different teams.

I think he and the Jones’ think they put themselves in position to go BPA every year. Until I see deliberate attempts to sure up DT as a strength, I won’t believe they are in the position they claim to be.

 

[Mannix]

Mickey “Jones” Spagnola, lol.

I don’t hate Mickey. I just find his work repetitive more than insightful. He works for the Cowboys so I‘m sure he is somewhat handcuffed on what he can say.

But my distaste for his work has more to do with how he treats people on the radio who question some of his party-line opinions. He used to be on Dallas sports station the Ticket, but he was so rude and argumentative on any kind of question that went against the kool aid script, they got rid of him. He bristles at even a suggestion of criticism of the Cowboys brass.

I do.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds058]

I do.

Lol, add Fish too.

 

[zekecowboy]

Maybe this thread should be deleted. Or locked. I thought about even posting it. As I knew it would turn into a mickey hate thread, as fans can't have a real football discussion over anything.

I read it and I do appreciate you posting Mickey's comments.

 

[Mannix]

I read it and I do appreciate you posting Mickey's comments.

-----Maybe this thread should be deleted. Or locked. I thought about even posting it. As I knew it would turn into a mickey hate thread, as fans can't have a real football discussion over anything.


The hate is WELL earned, for those who have had to endure his Cowboy bootlicking in the Dallas area for what seems like 50 years. I'll never understand how he can sleep at nite.

 

[Cowfan75]

You'd be cranky too, if you had to have all your regurgitated writing proofread and then get roughed up by Rowdy if you crossed that Kool-Aid line for decades.