Money for FAs

[perrykemp]

Back to the Packers discussion, I'm sure that there are teams with better cap management situations than the Cowboys, but I don't see the Packers as a good example because they don't really have options if they never allow themselves to go over their own self-imposed cap. They had a huge amount of cap space years ago when they considered signing Randy Moss, but they declined because they didn't want to go over their own self-imposed cap.

Interesting. I thought the Packer's main philosophy wasn't so much a self-imposed cap as it was holding their money in reserve to pay their own young talent which they typically have in abundance due to good drafting.

It's not like the Packers don't have money -- they are profitable every year, they have a quarter billion dollar reserve, they are the NFL's only non-profit organization, and they have no owner sifting profits off the top.

Example last year they had a bunch of cap space that they had been building up and they finally signed Rodgers and Matthews to two absolutely monster contracts in the off-season.

From what I read they had been saving up this off-season for BJ Raji's contract renewal but they've decided at this point to let Raji probably go.

I will say this -- it is hard to get a great handle on how the Packers handle their salary cap and why it looks so odd (so much free money) despite paying out such huge contracts to players like Rodgers.

Once thing I noticed on Over the Cap is that they only have $1.2m of dead money in 2014 which seems to be a very small amount. Is that an indicator that they are a "pay as you go" club in terms of salary cap spending?

 

[Nightman]

They have about 11M in dead-money in 2014 and have had large amounts of dead-money for the past several years. If they cut Ware immediately (prior to June 1st), then the only dead-money in 2015 would be the 2nd portion of the dead-money from making Austin a June 1st cut. It's possible that they could be completely out of the dead-money game in 2016.

It's much better to have big contracts for active players with several more years to play than to have dead-money. The active players contracts can always be manipulated; whereas, the dead-money cannot.

The #1 key is the Ware situation. If they restructure his existing contract it will push about 11M into future years. That's going to make it difficult at some point. If they replace him with a young free agent, even if he were paid the same salary, it wouldn't be as big of an issue because that player can be restructured for many years, whereas Ware tab will be coming due soon.

Back to the Packers discussion, I'm sure that there are teams with better cap management situations than the Cowboys, but I don't see the Packers as a good example because they don't really have options if they never allow themselves to go over their own self-imposed cap. They had a huge amount of cap space years ago when they considered signing Randy Moss, but they declined because they didn't want to go over their own self-imposed cap.

They have also been very successful at building through the Draft. They aren't big players in FA because they don't have to be.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Selvie is better than Ware. He has gotten more sacks and played the run much better. Ware has not commanded any double teams since the 2nd half of the season. Take the name off both players Jersey's and its not even close.

I would like to address Dline in the draft as well, but Dallas still has to bring is some mid tier defensive lineman. Joseph and Houston will not break the bank and both are very good players. They aren't sexy FAs but if you look at their play, it is very good. If Dallas can sign both players, it shouldn't stop the team from drafting players like Hageman, Tuitt, Ray Drew, Kony Ealy, or Trent Murphy. It would allow them to address FS though if HaHa Clinton-Dix is still there. Dallas could then use their 2nd and 3rd round picks on the Dline without reaching for need when players like Kelcy Quarles,Anthony Johnson, Aaron Donald, Ray Drew, and Karreem Martin will be there in the 2nd. Taylor Hart, Michael Sam, Jackson Jeffcoat, and Ego Ferguson will all be there in the 3rd. Last thing you want to do is reach for need in the first when you don't have to.

Are you serious ? That DL is atrocious you've got .

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

They have also been very successful at building through the Draft. They aren't big players in FA because they don't have to be.

They also win the same amount of games as we did . I'm not impressed , maybe the patriots , Seahawks or 49ers .

 

[KingintheNorth]

Restructure Demarcus Ware.

Draft Kony Ealy and Will Sutton.

Try to sign a midrange free agent like Arthur Jones.

Nick Hayden, George Selvie, Tyrone Crawford, and Ben Bass as reserves.

 

[perrykemp]

They also win the same amount of games as we did . I'm not impressed , maybe the patriots , Seahawks or 49ers .

Making the playoffs despite starting 4 different starting QBs, no Aaron Rodgers for 8 games, no Randall Cobb for 10 games, no left tackle Bulaga for 16 games, Finley out with a likely career ending injury, and 16 total guys including Casey Heyward on IR?

All you can come up with is "they won the same amount of games as we did"...