My Fix for Our Dallas Cowboys

[Oh_Canada]

My plan for the Cowboys is predicated on the health and contribution of several players next year including Brewster, J.Williams and Brandon Williams and the continued progression of Phillips, Ogletree and Scandrick. Ideally, I would cut Roy Williams and signing Steve Breaston, however that seems impossible given the amount of guaranteed money coming his way. Either way, this team is close and with or without RW11 will be a contender provided they stay away from the infirmary.

In-house Free Agents Re-signed:

Sensabaugh-I think he will be more of a playmaker without the cast next season and his price shouldn't be outrageous, if it is, you pass.

Bowen-Impressive in reduced role

Spears-Under appreciated.

Austin-Duh!

Hatcher-Continuity/depth reasons

Newman-Is he a free agent? I have conflicting info. If he is he should be retained, but only at a reasonable price.

Ball-Developing nicely

Watkins-Special team ace, keep him if it's affordable.

Outside Free Agent Targets

With the Cowboys sooooo close, I really think it's time they make a splash with a key free agent who fits the character profile this team is looking for. Left tackle is where I would target since Flo will be 35 years-old and no team with Super Bowl aspirations should trust a late first rounder to man the blind side for your QB.

Plan A

Marcus McNeill-If he is available, you go get him, plain and simple. With bookends Free and McNeill you won't have to worry about either position for seven years at least.

Wave Good-Bye: Flozell Adams, perhaps Columbo if he does not accept backup role.

Plan B

Logan Mankins-I am afraid for Kosier and Romo's life everytime the Boys play the Skins...that's twice a year minimum and I don't want to risk Haynesworth driving our QB into the core of the earth after running over the lighter Kosier. Keep in mind this is second choice and would mean Flo stays and they draft a LT in the first round.

Wave Good Bye-In this scenario, no one except possibly Columbo as Free would become full time RT.

Possible Free Agent-

Bob Sanders-With the possibility of an uncapped year and given Sanders injury woes, he might be available. If he is, I think the Cowboys should roll the dice and bring him in to replace Hamlin who would be cut.

Nice if you could afford-

Ryan Pickett-Behometh NT to spell Rat who just seems to have trouble holding up late in the season. This might also allow #90 to move outside on first down.

Draft

Everything will be predicated on getting McNeill, if you do you draft a guard/center in round two or three. If not, you must focus on drafting a tackle early on (Bulaga?). I would focus on WR (speed, speed, speed), OL, DL and S regardless.

Oh and find a kicker who kicks straight...maybe give Folk another shot.

Well that's it..you can go ahead and drill great big holes in my fairy tale plan now.

 

[diehard2294]

bob sanders he cant even stay healty enough to play seems every year he misses time

 

[Oh_Canada]

I know....but it's a nice thought.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

McNeil and Mankins will be RFA's and either be tendered, signed long term or franchised.

There is zero percent chance we get them.

I ****ing hate these uncapped rules.

 

[Yeagermeister]

McNeil and Mankins will be RFA's and either be tendered, signed long term or franchised.

There is zero percent chance we get them.

I ****ing hate these uncapped rules.

Not quite the free for all everyone thought it was going to be is it? :laugh2:

 

[BIGDen]

McNeil and Mankins will be RFA's and either be tendered, signed long term or franchised.

There is zero percent chance we get them.

I ****ing hate these uncapped rules.

I'd love to add talent as well, especially along the o-line, but the flipside is that we probably won't lose much either. This is a good team that will remain largely intact.

On a different note.
Is it me, or does it feel like the rug got pulled out from under us? I find myself feeling a little lost without my Cowboys excitement. It's just sad and I have no desire to watch any football this weekend whatsoever. I knew it was going to be a difficult game, but I didn't see that disaster coming (until we squandered those 3 early drives). This team really seemed like it could do something special and it's just depressing that it's over. I don't want to wait 'til next year! Waaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!

 

[DeaconBlues]

On a different note.
Is it me, or does it feel like the rug got pulled out from under us? I find myself feeling a little lost without my Cowboys excitement. It's just sad and I have no desire to watch any football this weekend whatsoever. I knew it was going to be a difficult game, but I didn't see that disaster coming (until we squandered those 3 early drives). This team really seemed like it could do something special and it's just depressing that it's over. I don't want to wait 'til next year! Waaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!

Oh, I've got desire, at least to watch the NFC title game. Me and my Bret Farve voodoo doll, plus lots of pins. I want a permanent imprint of his body at midfield, plus 3 or so interceptions.

:vikings:

I want NO to put up a 70 spot on these basdids.

 

[Doomsday101]

I have a feeling the FA market is going to be very small this year. All teams will deal with the same uncapped year so retaining players is not going to be a big issue for many who otherwise due to cap consideration would allow a player to leave via FA. I think what we will see is other teams trash on the FA market anyone worth keeping will be staying put.

 

[YosemiteSam]

You want to get rid of Flozell Adams? Did you NOT see what happen once he left the game against the Vikings? The Cowboys were moving the ball before he was hurt. (granted they kept turning the ball over in the red zone)

Once Adams left the game, the offense completely collapsed. Yeah, lets get rid of our best tackle before we have real replacement for him.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I have a feeling the FA market is going to be very small this year. All teams will deal with the same uncapped year so retaining players is not going to be a big issue for many who otherwise due to cap consideration would allow a player to leave via FA. I think what we will see is other teams trash on the FA market anyone worth keeping will be staying put.

There isn't a lot moving out there anyhow in UFAs. Especially since teams can tag 2 players and all first year UFA end up getting RFA tag slapped back on them for this year since there is no cap.

 

[Doomsday101]

You want to get rid of Flozell Adams? Did you NOT see what happen once he left the game against the Vikings? The Cowboys were moving the ball before he was hurt. (granted they kept turning the ball over in the red zone)

Once Adams left the game, the offense completely collapsed. Yeah, lets get rid of our best tackle before we have real replacement for him.

I agree. You want to replace Flo fine but 1st things 1st you better have someone who is proven to take the job. Getting rid of him and drafting some kid without knowing if they could even play at this level is too big of a risk. Right now I stay with Flo and I draft guys who I feel can one day take over the job once they can prove that then we can talk about removing one of our better lineman

 

[Doomsday101]

There isn't a lot moving out there anyhow in UFAs. Especially since teams can tag 2 players and all first year UFA end up getting RFA tag slapped back on them for this year since there is no cap.

True. However I don't see allot of guys who will be FA leaving, teams will be able to retain key players as well as role players. I think if you are looking to add key players to your team you will do it through the draft not FA

 

[Oh_Canada]

You want to get rid of Flozell Adams? Did you NOT see what happen once he left the game against the Vikings? The Cowboys were moving the ball before he was hurt. (granted they kept turning the ball over in the red zone)

Once Adams left the game, the offense completely collapsed. Yeah, lets get rid of our best tackle before we have real replacement for him.

Flozell will be thirty-five next year which seems to be a magic number for an offensive lineman's decline. You can't depend on the guy forever and McNeill (as far fetched as it might be) would be a very nice replacment.

 

[sonnyboy]

Good thread.

FA will be intersting. As much as we want to go out and steal everyone, I do think the availible talent will be thin given the fact that their is no cap and few teams will forced to let good to great players walk.

However, there is another interesting dynamic that may play out in our favor. Most teams in most situations will exhibit financial common sense.

They will look at an UFA of theirs and put a price tag on him. This player is worth X. And if the player's not worth the franchise tag, he wont get it.

Here's a scenario that plays out a lot and a capless 2010 shouldn't change that much.

Team A has a starting OL age 28 set to hit UFA. Good player's not quite PB quality. They have a young guys inches away from unseating him.
The player value doesn't warrant the franchise tag so he hits the market.

More money than usual will chase that player. His price tag will be inflated. That's were we come in.

We need offensive lineman in a bad way. Considering the average age of our starters, I'd say we need them more than any other contending team.

Provided the player is a quality guy, work ethic, etc. And is capable of pushing one or more of our starters, we must be first in line and be willing to overpay.

Overpaying a good player who helps you is never a bad thing. Especially in an uncapped season.

I'll be disapointed if we don't find and sign at least one UFA OL. If we do find one and get out bid, my head will explode.

 

[cowboyjoe]

McNeil and Mankins will be RFA's and either be tendered, signed long term or franchised.

There is zero percent chance we get them.

I ****ing hate these uncapped rules.

you might hate the uncapped rules, but be thankful;
miles austin falls into that category along with spears, bowen, and some others

this uncapped year, might help us to realize and show was what players we need to keep, that instead of unrestricted and totally a free agent, now they are restricted, so we can keep them for another year to develop etc

guys that we really need to take a hard hard look at are Ken Hamlin, Barber, Flozell or Columbo, and Roy Williams

I think this, you need to keep at least columbo for one more year, let doug free and our top offensive linemen along with brewster develop, but you can get rid of players like mcquistan, cory proctor or hollland or duke preston

just think about that, did mcquistan, or holland or preston really play at all this year? NO! Your backups should be producing and playing while pushing the players in front of them

 

[btcutter]

Since Free has proven that he can play the RT position at the minimum and we still have Flo under contract, we may consider playing our BEST 5.

Play Columbo at LG and Free at RT. Draft a LT and hope he can take over for Flo soon.

Columbo is unlikely to be overpowered by Haynesworth like Kyle Kosier.

Does anyone see a reason why Columbo can't play LG??

 

[CF74]

Since Free has proven that he can play the RT position at the minimum and we still have Flo under contract, we may consider playing our BEST 5.

Play Columbo at LG and Free at RT. Draft a LT and hope he can take over for Flo soon.

Columbo is unlikely to be overpowered by Haynesworth like Kyle Kosier.

Does anyone see a reason why Columbo can't play LG??

I'm not convinced Free is better than a healthy Colombo on the RT side...

 

[btcutter]

I'm not convinced Free is better than a healthy Colombo on the RT side...

Question is: is Columbo to Free drop off so dramatic that it offsets the benefit of having Columbo playing LG?

From the last 6-8 games without Columbo, I say no. I agree Columbo brings an attitude to the OL and it will be put to great use if he plays LG to neutralize big DT's like Haynesworth and Williams.

I am pretty sure Free would have handles Edwards in that Viking game better than Columbo. It's a better match up for Free as he is more athletic.

 

[Oh_Canada]

If Columbo could play guard, than I would be all for it.

 

[btcutter]

It just makes you wonder if reshuffling the OL is even being reconsidered by our coaching staff?