New Salary Cap Proposal

[Creeper]

I hate the salary cap in the NFL. It has robbed the Cowboys of so much talent over the years.

Jimmy Johnson built the deepest and most talented team ever, and then the flood of players leaving decimated the team. Jerry Jones has failed to properly manage this communist-like salary cap; the proof is in the pudding. The Cowboys continuously lose solid players.

The Boys drafted really fine players, they finally got a chance to shine in the Big D, then they leave because Jerry does not have enough money. Their replacements are not as good.

Ken Norton was the first one who was let go because of the salary cap. The biggest mistake in Cowboys history. Jerry overpays for several players, some not prudently because he likes them so much, leaving little left for emerging stars to remain, and little to no money to sign free agents.

I propose that each team gets to designate two players whose salaries are not subject to the cap, one of offense and one on defense. We would designate Dak and on the new contract for Micah, he would be our designation. This would have opened up the team's purses to sign a Derrick Henry and at least two defensive tackles.

I am with you. The salary CAP is a problem. I don't hate your suggestion but it would lead to wildly out of control QB salaries. It might also lead to contracts the have huge CAP implications for 1 year when the team will designate them off that CAP for that year, then do the same thing with a different player the next year.

I would like to see them do away with voidable contract years. I have no idea why they ever allowed that in the first place. I would also like to see exemptions for veteran players. If you have been with the same team that drafted you for 8 years, your salary or part of it would be exempted from the CAP. Each year the exemptions would increase as long as you are still with the team that drafted you. I hate seeing players play their whole careers with one team then leave for a year or two to go somewhere else before retiring. Tyron Smith, or Emmitt Smith for that matter, should have been with the Cowboys their entire careers.

But I see the other side of the argument too. If your GM is stupid enough to pay a player a ridiculous amount of money for incomparable production them that's on him. At the same time, football should not be about CAP management. If should be about the performance on the field. I think the CAP has become too big a part of who wins on Sunday.

 

[HungryLion]

Every team has the same rules.

I have an idea.

How about the Cowboys hire somebody who is qualified to manage the salary cap. Rather than letting the owners son do it.

 

[conner01]

I hate the salary cap in the NFL. It has robbed the Cowboys of so much talent over the years.

Jimmy Johnson built the deepest and most talented team ever, and then the flood of players leaving decimated the team. Jerry Jones has failed to properly manage this communist-like salary cap; the proof is in the pudding. The Cowboys continuously lose solid players.

The Boys drafted really fine players, they finally got a chance to shine in the Big D, then they leave because Jerry does not have enough money. Their replacements are not as good.

Ken Norton was the first one who was let go because of the salary cap. The biggest mistake in Cowboys history. Jerry overpays for several players, some not prudently because he likes them so much, leaving little left for emerging stars to remain, and little to no money to sign free agents.

I propose that each team gets to designate two players whose salaries are not subject to the cap, one of offense and one on defense. We would designate Dak and on the new contract for Micah, he would be our designation. This would have opened up the team's purses to sign a Derrick Henry and at least two defensive tackles.

That’s never gonna happen. That essentially ends the cap.

 

[Whirlwin]

I still don’t think Jerry would know how to spend the money. I don’t think he minds spending it, he just doesn’t know how or who to spend it on. That’s why you need a GM.

 

[blueblood70]

I hate the salary cap in the NFL. It has robbed the Cowboys of so much talent over the years.

Jimmy Johnson built the deepest and most talented team ever, and then the flood of players leaving decimated the team. Jerry Jones has failed to properly manage this communist-like salary cap; the proof is in the pudding. The Cowboys continuously lose solid players.

The Boys drafted really fine players, they finally got a chance to shine in the Big D, then they leave because Jerry does not have enough money. Their replacements are not as good.

Ken Norton was the first one who was let go because of the salary cap. The biggest mistake in Cowboys history. Jerry overpays for several players, some not prudently because he likes them so much, leaving little left for emerging stars to remain, and little to no money to sign free agents.

I propose that each team gets to designate two players whose salaries are not subject to the cap, one of offense and one on defense. We would designate Dak and on the new contract for Micah, he would be our designation. This would have opened up the team's purses to sign a Derrick Henry and at least two defensive tackles.

This is too complicated and it won't work.. Either remove the salary cap or you can do it like more soft flexible cap like they have in the NBA I don't know if you can make that work but you can get fined and have to pay the league a luxury tax for going over the salary cap but you're allowed to pay players who are on your team already who are up for new contracts more money than other teams are allowed to pay and you just have to be willing to go over the cap the NBA has it right if you wanna cap it should be a little bit more flexible and you should be able to keep your superstars and if you need to go over the cap to do so it only cost you a luxury tax and I don't know all the details about it but that would be the best way to go about it if you don't completely remove the cap...

But you can't just pick two players that designate that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me it would be too complicated in my opinion you just remove the cap or you make the cap more flexible they wanted parity and now they have it that's why there's a salary cap they want it all teams big market or small to be able to compete even though it doesn't make a lot of sense because baseball has shown that small market teams can compete some of them have won championships they may not have staying power but even with no salary cap they've beat the big boys who have excessive money like the LA dodgers and the New York Yankees to name a few that excessively spend way more money than a team say like the Texas Rangers who finally won a championship but there are other small market teams that have won championships not spending even half of what they spend..

It seems to me that this is a dated salary cap because you were worried about small market versus big market and I think every owner in the NFL are multi billionaire they all have the money to spend if they want to they can spend the same amount of money this is no longer some owner in a small market that may not have the means to really go after say the Denver Broncos who's owned by the old Walmart conglomerate I think there were $77 billion and even Jerry's small fries to that with 15 billion in net worth I mean if you take the salary cap away does somebody like the Denver Broncos take every available free agent to make every big trade and don't care how much money they spend versus I don't know Jerrys in 7th place I think in money.

Here I looked it up and this is pretty crazy I didn't know we had one that wasn't even a billionaire but would the Raiders be able to compete? They are in a market with what three other teams and with the least amount of money and they're not playing very well they might have to sell the team if you remove the salary cap..



Mark Davisof the Raiders is considered one of the least wealthy NFL owners. Some owners of the league's pioneering teams are also among the least wealthy. For example, Mike Brown, owner of the Cincinnati Bengals, has an estimated net worth of $925 million.


The average NFL franchise is worth $6.49 billion, and all 32 NFL teams are valued at more than $5 billion. The Cincinnati Bengals have the lowest valuation in the league at $5.25 billion.

 

[Reality]

I hate the salary cap in the NFL. It has robbed the Cowboys of so much talent over the years.

Jimmy Johnson built the deepest and most talented team ever, and then the flood of players leaving decimated the team. Jerry Jones has failed to properly manage this communist-like salary cap; the proof is in the pudding. The Cowboys continuously lose solid players.

The Boys drafted really fine players, they finally got a chance to shine in the Big D, then they leave because Jerry does not have enough money. Their replacements are not as good.

Ken Norton was the first one who was let go because of the salary cap. The biggest mistake in Cowboys history. Jerry overpays for several players, some not prudently because he likes them so much, leaving little left for emerging stars to remain, and little to no money to sign free agents.

I propose that each team gets to designate two players whose salaries are not subject to the cap, one of offense and one on defense. We would designate Dak and on the new contract for Micah, he would be our designation. This would have opened up the team's purses to sign a Derrick Henry and at least two defensive tackles.

While this sounds great in theory, it would not work.

Because NFL teams have so many players on their teams, it would ultimately end up being 2 players exempt and 2 (or more) additional players would take their spots in the salary cap pool.

For example, if the Cowboys exempted Dak and Lamb, then signed Micah and let's say Bland to large contracts, both Micah and Bland's contracts would reflect the "new salary cap space available".

Their contract amounts would not still act like Dak's $60 million average/year and Lamb's $34 million average/year are part of the salary cap. Instead, it would be like the Cowboys just freed up $94 million in salary cap space so now all other players can make more.

The problem is that all it will do is shift the mega contracts from player #1 and player #2 to player #3, #4, etc.

At that point, any decent player agent would immediately see "there is a larger pool available" and believe their clients deserve more money.

On top of that, all small market teams would only ever have great quarterbacks if they draft one and even then, only until their final rookie contract year when they realize they cannot afford them so they trade them to the big market teams for draft picks hoping to win another quarterback lottery one day.

 

[tm1119]

Having the league change the salary cap rules is one way to overcome an incompetent GM…

 

[CowboysRule]

I hate the salary cap in the NFL. It has robbed the Cowboys of so much talent over the years.

Jimmy Johnson built the deepest and most talented team ever, and then the flood of players leaving decimated the team. Jerry Jones has failed to properly manage this communist-like salary cap; the proof is in the pudding. The Cowboys continuously lose solid players.

The Boys drafted really fine players, they finally got a chance to shine in the Big D, then they leave because Jerry does not have enough money. Their replacements are not as good.

Ken Norton was the first one who was let go because of the salary cap. The biggest mistake in Cowboys history. Jerry overpays for several players, some not prudently because he likes them so much, leaving little left for emerging stars to remain, and little to no money to sign free agents.

I propose that each team gets to designate two players whose salaries are not subject to the cap, one of offense and one on defense. We would designate Dak and on the new contract for Micah, he would be our designation. This would have opened up the team's purses to sign a Derrick Henry and at least two defensive tackles.

Every team loses players every year because of the cap. If you designate a player who's salary does not count against the cap then every team does this and then FA salaries go up across the board. You aren't saving money in this situation as every one has more. It's just that FA that was demanding $6m a year now wants $9m.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Yall do know the owners want the cap, right?

Not to increase parity so more teams are viable…but to artificially keep salaries under control, right?

You do know the players want the cap, right?

Not to increase parity so more teams are viable…but to artificially control minimum salaries and force owners to spend a designated amount on player compensation.

Collectively bargained and agreed upon.

 

[diamonddelts]

This argument rings pretty hollow when Jerry Jones was perhaps the largest proponent of there being a salary cap instituted.

Exactly

 

[blueblood70]

By the way Jerry has the Cowboys worth 10 billion like I posted up there he's worth 15 billion that puts him in the top 10 of ownership money but does he want to spend more money like no salary cap wasn't he a big proponent of helping them bring in the salary cap year changing Plan B free agency like I can't remember off the top of my head but I thought he wanted this the owners would have to approve all this and I'm not sure a majority of the owners wouldn't vote no to not having a salary cap or an adjusted salary cap I think they like the parity in the competitive nature and not have to overspend and play high risk poker with their teams with no guarantees it's gonna bring them a super bowl..

 

[blueblood70]

Every team loses players every year because of the cap. If you designate a player who's salary does not count against the cap then every team does this and then FA salaries go up across the board. You aren't saving money in this situation as every one has more. It's just that FA that was demanding $6m a year now wants $9m.

Closer comparison of that would be just about 3 years ago the average salary for a top wide receiver was 16,000,000 and now it's jumped up to 35 million... That's crazy during inflation

 

[pansophy]

This would cost the owners money.
Not something most small market teams would want.

...and defeats the purpose of the cap in the first place. Something even more radical would be for the Jones to stop trying to field a team like the salary cap doesn't exist and stop with the star-heavy roster with a bunch of high risk/reward and C players behind them. Invariably some of the stars get hurt and we have nothing behind them. Has been happening for 25 years.

 

[CowboysRule]

...and defeats the purpose of the cap in the first place. Something even more radical would be for the Jones to stop trying to field a team like the salary cap doesn't exist and stop with the star-heavy roster with a bunch of high risk/reward and C players behind them. Invariably some of the stars get hurt and we have nothing behind them. Has been happening for 25 years.

That's just a symptom of the cap though. No team has great players sitting behind the starters. If they were good enough to start for an extended period they would go somewhere else to get more money as a starter.

 

[blueblood70]

That's just a symptom of the cap though. No team has great players sitting behind the starters. If they were good enough to start for an extended period they would go somewhere else to get more money as a starter.

Oh yeah that's the delusion around here they literally think every team is 3 deep and can overcome any attrition and they're wrong that's why you have to be a great drafting team you're young players the next man up literally needs to be ready if a star goes down and you gotta deal with the growing pains there are very few that have even too deep at any position I don't know where these fans think this can happen even if it wasn't a top heavy league where there are maybe 5 superstars on every team that make the most money and now you have 48 other positions to fill to fit under the salary cap is pretty normal it's just how you fill them and how creative you become that separates the great front offices from say Jerry Jones who is not a bad GM who is not a bad owner he's just not one of the top 10 GM groups but he's the next guy up you can't put together teams like he has top 6IN regular season wins the last decade multiple division titles going to the playoffs 5 out of the last eight years and call him bad I don't get it yes we're a bad team yes it's been a gut punch and a kick in the nuts the way these years have ended but there are far worse teams in this league like probably 20 that wish they can go to the playoffs 5 out of the last eight years the fans wish they were losing in the playoffs versus not getting to the playoffs..

The expectations around here are so twisted compared to the reality of sports in the NFL that's just my opinion...

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

This defies the whole point of the salary cap. Its intent is to punish you for paying a Dak or a Micah, so that teams that don’t have a Dak or a Micah can be competitive with you.

What you’re just trying to do is create a competitive advantage for your teams’ specific circumstance. This is NFL gerrymandering.

Consider this scenario: Dak retires for personal reasons, and Jerry is forced to trade away Micah because his agent is being a butt in contract negotiations. Now the only two players on your team worth the exceptions are Tyler Smith and CeeDee, who in 3 years will be making a fraction of what Jayden Daniels alone is. One random Sunday in 2027, when Daniels is setting TD records every week, someone here will be making a thread complaining that Daniels’ historic contract is not on their salary cap and it makes for a tremendously unfair advantage against Dallas. And it’ll be you who’ll make that thread.

 

[thunderpimp91]

That's just a symptom of the cap though. No team has great players sitting behind the starters. If they were good enough to start for an extended period they would go somewhere else to get more money as a starter.

Eh sort of but its to the extreme with Dallas....there are only 20 guys in the league making more than $34M and the Cowboys have two of them, about to have 3 next year possibly. Then they dont have another top contract until Cooks at #93 who I think its safe to say isnt living up to that contract. They let a lot of middle salary type guys walk in order to pick up comp picks in order to pay their stars under the current model, which leaves multiple players on the starting roster not starting caliber. The Cowboys issues right now go way past depth, they're entirely dependent upon hitting on 75% of their draft picks just to field starters.

 

[charron]

Nope. The salary cap is working as intended. Just because the Jones's can not figure out how to build a winning team doesn't mean the cap isn't working as intended. The entire point is that big market teams can not dominate the playoffs and buy wins. Every team has the same cap, has the same obsticles and has the same opportunity to figure it out.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Nope. The salary cap is working as intended. Just because the Jones's can not figure out how to build a winning team doesn't mean the cap isn't working as intended. The entire point is that big market teams can not dominate the playoffs and buy wins. Every team has the same cap, has the same obsticles and has the same opportunity to figure it out.

Yeah a lot of the good teams in the league are consistently good for a reason. KC dominates super bowls appearances seemingly with a different formula each year. SF dominates the NFC side in recent years with multiple QBs. Other teams are perfectly fine hanging around the rim and seeing the team valuation go up and up. The cap really isnt broken.

 

[Verdict]

The Cowboys manage their salary cap VERY poorly. At some point a player occupies too high of a percentage of the cap to keep that player on the roster. At that point you simply trade or cut the player or let that player leave in free agency and get a comp pick.

Franchising Dalton Schultz is another example of stupidly over paying for a player. He failed to earn anywhere near what his franchise tag was when he left the following season in free agency.

We paid feel good Witten for several years past his prime. Sean Lee was another. That list is SOOOO long.

Dak is just the latest in a LONG line of overpays. I would have even moved on from Lamb. At best he’s going to justify his contract. There is zero chance that he outperforms that contract.

Flip those players for picks and grab his replacement. If the Cowboys had traded Lamb in year 4 they could have drafted another first round receiver and had another pick to go along with that.

Martin should not have been extended last year. The Cowboys fail to make tough cap decisions which is why we can’t build and sustain a SB winning team.