Not Expecting Big Name Signings in FA

[Chuck 54]

I don't see any way in the world that the Dallas Cowboys will sign Hutchinson, even if he's let go by Seattle. That boy wants huge money, reportedly looking for big bonus money in the neighborhood of what the team gave LT Walter Jones recently.

Sorry, but while we all have high hopes for the Cowboys next year, I don't foresee any big name signings on the OL in FA. We are not one player away from the SB. It would be a huge mistake. As is true most of the time, the way to play Free AGency is to sign the middle of the road veterans or young guys who've been in the league 3-4 years are about to blossom.

It's not the popular track to follow in free agency, but it's the smart money.

I think if we sign a name most people recognize, it will be on defense...it will be a LB or S. ON the offensive line, I think we'll sign a veteran or two, but not guys who are at the very top of the free agency list.

Look for us to sign a couple of offensive linemen who have some minimal starting experience but are about to be pushed out by last year's draft picks. Look for us to sign a solid but unspectacular FS who has starting experience in the deep patrol. These fellas won't be superstars or probowlers, but they will be upgrades with upside.

If we go into any serious money at all, it will be for a LB, imo.

Hopefully, we'll go into the draft with better starters for next year on the OL and in the secondary....then we'll be able to draft the best players on the board in areas where they'll make a huge difference, maybe at OLB or TE or WR.

Forget about Hutchinson completely, and don't get overly excited about Bentley unless he draws much less attention than expected.

Look for the Dallas Cowboys to be more solid on both sides of the ball, with no glaring weaknesses among starters after free agency....that should be the goal heading into the draft. We can't count on drafting guys who will be immediate starters like we did on the DL last year, but we should be able to get some pretty good players who can earn playing time and possibly become starters during the season.

I think we'll be active in Free Agency, but I don't see us getting into bidding wars over OL that are being let go by their current teams.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I don't see any way in the world that the Dallas Cowboys will sign Hutchinson, even if he's let go by Seattle. That boy wants huge money, reportedly looking for big bonus money in the neighborhood of what the team gave LT Walter Jones recently.

Sorry, but while we all have high hopes for the Cowboys next year, I don't foresee any big name signings on the OL in FA. We are not one player away from the SB. It would be a huge mistake. As is true most of the time, the way to play Free AGency is to sign the middle of the road veterans or young guys who've been in the league 3-4 years are about to blossom.

It's not the popular track to follow in free agency, but it's the smart money.

I think if we sign a name most people recognize, it will be on defense...it will be a LB or S. ON the offensive line, I think we'll sign a veteran or two, but not guys who are at the very top of the free agency list.

Look for us to sign a couple of offensive linemen who have some minimal starting experience but are about to be pushed out by last year's draft picks. Look for us to sign a solid but unspectacular FS who has starting experience in the deep patrol. These fellas won't be superstars or probowlers, but they will be upgrades with upside.

If we go into any serious money at all, it will be for a LB, imo.

Hopefully, we'll go into the draft with better starters for next year on the OL and in the secondary....then we'll be able to draft the best players on the board in areas where they'll make a huge difference, maybe at OLB or TE or WR.

Forget about Hutchinson completely, and don't get overly excited about Bentley unless he draws much less attention than expected.

Look for the Dallas Cowboys to be more solid on both sides of the ball, with no glaring weaknesses among starters after free agency....that should be the goal heading into the draft. We can't count on drafting guys who will be immediate starters like we did on the DL last year, but we should be able to get some pretty good players who can earn playing time and possibly become starters during the season.

I think we'll be active in Free Agency, but I don't see us getting into bidding wars over OL that are being let go by their current teams.

As long as we don't sign you know who I'm happy.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I agree Wayne. I don't see us signing Hutchinson or Bentley quite frankly. I really don't.

 

[noshame]

I hope we don't get foolish and go the Super Bowl or bust route.

 

[mbanx]

I agree Wayne. I don't see us signing Hutchinson or Bentley quite frankly. I really don't.

Who knew Stephen A Smith posted here?

 

[RiggoForever]

I hope we don't get foolish and go the Super Bowl or bust route.

You're right its a bad idea. Snyder tried to do that in 2000 and it burned the team chemistry completely.

 

[DLCassidy]

I don't know what Hutch's demands might be but I'd sure pursue it. A first year cap # of 3.5 to 4m is not impossible with a graduated salary (example: bonus of 12m, 1st year salary of 1m). At that rate it costs us zero to little cap space to pick up Hutch and cut LA. And that's this year- we'd actually save cap next year as LA's deal calls for a cap # over 8m. Even if he restructured we'd be saving.

You win Super Bowls with the guys up front. Hutch is a beast. We might not get him but I can see absolutely no reason not to try hard to do so. Just remember Seattle is going to try hard to retain him- along similar financial parameters and they'll be no shortage of other suitors. It's not bad business. And remember this too; unlike Seattle our QB is not getting a huge salary, we should be able to afford a good OL.

As long as we're not creating cap problems for ourselves it's not like Jerry doesn't have the cash in his billfold. Dallas is among the most profitable franchises out there.

 

[DrunkWithPower]

We better get a kicker in FA, even if it costs us a little too much. I agree with everything else already mentioned but I noticed everyone leaving out the kicker scenario. We definitely need a veteran and not an unknown.

 

[Chuck 54]

I don't know what Hutch's demands might be but I'd sure pursue it. A first year cap # of 3.5 to 4m is not impossible with a graduated salary (example: bonus of 12m, 1st year salary of 1m). At that rate it costs us zero to little cap space to pick up Hutch and cut LA. And that's this year- we'd actually save cap next year as LA's deal calls for a cap # over 8m. Even if he restructured we'd be saving.

You win Super Bowls with the guys up front. Hutch is a beast. We might not get him but I can see absolutely no reason not to try hard to do so. Just remember Seattle is going to try hard to retain him- along similar financial parameters and they'll be no shortage of other suitors. It's not bad business. And remember this too; unlike Seattle our QB is not getting a huge salary, we should be able to afford a good OL.

As long as we're not creating cap problems for ourselves it's not like Jerry doesn't have the cash in his billfold. Dallas is among the most profitable franchises out there.

I heard he was looking for around a 20 million bonus from Seattle. The numbers you suggest aren't that bad for a quality starter, but I would not like to pay that kind of money for a guy to replace LA. LA is on the downside of his career, but he played better than Riverra, our center, or either of our T's. If we spend that kind of money, I want it to be on an OT only. LG is further down on my priority list.

 

[silver]

more henrys, cambells, and richie anderson types. role players that are not too shabby.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I agree wayne...except for the K position...I say we get the best we can get even if that means slightly over paying.

 

[baj1dallas]

There's no way the Boys are gonna through a ton of cash at another guard. But I would bet money they go out and sign "proven" veterans at the kicker position and one other defensive position. Even if it's with the hopes that a younger guy can win the starting job on defense.

But I disagree about the Superbowl or bust thing. I think you should constantly have that as your goal, and I don't think the Cowboys are as far away from that as some believe. I believe they can get there with Bledsoe too.

 

[Hostile]

I agree wayne...except for the K position...I say we get the best we can get even if that means slightly over paying.

I agree with this. If we go big splash in FA it will be at Kicker and if my nightmares come true at WR. Other than those 2 positions I think we'll solidify depth with character guys. The main focus will be the Draft.

 

[Chuck 54]

I agree wayne...except for the K position...I say we get the best we can get even if that means slightly over paying.

Agreed....you can't play around with Kickers, QBs, or WRs, imo....and kicker is our top priority on that short list...can't get by with average and can't wait on development...we need a guy with a high percentage inside the 40 and ice water in his veins.

 

[THUMPER]

I believe we will go after a top kicker and LeCharles Bentley (if he's not franchised) in FA. Other than that we will target a veteran MLB (Cowart would be the likely choice) and possibly another OL for depth.

It is likely that Gurode will be gone since he has said that he wants to see what he can get on the open market so that leaves us with Peterman as the backup at OG which doesn't exactly fill me with confidence so I can definitely see us going after an OG in FA and/or the draft. Another OT for depth is also likely but we could be looking for a starter if one is available at a reasonable price or if one drops to us in the draft.

Petitti was not as bad as most fans think he was and should be much improved next season. That said, if an upgrade is available then we would be foolish not to grab him.

Unless we cut/trade Allen I don't see us making a run at Hutchinson, but if we do move Allen then it is a definite possibility.

 

[Ashwynn]

Think back to Bertrand Berry, Dat Dude and others the Cowboys have played the money game with and lost. I think Jerry realizes if a guiys worth it, pay him. If he thinks hes worth it, and you dont give it to, him will go somewhere that will. Wether they want to be a boy or not, they reallywant the money more.

look for Jones to pay whatever any big name wants if Parcells says 'lets get him'.

 

[silver]

I believe we will go after a top kicker and LeCharles Bentley (if he's not franchised) in FA. Other than that we will target a veteran MLB (Cowart would be the likely choice) and possibly another OL for depth.

It is likely that Gurode will be gone since he has said that he wants to see what he can get on the open market so that leaves us with Peterman as the backup at OG which doesn't exactly fill me with confidence so I can definitely see us going after an OG in FA and/or the draft. Another OT for depth is also likely but we could be looking for a starter if one is available at a reasonable price or if one drops to us in the draft.

Petitti was not as bad as most fans think he was and should be much improved next season. That said, if an upgrade is available then we would be foolish not to grab him.

Unless we cut/trade Allen I don't see us making a run at Hutchinson, but if we do move Allen then it is a definite possibility.

i would try to keep Gurode and move Allen. We had the same scenario with Ron Stone and Nate Newton and we ended up with the older player who retired two years later. Stone went on to have a long career.

I don't see Rivera ever being the same guy he was prior to the back injury. specially at his age and atthis point in his career. So even if we keep Gurode we'll need another guard to replace allen.

Another route is to go after tackles and move our two starting tackles at the end of the season inside to guard where i could envision longer careers for both of them. either way we need linemen and i can see us signing/drafting at least 3 of them to add depht and/or replace departures.

 

[Rogerthat12]

I agree with this. If we go big splash in FA it will be at Kicker and if my nightmares come true at WR. Other than those 2 positions I think we'll solidify depth with character guys. The main focus will be the Draft.

Is that a TO scare in your second articulation?

 

[THUMPER]

i would try to keep Gurode and move Allen. We had the same scenario with Ron Stone and Nate Newton and we ended up with the older player who retired two years later. Stone went on to have a long career.

I don't see Rivera ever being the same guy he was prior to the back injury. specially at his age and atthis point in his career. So even if we keep Gurode we'll need another guard to replace allen.

Another route is to go after tackles and move our two starting tackles at the end of the season inside to guard where i could envision longer careers for both of them. either way we need linemen and i can see us signing/drafting at least 3 of them to add depht and/or replace departures.

We defintely need more depth on the O-Line this year. Missing out on both Peterman and Rogers has really cost us. Peterman may step up and surprise me but so far he has shown nothing and wasn't the guy coming in when Rivera went out.

Speaking of Rivera, he certainly let us down this year and we can only hope that he will be fully recovered and much improved this season. Someone has mentioned moving Petitti to OG like Gogan did. I would not be opposed to that if we let Allen go but I would still like to see us pick up a veteran to pencil in as the starter rather than simply moving Rob to yet another position that he hasn't played before.

I could see us moving Larry Allen (I proposed trading him for David Carr but no one else seemed to like that idea) but replacing him could be a problem unless Hutchinson is not franchised or someone else pops loose. It will be interesting to see who we sign in FA, who we release, and who we draft. Our O-Line could have a much different lineup next year than in 2005.

It would be great if both Peterman and Rogers can somehow step up and contribute but so far they have shown nothing that would indicate that they are ready to do that and Parcells' reluctance to play Peterman would seem to say that he isn't very confident in the kid.

Columbo is another guy that had some potential at one time and could make a big move for us but it hasn't happened yet.

I see us being very active in moves on the O-Line this offseason.

 

[ravidubey]

I agree Wayne. I don't see us signing Hutchinson or Bentley quite frankly. I really don't.

Neither of these beasts are going to be available, period. If either became available you'd have to be stupid not to jump at the chance to sign them. The salary cap is going to hit 100 million, so money is not an issue.

Dallas gave Rivera a 9 million dollar bonus last year and he was outperformed by Andre Gurode. Hutchinson would be an amazing signing.