Not Expecting Big Name Signings in FA

[neosapien23]

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.

If the Cowboys have alot of cap room due to an increase in the cap and don't sign free agents, Dallas should resign Gurode and cut Rivera. We could take the cap hit now and free up space for the future.

 

[blindzebra]

I want to see a starting quality RT, K, and inside LB brought in via FA.

I'd look seriously at FS and WR too.

Realistically we need a new starter at K, RT, ILB, SOLB and FS, we could find all that in the draft, but I'm all for hedging our bets by narrowing that list in FA.

 

[iceberg]

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

what else do you do with an aging qb and a coach who each year is in his "last" year? if parcells does NOT make it to the superbowl his tenure here IS a bust and he's only going to do it another year - MAYBE two - tops.

he signed a whopping 1 year extention, you tell me how that promotes long term thinking.

 

[silver]

I want to see a starting quality RT, K, and inside LB brought in via FA.

I'd look seriously at FS and WR too.

Realistically we need a new starter at K, RT, ILB, SOLB and FS, we could find all that in the draft, but I'm all for hedging our bets by narrowing that list in FA.

don't forget Guard. I think we can survive with what we got at OLB considering several injured players will come back in '06. Namely Thorton, Singleton and Burnett.

 

[blindzebra]

don't forget Guard. I think we can survive with what we got at OLB considering several injured players will come back in '06. Namely Thorton, Singleton and Burnett.

I completely disagree.

Thornton is a complete unknown coming off an injury.

Burnett has more potential than Thornton, but is still a question mark and is likely headed inside.

Singleton ain't coming back.

Fujita is a depth player, if we re-sign him.

If we are a 3-4 team you MUST HAVE PLAYMAKERS AT LB, getting by won't cut it. As we stand right now we have one playmaker in Ware.

We need a new starter inside that can handle the mental part of the defense to free up James and we need a playmaker to go opposite Ware, and that guy is not on the roster.

 

[THUMPER]

I would say that our top priority this offseason is Kicker and FS. After that it is Center and another playmaker LB, either ILB or MLB. The rest we need either an upgrade or depth at the position but the guys we have there now are serviceable.

Our kicking cost us about 3 games this year, we could have been at least 11-5 if we had a reliable kicker. To me that has to be our top priority.

FS was also an area where we had no one worth squat at the position. Davis just isn't a cover guy and we need someone that is going to allow Roy to play near the LOS because he can't cover either (although his INT against the Eagles was an awesome play!).

Al Johnson seemed to be a liability at Center particularly in the run game. Gurode is a better run blocker but Parcells doesn't like him at Center because he makes too many errors, well so does Johnson with his numerous holding calls. I rank this as our 3rd priotity.

4th would be another playmaker at LB, either inside or outside (both would be nice but unlikely), but we need another guy who offenses need to account for.

After that we need depth at OG and OT. We need to draft a WR for the future as both Glenn and Keyshawn are getting up in age. An upgrade at FB would be nice but not a huge priority.

Oh, and let's not forget the #1 priority, a new DC but I don't see that happening this year, which sucks!

 

[neosapien23]

I completely disagree.
Fujita is a depth player, if we re-sign him.

If we are a 3-4 team you MUST HAVE PLAYMAKERS AT LB, getting by won't cut it. As we stand right now we have one playmaker in Ware.

We need a new starter inside that can handle the mental part of the defense to free up James and we need a playmaker to go opposite Ware, and that guy is not on the roster.

I think Fujita is a much better linebacker than Burnett. If he wasn't than Burnett would not have ridden the pine last year.

 

[wileedog]

I think Fujita is a much better linebacker than Burnett. If he wasn't than Burnett would not have ridden the pine last year.

Maybe now, but Burnett has way higher upside.

 

[blindzebra]

I think Fujita is a much better linebacker than Burnett. If he wasn't than Burnett would not have ridden the pine last year.

Burnett got hurt in camp and missed a lot of time and fell behind the rest of the defense. What he could do was spell Ware at rush LB so he did.

Fujita was only out done by Shanle in crappy play. He had one big play against his old team, and that was about the only play he made all season.

 

[wileedog]

ujita was only out done by Shanle in crappy play. He had one big play against his old team, and that was about the only play he made all season.

He looked better (which is to say less bad) towards the end of the season, which leads me to believe he was still getting used to the 3-4. Shanle OTOH seemed to get exposed the more he got on the field.

But I agree all the way Fujita is no more than good depth. I'm not sold Shanle is even that.

 

[neosapien23]

Upside means nothing. Couch, Leaf, Bosworth, many others had upside. Burnett didn't execute last year and this year he will not be 100%. No exuses for Burnett, he play linebacker in college and Ware played DE. Ware started and Burnett didn't.

 

[neosapien23]

Burnett got hurt in camp and missed a lot of time and fell behind the rest of the defense. What he could do was spell Ware at rush LB so he did.

Fujita didn't even attend our camp. Burnett did. He failed to beat out a linebacker than did no attend our trainig camp.

 

[wileedog]

Upside means nothing. Couch, Leaf, Bosworth, many others had upside. Burnett didn't execute last year and this year he will not be 100%. No exuses for Burnett, he play linebacker in college and Ware played DE. Ware started and Burnett didn't.

Bradie James?

Point is some guys just take a little longer to get it. Burnett was just starting to see the field more when he got hurt.

I'd rather get a guy out there playing mediocre who is improving and could break out then a guy out there playing mediocre who in all probability will never be much better than mediocre.

 

[blindzebra]

Upside means nothing. Couch, Leaf, Bosworth, many others had upside. Burnett didn't execute last year and this year he will not be 100%. No exuses for Burnett, he play linebacker in college and Ware played DE. Ware started and Burnett didn't.

Who's making excuses?

I'm saying Fujita sucked, and he did.

I'm saying we need to upgrade the inside spot by replacing Shanle/Fowler with a vet that reads the play and does not run out of it every time. Having that solid guy to take the leader role from James, frees James up to use his athletic ability. Did you see me say Burnett is starting?

We absolutely MUST have a playmaker at SOLB to replace Fujita and add a threat to go opposite Ware, and that player IS NOT ON THE ROSTER. And it sure as hell ain't Fujita.

 

[blindzebra]

Burnett got hurt in camp and missed a lot of time and fell behind the rest of the defense. What he could do was spell Ware at rush LB so he did.

Fujita didn't even attend our camp. Burnett did. He failed to beat out a linebacker than did no attend our trainig camp.

First mini-camp Parcells said, "I'd like more size at SOLB, both Singleton and Burnett are smaller than I'd like."

The plan was to platoon them, then Burnett got hurt and lost ground.

Thornton then went down and Parcells was stuck with having a rookie trying to learn two spots, or being forced to plug Ogbogu in, so we brought in a bigger LB to platoon with Singleton...that would be Fujita.

Fujita got very little playing time until Singleton went down.

You might want to actually know what the facts are before you post.:wink2:

 

[Alexander]

I'm saying Fujita sucked, and he did.

So why are we interested in re-signing him then?

 

[Alexander]

Fujita got very little playing time until Singleton went down.

Fujita took time to work into the lineup because he was acquired a week before the season began. He did not have entire camp in our system.

You might want to actually know what the facts are before you post.:wink2:

You could take a little of this advice yourself.

 

[InmanRoshi]

The Cowboys will take the same exact approach to free agency that they took last year. They'll single out 2-3 key free agents at critical needs and go after them aggressively the first day of free agency. After that, they'll reassess and look for value, likely after the draft, and sign an Anthony Thomas types for veteran depth.

 

[Marktui]

Hutchinson might be a reach, he is going to command big money if Seattle does not sign him (which I thing they will).

Bentley, well with Payton as coach, he saw how our O line struggled without quality people in place, so he for sure will not let one of his better lineman get away.

 

[Alexander]

Hutchinson might be a reach, he is going to command big money if Seattle does not sign him (which I thing they will).

Bentley, well with Payton as coach, he saw how our O line struggled without quality people in place, so he for sure will not let one of his better lineman get away.

It's not up to Sean Payton. It's up to Tom Benson. I don't believe he really even wants to field a competitive team in New Orleans, he just seems like he wants out.