One thing I definitely have to congrats the Pats for

[Woods]

is that they went for it this season in terms of personnel.

Remember back in the off-season when they were signing guys like crazy? They didn't do that in years past. They bascially "did a Snyder" and threw money at improving their WR corps and other positions. They were signing guys right in the beginning of FA. (And unlike Snyder, they generally signed the right guys.)

Here's what I hope JJ does . . . . We've DEFINITELY got a window open right NOW with Romo. Romo's a young QB who should only get better.

I hope we re-sign all of our top guys this off-season, like we're doing, and then go out and pick up one more (very) good WR in FA. (I'm assuming that Glenn is likely done after this season.) AND, we need to either re-sign Reeves or try and upgrade him to have 3 solid CBs.

If we can do this, I firmly believe we will have no holes on this team, barring injury. With our draft picks, we simply draft the best player on our board.

And I honestly think this scenario is doable.

 

[Woods]

Seriously, IF we re-sign Hamlin and Flo, and get one more good vet WR on the team, and either re-sign or upgrade Reeves, what holes do we have?

QB - All Pro
RB - Pro Bowl
TE - Pro Bowl
WR - TO and Crayton plus we add one more very good one.
OL - One of the best in the NFL
Kicker - Fantastic
Punter - Fantastic
DL - One of the strenghts on the team
LB - Should only improve with Spencer getting experience
CB - Yes, we need to improve a bit here in terms of depth
Safety - Very good all in all.

 

[rojan]

I agree with you 100%...I'm looking for a guy like Fitzgerald as our #2 receiver but I wouldn't be mad if we got someone with a bit more speed to stretch the field. I wounder if Steve Smith or Santana Moss are happy were they are.

 

[ghosttown cowboy]

you were going to say, going thru a season without one holding penalty on the O-line!!!!

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I believe Jerry Jones will address the CB position...

 

[CalCBFan]

I'm not as convinced that we are set at CB as most of you. Newman is pushing 30 and is starting to have nagging injuries, as is Henry. I'm not convinced Hamlin is All-Pro either. I think we really need to get at least 1 outstanding CB if we can and maybe a SS to replace Roy. I do like Bowman from Ok St though...

 

[Next_years_Champs]

you were going to say, going thru a season without one holding penalty on the O-line!!!!

Is that true? I hadn't heard that. I must admit I have only watched a few of their games but I did watch the start of their Miami game and on Malroney's first long run I noticed the Pats center or guard blocking on a miami linebacker.

He not only had a hold on him, he was holding the guy by his facemask. It was in the linebacker zone and was plainly visible, I find it hard to believe that one of the refs didn't see it.

 

[Woods]

I'm not as convinced that we are set at CB as most of you. Newman is pushing 30 and is starting to have nagging injuries, as is Henry. I'm not convinced Hamlin is All-Pro either. I think we really need to get at least 1 outstanding CB if we can and maybe a SS to replace Roy. I do like Bowman from Ok St though...

I think a healthy Newman and Henry are very good CBs. That said, we need to get a number 3 CB who has the talent to eventually become the number 1 or number 2 CB.

If we-resign Reeves or upgrade him in FA, that would be excellent. We can also take advantage of the draft to get a guy who eventually can be a top starting CB.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

The thing is that the Patriots got FA's that didn't break the bank. Even Stallworth was moderately priced. Outside of Adalius Thomas, probably the least effective FA of the four (Stallworth, Welker, Moss, and Thomas) didn't kill their cap. And they got Moss for peanuts.

The key is getting a good return on your investment. The problem with blindly trying to build your roster thru FA is most of the time you kill your depth. So you may wind up with a good FA pickup, but in the end you're killing your depth at another position and the FA just wasn't worth it.

I'd like to see Dallas pickup FA's every year, but they need to be a good return on the investment. The NFL will always be about building through the draft and supplementing the roster through FA. Those who think differently will wind up just like Snyder.



YAKUZA

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think a healthy Newman and Henry are very good CBs. That said, we need to get a number 3 CB who has the talent to eventually become the number 1 or number 2 CB.

If we-resign Reeves or upgrade him in FA, that would be excellent. We can also take advantage of the draft to get a guy who eventually can be a top starting CB.

The thing is that Newman turns 30 next season and Henry turns 31. I'd like to see us re-sign Reeves and then draft a CB in the first two rounds, preferably one that can also return punts (I'd like to see somebody besides Crayton doing it).

If they do that, then they can give him 2-3 years to develop and then when it's time to cut either Newman/Henry/Reeves, he should be more than ready to step up and be a starter.



YAKUZA

 

[Woods]

The thing is that the Patriots got FA's that didn't break the bank. Even Stallworth was moderately priced. Outside of Adalius Thomas, probably the least effective FA of the four (Stallworth, Welker, Moss, and Thomas) didn't kill their cap. And they got Moss for peanuts.

The key is getting a good return on your investment. The problem with blindly trying to build your roster thru FA is most of the time you kill your depth. So you may wind up with a good FA pickup, but in the end you're killing your depth at another position and the FA just wasn't worth it.

I'd like to see Dallas pickup FA's every year, but they need to be a good return on the investment. The NFL will always be about building through the draft and supplementing the roster through FA. Those who think differently will wind up just like Snyder.



YAKUZA

I completely agree, but I think we should be able to pick up a good to very good WR and a 3rd CB in FA. That's not really excessive.

It just seems that every year there is/are some disgruntled WR(s) who want(s) out.

They can either be had for a draft pick or just through FA without giving any draft picks.

Every year there is some Javon Walker type, Terry Glenn, TO, etc., etc.- and those are probably the TOP tier. I think we can pick up the 2nd tier, or one level below these guys, without having to pay through our nose.

As for a 3rd CB, again, I wouldn't pay what SF paid this past off-season for Clements (?), but I don't think we need to pay anything close to that.

 

[Woods]

The main point I'm trying to make is that our window is open NOW.

Let's not do what Philly did when their window was open. Let's take advantage of having a QB like Romo and try to win a couple Super Bowls.

Who knows how long it will take to get our next franchise QB?

Almost ALL of our pieces are already on the team. We just need to re-sign about 2-3 more guys, pick up 1-2 guys in FA.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I completely agree, but I think we should be able to pick up a good to very good WR and a 3rd CB in FA. That's not really excessive.

Well, you claimed that the Pats "pulled a Snyder" and they did nothing of the sort.

Snyder loves to give out huge contracts to players that really have never proven that they were worth that type of money to begin with. He also likes to give away draft picks to get these players as well.

Stallworth and Welker cost nowhere near as much as Brandon Lloyd and Santana Moss do.

Right now they are getting Randy Moss basically for peanuts and a 4th round pick. A far cry from the Commanders trading away picks and Champ Bailey in order to get Clinton Portis.

So even when guys like Portis and Moss play well (or at least when Moss was playing well), the Skins often forget that they sacrificed depth at another position(s) in order to get these guys and it usually comes back to bite them in the end.

The Pats on the other hand don't go bonkers for any player. And essentially that's what Dallas has been doing since 2002 and it's finally paying off. As long as we stay away from "pulling a Snyder" we'll be headed in the right direction.





YAKUZA

 

[Yakuza Rich]

The main point I'm trying to make is that our window is open NOW.

Let's not do what Philly did when their window was open. Let's take advantage of having a QB like Romo and try to win a couple Super Bowls.

Who knows how long it will take to get our next franchise QB?

Almost ALL of our pieces are already on the team. We just need to re-sign about 2-3 more guys, pick up 1-2 guys in FA.

Outside of 2004, I don't think Jerry has sat on his hands at it in FA. He's usually been good for some big pickups each year. And I fully expect him to make some pretty good FA pickups this year. Hopefully Lance Briggs is one of them.




YAKUZA

 

[Nors]

Fitzgerald is going nowhere. And if he does the cost will be TWO #1'S.

Pass

Give me a Wes Welker, Shaun McDonald like reasonably priced WR in FA.

 

[Woods]

Outside of 2004, I don't think Jerry has sat on his hands at it in FA. He's usually been good for some big pickups each year. And I fully expect him to make some pretty good FA pickups this year. Hopefully Lance Briggs is one of them.




YAKUZA

Yes, JJ usually never sits on his hands in FA.

I think after watching that Pats game last night I realized that just as the Pats have been able to win several Super Bowls together since Brady has been QB them, we're in a similar position with Romo - to basically have a dynasty again.

 

[CalCBFan]

Fitzgerald is going nowhere. And if he does the cost will be TWO #1'S.

Pass

Give me a Wes Welker, Shaun McDonald like reasonably priced WR in FA.

Isn't that guy Amendola (sp??) from Texas Tech a senior? The games in which I saw him play he was fast as a cat, always open, and a Welker clone. This is what makes the Pats go. Brady to Welker to keep the chains moving in the late 3rd and 4th quarters. If they are available, I'd seriously consider taking Bowman (OkSU) and Amendola w/ those 1st 2 picks. Then go for CB/Safety help in 2 & 3...

 

[Doomsday]

Id like to see Dallas sign B. Berrian, his speed would be a nice opposite of TO.