Rumor Per PFT: Dez to get franchise tag

[gmoney112]

First of all, it's laughable how anyone thinks they can draw a definitive conclusion on Dez' contract at this point in the ballgame. There's half a season of football left and the offseason. Both sides are trying to hammer out a deal, and as negotiations proceed the numbers will change.

I'd be against the tag, personally. It doesn't allow you cap flexibility. If you can get Dez at market value for a longer primary term with an option to release at minimal expense in 3-4 years, you can structure his contract to give you more flexibility next year. Additionally, the increasing salary cap figures over the next few years will all about ensure larger contracts for WR's. Franchising Dez one season could increase his market value significantly when it comes down to giving him a contract in 2016.

It'll be interesting to see the different numbers and years that come out. Or as I call out, the bonus and primary term. Dallas has made it evident they want Dez long-term, if that other deal I saw here was legit. I think Dez wants to be a Cowboy. Dez may certainly get franchised, but it certainly isn't determined at this point.

 

[kevm3]

My point is, Dez needs Romo more than Romo needs Dez. Weeden can't throw.....okay so he needs Romo no? Kitna and Orton aren't here. Only Romo and Weeden are.

Okay but Romo has played well without Dez so what is this about Romo needs Dez? And Dez may have been "good" with Orton and Kitna but he's not "GREAT" as he is with Romo. He and Romo have a certain chemistry that as we saw a few weeks back couldn't be duplicated with Weeden.

Weeden is not a quality QB. Does Terrance Williams, Jason Witten, Cole Beaseley, etc., all 'need' Romo since Weeden wasn't hitting them either? Dez is nowhere near a "Laurent Robinson", where Romo is making him. Let Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, etc. team up with Dez, as well as put out an OC that knows how to get him the ball and we'll see how skilled Dez really is. There's a reason why Dez is constantly doubled. He showed it against the Jaguars by scoring those touchdowns with ease.

 

[kevm3]

It's great that you're excited about drafting receivers next year. I'd rather go with defense and keep a known commodity on our team. That's just me though.

Exactly. There may be 'great' WRs out there, but there's no guarantee the one that we draft will pan out, and we'll have to invest a 1st to get a WR in the vicinity of Dez. This will also set us back because we're using another high pick on offense, and we're going to have to use another soon soon to draft Romo's eventual replacement. Another problem with grabbing a WR in the draft is that it will take that receiver a couple of years to catch on and really start to get his bearings in the NFL. By that time, who knows if Romo is still here.

 

[black label]

Be prepared for drama

Just pay him, Jerry. Ugj

 

[manster4ever]

In many ways, the franchise tag removes the drama. Gives both sides another year to determine value.

I agree... Its the smart thing to do IMO

 

[VACowboy]

I agree, LR wasn't your typical 2nd-3rd WR. He had great, amazing chemistry with Romo, and just knew how to get open. I don't see that with Williams, Beasley, or Harris.

Williams will make your occasional 1 or 2 great plays a game, and disappear(If he makes any at all). Beasley is good for maybe 2-3 1st downs, and then teams catch up to his "Out-Route", and Harris, will run his bubble screen until it becomes to dangerous, and we get picked off for 6.

We don't have the weapons here, and number 1's don't come by as easy.

I don't think you know what you have in "the complimentary players" until you're put in a position where they are the focus of the game plan. Having said that, I'm on record as being wary about signing Dez to a mega-contract, for a number of reasons. But I'm not one of those guys who criticizes Cowboys players and hopes he's right. I call it like I see it, which may or may not be correct judgement, and hope I'm wrong. In the case of Dez Bryant I'm especially torn. One the one hand, I don't think you can pay a WR 16m a year unless he consistently dominates games (like Dez did yesterday), but on the other hand, I don't see how you can let a guy with Dez's raw ability, passion for the game and love of the team get away. How rare is it to find those three attributes in an NFL player these days? I hate the franchise tag. I want Jerry to sign Dez to a long-term contract, but him to do it without destroying the team's cap situation. And I bet Jerry feels kinda the way I do.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Weeden is not a quality QB. Does Terrance Williams, Jason Witten, Cole Beaseley, etc., all 'need' Romo since Weeden wasn't hitting them either? Dez is nowhere near a "Laurent Robinson", where Romo is making him. Let Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, etc. team up with Dez, as well as put out an OC that knows how to get him the ball and we'll see how skilled Dez really is. There's a reason why Dez is constantly doubled. He showed it against the Jaguars by scoring those touchdowns with ease.

Dez was not constantly doubled this last game or the past two games. And yes all of those guys need Romo because the alternative is Weeden and they couldn't do anything with Weeden. Romo was a solid quarterback long before Dez or any of those other guys came along.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Last week Dez said franchise tag would be very disappointing. I think its the right decision because I think Dallas wants to see more - especially the consistency factor. Dallas might also be angling for more time to get correct verbiage into contract to protect them once Dez off field restrictions are lifted.

Dez is already on record as saying there are no off-field restrictions placed on him by the Cowboys.

 

[bayeslife]

Consistency? The dude's put up big numbers since his rookie year.

There was an actual comment from the game thread yesterday asking what Dez has done to earn a new contract. Blows my mind.