Just consider back when Curt Flood decided that he didn't have anything to lose, and wanted to challenge the concept that a player couldn't have the right to have a say in where he went as a player...He decided that he would just buck the 'ol system, and demand a right to call where he as a player would go. At least some point in his career. Lo and behold, the concept of free agency was introduced into the sporting level at the professional point.
This had dramatic affects upon the NFL and the professional sports industry...because Mr. Flood decided that he had the right.
Well, things evolved since that time, as Jerry Jones fought to bring equality into the dealings of the NFL...and the cap era was launched. Like it or not, it has brought about the ability of a well managed organization to have a relatively short turn around to achieve success.
Here, although-the Cowboys have dragged their feet in futility for a period of some ten plus years.
Prior to this past season, the Union backed negotiations for the Labor Agreement, won a ton of positives for the player...well, those hard fought and long in coming opportunities are starting to find fruition in the free agency this year.
What we are seeing now, is there is NO position that is limited by tradition or league tendencies, from being able to command a top end level of the market place. Fullbacks, guards, and safeties have worked their way up to the top end levels of the pay spectrum. This is a no turning back point for the NFL.
Now, the Cowboys can own up to the current market demands, or once again adapt slowly, and lose out on the opportunities of a whole franchise. Now the market has changed, and they had better get wise to it's demands and affects on franchise responses. Here, if Jerry is not very astute in possibilities, his franchise will head towards something of a 'black-hole' in tendency, and again start losing the advantages that it has just sacrificed and built up over the past four years.
The fixing of the Dallas offensive line is a major component to the team's ability to win the final game of the year. They are fooling theirselves if they thing they will be able to acquire a pair of rookies, or even low performers in the free agency, and accomplish this. To get middle of the road to good talent today, you have to go the market price for it. You can attempt to generalize and candy coat the end product, but you get what you pay for.. and this IS the market now.
Getting both Colombo and Davis is not the top of the talent pool, but they are both significant enough in affect to the whole team, to warrant their immediate signing as well as the negotiated contracts that can make them doable, even at the current market levels....the ball is in Dallas' court. The players are merely matching the demands that have escalated due to team participation, over the past four seasons.
When even New England is joining the bandwagon effort at acquiring expensive talent, the Cowboys better start matching efforts, or they again will merely fall behind...
...don't kid yourself.
