Some thinking to avoid

[CouchCoach]

With a follow the ball GM, I do not see the team going D in the 1st, I think they will go WR and that was part of Booger giving in to cut Dez, he gets another #1WR in round 1.

There are several reasons for the timing of this being wacky but I believe the main one was the time it took to convince Booger. They didn't convince him the fire Wade or cut Owens quickly, I think they have to let him warm up to the idea. And of course he would ask "if not Dez, then who"? Enter the 1st round pick and with 10 picks, it would not surprise me to see them move up. They had to have convinced Booger that there is a WR in this draft that can replace Dez's production and help their young QB take the next step up.

Bullet, go back and read your first post, makes perfectly good sense. But this time when you read it, say "but we have Booger" after each point. The man has traded two 1st's twice for WR's and picked one sliding because of being suspended.

The minute this was announced, I was resigned to them using the 1st for a WR; however, if they would use that to trade for one that is proven, I wouldn't be as concerned for 2018. I do not see any WR in this draft coming in close to Dez's level of production. Guys like Moss are the exception, not the rule.

 

[Bobhaze]

With a follow the ball GM, I do not see the team going D in the 1st, I think they will go WR and that was part of Booger giving in to cut Dez, he gets another #1WR in round 1.

There are several reasons for the timing of this being wacky but I believe the main one was the time it took to convince Booger. They didn't convince him the fire Wade or cut Owens quickly, I think they have to let him warm up to the idea. And of course he would ask "if not Dez, then who"? Enter the 1st round pick and with 10 picks, it would not surprise me to see them move up. They had to have convinced Booger that there is a WR in this draft that can replace Dez's production and help their young QB take the next step up.

Bullet, go back and read your first post, makes perfectly good sense. But this time when you read it, say "but we have Booger" after each point. The man has traded two 1st's twice for WR's and picked one sliding because of being suspended.

The minute this was announced, I was resigned to them using the 1st for a WR; however, if they would use that to trade for one that is proven, I wouldn't be as concerned for 2018. I do not see any WR in this draft coming in close to Dez's level of production. Guys like Moss are the exception, not the rule.

LOL! Well said CC. I can't even imagine how much JW Blue is required to convince Jerral Wayne Jones that a WR is not the key to a championship. Makes we want to invest in Johhny Walker. Thanks for the reminder that we still have the same GM that thought Johnny Goofball was the pick to make in 2014 draft or that Brandon Weeden was the answer for us in 2015 because of his "perty spiral". Or that Joey Galloway was worth two #1 picks in 2000. Thanks for the reminder of who's in charge, LOL!!!!

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

The first round selection for me should be a stud Defensive tackle, linebacker or a safety, not a receiver..

I agree. Defense must be the priority for our first pick. In fact, imo we should have defense as our priority for at least the first 2 or 3 picks.

 

[CouchCoach]

Those are all good points. I keep thinking that Dez had begun to rub some people the wrong way over time. I think he was overall well liked by his teammates. But if you are vocal and abrasive, plus mediocre in performance and have a history of requiring the team to monitor your behavior, people tend to get tired of the antics. Don't know for sure but maybe that played in some too.

I think he may have been a little loose on the lip and some of that got back to Garrett and Linehan. I think his questioning some of his teammates is after the fact, this was all on Garrett and Linehan.

And before anyone jumps on them about this, I knew about him at OSU because my morning guy was roommates with one of their coaches and he was labeled "uncoachable" and they tried hard to get him to come around. His position coach and OC told him not to go to meet with Sanders when they got wind of it and he went anyway.

I know one thing. I have never heard any WR, that has been in the league this long, say he's going to work with a route guru. That is the most bizarre part of this whole thing to me.

 

[CouchCoach]

I agree. Defense must be the priority for our first pick. In fact, imo we should have defense as our priority for at least the first 2 or 3 picks.

If I were in charge, it would be DT, LB and S in the first 3 picks, not necessarily in that order, and all y'all would be lovin' you some CC.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

If I were in charge, it would be DT, LB and S in the first 3 picks, not necessarily in that order, and all y'all would be lovin' you some CC.

Oh, I agree. That's how I'd operate in this draft. I'd also throw DE in there for good measure. I think we can get a quality WR in rounds 4-6.

 

[Bobhaze]

I think he may have been a little loose on the lip and some of that got back to Garrett and Linehan. I think his questioning some of his teammates is after the fact, this was all on Garrett and Linehan.

And before anyone jumps on them about this, I knew about him at OSU because my morning guy was roommates with one of their coaches and he was labeled "uncoachable" and they tried hard to get him to come around. His position coach and OC told him not to go to meet with Sanders when they got wind of it and he went anyway.

I know one thing. I have never heard any WR, that has been in the league this long, say he's going to work with a route guru. That is the most bizarre part of this whole thing to me.

He could get away with all of that in college and in Big D as long as he was scoring 10+ TDs a year and over 1000 yds. When that all disappeared, it made his antics become an annoyance rather than something to tolerate as "passion".

 

[CCBoy]

Come get me

Bryant wasn’t a cut that was forced upon the front office due to cap space restraints. The team could certainly afford him if they wanted him. Dallas has already paid him $45 million over the last three years, which still carries a dead money hit of $8 million this season to cover the fractions of his signing bonus for 2018 and 2019. What they don’t have to pay him now is his $12.5 million in base salary in each of the next two seasons, saving the team a total of $25 million.

So what are the Cowboys going to do with that $25 million? The team must have a plan and that plan must be more enticing that having Bryant on the roster for the next two seasons. It’s very possible the Cowboys have someone lined up for that money. Is it Earl Thomas? In the blink of an eye, the team can now afford to pay Thomas should they work out a trade with Seattle. In order to bring Thomas aboard, the team would have to feel confident they’d be able to sign him to a high-priced salary that he’d demand in an extension. Without Bryant’s money on the books, they’d be able to take on a contract like that. Both Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott’s contract will be up in a couple years, so the team has to be judicious about how they spread out their cap resources.

How would you feel about swapping out an All Pro wide receiver for an All Pro safety and then turn around and use this strong WR draft class to replenish your receiving group? Trying to find a good free safety in this draft is a much more difficult task than finding a receiver...

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...-earl-thomas-or-d-j-moore-to-join-the-cowboys

This well could be a break from the pack deal, which also opens the draft to the possibility of gathering something like: OG Will Hernandez and LB Malik Jefferson...following by a targeted wide receiver.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

For all thinking we are screwed without Dez or thinking that now we MUST draft a WR in round one of this upcoming draft, there are some things I would like to point out that I hope give us some good perspective:

1. We are trying to build a quality NFL roster, not a quality fantasy football roster. THE most overrated position on any NFL roster in the minds of most fans is WR. We need to build a whole team, not a team of stars at the skill positions.

2. Dez was no longer a star receiver. He is still good but not at the price he was receiving. The last 3 years he compares statistically more like Mohammad Sanu or Jamison Crowder than Julio Jones or Larry Fitzgerald. We didn’t lose numbers or talent that can’t be replaced.

3. WR is still NOT the greatest need this team has and we are NOT REQUIRED now to draft a WR in round one. Why? Because there may not be a WR worth the 19th pick in talent. We could just as easily find a good one in round 2 or 3.

4. There’s no reason to “panic pick” a receiver in round one. Selecting Calvin Ridley at 19 for example is not going to make this team a contender. This team’s needs include WR but WR is not the biggest need we have IMO.

5. This team needs a better defense to get serious about a deep playoff run. If anyone thought keeping Dez Bryant was the key to a deep playoff run next year, you were already sorely mistaken.

I’m not here to tell you that this FO has it all figured out. They have proved for two decades they usually don’t. But releasing Dez Bryant was not a stupid decision. How the FO handles the draft and what this mediocre HC can do with an improved roster remains to be seen.

great post

 

[Cumart21]

For all thinking we are screwed without Dez or thinking that now we MUST draft a WR in round one of this upcoming draft, there are some things I would like to point out that I hope give us some good perspective:

1. We are trying to build a quality NFL roster, not a quality fantasy football roster. THE most overrated position on any NFL roster in the minds of most fans is WR. We need to build a whole team, not a team of stars at the skill positions.

2. Dez was no longer a star receiver. He is still good but not at the price he was receiving. The last 3 years he compares statistically more like Mohammad Sanu or Jamison Crowder than Julio Jones or Larry Fitzgerald. We didn’t lose numbers or talent that can’t be replaced.

3. WR is still NOT the greatest need this team has and we are NOT REQUIRED now to draft a WR in round one. Why? Because there may not be a WR worth the 19th pick in talent. We could just as easily find a good one in round 2 or 3.

4. There’s no reason to “panic pick” a receiver in round one. Selecting Calvin Ridley at 19 for example is not going to make this team a contender. This team’s needs include WR but WR is not the biggest need we have IMO.

5. This team needs a better defense to get serious about a deep playoff run. If anyone thought keeping Dez Bryant was the key to a deep playoff run next year, you were already sorely mistaken.

I’m not here to tell you that this FO has it all figured out. They have proved for two decades they usually don’t. But releasing Dez Bryant was not a stupid decision. How the FO handles the draft and what this mediocre HC can do with an improved roster remains to be seen.

Well said. 1000 likes for this post. Voices of reason must be rewarded handsomely.

 

[Bobhaze]

Kept him. The fact is there was ZERO logical reason to do what we did unless we NEEDED that money now for another player.

There were a ton of logical reasons to cut Dez. It just depends on whether or not you agree with those reasons.

 

[Hennessy_King]

Terrance Williams sucks and has to be upgraded. I thought dez/hurns would have been a decent combo on the outside. Williams would probably not start on any other Nfl team. We need to use the money we earned by cutting dez to bring in a starter at a need position.

 

[Hennessy_King]

There were a ton of logical reasons to cut Dez. It just depends on whether or not you agree with those reasons.

I never agree on letting feelings and emotions dictate a business decision.

 

[fansince68]

Dez is still good. We just suck at throwing the ball and scheming guys open.


I’m fine if they release Dez by acknowledging that.


But don’t release Dez and then turn around and draft a guy that will disappear from games and pigeon holed to a few routes a game.


Oline, and TE is where you should draft if you want to help this offense.


Don’t even think about WR until round 3.

We need to fix DAK and his throwing mechanics.his footwork....his ability to read the receivers and patterns and make ON TIME throws to the correct receiver. Our brass needs to do their homework on Dak. Find our what throws are his strengths......work diligently to get these particular throws into his game plan. .

 

[John813]

Why all of a sudden are people acting as if Butler is a HOF type guy and better than Dez...
I have news, Butler sucked. If Butler was so good, then why did Dallas let him leave, why did he not get a HUGE contract in the 1st few days of FA?

let me reiterate, Butler SUCKED.

Dez ran routes within 3 yards of the LOS because he was inaccurate on anything over that.
Bubble screens and those out passes were what he was accurate on and the defenses figured that out in the playoff game against GB that help lose that game.

We joked about Wentz in his 1st year and those 2 to 5 yard passes. But he made adjustments in his 2nd year. And threw downfield. But I blame this more on the scheme here than I do Dak, at this point. I will give Dak this year to see how he improves.

Where did you get Butler was better than Dez from my post?

 

[visionary]

For all thinking we are screwed without Dez or thinking that now we MUST draft a WR in round one of this upcoming draft, there are some things I would like to point out that I hope give us some good perspective:

1. We are trying to build a quality NFL roster, not a quality fantasy football roster. THE most overrated position on any NFL roster in the minds of most fans is WR. We need to build a whole team, not a team of stars at the skill positions.

2. Dez was no longer a star receiver. He is still good but not at the price he was receiving. The last 3 years he compares statistically more like Mohammad Sanu or Jamison Crowder than Julio Jones or Larry Fitzgerald. We didn’t lose numbers or talent that can’t be replaced.

3. WR is still NOT the greatest need this team has and we are NOT REQUIRED now to draft a WR in round one. Why? Because there may not be a WR worth the 19th pick in talent. We could just as easily find a good one in round 2 or 3.

4. There’s no reason to “panic pick” a receiver in round one. Selecting Calvin Ridley at 19 for example is not going to make this team a contender. This team’s needs include WR but WR is not the biggest need we have IMO.

5. This team needs a better defense to get serious about a deep playoff run. If anyone thought keeping Dez Bryant was the key to a deep playoff run next year, you were already sorely mistaken.

I’m not here to tell you that this FO has it all figured out. They have proved for two decades they usually don’t. But releasing Dez Bryant was not a stupid decision. How the FO handles the draft and what this mediocre HC can do with an improved roster remains to be seen.

Agree

I will not be happy if we draft a WR in rd 1 or even 2 where we can get impact starters on defense

 

[visionary]

I think nowadays JJ is advising Stephen and Will.... (& they listen if they care to do so)

Can I have a swig of that happy juice ?

 

[Bleu Star]

Can I have a swig of that happy juice ?

Man I have plenty to pass around. Swig swig pass.

 

[Diehardblues]

He was. But...What would you have done about Dez? What would improve our passing game?

Releasing Dez as a Cap casualty is not the issue. The bigger issues are:
#1. How are we going to use the Cap savings to upgrade our roster ? Or are we just pocketing the money .

#2. If this changes our priorities on draft day as you’ve suggested then it will serve as a double whammy. Not only will we pursue another gifted WR Dak probably can’t optimize we’ll deter beefing up greater weaknesses on defense.

I can see us going 1st WR, 2nd TE and 3rd OL ignoring the defense early.

I’m sorry. But we missed an opportunity to release Dez earlier and use the Cap savings to acquire some additional talent in FA.

I’m aftaid it’s business as usual . We’re still a mess with our new Sheriff in town because you still have to convince the old one. Lol

 

[percyhoward]

Somehow, through 8 games last season we had the league's #1 scoring offense despite this situation:

Bryant 38 of 75 (51%) 439 yd (5.9 ypa) 4 td 2 int 75.4
teammates 125 of 184 (68%) 1361 yd (7.4 ypa) 12 td 2 int 106.7

share of team targets
Bryant 29%
Witten 19%
Williams 16%
Beasley 14%
Elliott 10%