RE: stasheroo
If this was the decision they were going to make, why wasn't it done months ago?
Because Dez was out of the country in Australia, and the Cowboys wanted to cut him in person. Also, because they wanted to investigate all the college Wide Receivers BEFORE making the final decision to give Bryant his walking papers.
Why wasn't the player given the best chance for a new deal elsewhere?
Dez still has the opportunity to land somewhere else for big money. Several teams with CAP space still need a #1 WR.
Why didn't the team free up the cap space when they really needed it most?
Two things. 1) the Cowboys always had as much CAP space as they needed to make the moves they wanted to make. The Cowboys purposely ride close up to the CAP, and then restructure when needed to sign new players. It is their standard operating procedure. 2) after the Cowboys missed on Sammy Watkins, the only other option they were interested in is the draft. They didn't need the CAP room to sign a WR.
Why didn't they do it when the other top receivers were available?
They were interested only in Sammy Watkins, and otherwise are looking to the draft, just like they looked to the draft a year ago to replace the defensive secondary.
Does anyone in that building know what they're doing?
Yes. They have a coherent plan, whether or not you and I agree with it.
*******************************
I don't like the move. But the Cowboys are nothing if not methodical in their approach under Garrett. Having said that, it gets harder and harder each year for the Cowboys to maintain my interest. Like it or not, I am a fan because of the spectacular plays and the beauty of the game. The NFL is legislating the beauty out of the defense, and out of special teams. Now the Cowboys have gotten rid of two of their bigger offensive stars in the last two offseasons.
I like Dak, but I am not a Dak believer yet. I have hope for him, but that's it. The fact that he couldn't make it work with Dez counts against him for me. I'm open minded about the Cowboys, but not as interested tomorrow as I was two years ago, before all the turmoil we aren't allowed to talk about, and when the Cowboys still had Romo, Dez and Murray. The whole Zeke drama last year was exhausting, and I think Zeke got a raw deal. Today counts as one more reason to lose interest.
As much as I've defended Garrett and Jones over the years, I am not a fan of the coaches and owners. I am a fan of the players who make spectacular plays. But with the invasion of politics into the game, and the watering down of the game by rules changes, it gets harder each year - especially when the players you love to watch are booted from the team.
So yes, the Cowboys have a plan and know what they want to do. I'm finding it harder and harder to care.