Something everyone needs to remember...

[Reality]

I know the lockout has shortened the perceived "window" for free agency this year with training camp already underway. I am in no way trying to rain flowers on the doom-and-gloomers of CZ nor am I trying to make it seem like the Cowboys have no worries. However, there is something that everyone needs to keep in mind.

The free agency market usually gets replenished three times per year .. after the season (March), after the draft and .... that's right, after training camp when the final cuts are made.

Now before some "I know better than you" person chimes in with their "but only the crappy players get cut" I want to remind you that this year is different. Teams have not had months to learn more about their top draft picks nor have they had months to scout the free agent market.

Even worse, teams like the Cowboys have new coordinators and because of the lockout they have not even been able to see them in practice before now.

With the rosters expanded to 90 for training camp, a lot of teams are holding on to players they hope they can replace with other younger players on their roster. If the Cowboys had not been over the cap, you can be sure they would have held on to Colombo and Davis (assuming no pre-season roster bonuses) at least through training camp. A lot of teams were not over the cap so they can afford to keep their previous players while they try out their newly drafted or signed players.

My point is that there is another free agency period coming that, unlike in normal years, should see more skilled and proven players become available. Remember, rosters are 90 players deep right now and that means by the end of training camp, each team will have released over 30 players.

So, nearly 1,100 players will become free agents between now and the start of the season. While it is true a majority of those will be undrafted rookie free agents or low draft picks, there should be a much larger number of veteran free agents released compared to previous years.

Now will there be any elite players released? That is probably doubtful but there will most likely be a number of solid veterans that would be an upgrade or fill-in replacement for two or three of the holes we have.

Okay, let the "but's" and "nevah's" start ..

#reality

 

[viman96]

Wow I did not even think about this or put 2 and 2 together to realize 30 players per team will be cut.

 

[w8lifter]

I know the lockout has shortened the perceived "window" for free agency this year with training camp already underway. I am in no way trying to rain flowers on the doom-and-gloomers of CZ nor am I trying to make it seem like the Cowboys have no worries. However, there is something that everyone needs to keep in mind.

The free agency market usually gets replenished three times per year .. after the season (March), after the draft and .... that's right, after training camp when the final cuts are made.

Now before some "I know better than you" person chimes in with their "but only the crappy players get cut" I want to remind you that this year is different. Teams have not had months to learn more about their top draft picks nor have they had months to scout the free agent market.

Even worse, teams like the Cowboys have new coordinators and because of the lockout they have not even been able to see them in practice before now.

With the rosters expanded to 90 for training camp, a lot of teams are holding on to players they hope they can replace with other younger players on their roster. If the Cowboys had not been over the cap, you can be sure they would have held on to Colombo and Davis (assuming no pre-season roster bonuses) at least through training camp. A lot of teams were not over the cap so they can afford to keep their previous players while they try out their newly drafted or signed players.

My point is that there is another free agency period coming that, unlike in normal years, should see more skilled and proven players become available. Remember, rosters are 90 players deep right now and that means by the end of training camp, each team will have released over 30 players.

So, nearly 1,100 players will become free agents between now and the start of the season. While it is true a majority of those will be undrafted rookie free agents or low draft picks, there should be a much larger number of veteran free agents released compared to previous years.

Now will there be any elite players released? That is probably doubtful but there will most likely be a number of solid veterans that would be an upgrade or fill-in replacement for two or three of the holes we have.

Okay, let the "but's" and "nevah's" start ..

#reality

VERY well said. :bravo:


There will be a plethora of quality players willing to take less money and hopefully ones to fill our need positions.
Patience is a virtue and what you said applies even more this season. :cunning:

 

[5Stars]

Nice explanation - I never thought about it that way, but you make total sense!

 

[Dallas]

#reality

 

[Hoofbite]

I think it's wishful thinking to believe Dallas will be able to adequately fill the holes in the secondary by waiting for cast offs.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Those type of players are usually for the practice squad. Also, we will have injuries so there may be even more holes to fill by the end of preseason. I think we need to fill all the holes now so they can learn the systems.

 

[CoCo]

Fair point.

But I sure hope we don't wait until final cuts to find our starting safeties amongst someone else's throw aways.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

So we are going to add players at the last minute...who do not know our system, coaches, playbook or players on the team...and we are going to count on them?

 

[Suave]

I think it's wishful thinking to believe Dallas will be able to adequately fill the holes in the secondary by waiting for cast offs.

Me too. I don't see how Dallas will become a stronger team by taking this approach. Most of the impact secondary players are off the board, so at best, we can expect mediocre players. People on this board are praying for a guy like Elam, but the only real upside to signing him is that he knows Ryan's scheme. However, this does not hide the fact that he's still a mediocre player who will not make this team that much better.

 

[Mash]

Solid post....

We dont know who will be available...teams have to make decision here and this year because no OTA's and a shorten training camp....teams wont have the info they would like on certain players and odds are some pretty good players will fall thru the cracks.

And as always....some vets will lose their jobs due to a younger player stepping up.

So...waiting and not getting to excited about picking up and over paying these FA's is a good thing.

 

[Reality]

I was not in any way suggesting we purposely wait until then, but do you really want to commit a huge contract to a below average free agent safety that is available now only to see a solid free agent safety get released later in the pre-season?

At some point, you have to look at your roster and see that what you have is not much worse than what is out there now and feel it is worth the risk to wait.

#reality

 

[cowboys2233]

Fair point.

But I sure hope we don't wait until final cuts to find our starting safeties amongst someone else's throw aways.

No, I think it's a great idea. Wait until teams have had a full TC to evaluate players and cut the ones that suck, then sign one of those guys, who would then have to essentially learn Ryan's defensive schemes on the fly during the regular season.

Sign me up! :jackpot:

 

[Doomsday101]

I know the lockout has shortened the perceived "window" for free agency this year with training camp already underway. I am in no way trying to rain flowers on the doom-and-gloomers of CZ nor am I trying to make it seem like the Cowboys have no worries. However, there is something that everyone needs to keep in mind.

The free agency market usually gets replenished three times per year .. after the season (March), after the draft and .... that's right, after training camp when the final cuts are made.

Now before some "I know better than you" person chimes in with their "but only the crappy players get cut" I want to remind you that this year is different. Teams have not had months to learn more about their top draft picks nor have they had months to scout the free agent market.

Even worse, teams like the Cowboys have new coordinators and because of the lockout they have not even been able to see them in practice before now.

With the rosters expanded to 90 for training camp, a lot of teams are holding on to players they hope they can replace with other younger players on their roster. If the Cowboys had not been over the cap, you can be sure they would have held on to Colombo and Davis (assuming no pre-season roster bonuses) at least through training camp. A lot of teams were not over the cap so they can afford to keep their previous players while they try out their newly drafted or signed players.

My point is that there is another free agency period coming that, unlike in normal years, should see more skilled and proven players become available. Remember, rosters are 90 players deep right now and that means by the end of training camp, each team will have released over 30 players.

So, nearly 1,100 players will become free agents between now and the start of the season. While it is true a majority of those will be undrafted rookie free agents or low draft picks, there should be a much larger number of veteran free agents released compared to previous years.

Now will there be any elite players released? That is probably doubtful but there will most likely be a number of solid veterans that would be an upgrade or fill-in replacement for two or three of the holes we have.

Okay, let the "but's" and "nevah's" start ..

#reality

You got it.

 

[Stautner]

What? You mean we can still sign free agents after the first couple of days of free agency? Who knew?

 

[Reality]

So we are going to add players at the last minute...who do not know our system, coaches, playbook or players on the team...and we are going to count on them?

So you would rather have a below average free agent who knows the playbook than an upgrade that may take a couple of games to learn the system but then would know it for the rest of the season? Why not just stick with the players we have then? They will know the playbook well by the start of the season if that's the only criteria you use.

Does not make sense to me but to each his own ..

#reality

 

[Everlastingxxx]

No, I think it's a great idea. Wait until teams have had a full TC to evaluate players and cut the ones that suck, then sign one of those guys, who would then have to essentially learn Ryan's defensive schemes on the fly during the regular season.

Sign me up! :jackpot:

Great idea! Ryan’s scheme is only 3 playbooks. Light afternoon reading. Should be a blast watching AOA and the rookies get burned all preseason long. This should be fun.

 

[Bulldog]

Good point Reality.

I personally believe that since no free agent can report to camp until the league year starts, the Cowboys are purposefully waiting to sign a safety or two until Wednesday or Thursday. This gives them a chance to evaluate a couple of the younger guys while still keeping an eye on the market.

If a couple of the four of five guys that they are watching come off the market, then I would expect them to move on one or two of the remaining free agents. Its a smart business move in my opinion. Especially if they feel about that these guys are about the same caliber of players.

 

[Reality]

Great idea! Ryan’s scheme is only 3 playbooks. Light afternoon reading. Should be a blast watching AOA and the rookies get burned all preseason long. This should be fun.

Oh well using that logic, we might as well forget signing any more defensive free agents. I mean training camp already started, it's really too late now.

#reality

 

[Stautner]

Great idea! Ryan’s scheme is only 3 playbooks. Light afternoon reading. Should be a blast watching AOA and the rookies get burned all preseason long. This should be fun.

I think you guys are looking at this too hard. The reality is our team will be almost completely set well before then, and anyone we pick up last minute wont be counted on to be a major factor right away. Keep in mind that the guy that will get dropped to accomodate someone picked up that late will be a bottom of the roster player, so it's not as if it will be a killer for the new guy to take a little time to get up to snuff.