Source: Cowboys, Titans yet to agree on draft picks AND possible bonus reimbursement

[WoodysGirl]

By Ed Werder
ESPN.com
(Archive)



Updated: April 2, 2008, 12:51 PM ET

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A Dallas Cowboys source has told ESPN that the proposed deal sending Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones to Dallas appears to be in jeopardy.


Not only are the Cowboys refusing to provide the Titans a fourth-round pick this year and another choice in 2009, but there are disagreements over whether the Cowboys would reimburse the Titans for some bonus money owed to the suspended cornerback.


The Titans and Cowboys have been in talks to arrange a deal sending the suspended defender and return specialist to Dallas, where he says he wants to play once his indefinite NFL suspension is lifted.


"It's pretty muddled," a Dallas source said. "Any time you have disputes over both the picks and the money, you have a real problem."


The teams held intense discussions Thursday night without being able to resolve their issues.


"The deal can still be made but there is a lot of work to do," a Titans source said.

Ed Werder covers the NFL for ESPN.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3325562

 

[austintodallas]

The Titans need to step away from the pipe.

 

[thewireman]

I don't think this deal is going to get done

 

[Hostile]

Hold firm Jerry. Don't blink. Extorsion money isn't what you want to cave to.

 

[Nightman]

The Titans say they deserve 2 picks because Jones plays Cb and returns kicks. WOW.

If the deal isn't for a 6th rounder or less, with no money involved then we should walk away and wait until they cut him and/or he is re-instated.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Just walk away. Pick up CBs with the first rounder and fourth rounder (which is what they would have paid for Jones). This team was going to be fine before Jones, they will still be fine after Jones. If they cut him in June, then he will come knocking.

 

[UDcowboysfan]

We all know that they dont want Pac man and from what we heard no one else is looking at him. Stop trying to play hard to get Titans. This will most likely go up onto draft and then the titans will cave in.

 

[mmillman]

Give them conditional picks based on playing time and performance. If he plays up to his potential would you regret giving them a fourth? If he doesn't it is a sixth that percentage wise won't make the team.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Right now, it seems the Cowboy offer of a late round pick this year for Pacman is the best the Titans have so far. And it may be the only offer the Titans will get.

It would be hilarious if Pacman became a Bengal with his buddy Chris Henry.

 

[TonyS]

I'd be cool with us giving up a 6th round pick this year and a conditional pick next year as high as a 5th rounder if Pacman is top 3 in KO returns and has 10 INTs in 2008.

...and a bag of chips for the bonus money they want.

 

[big dog cowboy]

"The deal can still be made but there is a lot of work to do," a Titans source said.

Really? Doesn't sound like it to me.

Jerry needs to tell Fisher that we will just wait and pick him up after the Titans release him.

 

[jchocolate82]

I say we just stop calling them and stop showing the interest. THEY NEED US NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Are team is gonna be fine with our without pacman

 

[lspain1]

The Titans have little incentive to make this deal except for the draft picks. The Cowboys are the ones who both need and want Pacman (who, for all his problems, is a proven commodity). We are not is a strong position to bargain, IMO. Our bargaining position is also hurt by every additional bidder if there are any.

That being said, if we reimburse the Titans bonus money, doesn't that come straight off our cap numbers? I see bargaining, but not a reimbusement of dollars. The Titan's benefit is in draft picks, not money.

 

[Redball Express]

Hey..

If we were in their position..we'd be doing EXACTLY the same thing.

The Titans have alot invested in Pacman..just like we would have.

I'm not so sure the 4th rd. pick this year really means that much. Yes it has value, but we are not talking about Pro Bowl players with 4th rd. draft picks..usually.

Yes I know..MBIII and Brady James for us were of that caliber.

But other than them..how many like the 4th rd. RB we took took two years ago we just end up cutting..?

A 4th rd. player will make a difference to a 6-10 team. A 4th Rd. player PROBABLY will not be more than a ST player with us this year..if that.

We are too deep in talent that a 4th rd. player will get a real chance to get snaps or just won't be sent to the practice squad.

So I'm not so sure why we are wiggling too much in that right now. And as for next year and a conditional 4th..same argument.

If this team advances higher into the playofffs..we are going to be picking deadlast-ish in each round anyway.

Both these 4th rd. picks we are discussing in a trade for Pacman are going to be very very late round picks..virtually top of the 5th rd. type picks.

We are going to squeem on that..what is virtually two 5th rd. selections that probably won't impact our team for a guy like Pacman, that will immediately start at CB and do PR's too..?

That's a no brainer.

And if there is money involved..let Pacman pay it out of his contract. If it takes $1 mil cash to get the deal done, fine. We'll pay now it but he'll have to repay it over the next 2-3 years in his deal.

If he gets a new deal from us..he pays back whatever remains on the balance back when a new deal gets signed..whatever.

I can understand the Titans having paid him his bonuses and feeling holding the bag. We can help them and so can Pacman to just move it along.

This should just get done and stop the posturing.

This is not a mission critical trade here for either team with the caliber of draft picks involved.

:starspin ReDBall ExPreSS:starspin

 

[gimmesix]

The Titans sure are showing their greed. They've got a player they don't want and apparently only one team is willing to take him, and yet they act like they hold all the cards.

They know Adam Jones is a risk no one else, not even them, is willing to take, yet they want to act like they've got bargaining power.

Jerry needs to make his offer and stay out of any further negotiations. He's in the position of power because the Titans are not going to keep Jones and don't appear to have anywhere else to send him.

Once Tennessee sees that it is lucky that any team is willing to take a chance on a player one small step away from being banned from the league, maybe they will be more willing to play nice.

 

[Hostile]

Hey..

If we were in their position..we'd be doing EXACTLY the same thing.

The Titans have alot invested in Pacman..just like we would have.

I'm not so sure the 4th rd. pick this year really means that much. Yes it has value, but we are not talking about Pro Bowl players with 4th rd. draft picks..usually.

Yes I know..MBIII and Brady James for us were of that caliber.

But other than them..how many like the 4th rd. RB we took took two years ago we just end up cutting..?

A 4th rd. player will make a difference to a 6-10 team. A 4th Rd. player PROBABLY will not be more than a ST player with us this year..if that.

We are too deep in talent that a 4th rd. player will get a real chance to get snaps or just won't be sent to the practice squad.

So I'm not so sure why we are wiggling too much in that right now. And as for next year and a conditional 4th..same argument.

If this team advances higher into the playofffs..we are going to be picking deadlast-ish in each round anyway.

Both these 4th rd. picks we are discussing in a trade for Pacman are going to be very very late round picks..virtually top of the 5th rd. type picks.

We are going to squeem on that..what is virtually two 5th rd. selections that probably won't impact our team for a guy like Pacman, that will immediately start at CB and do PR's too..?

That's a no brainer.

And if there is money involved..let Pacman pay it out of his contract. If it takes $1 mil cash to get the deal done, fine. We'll pay it but he'l have to repay it over the next 2-3 years in his deal.

If he gets a new deal from us..he pays back whatever remains on the balance back when a new deal gets signed..whatever.

I can understand the Titans having paid him his bonuses and feeling holding the bag. We can help them and so can Pacman to just move it along.

This should just get done and stop the posturing.

This is not a mission critical trade here for either team with the caliber of draft picks involved.

:starspin ReDBall ExPreSS:starspin

If I were in their position I would not be happy about my Head Coach saying the player needs to move on and the organization needs to move on from him. I wouldn't hint that if no trade can be worked out that he will probably be released.

Let's face it, the main reason why other teams are not interested is because Pacman pulls no punches about where he wants to go. No one is going to pay what they are asking.

They can either keep him, get something for him in a sensible trade, or waive him and get nothing.

 

[BlueStar II]

Since it does not appear that there are a lot of other genuinely interested teams in Pacman other than Dallas, and once the draft is over, and if a trade has not been made, then the Titans will lose the opportunity to gain whatever pick or picks from us that they would have received if the trade was completed prior to the draft. It sounds as though they may eventually release Pacman anyway, so if a trade is not worked out, then the Titans will stand to gain nothing in terms of a pick for him once he's released.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I say forget it, and lets just draft at least two CB's and call it a day.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Why pay for a guy whom they'll release eventually?? I'm not understanding the sense of it... You know they won't carry his contract into training camp!

 

[Nightman]

The Titans have little incentive to make this deal except for the draft picks. The Cowboys are the ones who both need and want Pacman (who, for all his problems, is a proven commodity). We are not is a strong position to bargain, IMO. Our bargaining position is also hurt by every additional bidder if there are any.

That being said, if we reimburse the Titans bonus money, doesn't that come straight off our cap numbers? I see bargaining, but not a reimbusement of dollars. The Titan's benefit is in draft picks, not money.

With 2 #1s in a deep CB draft, we do not NEED Jones at all. He would be a worth a look because he wants to come here, but I wouldn't give more than a 6th this year or a conditional 4th next year and no money to Tenn. They gambled and lost, why should we pay for their mistake when he hasn't even been re-instated?