Stephen Jones blames the salary cap for not pursuing Derrick Henry

[Typhus]

Because they tend to be cheap in FA. They've eschewed big money, long term deals to FA for years now. It's not new. But this year, they have been in damage control since Jerry emoted about how they were going to be all in this year. Since that moment, they've tried to walk back that statement and it's just more spin/deflection from the front office when Stephen comes out and says hey, we can't sign anyone because we are "cap poor" as fans get pissed that the literally did the bare minimum in FA.

They are lying. They aren't "cap poor". At least not by circumstance. They are cap poor because they choose to be and don't do what others team do in other to manage the cap to try to get better. They have the cap space in the future to not only sign the three guys coming up if they choose but also do far more in FA than they've done to date.

They choose to not be active or lay out the money necessary.

That is the absolute truth.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Because they tend to be cheap in FA. They've eschewed big money, long term deals to FA for years now. It's not new. But this year, they have been in damage control since Jerry emoted about how they were going to be all in this year. Since that moment, they've tried to walk back that statement and it's just more spin/deflection from the front office when Stephen comes out and says hey, we can't sign anyone because we are "cap poor" as fans get pissed that the literally did the bare minimum in FA.

They are lying. They aren't "cap poor". At least not by circumstance. They are cap poor because they choose to be and don't do what others team do in other to manage the cap to try to get better. They have the cap space in the future to not only sign the three guys coming up if they choose but also do far more in FA than they've done to date.

They choose to not be active or lay out the money necessary.

VFA is inefficient but they do sign players to long term lucrative deals like Diggs received last year. They have the enviable problem of needing to pay 3 of their own FA once again this offseason.

Now that has been a problem with them rewarding Zeke, Gallup, and Jaylon in poor self evaluation. I don't see that as a problem this time.

Now we both know you have not done a multiyear analysis as to what it would mean to add another set of lucrative FA contracts and the $140m AAV for the big 3 and make that work. Now that is not to say that I have but I am not the one that speaks with certainty.

You certainly are hot to trot on the cheap thing. The company that is known for largesse in everything else goes miser here. Maybe but it is hardly a certainty.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Zeke is getting $2 million with another $1 million in incentives.

And costs more against the cap from his previous contract. We are paying for him twice on the cap.

 

[Rockport]

Reality is if the Cowboys wanted a mid-tier guy like Henry, they could have signed him if they truly wanted to.

This is all excuse making and rationalizing by him to cover up the fact they simply choose not to spend real money in FA like most other teams. They are dragging their feet on extensions because they simply do not want to create cap space that fans would then wonder why they aren't using.

Lamb is a $17.5MM hit this year. Sign an extension and they could drop that initial cap hit to like $5MM saving nearly $12.5MM. You could get a Henry for that. Further, it's not like the Cowboys don't have cap space in the future. Per Over the Cap they are 8th in cap space for next year (before rollovers, etc) at $80MM and then 2nd in 2026 with just under $210MM in cap space available. So they have the availability into the future to restructure, sign guys, etc.

They chose not to. Because their strategy is simply to ignore FA. So be honest, Stephen. You weren't active in FA because you chose not to be.

Sorry, but you really have no idea what you’re talking about taking into consideration the future cap hits, players potentials, future cap raises, future cuts, etc. etc. The Cowboys are at max salary cap every year. They’ve drafted well and hit on some others and now they’re where they are. This isn’t Madden with the cheat codes you guys use so that you can have anyone you want.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Jones are lining up to sell.

Too good to be true.

 

[boysfanindc]

And costs more against the cap from his previous contract. We are paying for him twice on the cap.

They still owe dead cap for the deal before this one.

 

[mattjames2010]

This dude is a freakin' moron. 2 seasons ago he was laughing at fans about how the cap was being mismanaged and now we can't afford an 8 million dollar RB when we are in need of one lol

You folks think Jerry was bad? Wait until Stephen takes over.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Jones are lining up to sell.

 

[Cowboys5217]

If the NFL wanted to make an improvement, they would exempt QBs from the salary cap. While some would get paid more, teams would be able to more quickly jettison failures.

Put a salary cap on QBs to get it back under control.

 

[mattjames2010]

Sorry, but you really have no idea what you’re talking about taking into consideration the future cap hits, players potentials, future cap raises, future cuts, etc. etc. The Cowboys are at max salary cap every year. They’ve drafted well and hit on some others and now they’re where they are. This isn’t Madden with the cheat codes you guys use so that you can have anyone you want.

"Future cap hits"

....Henry would have been a two year contract. His second year with the Ravens he has zero guaranteed money. Henry's contract with the Ravens was about as cap friendly as you'll see.

If Henry sucks this year for the Ravens, they'd have around $4 million hitting their cap if they cut him. ANYONE suggesting we couldn't afford Henry is as big a moron as dopey Stephen.

 

[Rockport]

"Future cap hits"

....Henry would have been a two year contract. His second year with the Ravens he has zero guaranteed money. Henry's contract with the Ravens was about as cap friendly as you'll see.

If Henry sucks this year for the Ravens, they'd have around $4 million hitting their cap if they cut him. ANYONE suggesting we couldn't afford Henry is as big a moron as dopey Stephen.

Two year cap hit is in the “future”

 

[Rockport]

"Future cap hits"

....Henry would have been a two year contract. His second year with the Ravens he has zero guaranteed money. Henry's contract with the Ravens was about as cap friendly as you'll see.

If Henry sucks this year for the Ravens, they'd have around $4 million hitting their cap if they cut him. ANYONE suggesting we couldn't afford Henry is as big a moron as dopey Stephen.

Your Insult to the board is noted, but I haven’t seen ANYONE suggest that the Cowboys couldn’t afford Henry. I was all for it.

 

[Sydla]

VFA is inefficient but they do sign players to long term lucrative deals like Diggs received last year. They have the enviable problem of needing to pay 3 of their own FA once again this offseason.

Now that has been a problem with them rewarding Zeke, Gallup, and Jaylon in poor self evaluation. I don't see that as a problem this time.

Now we both know you have not done a multiyear analysis as to what it would mean to add another set of lucrative FA contracts and the $140m AAV for the big 3 and make that work. Now that is not to say that I have but I am not the one that speaks with certainty.

You certainly are hot to trot on the cheap thing. The company that is known for largesse in everything else goes miser here. Maybe but it is hardly a certainty.

Let's not pretend this is just the Cowboys. Philly in the last two years signed their QB to a massive new deal, both WRs to big deals, their OG and both OTs to large extensions. And then yet somehow found the way to bring in a top flight TB and a new DE (so they could trade away Reddick) and give them pretty large contracts as well.

So no, the Cowboys having to spend money on a QB, WR and DE all within a year or two of each other isn't unique nor a "problem" that other teams haven't also faced. They can fit the big 3 in and still not be totally cheap in FA. They are literally projected to have the 2nd most cap space in the NFL in 2 years.

 

[kskboys]

This is the "Battered Fan Syndrome" . . .

Watcha mean?

 

[kskboys]

what a load of BS. total BS and if anyone is buying into it, is not very smart. if Stephen can't manage the cap, then give up the job. Looka t eagles and how many top 5,top 10 contracts they have handed out.

you are stupid Stephen or full of ****. there is no inbetween.

Eagles aren't still paying Jaylon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kskboys]

He wasnt embarassed enough to fire the coach who had our OL regress the worst I have seen in years in the run blocking area. And now, he is setting up the season as a throwaway year. Which is insane to me,.

BB must already have a deal in place if this year goes south. Its the only thing that makes sense.

Not Belly, Zimmer. Zimmer is the HC in waiting. Kinda obvious, really.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Let's not pretend this is just the Cowboys. Philly in the last two years signed their QB to a massive new deal, both WRs to big deals, their OG and both OTs to large extensions. And then yet somehow found the way to bring in a top flight TB and a new DE (so they could trade away Reddick) and give them pretty large contracts as well.

So no, the Cowboys having to spend money on a QB, WR and DE all within a year or two of each other isn't unique nor a "problem" that other teams haven't also faced. They can fit the big 3 in and still not be totally cheap in FA. They are literally projected to have the 2nd most cap space in the NFL in 2 years.

Eagles envy. More than one way to skin a cat

 

[mattjames2010]

Two year cap hit is in the “future”

Can you learn read? Henry has 1.2 million guaranteed this upcoming season with his cap number being a little over 5 million. Next season it's 10 million with no guaranteed and you take a small cap hit if you cut him next season.

I repeat: Anyone who thinks this couldn't be afforded is a bigger moron than Stephen. At least Stephen is just trying to BS, you actually think it's truthful.

 

[mattjames2010]

Your Insult to the board is noted, but I haven’t seen ANYONE suggest that the Cowboys couldn’t afford Henry. I was all for it.

That's exactly what Stephen is saying, it's also exactly what you are defending....

We could have afforded Henry this season and we could have afforded him next season and if we couldn't or he just sucked, we could have cut him. Ravens have Henry's contract the way it is for a reason. He's a 30 year old RB with tread on the tires. If that starts to show this season they can cut him loose.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Let's not pretend this is just the Cowboys. Philly in the last two years signed their QB to a massive new deal, both WRs to big deals, their OG and both OTs to large extensions. And then yet somehow found the way to bring in a top flight TB and a new DE (so they could trade away Reddick) and give them pretty large contracts as well.

So no, the Cowboys having to spend money on a QB, WR and DE all within a year or two of each other isn't unique nor a "problem" that other teams haven't also faced. They can fit the big 3 in and still not be totally cheap in FA. They are literally projected to have the 2nd most cap space in the NFL in 2 years.

Agree with every point, but the Eagles’ bill starts coming due in 36 months and they gave their QB a NTC. No one knows what the future holds with cap increases. Even if their owner didn’t blurt it out, they seem like they’re “all in”.