Stephen Jones on free agency plans

[gimmesix]

Don't they have to accomplish at least one of those things before the draft to free up cap space to sign our draft picks?

They will have to make some kind of move to free up that space (if the cap figures out there are accurate), but I doubt either signing would be necessary. It could be cutting Free, re-signing him for a lower cap hit, restructuring other contracts (although I'm not sure who else they could do that with this year), etc.

The only thing we know is that something will have to be done to open up more cap space IF there's anything they want to do. I don't like to guess what move will be made to do that.

What we've seen from Dallas so far is simply the Cowboys making space when it's needed for what they want to do (such as franchising Spencer). I think we'll continue to see that, including a contract extension for Romo, when the Cowboys feel the need to get it done (much like how they sign rookies right before training camp). Right now, they aren't proceeding as if they see a need.

As far as Spencer goes, I'm not really sure they feel pressed to do a long-term deal this year. I think they are OK with letting him play under the tag to see how he does in this scheme. I could be wrong about that, though.

 

[Kristen82]

They could use Doug Free savings for that also.

But aren't they looking to cut him June 1 which is after the draft? Need the cap room created before, not afterwards, or I'm probably missing something here...

 

[gimmesix]

But aren't they looking to cut him June 1 which is after the draft? Need the cap room created before, not afterwards, or I'm probably missing something here...

The drafted rookies won't receive contracts until near training camp/after June 1.

 

[Kristen82]

The drafted rookies won't receive contracts until near training camp/after June 1.

I see...merci!

 

[Nightman]

Don't they have to accomplish at least one of those things before the draft to free up cap space to sign our draft picks?

Plus, they only need about 1.5-2m to sign all the draft picks. The salary cap only counts the top 51 players in the offseason. If you sign 6 draft picks for a total cap hit of 4-5m, you also subtract 6 of the lowest salaries on the 51 man list for about 2.8m(480k each).

 

[gimmesix]

Follow-up statement from Stephen Jones:

"As I've said again and again -- this is absolutely no excuse -- but one of the things the team needs to do is get healthy," Jones said. "At some point, we will look to improve ourselves. But it was never going to be a deal where we were out shopping in a big way in free agency. That doesn't mean we won't get one or two guys when all is said and done. Right guy, right time, right place and we'll take a look at it. The big focus for us is in this draft. We need to draft well here and get our players healthy. We like our team."

 

[gimmesix]

Plus, they only need about 1.5-2m to sign all the draft picks. The salary cap only counts the top 51 players in the offseason. If you sign 6 draft picks for a total cap hit of 4-5m, you also subtract 6 of the lowest salaries on the 51 man list for about 2.8m(480k each).

Yes. You've got to love the rule of 51.

 

[gimmesix]

As far as Spencer goes, I'm not really sure they feel pressed to do a long-term deal this year. I think they are OK with letting him play under the tag to see how he does in this scheme. I could be wrong about that, though.

To reiterate this point, here's Stephen Jones again:

Jones said the Cowboys would like to get a deal done with Spencer, but they are also comfortable with him playing under the franchise tag of $10.6 million.

Spencer signed the deal last week.

"We can go either way," Jones said. "We would always like to lock up a really good football player. I think Anthony still got several years to play."

 

[jjktkk]

I don't think anyone is saying that FA is bad, including Jones.

But he's trying to imply that they weren't going to be big spenders as if they had some big choice in the matter.

They didn't.

They no doubt knew they'd franchise Spencer and they knew because of that and Romo that they wouldn't have the money to do anything. So to come out and say it in the way he did, acting as if they've made this big grand choice to sit out of this, instead of being part in it, is misleading and bull.

You're sitting out Jones because you have no choice.

I think you are over analyzing his statements.

 

[gimmesix]

I see...merci!

I also believe Dallas already has enough money coming after June 1 for cutting Marcus Spears to sign the rookies ... but I could be wrong.

 

[speedkilz88]

Plus, they only need about 1.5-2m to sign all the draft picks. The salary cap only counts the top 51 players in the offseason. If you sign 6 draft picks for a total cap hit of 4-5m, you also subtract 6 of the lowest salaries on the 51 man list for about 2.8m(480k each).

Yes. You've got to love the rule of 51.

I think that's only prior to the 53 roster and practice squad being set. Then those count along with anyone on IR and PUP.

 

[Rogerthat12]

I also believe Dallas already has enough money coming after June 1 for cutting Marcus Spears to sign the rookies ... but I could be wrong.

They signed Mills to the vet minimum so that may have been utilized, not sure.

I think they are now 100,000 under the cap after the Mills deal.

I think they are waiting until after the draft and with reference to any further cuts or restructures/long term deals before they pull the trigger on Doug Free.

Hopefully they cut him after June 1, that would easily handle the rookie contracts this summer, however, if they keep him, other moves are likely in store.

 

[Disturbed]

Stephen Jones should have that quote made into a sign that hangs in his office. That should be the Cowboys approach to FA every year. Stay away from older high priced players and focus on the draft.

Focus on the Draft!!! Stop spending money on old players about to decline and get the best players in the draft. Maybe if more time and focus went into the draft they would get a little better at it.

As it stands today, the Cowboys are one of the worst teams at drafting in the league. They seriously need to focus on the draft.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Stephen Jones should have that quote made into a sign that hangs in his office. That should be the Cowboys approach to FA every year. Stay away from older high priced players and focus on the draft.

Focus on the Draft!!! Stop spending money on old players about to decline and get the best players in the draft. Maybe if more time and focus went into the draft they would get a little better at it.

As it stands today, the Cowboys are one of the worst teams at drafting in the league. They seriously need to focus on the draft.

You nailed it, draft well and the team is always better!

 

[Ren]

I like that philosophy, can't spend big very year.

It's a philosophy born out of nessecity, if we had cap space i doubt we'd be this inactive in FA

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

It's a philosophy born out of nessecity, if we had cap space i doubt we'd be this inactive in FA

I think it's laughable that people think Jones doesn't know what the books look like for the next 2-3 years.

The point is that if we really wanted to be active in free agency we could be. We could redo Free's deal. We could give Spencer a long term deal.....we could have forgone the franchise tag. We could cut Romo, trade him or restructure him.

Overall, I don't think this has been a great free agent year. Sure, we could sign some guys to overpriced deals and cut or restructured other overpriced players. But we aren't.

Dallas has lots of contracts they can shed next year to make room....we may be tight again. But we will survive.

Others lamented trying to do it with the same guys as last year. Well, considering many of our best players were only together for a handful of games, it might be a smart idea to do just that. The funny thing is, we don't have the same roster as we did 4-5 years ago when we went a 8-8. In fact, there are probably only about 10 players on the roster that were here 5 years ago...in fact, just went back and counted and it's exactly 10, so it's not repeating the same thing over and over.

 

[AmishCowboy]

Easy to say.... When you start free agency 20 million in the hole. Sounds like spin to me.

He also said before FA started, that we could do whatever we wanted too in FA.

 

[AmishCowboy]

I also believe Dallas already has enough money coming after June 1 for cutting Marcus Spears to sign the rookies ... but I could be wrong.

Almost $2 million i believe

 

[CowboyGil]

The bottom line still is this. they are bring back all most the same team that they had last year. and one draft will not change that. you can not keep bringing back all the core players who have won nothing(and miss the playoffs 4 of the last 5 years) and expect a different result. that's my point.

It's not the core players, it's the supporting cast. This board is becoming Crazy Town. In one thread it's "We went out and signed a bunch of mediocre free agents instead of doing it the right way and drafting and grooming guys for the future." In another thread the prevailing opinion is "Everybody else is signing free agents, why aren't we?" Sheesh.

 

[speedkilz88]

He also said before FA started, that we could do whatever we wanted too in FA.

They did, they chose to keep Anthony Spencer with the franchise tag rather than spend that ten million elsewhere. Now I think he also thought Romo's deal would be done and they would have that money also.