Stephen says Cowboys will finalize franchise tag for George Pickens

[plasticman]

Why are we even listening to this guy?

The words coming out of his mouth are embarrassing enough. But to actually care what he thinks in front of the rest of the NFL world?

What do I think about Stephen Jones? I just don't.

 

[ConstantReboot]

They drive me crazy. Every time Jerry or Stephen talks, it feels like they honestly believe fans want to hear their spin — but we don’t. Most of us are just sitting there thinking, how do you keep saying the same crap over and over?

What really sets me off is this whole “we’re going to tag the player and we want him here” routine. If you truly want him here, then act like it. You negotiate the contract first, and only use the tag if talks completely fall apart. The tag is supposed to be the backup plan, not the strategy.

Pickens’ camp already made it clear they’re looking for $30 million. The tag number is around $28 million. That’s a $2 million gap — not some massive, franchise‑breaking difference. Yet here we are, dragging this out like it’s an impossible problem to solve.

Just sign George Pickens already. Every day this keeps going, Cowboys fans get more frustrated, and for good reason. Jerry and Stephen keep talking themselves in circles, and it looks like two people who still don’t have a clear plan. The front office feels disconnected from reality, and fans are losing their patience watching it happen in real time.

 

[Chasing6]

Pickens playing on the tag will not affect Dallas' ability to be active in free agency. The team can create $131 million in space with simple restructures. Any agent who would rather his client hold out than play for $28 million (much more than he has made in four seasons as a pro) is not a good agent. Hardly any players hold out the first year they are tagged.

Stop living in fantasy land about what we can do and face reality.

Did we do that last year? The year before? How much cap space has he created so far? Are we still $25M in the hole? Plus the $28M tag? Plus $10M rookie class and we will need close to another $10M going into the regular season.

That alone is damn near $75M. We still need to sign Aubrey, who wants to be the highest paid kicker and most likely Clowney.

It's not going to happen.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Only if we give him the exclusive tag. I think we'll give him the nonexclusive, where other teams can sign him but have to give us two first-round picks.

If that’s the plan why not give teams permission to talk to him now?

 

[gimmesix]

Stop living in fantasy land about what we can do and face reality.

Did we do that last year? The year before? How much cap space has he created so far? Are we still $25M in the hole? Plus the $28M tag? Plus $10M rookie class and we will need close to another $10M going into the regular season.

That alone is damn near $75M. We still need to sign Aubrey, who wants to be the highest paid kicker and most likely Clowney.

It's not going to happen.

What we did and what we can do are not the same thing. We had plenty of cap space and didn't use it. We will probably have plenty of cap space again and we won't use it. That has nothing to do with whether we tag Pickens or sign him to a long-term deal.

 

[Chasing6]

If that’s the plan why not give teams permission to talk to him now?

Because Jethro and Son have no idea what they are doing with their combined wisdom of 70 years of NFL Executive Experience.

 

[gimmesix]

If that’s the plan why not give teams permission to talk to him now?

The only reason to do that is if we wanted to trade him. We do not.

The cost of two first-round picks with the nonexclusive tag essentially says that. No teams are going to be willing to pay him AND give up two first-rounders. They could, but they won't.

My only point was that if we give him the nonexclusive tag, he can still negotiate with other teams.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Can be a sign and trade, though, if another team offers him a deal that he wants and offers the team compensation that it wants. However, I don't think Dallas has any plans to trade Pickens.

Yes. That’s true. But the team that gets Pickens to agree to a deal is now the in the driver’s seat. They can offer a third knowing Pickens won’t sign that tag unless he gets that deal from that team. Jerry is not going to stand by and let David Mulugheta have that kind of control.

Pickens will be forced to sign the tag, but can simply wait until the day before the season starts to sign it. Can’t be penalized for missing camp and preseason. The moment he signs the tag he’s guaranteed over $1.5 million a week for 18 weeks. If he’s hurt, he gets paid. If his effort is less than ideal, he gets paid. Will he be a happy guy in the locker room? I doubt it. The team he plays for doesn’t want to sign him, knew there was a team that would, and wouldn’t trade him.

 

[gimmesix]

Yes. That’s true. But the team that gets Pickens to agree to a deal is now the in the driver’s seat. They can offer a third knowing Pickens won’t sign that tag unless he gets that deal from that team. Jerry is not going to stand by and let David Mulugheta have that kind of control.

Pickens will be forced to sign the tag, but can simply wait until the day before the season starts to sign it. Can’t be penalized for missing camp and preseason. The moment he signs the tag he’s guaranteed over $1.5 million a week for 18 weeks. If he’s hurt, he gets paid. If his effort is less than ideal, he gets paid. Will he be a happy guy in the locker room? I doubt it. The team he plays for doesn’t want to sign him, knew there was a team that would, and wouldn’t trade him.

I don't know if I agree that Pickens is in the driver's seat if he gets the nonexclusive tag. I would be surprised if any team offers him a deal knowing that the cost is two first-rounders. Pickens' side also has incentive to get a deal done before July 15 and the tag is under the amount that his side is putting out there that it wants per year.

Although players don't like the tag, there are rare instances of players refusing to play on it the first time they are tagged. Playing on a one-year deal, he still has incentive to be on his best behavior and show either Dallas or his next prospective employer that he's worth that $30 million-plus per year that he's seeking.

I think fans are seeing worst-case scenario with a business move allowed under the CBA. Plenty of players have played on the franchise tag. Most don't balk at it unless they are tagged more than once. In 2018, Leveon Bell because the first player in 21 years to hold out after being tagged.

 

[KingCorcoran]

I don't know if I agree that Pickens is in the driver's seat if he gets the nonexclusive tag. I would be surprised if any team offers him a deal knowing that the cost is two first-rounders. Pickens' side also has incentive to get a deal done before July 15 and the tag is under the amount that his side is putting out there that it wants per year.

Although players don't like the tag, there are rare instances of players refusing to play on it the first time they are tagged. Playing on a one-year deal, he still has incentive to be on his best behavior and show either Dallas or his next prospective employer that he's worth that $30 million-plus per year that he's seeking.

I think fans are seeing worst-case scenario with a business move allowed under the CBA. Plenty of players have played on the franchise tag. Most don't balk at it unless they are tagged more than once. In 2018, Leveon Bell because the first player in 21 years to hold out after being tagged.

He’ll play on it. He won’t miss any pay days. But he’ll skip camp, preseason, and show up at the last possible moment. That’s his right on the tag. Can’t be fined as he’s not under contract. And his pay is guaranteed. The tag is a double-edged sword. It cuts both ways.

 

[Chasing6]

I don't know if I agree that Pickens is in the driver's seat if he gets the nonexclusive tag. I would be surprised if any team offers him a deal knowing that the cost is two first-rounders. Pickens' side also has incentive to get a deal done before July 15 and the tag is under the amount that his side is putting out there that it wants per year.

Although players don't like the tag, there are rare instances of players refusing to play on it the first time they are tagged. Playing on a one-year deal, he still has incentive to be on his best behavior and show either Dallas or his next prospective employer that he's worth that $30 million-plus per year that he's seeking.

I think fans are seeing worst-case scenario with a business move allowed under the CBA. Plenty of players have played on the franchise tag. Most don't balk at it unless they are tagged more than once. In 2018, Leveon Bell because the first player in 21 years to hold out after being tagged.

The Raiders are seeking 2 first. The Cowboys can seek the same.

 

[gimmesix]

The Raiders are seeking 2 first. The Cowboys can seek the same.

They can seek it, sure.

 

[gimmesix]

He’ll play on it. He won’t miss any pay days. But he’ll skip camp, preseason, and show up at the last possible moment. That’s his right on the tag. Can’t be fined as he’s not under contract. And his pay is guaranteed. The tag is a double-edged sword. It cuts both ways.

Don't know if he'll do that. Why would you want to if you are looking to prove you are worth a long-term deal? As I've said, if he and Dallas don't agree to a deal before July 15, then the tag is locked in. Skipping camp, the preseason, etc., in protest is not the way to prove you are not the behavior problem Pittsburgh said that he is.

The tag is a tool that has been used plenty of times before. Sometimes the player and his team agree on a deal; sometimes they do not. Rarely, the first time a player is tagged does it lead to problems like you are describing.

It isn't like they are tagging him and paying him peanuts. Pickens gets a fully guaranteed big, big payday if he's tagged and no long-term deal is worked out. It may not be ideal for players to have to play on a one-year deal, but it isn't like it is an insult.

 

[Chasing6]

They can seek it, sure.

We only need 1.

 

[gimmesix]

We only need 1.

True. But most likely if we really wanted to trade him, we'd negotiate a lower price with the trade partner because the likelihood of any team giving up two first for him is pretty much nonexistent. There's no indication that Dallas is interested in trading him, though. Of course, there also wasn't any indication they were interested in trading Parsons until a short time before the trade.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Rarely, the first time a player is tagged does it lead to problems like you are describing.

This^^^^^^1000% proven
Now the second is a different story buy you are right more times than not, players accept the first tag as part of the system/process. Not saying they like it but they know they have very little leverage. However, run another high-level season back again on the tag, the leverage swings in their favor and they made a nice chunk of money.

 

[Chasing6]

True. But most likely if we really wanted to trade him, we'd negotiate a lower price with the trade partner because the likelihood of any team giving up two first for him is pretty much nonexistent. There's no indication that Dallas is interested in trading him, though. Of course, there also wasn't any indication they were interested in trading Parsons until a short time before the trade.

I would gladly take a late 1st and late 3rd from NE. I would even toss in Schoonmaker just for the fun of it.

Because you already know we are drafting a TE.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

. Of course, there also wasn't any indication they were interested in trading Parsons until a short time before the trade.

True but apples and oranges......Pickens isn't trying to be the highest-paid player at his position and certainly isn't bragging and letting the whole world know. Also, when your head coach, quarterbacks and WR teammates are standing on the table for your return, that says something. NOT one player, other than Diggs, stood on the table for Parsons.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Don't know if he'll do that. Why would you want to if you are looking to prove you are worth a long-term deal? As I've said, if he and Dallas don't agree to a deal before July 15, then the tag is locked in. Skipping camp, the preseason, etc., in protest is not the way to prove you are not the behavior problem Pittsburgh said that he is.

The tag is a tool that has been used plenty of times before. Sometimes the player and his team agree on a deal; sometimes they do not. Rarely, the first time a player is tagged does it lead to problems like you are describing.

It isn't like they are tagging him and paying him peanuts. Pickens gets a fully guaranteed big, big payday if he's tagged and no long-term deal is worked out. It may not be ideal for players to have to play on a one-year deal, but it isn't like it is an insult.

His own team has decided he isn’t worth signing when another team already has and he’s going to be happy about that? He is not going to shrug off the insult. The other 31 teams will know why he isn’t happy. It’s the reason the other 31 teams don’t treat their star players like that.

He’ll be there ready to play every game unless he’s injured, of course. He can’t play if he’s ailing. Football is a very physical game. Guys get hurt.

 

[Chasing6]

True but apples and oranges......Pickens isn't trying to be the highest-paid player at his position and certainly isn't bragging and letting the whole world know. Also, when your head coach, quarterbacks and WR teammates are standing on the table for your return, that says something. NOT one player, other than Diggs, stood on the table for Parsons.

How about........same agent and same agent????

Micah did not say he wanted to be the highest paid either.

They both said they are leaving it up to their Agent.

Pretty sure Mull-Ghetta will be happy with $36M/year. He does not have to be the highest.