News: Tank asked for 20 million, Cowboys matched that now Tank asking for 22.5M

[Nightman]

That's moving the goal posts. We're talking about elite pass rushers, which is what Lawrence is considered right now. He's asking for Khalil Mack money. He shouldn't get it, but his number is going to ultimately fall just short of that.

For comparison's sake, Mack had 12.5 sacks last year and Lawrence had 10.5, but Lawrence was better the previous year. Both are considered to be disruptive players, either drawing extra attention or getting into the backfield to make the quarterback move or the back hesitate.

DLaw 18th in sacks
DLaw 11th in TFLs
DLaw 13th in QB hits
DLaw 48th in FF

 

[Roadtrip635]

Have we actually heard from Lawrence or his agent that they have raised their demands? I think this is what is being circulated, but I'm not sure it's the reality. He and his agent likely always had their sights set on Khalil Mack money.

As far as the surgery goes, I'm sure that they have been given a timeline for how long it would take to recovery. Right now, it's being used as a negotiating tool.

The team is also using it as a way to get fans on its side, which it seems to have accomplished. Negotiations have a lot of give and take, and we're just mainly hearing the "take" side of it. Frankly, I don't put much credence in it. If they end up paying him Mack money or he ends up missing time because he didn't get the surgery done in time, then I'll willingly eat my words.

We can all discuss and debate whether he's worth the money, but for me, the worst part is not getting that surgery right away. It may be a negotiating tool, but a very poorly thought out one. Why make it an issue at all and give the team reason to pause or give them ammo for public perception at all? It just doesn't make sense, even if the Cowboys don't want to pay, why give other teams a reason to hesitate if he were made available by trade or rescinded tag? The market and interest would be higher for a player already rehabbing and ready for the season than one that will be in jeopardy of missing, at the very least, TC and preseason. Why limit your options, especially it has more potential to harm your client?

It seems that your position would be much stronger being able to say, he's had the surgery and rehab is going well and will be ready for TC, preseason, start of the season and will be his healthiest he's been in a couple years. At that point, public perception and pressure is put on the team and even if the team won't pay the money, other teams would be more willing to negotiate a deal.

 

[gimmesix]

We can all discuss and debate whether he's worth the money, but for me, the worst part is not getting that surgery right away. It may be a negotiating tool, but a very poorly thought out one. Why make it an issue at all and give the team reason to pause or give them ammo for public perception at all? It just doesn't make sense, even if the Cowboys don't want to pay, why give other teams a reason to hesitate if he were made available by trade or rescinded tag? The market and interest would be higher for a player already rehabbing and ready for the season than one that will be in jeopardy of missing, at the very least, TC and preseason. Why limit your options, especially it has more potential to harm your client?

It seems that your position would be much stronger being able to say, he's had the surgery and rehab is going well and will be ready for TC, preseason, start of the season and will be his healthiest he's been in a couple years. At that point, public perception and pressure is put on the team and even if the team won't pay the money, other teams would be more willing to negotiate a deal.

Part of the reason you don't have the surgery yet is that you don't have any money guaranteed to come your way if something goes wrong. You're not expecting something to go wrong, but the main reason you are getting surgery is to be healthy enough to earn your paycheck. It's a gamble either way, but by not getting surgery, he's not risking something being found or happening during it that decreases his earning power.

Another way to put it is if he waits to get the surgery, then he's going to have millions in guaranteed money whether it turns out bad or good. If he gets the surgery before getting paid, then he gets nothing if it turns out bad.

I know we seem to take players getting surgery for granted these days, but there's always risk involved.

 

[slick325]

No... that means they are willing to pay that for 1 year just to keep him

But if the player wants guaranteed money in the future they have to give up some APY.... it is a trade off

You don't get top dollar and multi year guarantees unless you are the best..... and he ain't the best

DLaw 18th in sacks
DLaw 11th in TFLs
DLaw 13th in QB hits
DLaw 48th in FF

Not saying he is the best but the market is set. Dallas should have locked him up last year. Or traded him. Simple as that.

They can move on now and get something in return. Same applies to Byron Jones.

 

[Roadtrip635]

DLaw 18th in sacks
DLaw 11th in TFLs
DLaw 13th in QB hits
DLaw 48th in FF

Add in the fact that Mack has 3 1st team All Pros and a DPOY to his resume. Mack has proved his worth his entire career, not just 1 or 2 seasons, he's been consistently great.

Rodgers had 27 total TDs last season, Dak had 28, so does that mean Dak should make at least $33.5 million like Rodgers will make?

 

[Jake]

1. Sign Tank only to the agreed amount first 20 million which cowboys matched
2. Meet tank and his agent halfway, with 21.5 million but tank has to have surgery now as showing good faith
3. Trade tank for holding cowboys up for a number 1 and number 3 and a number 2 in 2020
4. Tank deserves only the 22.5 million and no more pay him

I don't think you'd get anything close to #3 in a trade but I'd try to deal him. I suspect anyone who gives him what he wants is going to regret it.

 

[gimmesix]

DLaw 18th in sacks
DLaw 11th in TFLs
DLaw 13th in QB hits
DLaw 48th in FF

There are also statistics out there that he had the fourth-best pass rush win rate among DEs/OLBs last year and he's far better in run defense than any player who had at least 8.5 sacks.

But we can go back and forth on that all night. The key isn't those numbers, but Khalil Mack's salary numbers. Mack was 40th in TFLs last year, and he's still making $23.5 million per year. Mack wasn't in the top 10 of pass rush win rate, yet his salary still is setting the bench mark.

For every "negative" you can find on Lawrence, you can equally find a negative on Mack or whatever other player you want to use. Lawrence was universally considered the best defensive end who would have hit the market this year. He is easily the best defender on our line. He would have no trouble in the open market finding some team that would give him at least close to what Mack is making (unless you think the league views him like some of you seem to instead of clearly better than a player like Trey Flowers). That's the reality of the situation. Dallas can choose to not pay the going rate and be forced to try to replace him or both sides can continue to negotiate and come to an agreement somewhere between the extremes, which is what I think will happen ... and I think the surgery issue will cause it to happen sooner than it would have otherwise.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Part of the reason you don't have the surgery yet is that you don't have any money guaranteed to come your way is something goes wrong. You're not expecting something to go wrong, but the main reason you are getting surgery is to be healthy enough to earn your paycheck. It's a gamble either way, but by not getting surgery, he's not risking something being found or happening during it that decreases his earning power.

Another way to put it is if he waits to get the surgery, then he's going to have millions in guaranteed money whether it turns out bad or good. If he gets the surgery before getting paid, then he gets nothing if it turns out bad.

I know we seem to take players getting surgery for granted these days, but there's always risk involved.

Again, it's a poorly thought out strategy, this is not a player trying to get market value, but one trying to set a new market value and paid as an elite player. The same concerns about what happens with the surgery has, are the same concerns teams would have. It's one thing paying a healthy player $18 million(Flowers), but it becomes a different thing playing an injured player that hasn't played consistently at an elite level, as if he were.

 

[RamziD]

No 4-3 DEs make more than 18m...... except DLaw at 20.5m

And you think Lawrence deserves Trey Flowers money?

 

[AbeBeta]

Lawrence was tagged last year and this year, so thats twice as well.

Cousins would be on a 3rd tag which would be about 1.5 times the cost of the previous tag. That would have been roughly 34 million.

That's totally different than Lawrence but thanks for your post, however inaccurate.

 

[RamziD]

I , as well as most here, understand the market price continues to go up. The problems are a team starts low, the agent starts high then gets met in the middle. In Tank's instance, they raised their demands, it started at $20 then raised to $22.5, now they are reports he wants a similar deal, rated for inflation, that Miller got, which would be over $23 and the real kicker is the refusal to get surgery that would put him in jeopardy to be healthy, not just for training camp or preseason, but also for at least the beginning of the season. If he really wants to get paid, then don't give yourself a self imposed roadblock to getting that deal. When you're asking for elite player money, not just market price, then you should do what it takes to be ready to train, practice and play. When a player refuses to get surgery to make himself better and available, there will be pushback.

Surgery for torn labrum takes about 3 months for recovery. If he signs in the next 2 weeks and has his surgery, he’ll probably be ready for TC.

 

[Flamma]

1.

1. Sign Tank only to the agreed amount first 20 million which cowboys matched
2. Meet tank and his agent halfway, with 21.5 million but tank has to have surgery now as showing good faith
3. Trade tank for holding cowboys up for a number 1 and number 3 and a number 2 in 2020
4. Tank deserves only the 22.5 million and no more pay him

1. Do we know this for sure?
2. I was out when rumors about 20 circulated.
3. Think about it. We don't want to pay Tank what he is asking. Do you think another team is going to not only pay him, but give up a 1st, 3rd, and 2nd next year in order to do it?
4. He's asking for 23.3 million.

 

[Flamma]

I can't believe people want to trade our best defensive player for a 2.

What a monumental waste.

What will we get if he doesn't sign the tag and misses the year?

 

[Qcard]

Tank asked for 20 million the cowboys did match that amount he asked for wednesday by 20 or 20.5 millon, then tank went up on his demands should he get 22.5 now and wont have surgery till cowboys sign him to a contract what should be done, i tried to put this down as a poll question but couldnt find poll question option

1. Sign Tank only to the agreed amount first 20 million which cowboys matched
2. Meet tank and his agent halfway, with 21.5 million but tank has to have surgery now as showing good faith
3. Trade tank for holding cowboys up for a number 1 and number 3 and a number 2 in 2020
4. Tank deserves only the 22.5 million and no more pay him

Or option
No.5. DLaw call DWare get the understanding of betting on yourself in free agency.


Cowboy fans have short memories. This front office is average at DE acquisition

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

Surgery for torn labrum takes about 3 months for recovery. If he signs in the next 2 weeks and has his surgery, he’ll probably be ready for TC.

Funny how the timeframe for the recovery changes by the poster. Can @Doc50 or another Doctor chime in? I absolutely destroyed my shoulder last August. Broke multiple bones and severed the ligaments but at this point, I could still punch an eagles fan or play football if I wasn't an aging guy. Just don't know about the labrum repair.

 

[DallasMike]

What will we get if he doesn't sign the tag and misses the year?

I believe Dallas can tag him again. If not, he becomes a FA.

 

[gimmesix]

Again, it's a poorly thought out strategy, this is not a player trying to get market value, but one trying to set a new market value and paid as an elite player. The same concerns about what happens with the surgery has, are the same concerns teams would have. It's one thing paying a healthy player $18 million(Flowers), but it becomes a different thing playing an injured player that hasn't played consistently at an elite level, as if he were.

Mack and Donald set the bar. Lawrence and his agent are just trying to maximize where they fit between it and players who are lesser than Lawrence such as Flowers. He's in a tier between the two (as well as some other players), but it isn't clear yet what the going rate is going to be for that tier. That's what negotiations are for, and both sides are doing what they are supposed to do.

I don't think the concerns about the surgery are very high for teams. It's different for the player, though, because even if it is low-risk, there's still a risk and his money is on the line. For the team, it hurts if the surgery goes wrong, but it's not the end of the world. The team would have to eat the guarantee and rebalance the books, but there are ways to do that.

 

[Nightman]

Part of the reason you don't have the surgery yet is that you don't have any money guaranteed to come your way if something goes wrong. You're not expecting something to go wrong, but the main reason you are getting surgery is to be healthy enough to earn your paycheck. It's a gamble either way, but by not getting surgery, he's not risking something being found or happening during it that decreases his earning power.

Another way to put it is if he waits to get the surgery, then he's going to have millions in guaranteed money whether it turns out bad or good. If he gets the surgery before getting paid, then he gets nothing if it turns out bad.

I know we seem to take players getting surgery for granted these days, but there's always risk involved.

If he signs the FTag that immediately guarantees the whole 20.5m

 

[risco]

To be honest- I’m sick and tired of seeing these dumb threads about DLaw- if he signs he signs if he doesn’t then so be it... so much for the RKG.

 

[CWR]

And they're leaking it to get fan support and put pressure on the player. That's why i don't take any of these leaks seriously.

Agreed, but why isn't Dlaws agent doing the same? I think its because our front office is telling the truth. Otherwise why not counter the leak with one of your own to then place the onus on management?