Do any of you remember reports of any numbers being batted around between the Cowboys and Tank last year? I'm assuming that the Cowboys were offering less than the $17 M tag or Tank would have resigned last year. But I was curious if anyone knew for sure.
Tank might have resigned last year for less than $17 million as long as it wasn't just a one year deal. Who knows, he may have taken $15-16 million/year had it been for a 4-5 year deal, but it will take much more than that now.
I don't think we ever seriously negotiated last year. We seemed determined to make him prove it again.
Knowing will only give something else to fret about. It no doubt would have been significantly cheaper, but consider the greater expense an insurance premium for kicking the can down the road a year. I thought it was the wise move last year, so I can't second guess it now.
You're right nobody knows for sure because the Cowboys don't negotiate through the media just like nobody here knows what, how or when the Cowboys negotiate this time.
I don't believe we did either. As far as the "prove it" philosophy, we really had no choice. We were not in cap shape to sign him long term without doing something stupid.
16-17 mil a year is plenty but at the same time they need to keep a legit defense because this offense is meh.
Doesn't matter.....as stated by another poster, I'm pretty sure Stephen had zero intention of giving him a long-term deal last year. In fact, DLaw pretty much implied he was promised a new deal if he followed certain criteria Stephen outlined ( I'm assuming, Pro Bowl, double-digit sacks, leadership and staying healthy). Remember his last statement to FO....."your move" Hell, even Stephen says they are not that far apart. To hear that from him tells this deal is pretty much done already.
He's not a 20mil DE tho. He vanishes in too many games. I mean granted there is no other pass rushing talent on the d line so he's not getting much help. but 20 mil guys should always have their presence felt even if they are double or triple teamed.
I would pay him 18 max. With the contracts donald and mack got every DE's price went up. Some team out there will give him 20 mil. We are kind of in a jam because if we don't pay him who are we going to have out there. Taco and Gregory. With Crawford coming in to never breathe on the qb. If we get him to resign for anything less than 20 ill be ok with it.
D Law's value also comes in playing the run. You just don't see DE's with his speed on the edge and I'd venture to say he's one of the best run stopping DE's in the league.
I don't care how well you play the run as a DE. If you get sacks in 4 out of 16 games that's not good enough.
Don't forget Armstrong. They did use a draft pick on him, when they could have used it on a DT or a S. Maybe that was their smart pick to plan for this.
Cap and contracts change year to year. Jones, Vernon, and Houston are all getting 17+ - Lawrence getting an extra 3 mil with this market wouldn't be too much of a shocker. The "not showing up" stuff, I would like to see more context to this - he can't constantly beat double teams. JJ Watt and Mack both played next to some really dang good players, Lawrence doesn't have that luxury. ....which is why looking at a DT like Rankins would be a huge benefit.
