The 2016 Salary Cap and the Argument for keeping Carr

[Doomsday101]

Fair enough - though haven't we already tried drafting other TE's pretty high and our coaches then won't play them much at all. Not sure the next highly drafted TE would fair much better.

I'm only giving my view on the subject, I have no control over what the ownership or coaches do. I like Witten and I think he can still be a factor again out of the TE in the NFL Witten was 5th in receptions. I would like to see his snaps limited and get a younger TE to start seeing more snaps.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I see the list, who are you going to bring in?

Use your imagination. There are all kinds of names prima facia for anyone who actually wants to look.

 

[Nightman]

Reducing his role but keep paying him top tight end money? Does that really make sense to you? What kind of team leader is Witten? How many horrible teams has he been on? How has his leadership tangibly changed things?

We just drafted a tight end in the 2nd round and didn't use him for the third time...

You act like the salary cap is a problem. DAL can get to 50m under this year if they wanted.

But Witten's salary is non-issue if they won't even spend the money available to spend.

 

[Nightman]

I'd rather Witten take a pay cut. He makes almost as much as Rob Gronkowski and that is ridiculous. I'd love to see Romo take a pay cut as well. He doesn't have a lot of years left, and this is it for him. He would more than make the money back on his market value if he wins a super bowl. Tom Brady makes half of what Romo is making right now and as a result they've been able to put together a better team. We're paying Beasley almost as much as the Pats are paying Edelmen...

Romo is only making 8.5m this year, that is less than Brady's 9m.
Romo is only scheduled for 14m nest year, not a big number.

 

[gimmesix]

I honestly think it is time to cut bait with Jason Witten. His expense outweighs his production, especially when you factor in his false starts. He keeps us firmly in an age where tight ends aren't dynamic players that need to be accounted for. 19th in touchdowns this year, but let's give him a pass for this year, but he only had 5 last year. No way you cut Tony Romo's best friend though...You could definitely get a dynamic player for what he costs you the next two years.

Witten has never been a TD producer. His best year was nine in 2010, but he's only had more than six three times in his 13-year career.

Despite not having Dez to draw away coverage this year, he had 77 receptions with bad QBs throwing most of those passes. That tied him for fifth among tight ends. Yardagewise he was 10th among tight ends this year.

I just can't see where he is the problem for this team that some want to make him out to be. Speed has never been his game. His game is knowing how to get open and catch the ball. The numbers show that hasn't left him yet.

 

[Galian Beast]

Romo is only making 8.5m this year, that is less than Brady's 9m.
Romo is only scheduled for 14m nest year, not a big number.

I didn't say 2015. It's not just one year, you also have to consider the signing bonus he was given and how it eats into salary cap. Brady's cap hits never go above 16 million and Romo's skyrockets to 20 million next year. 24 and 25 the year after. That is the difference between having a very dynamic player or not having one, or a few very good players or not having them.

 

[Galian Beast]

Witten has never been a TD producer. His best year was nine in 2010, but he's only had more than six three times in his 13-year career.

Despite not having Dez to draw away coverage this year, he had 77 receptions with bad QBs throwing most of those passes. That tied him for fifth among tight ends. Yardagewise he was 10th among tight ends this year.

I just can't see where he is the problem for this team that some want to make him out to be. Speed has never been his game. His game is knowing how to get open and catch the ball. The numbers show that hasn't left him yet.

Receptions and yards don't mean anything if they aren't producing points or creating points as a byproduct.

Witten simply isn't a dynamic player and that limits the offense as a whole.

Romo is able to combine well with him, because he knows how to get open and Romo can extend plays. With Bryant and a strong running game and strong WR2 play, you can score outside of Witten, which is great, but I think Beasley can give you all of that for much cheaper.

 

[Beast_from_East]

The problem is a scheme fit.

Both Carr and Mo are primarily man corners and we play mainly zone defense. The technique you use, how you take your drops, how you pass WRs in and out of your zone, ect.......are all things that are totally different than just lining up over a guy and covering him all game.

Its like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole if you have your man corners trying to play zone all game. Then we wonder why the CBs never get any picks.

Either change the coaches/scheme or change the players because what we are doing now with our CBs is not working.

 

[Nightman]

I didn't say 2015. It's not just one year, you also have to consider the signing bonus he was given and how it eats into salary cap. Brady's cap hits never go above 16 million and Romo's skyrockets to 20 million next year. 24 and 25 the year after. That is the difference between having a very dynamic player or not having one, or a few very good players or not having them.

And Brady renegotiated his numbers down as he got older, just like Romo will do.

No way he makes 20m in 2018 if he is even still playing.

 

[Galian Beast]

And Brady renegotiated his numbers down as he got older, just like Romo will do.

No way he makes 20m in 2018 if he is even still playing.

I hope so, because doing that could probably help us get Alshon Jeffery. Which would go a long way towards giving us an explosive offense again.

 

[gimmesix]

Receptions and yards don't mean anything if they aren't producing points or creating points as a byproduct.

Witten simply isn't a dynamic player and that limits the offense as a whole.

I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. It's like saying Romo limits the offense as a whole because he's not a running quarterback. A player's trengths should contribute to the offense as a whole. Witten's strengths are getting open, making catches to extend drives and being a halfway decent blocker. He doesn't limit the offense. He aids in it succeeding because he's a top-five TE in receptions and a top-10 TE in receiving yards.

 

[jterrell]

At some point Witten is going to be replaced-- be that replacement good or bad.
I'd like to believe Escobar is the guy and that he was simply too injured this year. -- broaddus has indicated.

We've been given near zero evidence of this being remotely possible but I'd like to hold out hope as we have a 2nd and a few years invested.

At this point in Witten's career he doesn't need to take 99% of the snaps.
If he were at about 75% and Escobar at 50% (some 2 TE sets) then we may well have better production.

It seems when healthy the team chose Beasley or Escobar as an option based upon opponent. If they have a nickel like Scandrick you gotta play Escobar. If they are playing a Sean Lee type LB you better go with Beas.

Hopefully next year we see them together some. It would be fun to see them line up next to each other just for height discrepancy, lol.

 

[Redball Express]

No one wanted to cut Carr more this past off season than me. I was very surprised when he was retained early, when there were some free agent alternatives out there, but cutting him now probably makes less sense.

You now only really save by making him a post June cut, which doesn't really help you this year anyways. Otherwise you only really save 6 million when you cut him, and you still need to find his replacement in the draft and/or free agency. I feel like with Scandrick coming back from his injury, you can't expect the best out of him (although it did happen pretty early in the offseason). I think you definitely move on from Claiborne. I actually bet both of these players will have the Newman/Jones effect where they go on to have much better careers else where.

Given the general desire to play Jones at free safety, I don't really see the point in bringing in a high priced free agent free safety and having either him or Jones play out of position.

What is probably best for this secondary is to draft a couple corners in the first five rounds and pair them with Scandrick and Carr, with Jones playing at safety. I would look to get a replacement strong safety next year.

I honestly think it is time to cut bait with Jason Witten. His expense outweighs his production, especially when you factor in his false starts. He keeps us firmly in an age where tight ends aren't dynamic players that need to be accounted for. 19th in touchdowns this year, but let's give him a pass for this year, but he only had 5 last year. No way you cut Tony Romo's best friend though...You could definitely get a dynamic player for what he costs you the next two years.

Brings me to Doug Free and the fact that he probably doesn't get cut either. You only save 2.5 million for cutting him unless he was a June 1st cut, which again doesn't help you and we don't have his replacement set up yet. I'd like for him to become a backup this year, and for him to be cut next year, where we can save 5 million in cutting him right off the bat.

I think alot you want makes sense.

Except the part about Witten.

Until we know Escobar has recovered and we see what we have in Swaim..

Witten is one of those guys that looks much better when Romo plays..security blanket and move the chains and redzone target.

Which means we have to look at replacing him but with whom? Hanna has to be resigned also just to give Witten breaks.

Free is going to be splitting snaps anyway I think so he probably does get phased out as you suggest.

And we have depth on the OL for now. I always think that Martin can be moved to OT if something changes regardless what is mentioned of keeping him at G.

My biggest concern are DL and LBer. As you say with Scandrick..we have to wait. If he is OK..then maybe use him at CB if needed.

Some of this such as SS can surely be drafted with all the picks we have. With Jones at FS that should help.

I agree with you infering the center of the defense needs to be better. I want Lee back at MLber and get him some big tackles in front of him.

We have cocentrated on pass rush players the last two years but now we need run stoppers not named Hayden.

Yes?

 

[JIGGYFLY]

Receptions and yards don't mean anything if they aren't producing points or creating points as a byproduct.

Witten simply isn't a dynamic player and that limits the offense as a whole.

Romo is able to combine well with him, because he knows how to get open and Romo can extend plays. With Bryant and a strong running game and strong WR2 play, you can score outside of Witten, which is great, but I think Beasley can give you all of that for much cheaper.

I agree that Whitten's production does not match his cap hit, yes he is still a good player but not a 8 million a year type impact player.

But he is a sacred cow so he is untouchable.