The Changing of the Guard (long)

[DallasEast]

They will know exactly what Dak is in 9 months. If he's not the guy to take them forward, we'll get sucked into the QB vertex that so many teams get stuck in for years and years.

The front office invested a fourth round pick in Prescott. Prescott ran with his opportunity and made the Joneses and Garrett believe his selection was undervalued by about 130 picks.

What you say is true. Sometimes franchises get their picks wrong. That is fact. Here are some things of consideration that will be discounted by some.

• The Joneses became so enamored early in Prescott's rookie season they shut the door firmly and completely on Romo's continued worth concerning the franchise before the halfway point of the 2016 season.
• Prescott's performance to date has been sorely and incorrectly evaluated by some.
• Jones does not usually counter errors in personal judgment--sometimes even errors he publicly confesses creating.

Prescott is the Real Deal. He is not the real deal for you necessarily and perhaps to other of his critics but in Jerry Jones' eyes? Again, Prescott is the Real Deal. Just my opinion but I extremely doubt Jones will see what Prescott critics judge as poor seasons (plural) as justification in making ANOTHER first round pick at the position--because that is exactly what Jones sees Prescott as: a first rounder he stole in the fourth round.

Personally, I do not think it wise for some to hold their breath anticipating a change at the position in the foreseeable future. Why you might ask? Because I do not think Jones sees Prescott in the same way as some of his critics.

 

[Vtwin]

I know. But I just think this FO think we are run first anyway. Why pay #1 WR money when you don't value #1 WR production as an offensive philosophy? Garrett and Linehan are forever droning on and on about "taking what the defense gives you" and "hitting the open guy" etc... IMO-- when Dez melted down in the Seattle game, I think Stephen Jones said "I'm done." The production on the field is not worth the distraction and it was damn clear Dak felt he had to force balls to Dez to try and appease him.

The company line will be "audition by subtraction" when they release him tomorrow-- and they will add some talent in the draft going forward-- but I still think this is more about Dez's attitude and lack of production than it is about money (again-- saying what I think the FO is thinking about the situation--not my opinion. I think Dez should be a Cowboy next year-- but just don't see that realistically happening at this point)

You are right on the money about the attitude. Dez is a good guy and his heart is in the right place but his emotionally driven attitude is a terrible fit in a Dak lead offense. A more intelligent receiver who understands the big picture and who communicates well and works well with Dak would be a significant upgrade. Trading the occasional highlight reel play for more reliability, consistency and understanding would help Dak and the offense a great deal.

Ive been in locker rooms with emotional teammates and its a fine line. You have to know when it's appropriate and when's its not. The guys with no filter, no matter that their heart is in the right place, get old petty quick. The guys that understand the big picture and use their emotion wisely are motivators and leaders. Emotion by itself does not make a leader.

Having said that, I don't think this is the year to let go of Dez unless we have that intelligent, head in the right place receiver to replace him.

 

[cowboyblue22]

if dak Prescott is not the answer at qb this team could wander in the qb wilderness for years if u don't have a qb you don't win in the nfl I don't care how many other good players u have

 

[MeAgain]

Dez being gone will be ok with this new look team. He always did have an over the top attitude and seemed to want to be THE GUY and leader of the team. Its Daks team now !

 

[visionary]

Yet another "rebuild"

Rinse and repeat

 

[Kaiser]

I can't figure out any benefit whatsoever in cutting Dez now. Right before the draft, with few players left to spend your newfound cap space on. Unless there are players they haven't even talked to for lack of money. Even then, I think they could have gotten an extension or two done to free up that money.

That's why I think this either ends up a restructure that helps both sides or another Brandon Carr situation where the team wants the player to take a pay cut. The agent balks and the team really wants the player to take a pay cut. No, seriously, we want the player to take a cut. Honest.

 

[DallasEast]

Here is hoping the draft gets here sooner rather than later so members can more quickly begin blaming Jones for who he did or did not pick.

 

[Stash]

That's why I think this either ends up a restructure that helps both sides or another Brandon Carr situation where the team wants the player to take a pay cut. The agent balks and the team really wants the player to take a pay cut. No, seriously, we want the player to take a cut. Honest.

I totally agree.

And, much like Carr, it goes to that last year of the deal and he either finally accepts that paycut (like Carr did), or he's gone completely.

But at least doing it then allows the team to look for, or having developed a suitable replacement.

 

[Rockport]

So Dak will be better without Dez? Ok...


Somehow the real problems get overlooked and we just blame it on Dez.

The entire team will be better off without Dez.

 

[Rockport]

I agree with much of what you said, excluding the suggestion that this was "long" in your title...for me, this is about as short and sweet as I get.

But I think your right about the reasons behind why Dez is in the Front Offices crosshairs. But money is also part of that conversation, as well.

As to your suggestion that the Cowboys will leap to address WR or OL, I'm not so sure. Of course, much depends on what happens tomorrow, but at the same time, if you look at how they handled the draft last year, even if they do cut Dez (in much the same way they allowed the entire secondary to walk last offseason) I think they are going to take a hard look at how the draft unfolds in the first day to determine the order. In other words, if there is a run on WR early on the first day, then you are probably right...they'll go get their receiver. But, if by 19 the majority (if not all) the top tier receivers are still available, they will look for help elsewhere and my guess is they'll look to trade up higher into the second round and address WR there following either taking an offensive lineman, or a player that helps the middle of their defense (DT, LB, S...of course, I'm leaning towards LB).

Your threads are great but they are very long. You should write for a magazine.

 

[CPanther95]

As much as we want defense in round one... prepare yourselves for a WR or OL. Defense will be addressed in rounds 2-4.

Rebuilding the offense is probably the smart move. If you never build a defense, you never need to rebuild the defense.

 

[bayeslife]

So Dak will be better without Dez? Ok...


Somehow the real problems get overlooked and we just blame it on Dez.

The offense hasn’t looked as good as it was when Dez was out with injury in 2016. We were racking up 400+ yard games without him.

 

[erod]

The front office invested a fourth round pick in Prescott. Prescott ran with his opportunity and made the Joneses and Garrett believe his selection was undervalued by about 130 picks.

What you say is true. Sometimes franchises get their picks wrong. That is fact. Here are some things of consideration that will be discounted by some.

• The Joneses became so enamored early in Prescott's rookie season they shut the door firmly and completely on Romo's continued worth concerning the franchise before the halfway point of the 2016 season.
• Prescott's performance to date has been sorely and incorrectly evaluated by some.
• Jones does not usually counter errors in personal judgment--sometimes even errors he publicly confesses creating.

Prescott is the Real Deal. He is not the real deal for you necessarily and perhaps to other of his critics but in Jerry Jones' eyes? Again, Prescott is the Real Deal. Just my opinion but I extremely doubt Jones will see what Prescott critics judge as poor seasons (plural) as justification in making ANOTHER first round pick at the position--because that is exactly what Jones sees Prescott as: a first rounder he stole in the fourth round.

Personally, I do not think it wise for some to hold their breath anticipating a change at the position in the foreseeable future. Why you might ask? Because I do not think Jones sees Prescott in the same way as some of his critics.

Dak held the team back last year. He needs to take the next step to make sure that doesn't happen going forward.

Right now, he's just another Jeff Semien type of quarterback. Dime a dozen. Time to show either put up or shut up.

 

[MWH1967]

It was not a "Long " post. I almost did not click on it.

Yeah, now if jday says its long that's when you go make a ham sandwich and get a cold beverage.

 

[DallasEast]

Dak held the team back last year. He needs to take the next step to make sure that doesn't happen going forward.

Right now, he's just another Jeff Semien type of quarterback. Dime a dozen. Time to show either put up or shut up.

I respect your opinion. Just saying Jones does not share it.

 

[Kaiser]

And, much like Carr, it goes to that last year of the deal and he either finally accepts that paycut (like Carr did), or he's gone completely.

Exactly, next year the situation with Dez will be a slam dunk either way - good or bad. If he has a good year in 2018 his contract is fairly average for that production but if he has a bad year he will be cut without any argument.

After Sammy Watkins got 30% more than Dez after 39 catches in 2017, the negotations with Dez will pretty much go like this on Friday:

Jerry: Dez, how is the family?
Dez: Better since Sammy Watkins signed.

Jerry: What have you been up to?
Dez: Just thinking about Sammy Watkins

Jerry: How is the monkey?
Dez: The monkey knows how to say "Sammy Watkins" now

 

[Kaiser]

Here is hoping the draft gets here sooner rather than later so members can more quickly begin blaming Jones for who he did or did not pick.

ESPN has a one hour interview with Sherrif Floyd coming up about how poorly Dallas has drafted lately.

 

[jday]

Your threads are great but they are very long. You should write for a magazine.

In the blog world, there are distinct advantages to being long-winded. It narrows down the number of people who will actually take the time to read it. If they are the type of person that would read something I write, there's a good chance I've found a like-minded individual and can then have a good conversation with them.

I'm not saying that people who don't like to read are stupid. But that is a common denominator.

 

[erod]

I respect your opinion. Just saying Jones does not share it.

Stephen does. He holds the purse strings these days, and he wants what he's paying for. That much we've learned.

Dude's tighter than my dad. LOL

 

[DallasEast]

Stephen does. He holds the purse strings these days, and he wants what he's paying for. That much we've learned.

Dude's tighter than my dad. LOL

Are you referencing Stephen's opinion of how much the franchise will value Prescott's worth when it's time to pay him? Or Stephen's opinion of Prescott's past and current quarterbacking ability? Those opinions may be mutually exclusive.