The potential to have 4 new linemen

[Idgit]

He was having a really good camp and pushing for a starting spot anyways.

He'd have been the starting 1-tech, and an upgrade over Hayden, no doubt.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

b/c other teams have similar needs with more money.

I understand what you are saying, but...

Not every team is going to have the same needs in the DL as the Cowboys.

And not every team plays the free agent game.

In addition no matter what the opinion is of Jerry the GM, Jerry the salesman has been relatively affective. He knows how to sell the Cowboys.

Also the no income tax thing in Texas does give the Cowboys a little bit of an advantage.

Finally look at the contracts given out to defensive linemen last offseason... These guys aren't getting a princely sum.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

He'd have been the starting 1-tech, and an upgrade over Hayden, no doubt.

Exactly right.

To anoint or dismiss any of the potential starters in '14 is a mistake.

 

[visionary]

Look, I understand the criticism of Sean Lee and his inability to stay healthy, but he's ripped from pillar to post on here for injuries. Yet, Ben Bass is now being considered someone to count on? The same Ben Bass that was I think brought up last November and has now remained healthy for 2 out of a possible 25 games the last 1.5 seasons? Comical.

He has 1 tackle in his career. He must have tackled the trainer coming to help him off the field.

its called "rose colored glasses"
some fans specialize in them

 

[MapleLeaf]

If we are going to have drastic changes like that, then I hope we have good teaching coaches who can handle working with young kids from the the ground up.

 

[OhSnap]

I'm enjoying the growing possibility that we'll have four new linemen next year.

The big questions though are whether or not keep the status quo jones will do the right thing or not.

The right thing is a)cutting ware b) not resigning hatcher and c)not resigning spencer. Let that era end. And see this defense get a new lease on life.

Also I'd still release Brandon Carr.

I think you have to take a chance on Ware with the possibility the elbow surgery will help him get his strength back and even if it doesn't you need a year for his replacement to bulk up and train. Plus a 75% Ware is gonna be as effective as who you get to rotate and replace him. With him you have the security of knowing he will be working his butt off to get back.

Just a few years ago "status quo Jones" gutted the O-line the same way your talking about and it's took 3 years for it to get back to looking decent. I don't mind seeing a guy cut but you need to have something lined up.

 

[cowboys1981]

We need to address it no matter how anyone looks at it. Ignoring our Dline again will be catastrophic to next season; especially looking at our schedule.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think you have to take a chance on Ware with the possibility the elbow surgery will help him get his strength back and even if it doesn't you need a year for his replacement to bulk up and train. Plus a 75% Ware is gonna be as effective as who you get to rotate and replace him. With him you have the security of knowing he will be working his butt off to get back.

Just a few years ago "status quo Jones" gutted the O-line the same way your talking about and it's took 3 years for it to get back to looking decent. I don't mind seeing a guy cut but you need to have something lined up.

The trouble is that Ware at 75% isn't worth the salary/cap charge he'll be receiving in 2014.

Yes, I would like to see him back at say 1/2 of his '14 salary. But if he won't, then hasta lavista baby.

This was the 3rd worst defense in the history of the NFL with Ware (and Hatcher) it can be the 3rd worst defense in the NFL without them (and their salaries).

 

[Kaiser]

Yet, Ben Bass is now being considered someone to count on? The same Ben Bass that was I think brought up last November and has now remained healthy for 2 out of a possible 25 games the last 1.5 seasons? Comical.

He has 1 tackle in his career. He must have tackled the trainer coming to help him off the field.

Anyone that mentioned Ron Leary at this time last year was "comical" also. Could the coaches actually know more than the casual fan with an Internet connection? Nahhh.......

 

[conner01]

Why? If you can pay them you can pay other free agents.

if you cut carr before june 1 it adds more dead money, if you cut him june 1 then you don't have the money for free agency. i'm all for the ware deal just don't think cutting carr and needing another cb as well as 3 dline guys is really feasable to do. i'm all for any plan that makes us better. just don't know how to make us better by creating a huge hole at cb

 

[Gadfly22]

I think Ware restructures and is back next year. Whether he is back to his old form or not is another issue entirely. I also think Hatcher and Spencer are gone, and both will go elsewhere and be productive. Just too expensive to pay them given the cap situation. And I agree that "management" (those are sarcastic apostrophes) is probably counting on Bass and Crawford as starters.

 

[Risen Star]

Depends what you consider "new."

There's a pretty good chance that Crawford and Bass are both starting.

Thanks for reminding me.

Ben Bass is a good player.

Noted.

 

[Risen Star]

I think it's highly doubtful the Cowboys have 4 new DL starters.

 

[LucaBrasi]

Anyone that mentioned Ron Leary at this time last year was "comical" also. Could the coaches actually know more than the casual fan with an Internet connection? Nahhh.......

Ron Leary stayed upright for 16 games this year. Ben Bass has been given 2 opportunities and has stayed healthy for 2 games. I hope it works out for him but fail to see the connection. And Leary is an ok guard with a degenerative knee condition, but the fan base and Jerry("best hands since Larry Allen" -lmao) tend to overrate Cowboy players.

 

[Risen Star]

Look, I understand the criticism of Sean Lee and his inability to stay healthy, but he's ripped from pillar to post on here for injuries. Yet, Ben Bass is now being considered someone to count on? The same Ben Bass that was I think brought up last November and has now remained healthy for 2 out of a possible 25 games the last 1.5 seasons? Comical.

He has 1 tackle in his career. He must have tackled the trainer coming to help him off the field.

You don't know that he can't improve. He could end up being the Phil Costa of the defense. You don't know.

Sure it was one tackle, but did you see it? Textbook.

 

[Future]

Thanks for reminding me.

Ben Bass is a good player.

Noted.

For the second time, I didn't say he was a good player. I said he was having a good camp, and that there's a chance he could start.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I think it's highly doubtful the Cowboys have 4 new DL starters.

Yea, barring injury I'd be surprised if Selvie didn't start. Cost/Production is in our favor. And if Hatcher is gone, very likely Haden is at least competing for a starting job. And I personally don't think Ware is done, but as I alluded to in another thread, I think he should play SLB

 

[Alexander]

Tyrone Crawford and Ben Bass would have made a difference. Wow. That is all I can say.

 

[Risen Star]

Yea, barring injury I'd be surprised if Selvie didn't start. Cost/Production is in our favor. And if Hatcher is gone, very likely Haden is at least competing for a starting job. And I personally don't think Ware is done, but as I alluded to in another thread, I think he should play SLB

I think Ware stays and plays DE.

I don't doubt we'll improve the DL in the offseason but not to the tune of 4 new starters.

 

[Alexander]

I think if you get what Ratliff was supposed to be, Ware can bounce back.

He will need to be scaled back in terms of the number of snaps he takes though. It is clear he is at the point where being an every down lineman is something he cannot physically handle and be dominant. His body is starting to betray him.