The salary cap era

[acr731]

Some food for thought - Let's go back to 1994 for a second. Does anyone know / remember what started that year? The salary cap era in the NFL. Do you know who played a very large part in getting the salary cap era started? Our very own Jerry Jones.

According to Wikipedia the salary cap was implemented "to keep overall costs down, and also to maintain a competitive balance by restricting richer clubs from entrenching dominance by signing many more top players than their rivals". What's interesting about this? Guess who was the most valuable NFL franchise in 1994? It was the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry essentially destroyed his own ability to bring in the top players and in the process killed his franchise because he wanted to save a few bucks.

Coincidentally, that was also the first year after the Jimmy Johnson era came to a sudden end. We've all heard the stories concerning the split, but what if Jimmy got wind of what was about to come and said screw it, it's time to get out of here. Maybe he had an idea what the salary cap was going to do to his ability keep the championship level team he had built (yes, Jimmy built it, not Jerry) in place.

Sure, it's a bit of speculation, but what we know for certain is that 30 years later the franchise is still trying to climb out of the massive hole Jerry put it in.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I just said this earlier that it feels as if Jerry's still living in the 90's cap era, time to get out of that! Evaluate better, get a real GM in here

 

[Bobhaze]

Since 1994, the beginning of the salary cap era, the Cowboys are 9-14 in the playoffs. And 5 of those wins were 94-96. So since 1996, the Cowboys are 4-12 in the playoffs. That says it all right there.

 

[Flamma]

Some food for thought - Let's go back to 1994 for a second. Does anyone know / remember what started that year? The salary cap era in the NFL. Do you know who played a very large part in getting the salary cap era started? Our very own Jerry Jones.

According to Wikipedia the salary cap was implemented "to keep overall costs down, and also to maintain a competitive balance by restricting richer clubs from entrenching dominance by signing many more top players than their rivals". What's interesting about this? Guess who was the most valuable NFL franchise in 1994? It was the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry essentially destroyed his own ability to bring in the top players and in the process killed his franchise because he wanted to save a few bucks.

Coincidentally, that was also the first year after the Jimmy Johnson era came to a sudden end. We've all heard the stories concerning the split, but what if Jimmy got wind of what was about to come and said screw it, it's time to get out of here. Maybe he had an idea what the salary cap was going to do to his ability keep the championship level team he had built (yes, Jimmy built it, not Jerry) in place.

Sure, it's a bit of speculation, but what we know for certain is that 30 years later the franchise is still trying to climb out of the massive hole Jerry put it in.

I'll add a few things. Jerry Jones also was a strong proponent of a hard cap.

On to the Emmitt Smith fiasco. Emmitt wasn't holding out. He didn't have a contract. Can't play if you're not getting paid. The hold up was what he'd be making in a new contract. As usual, Jerry waits. There was an interview with Jerry that I cannot find. Maybe some people in here can remember it. But Jerry said that the league was moving away from giving players outstanding contracts. Probably meant the cap. And he said this before the season started. I will always remember this because I was very disappointed in hearing him say that. Emmitt has you by the double chin. You can't replace him.

 

[GoCowboysGo]

Plan B free agency started in 1989 and ended in 1992 after eight players sued and won in court.

Plan B FA protected 37 players, and the rest could sign with any team.

March 1, 1993 was the beginning of the current FA system.

1994 was the first season with the salary cap, which was set at $34.6 million.