This Changes Nothing

[jday]

This Changes Nothing


If you haven’t heard, the Cowboys received some bad news today. Tank Lawrence’s suspension was upheld – he will be out the first four games along with Randal Gregory. To add insult to injury (or more appropriately, injury to insult) Rolando McClain will be joining those two knuckleheads in suspension for the exact same thing, only his suspension will be for 10 weeks. This likely spells the end of Rolando McClain in Dallas; especially considering that Jaylon Smith was likely penciled in as the MLB starter for 2017 regardless of what RoMac did this year.

Considering the pedestrian state of the Cowboys defense (at least on paper), this was clearly the last thing Marinelli wanted to hear. Having said that, I am here to tell you my fellow Cowboys fans - This Changes Nothing. The Cowboys will be just fine, so please do us and yourself a favor, step away from the ledge and/or put away your pitchforks.

No way around the fact that this hurts the Cowboys, but it is by no means damning as far as the 2016 season is concerned. The options behind RoMac are unproven, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t be able to answer the call in that all too familiar refrain: Next Man Up.

Furthermore, the Cowboys have plenty of time to address the position again between now and the beginning of the season, so for the time being all we can do is wait and see. The question now is what non-starting MLB in the NFL could the Cowboys possibly pick up for say Leary or McFadden (or both or draft picks – whatever strikes your fancy) that would be an improvement (on paper again) over what the Cowboys have?


Anyone?

 

[Alexander]

This changes a good bit. I do not think the McClain 10 gamer was planned for.

If it was, they were doing it wrong.

I guess it is kind of comforting to play the wait and see game.

Thing is, we have seen this same kind of scenario play itself out before.

And all you are waiting to see is the stunned disbelief from the organization and then the rationalization afterwards like it does not matter.

 

[cowboyblue22]

this is bad on lots of levels from players getting special treatment to miss offseason work this is a 6 or 8 win team if tony plays all season but I don't want to let the air out of your dream.

 

[jday]

This changes a good bit. I do not think the McClain 10 gamer was planned for.

If it was, they were doing it wrong.

I guess it is kind of comforting to play the wait and see game.

Thing is, we have seen this same kind of scenario play itself out before.

And all you are waiting to see is the stunned disbelief from the organization and then the rationalization afterwards like it does not matter.

Depends on what you are looking at. If you are looking at how the Cowboys plan on approaching the season with their current roster, your right. The Cowboys will have to make some changes to address the hole RoMac leaves. I get that.

However, what I'm looking at is the fact that this team is still going to be really really good...with or without RoMac. Why? Because the Cowboys don't define their team by what the defense is able to do. The identity of this team is offense. All the defense has to do is prevent the opposing offenses from outscoring the Cowboys offense. It will certainly be more of challenge without the likes of RoMac, but by no means impossible. Especially when you consider just how potent that offense can possibly be with a healthy Romo/Dez/Zeke/OL. That four part combination, once again, if healthy, is going to knockout most teams on their schedule this year. Of that, I'm convinced. And again, this is with or without RoMac.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The question now is what non-starting MLB in the NFL could the Cowboys possibly pick up for say Leary or McFadden

The team thinking probably hasn't changed with regards to those two players. Neither on the trading block.

 

[jday]

this is bad on lots of levels from players getting special treatment to miss offseason work this is a 6 or 8 win team if tony plays all season but I don't want to let the air out of your dream.

Not a chance. If you think this is an 8 win team tops with Romo you are pessimistically diluted. You are clearly looking at last seasons win/loss ratio and assuming that this is the same team. This is not. Granted, Romo absolutely will have to stay healthy for me to be right on the following: This is an 11 win team...with or without RoMac.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Well, the Cowboys' cap space now increases by $3.375M for this year. So that is some positive change.
Add that to the $375k saved for the Lawrence suspension and the $200K saved for the Gregory suspension.
Close to $4M in cap savings thanks to these knuckleheads.

 

[jday]

The team thinking probably hasn't changed with regards to those two players. Neither on the trading block.

I said "or draft pick" but thanks for playing anyway.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think it makes dealing with injury to the LB core much harder to overcome. As I posted in the other thread, I think Hitchens can step in and do the job. Problem is should injury start to mount at LB things get very dicey. I would look to bring in a guy like Justin Durant

 

[jday]

Well, the Cowboys' cap space now increases by $3.375M for this year. So that is some positive change.
Add that to the $375k saved for the Lawrence suspension and the $200K saved for the Gregory suspension.
Close to $4M in cap savings thanks to these knuckleheads.

Good info my ninja, thanks for sharing.

 

[Tabascocat]

I don't think it changes how good or bad the defense will be in the long run, the LB core wasn't looking too good anyways. We have Lee(when not if he gets injured) and Smith(who won't see action until 2017 if at all).....after that was a big question mark anyways. Gachkar is going to solve the problem? Please

What it changes is the dynamics of the team. It does not look good to other players, especially the young ones, that this guy continues to get away with everything. We already have a drug problem on the defense, make an example out of this knucklehead!

Until the coaches/FO get tough, this will continue to happen.........

 

[gimmesix]

This Changes Nothing


If you haven’t heard, the Cowboys received some bad news today. Tank Lawrence’s suspension was upheld – he will be out the first four games along with Randal Gregory. To add insult to injury (or more appropriately, injury to insult) Rolando McClain will be joining those two knuckleheads in suspension for the exact same thing, only his suspension will be for 10 weeks. This likely spells the end of Rolando McClain in Dallas; especially considering that Jaylon Smith was likely penciled in as the MLB starter for 2017 regardless of what RoMac did this year.

Considering the pedestrian state of the Cowboys defense (at least on paper), this was clearly the last thing Marinelli wanted to hear. Having said that, I am here to tell you my fellow Cowboys fans - This Changes Nothing. The Cowboys will be just fine, so please do us and yourself a favor, step away from the ledge and/or put away your pitchforks.

No way around the fact that this hurts the Cowboys, but it is by no means damning as far as the 2016 season is concerned. The options behind RoMac are unproven, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t be able to answer the call in that all too familiar refrain: Next Man Up.

Furthermore, the Cowboys have plenty of time to address the position again between now and the beginning of the season, so for the time being all we can do is wait and see. The question now is what non-starting MLB in the NFL could the Cowboys possibly pick up for say Leary or McFadden (or both or draft picks – whatever strikes your fancy) that would be an improvement (on paper again) over what the Cowboys have?


Anyone?

You're right. It changes nothing. The offense was going to have to carry the team before McClain's suspension and it is still going to have to do it.

Our starting D-line through at least four games is probably Mayowa, T. Crawford, Thornton and Irving.

Our startings LBs are Lee, Hitchens and Wilber.

Our starting secondary is Scandrick, Church, Jones and Carr.

McClain playing wasn't going to fix what ails us. Not sure Lawrence playing would.

We just don't have enough talent on D unless several players really come out of nowhere to play like stars. I don't think we can count on that.

 

[jday]

I don't think it changes how good or bad the defense will be in the long run, the LB core wasn't looking too good anyways. We have Lee(when not if he gets injured) and Smith(who won't see action until 2017 if at all).....after that was a big question mark anyways. Gachkar is going to solve the problem? Please

What it changes is the dynamics of the team. It does not look good to other players, especially the young ones, that this guy continues to get away with everything. We already have a drug problem on the defense, make an example out of this knucklehead!

Until the coaches/FO get tough, this will continue to happen.........

I'm with you on that. This should certainly be the end of Ro...I agree with you there. His production doesn't match the headache.

 

[BubbleScreen]

This reminds me of Bryant's holdout last year. "Ahh, it won't affect him, that guy is in great shape and will work hard on his own." That wasn't what happened.

Unreliable players are unreliable. McClain should never have been offered. Period.

Gregory and Lawrence - two strikes and you're out. If this team truly believed in RKG, it would have more of them.

 

[jday]

You're right. It changes nothing. The offense was going to have to carry the team before McClain's suspension and it is still going to have to do it.

Our starting D-line through at least four games is probably Mayowa, T. Crawford, Thornton and Irving.

Our startings LBs are Lee, Hitchens and Wilber.

Our starting secondary is Scandrick, Church, Jones and Carr.

McClain playing wasn't going to fix what ails us. Not sure Lawrence playing would.

We just don't have enough talent on D unless several players really come out of nowhere to play like stars. I don't think we can count on that.

The thing is, I don't think a whole lot of talent is really necessary for this team to make the playoffs...they are that good on offense. I think the defense will still be above league average, which is all the Cowboys really need to make the playoffs in my opinion.

 

[Maxmadden]

Still plenty of time to add LB help. If we are willing to pay.

 

[fredp22]

This changes nothing?
your middle linebacker is gone,not just 10 games-hes gone. how can u say it changes nothing? If anything the news today about Smith just makes the impact that much worse. Hitchens took a big step last year-to bad it was backwards.
We also have noone on the outside. I dont think the Cowboys have any idea who their starting ends will be and Gregory's 1 toke away from same 10 game suspension.
The defense took a hit today and is in trouble. next man up if a bunch of crap. It didnt work when Romo went down, when Scandrick went down, when Free went down, or when Murray left
I think its time to trade Leary and 1 of our 5 rb's for some LB/DE help. We'll have to overpay for this temporary help (adding a draft pick) but thinking mirrors and positive thinking will do the job is a stretch. Thanks Ro-u jackass.
I'd also get rid of Gregory. Hes going done the same road and not addressing it now will just hurt us later.

 

[Risen Star]

Next man up is Anthony Hitchens.

I think I'd rather go with a woman.

 

[SHAMSzy]

Wish we had Jack instead of Smith right about now..

 

[DFWJC]

this is bad on lots of levels from players getting special treatment to miss offseason work this is a 6 or 8 win team if tony plays all season but I don't want to let the air out of your dream.

You've lost your mind