Todd Archer 9/4/18 Five Wonders

[Batman1980]

Five Wonders: Cowboys flush with cap space; where will money go?

FRISCO, Texas – The wonders of an NFL regular-season starts this week with the Dallas Cowboys taking on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

After a full offseason, we have Five Wonders regarding the Cowboys as they get into Week 1.

Away we go:

** According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Cowboys have $19.3 million in cap room as the season starts. I don’t wonder how they will use that money during the season, especially $3.4 million gained from Dan Bailey’s release. I do wonder what they will do with it next offseason. DeMarcus Lawrence is set to be a free agent and maybe you have seen the contracts Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald have received lately. I don’t believe Lawrence will be at the top end of that neighborhood but if he can repeat his 14.5 sack season from 2017, he’ll be in that neighborhood. Dak Prescott can get an extension as soon as next season. Same with Ezekiel Elliott. Byron Jones could also get a new deal, although the Cowboys have picked up his fifth-year option. And, of course, if Earl Thomas does not sign an extension with the Seattle Seahawks, he could be on the open market.

** Adam Redmond, who was claimed off waivers Sunday from the Buffalo Bills, went to Harvard, so you know he is bright. But can he learn fast enough to be active against Carolina as Joe Looney’s backup? I wonder if we’ll see Zack Martin move to center on Sunday if something were to happen to Looney. Of course, that means Parker Ehinger, picked up in a trade from the Kansas City Chiefs before the final cuts, will have to be a fast learner, too, if the Cowboys go that route.

** I wonder if the Cowboys got too tricky with their decision to cut defensive tackle Brian Price on Sunday. The hoped to bring Price back to the active roster but the Oakland Raiders claimed him on Monday. If we look at like-for-like moves, the Cowboys cut backup offensive linemen Kadeem Edwards for Redmond. Why not cut Tyree Robinson, the undrafted free agent, for safety Ibraheim Campbell, who was claimed off waivers from the Houston Texans? A year ago, the Cowboys gambled on cutting Kellen Moore and bringing him back to the roster after a day. They did the same Saturday with receiver Deonte Thompson, who re-signed on Monday. They didn’t get as lucky with Price.

** I wonder if the Cowboys are stashing wide receiver Noah Brown on injured reserve as a redshirt year. He missed all but one practice in training camp because of a hamstring strain and as it appeared he was close to returning he sort of just vanished from the practice field, which could mean there was a setback of some sorts. The Cowboys took Brown in the seventh round last year and used him mostly as a blocker and on special teams. The makeup of the receiver group could bode well for Brown in the future. Cole Beasley, Tavon Austin and Deonte Thompson are free agents after the season. The Cowboys have to pick up the option on Allen Hurns’ contract. The guaranteed money on Terrance Williams’ contract is gone after this season. There could be a lot of turnover in the receiver room after this season.

** With Bailey’s release, I wonder who will be voted the special teams’ captain. My money goes to Jeff Heath, but do not forget about the punter, Chris Jones. On offense, it seems assured it would be Dak Prescott but does Zack Martin get the second vote? On defense, Sean Lee and Tyrone Crawford were the guys last year. Unless there is a change, I’d think that would be the same. Heath is one of the most respected players in the room for how he works, how he practices and the road he traveled to earn a roster spot.

Source -

 

[Sydla]

Totally agree on Price.

I think they outsmarted themselves there and overvalued players like Robinson and maybe Covington, who likely would have gotten through waivers.

 

[phildadon86]

Totally agree on Price.

I think they outsmarted themselves there and overvalued players like Robinson and maybe Covington, who likely would have gotten through waivers.

The Dallas Cowboys, outsmarting themselves? No chance. Never happen. They are always the smartest people in the room.

 

[Batman1980]

The Dallas Cowboys, outsmarting themselves? No chance. Never happen. They are always the smartest people in the room.

 

[Stash]

Totally agree on Price.

I think they outsmarted themselves there and overvalued players like Robinson and maybe Covington, who likely would have gotten through waivers.

To say nothing of Daniel Ross. I'm still shocked that the guy is still here.

 

[jrumann59]

Totally agree on Price.

I think they outsmarted themselves there and overvalued players like Robinson and maybe Covington, who likely would have gotten through waivers.

I think a lot of teams make similar decisions with it blowing up in their face

 

[Sydla]

To say nothing of Daniel Ross. I'm still shocked that the guy is still here.

I honestly thought Reid was going to supplant him after performing halfway decent down the stretch (granted against 3rd stringers and the like).

But as someone pointed out Ross is that Marinelli type at DT............. average talent, high motor, high effort guy.

Oy.

 

[Sydla]

I think a lot of teams make similar decisions with it blowing up in their face

I really don't care what other teams do.

I only care about what the Cowboys do and they made a mistake here if they wanted Price back as a backup DT but thought he'd get through waivers while a guy like Ross or Robinson or our 7th LB wouldn't.

 

[jazzcat22]

I have just one wonder....I wonder if Archer reads this board to get his info and ideas....

 

[jazzcat22]

To say nothing of Daniel Ross. I'm still shocked that the guy is still here.

Right, it would have been better to keep Price and take the chance of losing Ross.

 

[Batman1980]

I really don't care what other teams do.

I only care about what the Cowboys do and they made a mistake here if they wanted Price back as a backup DT but thought he'd get through waivers while a guy like Ross or Robinson or our 7th LB wouldn't.

I doubt anyone even knows who Covington is, he probably would've gone unclaimed.

 

[jazzcat22]

I honestly thought Reid was going to supplant him after performing halfway decent down the stretch (granted against 3rd stringers and the like).

But as someone pointed out Ross is that Marinelli type at DT............. average talent, high motor, high effort guy.

Oy.

If Reid had one more week here before he did, I believe he would have been ahead of both Price and Ross.

 

[Stash]

I honestly thought Reid was going to supplant him after performing halfway decent down the stretch (granted against 3rd stringers and the like).

But as someone pointed out Ross is that Marinelli type at DT............. average talent, high motor, high effort guy.

Oy.

I’m still scratching my head.

 

[silver]

Wow, so much love for Price.

 

[jterrell]

I think a lot of teams make similar decisions with it blowing up in their face

OR perhaps DAL valued Price at about same place as Reid, Ward and a few others so made the decision they did knowing he could be claimed.

See also Darius Jackson and Bo Scarborough.

Essentially they liked Rico Gathers and Chris Covington (versus their replacements) more than Brian Price (versus his replacements).
Given Covington was earmarked as a special teams star and Gathers seems to be a red zone (yes and hot box) threat they likely made proper call.
Now if they suffer an injury to Woods this may all bite them in the butt but I am fairly certain the team considered all these angles before making a decision.

 

[jterrell]

Wow, so much love for Price.

It does feel quite strange right?
The board screams and begs for a 1T every draft because we don't have one and yet is literally crying in their beer over our 3rd string 1T?

1T is a one man position for Dallas. Woods earned the job from day 1 in camp til now.
Ross, Price and these other guys are just jockeying to be inactive or on the PS.

 

[jterrell]

I think a lot of teams make similar decisions with it blowing up in their face

these are called tough decisions, lol.
and yes i am sure every team in the league cut guys hoping they made it to their PS if not back to the roster.
the insanely small rosters forces that as do draconian rules like having to either carry frederick or have him miss 8 weeks minimum.

 

[gimmesix]

Totally agree on Price.

I think they outsmarted themselves there and overvalued players like Robinson and maybe Covington, who likely would have gotten through waivers.

The trouble is that Price wasn't all that great in the preseason primarily playing against second- and third-team lines. I expected more from him, play closer to what we got from Woods, and he didn't deliver.

I think Dallas wanted to retain him as a rotational tackle (especially with Collins working his way back), but took the chance in cutting him because he didn't really play well enough to draw much attention. Oakland signing him was probably a surprise, but not one that really mattered that much since it was a low-end risk.

This does leave Dallas without a true backup 1-tech. Ross or Collins could play there in a pinch, but are not ideal. So I'm curious to see what Dallas does there.