Too many important loose ends right now

[KJJ]

Dallas offered him a nice contract, so there was interest from other teams obviously. He just has to make the team. Teams rightly didn't want to guarantee anything until they saw it. Here's his chance.

I don't expect him to be awesome, but he'll have his moments this year. He'll go 80 a couple of times, just watch.

McFadden's contract is heavily incentive based so he's going to have to perform to receive much money. He's banking on himself and when a player does that as a free agent it usually means no one else is banking on them.

 

[guag]

Post A: "Joseph Randle only runs one basic set of plays out of one formation, and I don't think the coaches have a lick of faith in him."

Randle played 88 offensive snaps in the regular season. Here were the personnel groupings on those plays, in addition to Randle, the quarterback and the five offensive linemen --

44 plays -- 2 WR, 2 TE
26 plays -- 3 WR, 1 TE
8 plays -- 1 FB, 2 WR, 1 TE
4 plays -- 1 FB, 1 WR, 2 TE
2 plays -- 1 RB (Dunbar also on the field), 2 WR, 1 TE
2 plays -- 1 WR, 3 TE
2 plays -- 1 FB, 3 TE

Also, STATS LLC categorized 47 of his 51 rushing attempts by formation -- 38 lone-setback, 4 I-formation and 3 shotgun (for Murray, it was 267 lone-setback, 67 I-formation and 35 shotgun).

Post B: "Teams that feature the run this much need a bellcow."

Over the past 15 seasons, there have been 20 teams that won at least 12 games, ran the ball at least 480 times and threw fewer than 500 passes (all but one actually ran more than they passed, and that other team had 491 pass attempts and 487 rushing attempts). Those 20 teams' leading rushers had anywhere from 403 carries down to 194 carries, and only eight of them had a back with more than 282 carries. Eight had no backs with more than 251 carries. Ten had two running backs with at least 100 carries, and six had two backs with more than 150 carries.

In other words, teams that "run this much" have done it with a "bellcow" and without a "bellcow." There is no evidence whatsoever that a team *needs* a "bellcow" to be successful.

Whenever I see AdamJT efficiently responding to allegations with detailed facts, I always think of something like this:

All in good fun of course, no offense to the posters that Adam responded to

 

[KJJ]

The question is not if he would have taken a mega contract if offered. The question is if a crap team had offered something like 25% or 50% more.

For example, if he had been offered contracts like Murray (6M Cowboys or 8M Eagles), I think he would have taken the Cowboys offer.

I believe he would have taken any offer that guaranteed him a lot more money than the Cowboys offered. The Cowboys aren't risking much and if McFadden doesn't perform he's gone after one season and it's unlikely anyone would want him if he suffers more injuries or doesn't produce behind the Cowboys OL. We could sit here all day speculating on what he would have done but players usually go where the most guaranteed money is. The Raiders offered Murray more than Philly but it wasn't real significant and he's making a boatload of money regardless.

 

[xwalker]

I believe he would have taken any offer that guaranteed him a lot more money than the Cowboys offered. The Cowboys aren't risking much and if McFadden doesn't perform he's gone after one season and it's unlikely anyone would want him if he suffers more injuries or doesn't produce behind the Cowboys OL. We could sit here all day speculating on what he would have done but players usually go where the most guaranteed money is. The Raiders offered Murray more than Philly but it wasn't real significant and he's making a boatload of money regardless.

I've seen 2 interviews with him since he signed. I don't think he would have signed with Jacksonville for an extra million or two. In fact I think he might have just retired over signing with another crap team unless it was a mega contract.

If you had made 1M over the past 5 years and you now had offers of 40K for an exciting job or 60K for a sucky job, which would you pick? Assume the 40K job might result in you becoming famous for developing some cutting edge technology.

 

[KJJ]

McFadden has made tens of millions.

There's been players make tens of millions and end up bankrupt ESPN had a special on that.

 

[xwalker]

There's been players make tens of millions and end up bankrupt ESPN had a special on that.

I don't get the impression from him that he has any money issues. He does not really fit the profile of most of the players that have gone bankrupt.

 

[dallasdave]

Post A: "Joseph Randle only runs one basic set of plays out of one formation, and I don't think the coaches have a lick of faith in him."



Post B: "Teams that feature the run this much need a bellcow."



Whenever I see AdamJT efficiently responding to allegations with detailed facts, I always think of something like this:

All in good fun of course, no offense to the posters that Adam responded to

I never knew that, Adam is really Sheldon !!!!

 

[guag]

Had it not been for Rice's off the field disaster he would have been a much better option than McFadden. Rice hasn't declined in talent as much as McFadden. Rice is only 2 years removed from four straight 1100 plus yard rushing seasons while McFadden hasn't seen a 1000 yard season since 2010 and that was his only one. One down season doesn't mean Rice's tank is empty. McFadden hasn't rushed for more than 707 yards the past 4 seasons and has averaged 3.3 a carry the past 3 seasons which is the lowest in the league for a back not named Trent Richardson.

Rice's lack of rushing success in 2013 can be blamed a lot on the lack of success the Ravens had as a team going 8-8. Joe Flacco had an awful season in 2013 tossing more int's than TD's. His passer rating was a dismal 73.1 which was the lowest of his career. No one played well for the Ravens that season and although Rice didn't produce in the running game he caught 58 passes out of the backfield. He would have been terrific coming out of the backfield for the Cowboys with his quickness. Had it not been for his issues I would have taken him easily over McFadden.

No disrespect, it seems like you're of the opinion that just about every other back in the league and free agency is better than what the Cowboys currently have. Obviously that's exaggerating, but it does seem to be a commonality in your posts. Now I love Murray and you will never see me badmouth him or downplay his contributions to this team, but when he's mentioned I feel like you bend over backwards to compliment him and at the same time, won't give our current RBs a chance and downplay the effect that our offensive line had in the equation.

Again, I don't mean to be rude, but it's an observation I had and I just wanted to put it out there. I don't doubt your fan-hood, but it just seems a little strange.

 

[KJJ]

I've seen 2 interviews with him since he signed. I don't think he would have signed with Jacksonville for an extra million or two. In fact I think he might have just retired over signing with another crap team unless it was a mega contract.

If you had made 1M over the past 5 years and you now had offers of 40K for an exciting job or 60K for a sucky job, which would you pick? Assume the 40K job might result in you becoming famous for developing some cutting edge technology.

You're using the word "think" because no one knows for sure what he was thinking. He's not going to talk about money most players don't when they're a free agent or sign a contract. They give a lot of reasons for signing where they did but they'll never admit it mostly had to do with money. The Cowboys made a nice offer to Murray but Philly's offer was significantly better and he took the money. He would rather have stayed in Dallas he honestly didn't look very happy after signing with Philly. He had to uproot his family and leave his friends plus he left a good team that helped make him a star all because of money. Passing on 20K extra a year isn't going to mean as much to me as someone else so I would go with the exciting job that pays less but there's a lot of people who work sucky jobs because it pays more money than their previous job that they may have liked better. It all comes down to the person and what's most important to them the love for what they do or the money. If you want to make a lot of money you need to love what you do and have a passion for it. If something feels like work you'll probably never be very successful at it.

You have to look at a job and where it may lead you. Sometimes you have to take a bad low paying job because it puts you in a place or around people that can help further your career. A lot of actors take on some crappy low paying roles because it puts them out there and someone may see them and offer them a much better paying role that could make them into a star one day. All it can take is some silly low paying commercial or a comedy club gig to get someone noticed. It's all about putting yourself out there. Some people are just satisfied where they are and never have their sights set on anything better. Most have worked a crappy job at some point but to move past it to bigger and better opportunities you have to look at it as a starting point not the end.

 

[KJJ]

I don't get the impression from him that he has any money issues. He does not really fit the profile of most of the players that have gone bankrupt.

I never got the impression Bernie Kosar would ever have financial issues but it happened. It happens a lot to NFL players.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Kosar

 

[KJJ]

No disrespect, it seems like you're of the opinion that just about every other back in the league and free agency is better than what the Cowboys currently have. Obviously that's exaggerating, but it does seem to be a commonality in your posts. Now I love Murray and you will never see me badmouth him or downplay his contributions to this team, but when he's mentioned I feel like you bend over backwards to compliment him and at the same time, won't give our current RBs a chance and downplay the effect that our offensive line had in the equation.

Again, I don't mean to be rude, but it's an observation I had and I just wanted to put it out there. I don't doubt your fan-hood, but it just seems a little strange.

Someone in an article did rate the Cowboys backs the lowest in the league next to NE. The Pats can win with average backs as long as they have Brady and Belichick. McFadden's 3.3 rushing average the past 3 seasons is the lowest in the league over that period for a back not named Trent Richardson. Ryan Williams last suited up for a regular season game 3 years ago in AZ and the Cowboys don't trust him in pass protection. Randle hasn't seen enough carries to know what he can do with a heavier workload and Dunbar would be on the street had Murray not signed with Philly. The Cowboys have an average group of RB's until proven otherwise. Not saying they can't produce but there's a big question mark with this group.

 

[xwalker]

I never got the impression Bernie Kosar would ever have financial issues but it happened. It happens a lot to NFL players.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Kosar

How is this relevant to McFadden?

 

[xwalker]

You're using the word "think" because no one knows for sure what he was thinking. He's not going to talk about money most players don't when they're a free agent or sign a contract. They give a lot of reasons for signing where they did but they'll never admit it mostly had to do with money. The Cowboys made a nice offer to Murray but Philly's offer was significantly better and he took the money. He would rather have stayed in Dallas he honestly didn't look very happy after signing with Philly. He had to uproot his family and leave his friends plus he left a good team that helped make him a star all because of money. Passing on 20K extra a year isn't going to mean as much to me as someone else so I would go with the exciting job that pays less but there's a lot of people who work sucky jobs because it pays more money than their previous job that they may have liked better. It all comes down to the person and what's most important to them the love for what they do or the money. If you want to make a lot of money you need to love what you do and have a passion for it. If something feels like work you'll probably never be very successful at it.

You have to look at a job and where it may lead you. Sometimes you have to take a bad low paying job because it puts you in a place or around people that can help further your career. A lot of actors take on some crappy low paying roles because it puts them out there and someone may see them and offer them a much better paying role that could make them into a star one day. All it can take is some silly low paying commercial or a comedy club gig to get someone noticed. It's all about putting yourself out there. Some people are just satisfied where they are and never have their sights set on anything better. Most have worked a crappy job at some point but to move past it to bigger and better opportunities you have to look at it as a starting point not the end.

Murray and most people in sucky jobs have not previously made tens of millions.

You 're basically supporting my point with the example of actors or other people taking low paying jobs because of the opportunities that it provides.

 

[KJJ]

How is this relevant to McFadden?

You said you didn't get the impression with McFadden that he had money issues and I used Kosar as an example of someone else who never gave the impression they had or would ever have money issues. Just because you have an impression of someone doesn't mean it's accurate.

 

[KJJ]

Murray and most people in sucky jobs have not previously made tens of millions.

You 're basically supporting my point with the example of actors or other people taking low paying jobs because of the opportunities that it provides.

Murray isn't like most people he doesn't have a sucky job and even before he signed with Philly he was making more than people make who work normal jobs. Murray was never going to have to take a low paying job in the NFL none of the offers he was receiving including from the Cowboys were low paying. For the average person making $20K less is a lot of money to lose but not to an NFL player. I know the example you were trying to make but it's a poor example when talking about an NFL player vs people who work normal jobs.

 

[xwalker]

Murray isn't like most people he doesn't have a sucky job and even before he signed with Philly he was making more than people make who work normal jobs. Murray was never going to have to take a low paying job in the NFL none of the offers he was receiving including from the Cowboys were low paying. For the average person making $20K less is a lot of money to lose but not to an NFL player. I know the example you were trying to make but it's a poor example when talking about an NFL player vs people who work normal jobs.

No, it is an excellent comparison of how Murray's situation is much different than McFadden's.

 

[KJJ]

No, it is an excellent comparison of how Murray's situation is much different than McFadden's.

Murray's situation is different but I don't believe McFadden feels he's so financially secure that he wouldn't have taken a significant larger guarantee from another team.

 

[Risen Star]

Receiver and RB's should never be paid ridiculous money. As good as Dez and Murray are, overpaying them is bad team management. If Dez wants like 16 million per year, then see ya. Franchise him for a few years and say goodbye. Defense, Oline, QB are where you need to spend the money on a football team.

There's a lot of truth to that but when you have a truly special talent I think you do what you can to retain that player through his prime.

WIth Dez he's never really covered. The defense can do everything right and still give up the score with Dez Bryant on the field. That's special.

 

[xwalker]

Murray's situation is different but I don't believe McFadden feels he's so financially secure that he wouldn't have taken a significant larger guarantee from another team.

You just gave a scenerio where actors might take a lower paying job because of the opportunities; however, you can't see that McFadden would likely do the same thing.

It is common for players that have made a lot of money to then look for a team where they can win a Super Bowl. McFadden has even more to gain than a SB ring. His entire career could be redefined playing behind thd Cowboys OL with Romo at QB.

 

[KJJ]

You just gave a scenerio where actors might take a lower paying job because of the opportunities; however, you can't see that McFadden would likely do the same thing.

It is common for players that have made a lot of money to then look for a team where they can win a Super Bowl. McFadden has even more to gain than a SB ring. His entire career could be redefined playing behind thd Cowboys OL with Romo at QB.

I gave an example with an actor because most have no choice but to take a low paying role. McFadden had no choice but to take what the Cowboys offered because there wasn't a lot of money out there for him based on his injury history and lack of production the past 3 seasons. You make it sound like he could pick and choose where he wanted to play and that teams were bidding on him. lol McFadden was looking for an opportunity and the Cowboys are giving him one.