Too many important loose ends right now

[xwalker]

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 McFadden had a bunch of choices and teams were bidding on him. lol McFadden was looking for an opportunity and the Cowboys are giving him one.

If he wanted more money he would have waited to sign. He was excited to play on THIS team.

 

[KJJ]

If he wanted more money he would have waited to sign. He was excited to play on THIS team.

I know he was excited to play on this team he grew up a Cowboys fan but I still believe he jumped at the offer as quick as he did because he knew he wouldn't get anything better. That's based on no one showing interest in him a couple of years ago as a free agent. We've discussed this enough time to move on.

 

[AsthmaField]

big mistake not keeping murray is what it is looking like.]
Had they kept murray they would be set for a run right now instead of changing what worked last year.

That is, IMO, an over reaction. Because Murray had a breakout season at the same time as Dallas won more games and made the playoffs... many fans link those two things together more than they should be. There are so many things that went in to Dallas' great season that it is almost silly to give most of the credit to Murray.

As far as it looking like a mistake to let him go, that is just untrue. Paying $8M per for a back who had never been completely healthy for an entire season simply wasn't a good idea for Dallas. Particularly one coming off a season where he was ridden hard and put up wet. I wouldn't have been very happy had the team paid what Philly did.

Even if Murray does well in 2015, he is a prime candidate for going downhill before his contract is up. There is a chance he stays healthy and productive for another season but eventually, that is going to be a contract that Philly is going to regret. Or at least one that is going to hamstring them some in future seasons. That is how Philly is doing things. It is no longer how Dallas does them, and Cowboys fans should be thrilled with that.

Dallas is trying to do what everyone and their brother has said they need to do: Stop paying big dollars for aging, worn out players, and stop handing out contracts that you know the players isn't going to out last.

There are some positions where a guy Murray's age is considered still young. There are also positions where it is extremely difficult to find difference makers. Unfortunately for Murray and his wish to stay in Dallas, RB is neither of those things.

 

[xwalker]

I know he was excited to play on this team he grew up a Cowboys fan but I still believe he jumped at the offer as quick as he did because he knew he wouldn't get anything better. That's based on no one showing interest in him a couple of years ago as a free agent. We've discussed this enough time to move on.

You are wrong.

 

[guag]

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.

I can dig all that.

 

[Redball Express]

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.

We have a bad track record of over paying like with Roy Williams, TO and what-was his name from Seattle we traded for for 2 #1s.

I'm just thinking Dez is a high-risk guy to sign to such a big deal

His back has been problem since coming in the league and it's just a matter of time before he goes out for a good amount of time..

and we get stuck with it.

I'd prefer we groom another WR if it was feasible..

most won't agree like many didn't on letting Murray go.

But I think we need to be very conservative going forward.

 

[KJJ]

You are wrong.

So my opinion is wrong? If so then show me a quote where McFadden said he was offered significantly more guaranteed money or a better overall deal than what the Cowboys offered but declined it? Another big reason I believe no one offered him a better deal than the Cowboys and wouldn't have had he waited is because no team in the league needed an RB more than the Cowboys after Murray departed. Can you name a team that had a bigger need at RB than the Cowboys? They just lost the leagues leading rusher and arguably their MVP from 2014 plus their backup RB Randle was dealing with an off the field issue that could have gotten him suspended for the start of the 2015 season. Jerry wasted no time signing McFadden because he had him targeted immediately after the season ended if he was unable to sign Murray.

McFadden is going to have to reach a number if incentives over the next 2 seasons to earn the $5.85 million the Cowboys offered. The offer was significantly lower than the one year $4M deal McFadden signed with the Raiders following the 2013 season. He did nothing in 2013 to raise his stock he lowered it by averaging only 3.4 a carry. The Raiders had 2 other backs who averaged more than McFadden. I'm not saying he sucks and won't produce but he's going to have to produce and stay healthy to return for the 2016 season. The Cowboys contract offer points to the team having some doubts which is why he wasn't guaranteed much money and the contract is heavily incentive based.

 

[KJJ]

I'm just thinking Dez is a high-risk guy to sign to such a big deal

His back has been problem since coming in the league and it's just a matter of time before he goes out for a good amount of time..

and we get stuck with it.

I'd prefer we groom another WR if it was feasible..

most won't agree like many didn't on letting Murray go.

But I think we need to be very conservative going forward.

If the Cowboys keep looking for excuses not to resign their best players they'll never even reach a title game much less win another championship. The team just lost one of their best offensive players and if they allow Dez to get away in the next couple of years the Cowboys will be back to mediocrity. You don't just groom another WR to replace a Dez Bryant. This team isn't going to win crap with average players at the skill positions. Seems like most on this board want to move on from players once they become too expensive due to being an elite player. Many on this board wanted to let Romo go after the 2012 season due to money. Go back and review some of those threads.

 

[AtlCB]

Every team in the league has question marks and loose ends. It's the nature of the salary cap.

 

[KJJ]

Every team in the league has question marks and loose ends. It's the nature of the salary cap.

We're in June there's always going to be some question marks and loose ends for every team prior to training camp and preseason. That's where you tie up all those loose ends and try answering some of the questions. Many of the questions about the Cowboys RB situation will be answered in the coming months.

 

[Redball Express]

If the Cowboys keep looking for excuses not to resign their best players they'll never even reach a title game much less win another championship. The team just lost one of their best offensive players and if they allow Dez to get away in the next couple of years the Cowboys will be back to mediocrity. You don't just groom another WR to replace a Dez Bryant. This team isn't going to win crap with average players at the skill positions. Seems like most on this board want to move on from players once they become too expensive due to being an elite player. Many on this board wanted to let Romo go after the 2012 season due to money. Go back and review some of those threads.

Valid points for the most point.

But I think the issues are that teams that foresee the need to retool BEFORE it becomes a crisis are the more successful in the longrun.

If you look at the Packers, Patriots and others..

they are constantly overturning their roster to improve..

we have not done that at all until recently.

So while I agree about Romo, part of the reason is his deal.

We haven't been able to move on from him BECUZ of the cap hits to move on.

So while we want the same things for the team it appears we can't decide if the glass is half empty or halffull.

Happy to be a fan.

Haha..

 

[KJJ]

Valid points for the most point.

But I think the issues are that teams that foresee the need to retool BEFORE it becomes a crisis are the more successful in the longrun.

If you look at the Packers, Patriots and others..

they are constantly overturning their roster to improve..

we have not done that at all until recently.

So while I agree about Romo, part of the reason is his deal.

We haven't been able to move on from him BECUZ of the cap hits to move on.

So while we want the same things for the team it appears we can't decide if the glass is half empty or halffull.

Happy to be a fan.

Haha..

The Cowboys just came out of a crisis having to endure a 6-10 season and 3 straight 8-8 seasons. They had just turned the corner building a very solid championship caliber offense with a modern day version of the triplets and the departure of Murray may have thrown a wrench (not the tool you want) into their chances of reaching the SB. You don't start overturning your roster when you have a collection of solid players including some terrific skill position players that are some of the best at their position in the entire league when you're on the brink of having a team that can seriously contend for a championship. The Cowboys had one of the top players in the league at the RB position and he'll be replaced with an average player because that's all the Cowboys have at RB. If the Cowboys move on from Dez in the next couple of years they won't be seeing another playoff win anytime soon and could end up being back to mediocrity with an aging Romo. With Romo entering the twilight of his career it's becoming now or never for him and he'll have no chance of leading the Cowboys to a championship with an average RB and an average #1 receiver which you may end up with trying to groom a young receiver to replace a great talent like Dez Bryant.

Moving on from Murray and Dez will put all the pressure back on Romo and that's been the recipe for 8-8 seasons. The Cowboys had a good reason to overturn their roster after the 2010 season and they began adding the right pieces with Dez, Tyron, Murray, Frederick and Martin. The departure of Murray is a huge loss and none of the backs the Cowboys have can make some of the plays he made when there were no holes to run through. Any back can run through a hole but average everyday backs can't make some of the many plays Murray produced on his own. There's no question the Cowboys are going to lose something by not having him we just have to hope they don't lose a lot because that could send the Cowboys back to hovering around 500 again. They're not going to win a championship trying to save money with average players at the skill positions especially with an aging QB who's had back issues. The older Romo gets the more help he's going to need and you can't start taking away his elite weapons.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The older Romo gets the more help he's going to need and you can't start taking away his elite weapons.

Murray has never been elite.

 

[KJJ]

Murray has never been elite.

He developed into an elite back last season you actually want to argue that? He out distanced every back in the league by over 500 yards and received 2 MVP votes. His contract offers point to him being an elite player. He was clearly one of the top backs in the league which makes him an elite player.

 

[Redball Express]

The Cowboys just came out of a crisis having to endure a 6-10 season and 3 straight 8-8 seasons. They had just turned the corner building a very solid championship caliber offense with a modern day version of the triplets and the departure of Murray may have thrown a wrench (not the tool you want) into their chances of reaching the SB. You don't start overturning your roster when you have a collection of solid players including some terrific skill position players that are some of the best at their position in the entire league when you're on the brink of having a team that can seriously contend for a championship. The Cowboys had one of the top players in the league at the RB position and he'll be replaced with an average player because that's all the Cowboys have at RB. If the Cowboys move on from Dez in the next couple of years they won't be seeing another playoff win anytime soon and could end up being back to mediocrity with an aging Romo. With Romo entering the twilight of his career it's becoming now or never for him and he'll have no chance of leading the Cowboys to a championship with an average RB and an average #1 receiver which you may end up with trying to groom a young receiver to replace a great talent like Dez Bryant.

Moving on from Murray and Dez will put all the pressure back on Romo and that's been the recipe for 8-8 seasons. The Cowboys had a good reason to overturn their roster after the 2010 season and they began adding the right pieces with Dez, Tyron, Murray, Frederick and Martin. The departure of Murray is a huge loss and none of the backs the Cowboys have can make some of the plays he made when there were no holes to run through. Any back can run through a hole but average everyday backs can't make some of the many plays Murray produced on his own. There's no question the Cowboys are going to lose something by not having him we just have to hope they don't lose a lot because that could send the Cowboys back to hovering around 500 again. They're not going to win a championship trying to save money with average players at the skill positions especially with an aging QB who's had back issues. The older Romo gets the more help he's going to need and you can't start taking away his elite weapons.

Good answer.

I agree with a lot you are saying.

I just have seen too many out-on-a-limb contracts from this team since the beginning of the salary cap era.

Dez will probably be another.

We will see.

 

[AsthmaField]

The Cowboys just came out of a crisis having to endure a 6-10 season and 3 straight 8-8 seasons. They had just turned the corner building a very solid championship caliber offense with a modern day version of the triplets and the departure of Murray may have thrown a wrench (not the tool you want) into their chances of reaching the SB. You don't start overturning your roster when you have a collection of solid players including some terrific skill position players that are some of the best at their position in the entire league when you're on the brink of having a team that can seriously contend for a championship. The Cowboys had one of the top players in the league at the RB position and he'll be replaced with an average player because that's all the Cowboys have at RB. If the Cowboys move on from Dez in the next couple of years they won't be seeing another playoff win anytime soon and could end up being back to mediocrity with an aging Romo. With Romo entering the twilight of his career it's becoming now or never for him and he'll have no chance of leading the Cowboys to a championship with an average RB and an average #1 receiver which you may end up with trying to groom a young receiver to replace a great talent like Dez Bryant.

Moving on from Murray and Dez will put all the pressure back on Romo and that's been the recipe for 8-8 seasons. The Cowboys had a good reason to overturn their roster after the 2010 season and they began adding the right pieces with Dez, Tyron, Murray, Frederick and Martin. The departure of Murray is a huge loss and none of the backs the Cowboys have can make some of the plays he made when there were no holes to run through. Any back can run through a hole but average everyday backs can't make some of the many plays Murray produced on his own. There's no question the Cowboys are going to lose something by not having him we just have to hope they don't lose a lot because that could send the Cowboys back to hovering around 500 again. They're not going to win a championship trying to save money with average players at the skill positions especially with an aging QB who's had back issues. The older Romo gets the more help he's going to need and you can't start taking away his elite weapons.

They're not going to move on from Dez.

It isn't like you insinuate... that Dallas doesn't want to pay high dollars to any elite player. It is that they don't want to pay high dollars for a running back. Particularly one who has had great difficulty in staying healthy.

They won't have a problem paying a lot for a WR like Dez. Or a DE, CB, QB, LT that is young and earns a big payday.

They don't want to pay older players (except QB) and they don't want to pay RB's big dollars.

They'll get Dez's price as low as they can and then they'll re-sign him. No worries there.

 

[KJJ]

Good answer.

I agree with a lot you are saying.

I just have seen too many out-on-a-limb contracts from this team since the beginning of the salary cap era.

Dez will probably be another.

We will see.

When you're lucky enough to hit on a great talent that only comes around maybe once every decade or so like a Dez Bryant you're going to have to open the vault to keep them that's the NFL world we live in today with free agency. The Cowboys would have only won one SB in the 90's had they decided not to pay Emmitt during his holdout at the start of the 93 season. Unlikely the Cowboys would have won a single SB in the 90's minus one of the triplets. The contracts that have hurt the Cowboys the most were the Miles Austin and Sean Lee contracts. Austin only had one good season and reaped the benefits off it. His numbers declined from there due to injuries. Had Jerry waited on Sean Lee who he already knew was injury prone and resigned Dez first he could have gotten both players much cheaper.

Lee ended up missing several games after he signed his contract which would have lowered his stock leading to a cheaper deal had Jerry waited. Jerry waited on Dez until he became one of the most elite young receivers in the game now he's going to have to pay a steep price to keep him. The longer Jerry goes without signing Dez the more costly it's going to be. If he puts up 110 catches for 1720 yards and 20 TD's in 2015 it's going to take 4 brinks trucks to pay him. I posted immediately after Jerry extended Lee that he should have extended Dez first because I knew Lee would end up getting hurt again lowering his stock while Dez's stock would continue to rise.

 

[big dog cowboy]

He developed into an elite back last season you actually want to argue that? He out distanced every back in the league by over 500 yards and received 2 MVP votes. His contract offers point to him being an elite player. He was clearly one of the top backs in the league which makes him an elite player.

No I don't want to argue that. That isn't why I visit this forum.

Yes Murray and the Cowboys team had a good rushing offense year last year. But that doesn't make Murray an elite player.

 

[KJJ]

They're not going to move on from Dez.

It isn't like you insinuate... that Dallas doesn't want to pay high dollars to any elite player. It is that they don't want to pay high dollars for a running back. Particularly one who has had great difficulty in staying healthy.

They won't have a problem paying a lot for a WR like Dez. Or a DE, CB, QB, LT that is young and earns a big payday.

They don't want to pay older players (except QB) and they don't want to pay RB's big dollars.

They'll get Dez's price as low as they can and then they'll re-sign him. No worries there.

They're not going to move on from Dez unless he gets into some trouble off the field. I'm not insinuating that the Cowboys don't want to pay high dollars to elite players but they made it clear they don't want to pay high dollars to an RB and they're clearly nervous about paying high dollars to Dez due to off the field concerns so yes they do have a problem paying a lot of money to him or he would have already been extended. In the last contract offer that was reported Dez was only offered $20M guaranteed which is not much guaranteed money for an elite WR.

That guarantee shows the Cowboys don't trust him and are nervous about paying him a lot of money. They haven't ruled out franchising him after the 2015 season which further proves they have a problem paying him a lot of guaranteed money. They don't mind paying him a lot for one season but they don't want to be stuck with a big hit if he gets into trouble. Dez's price is going to continue to climb if he keeps producing so there are worries.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think that McFadden could almost certainly have made more money if he wanted to. At least this upcoming season. I think the reason he took less money and the reason he agreed to a heavily incentive based contract is because he knows that this is probably his best, last chance to accomplish the kind of career goals he probably envisioned for himself. He is running behind one of the very best OLs in Football. He is playing alongside one of the best QBs, TEs and WRs in the NFL. The opportunity for him is golden and he understands this IMO. With this talent, he can parley a good season into more money down the road and possibly (and probably more importantly) a chance at a Championship. That's just my opinion but I think it's probably pretty close to the truth.