Walterfootball Grades on FA p/u

[Silver N Blue]

I know some of the information on this site is sketchy but I must say I like the Connor signing even more. Anyway thought I would share some more opinion on the signings. Nothing posted for Pool or Orton. Based on where Pool is ranked most likely not a good grade there either. So take all these opinions with a grain of salt.
Cowboys sign ILB Dan Connor (2 years, $6.5M; $2.7M guaranteed): A+ Grade
Dan Connor's financial terms have been revealed. Thanks to @stevenlourie of Football Fan Spot for alerting me of Connor's contract.

I can't believe the Cowboys obtained him so cheaply. Connor should have received way more than $6.5 million from another team that needed an inside linebacker. Instead, Dallas gets to fill a big hole next to fellow Penn Stater Sean Lee with a quality defender.

Cowboys sign G Nate Livings (5 years, $19M; $6.2M guaranteed): D Grade
Nate Livings was Cincinnati's lone liability on the offensive front last year. Why then, did the Cowboys pony up $19 million ($6.2 million guaranteed) for him? We've seen some teams misevaluate talent this offseason (i.e. Buccaneers with Eric Wright; Browns with Frostee Rucker; Vkings with John Carlson). This is yet another instance, though this contract isn't as bad as the others.

Cowboys sign G Mackenzy Bernadeau (4 years, $11 million): D Grade
Thanks to e-mailer Bill D. for pointing out that I missed this signing amid all the mayhem this week. Unfortunately for Cowboy fans, I'm going to have to give them another bad grade. Mackenzy Bernadeau is a mediocre backup at best, so I have no idea why anyone would think he's worth $11 million over four years

Cowboys sign CB Brandon Carr (5 years, $50.1 million): A- Grade
The Cowboys needed a cornerback across from Mike Jenkins, and they signed the top unrestricted free agent on the market. Brandon Carr is very talented and is definitely worth $50.1 million over five years ($100,000 more than Cortland Finnegan). Dallas obviously won't be looking at Janoris Jenkins or Dre Kirkpatrick at No. 14 in the 2012 NFL Draft now, and can instead set its sights on David DeCastro to bolster the offensive front.

 

[johnnyd]

Pretty much how most of us feel..

 

[casmith07]

I'm so glad we added Carr so all that Jenkins/Kirkpatrick pothead nonsense can go away.

 

[fanfromvirginia]

He's also missing Vickers. Interesting evaluation. Nothing surprising here. Bernadeau and Livings are both head scratchers on the surface, especially the latter. It is safe to say that they were scouted and something about both of them made the coaching staff think they would fit well at a good price. For Bernadeau it probably involves his flexibility. I still think they may be looking at him as our OC upgrade. With Livings it really is a mystery.

 

[boysfanindc]

I wonder how they graded Kosier when we picked him up?

 

[cowboysooner]

Other than Carr our contracts need to be evaluated on a 2 or 3 year basis based on the guarantee. We are tacking extra dollars and years on most deals because of our cap situation. So the Livings contract is really around 2 years for 6.2 million. We have no idea on Bernadeau because we don't have the guaranteed money.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Pretty much how I feel.

 

[mmillman]

He's also missing Vickers. Interesting evaluation. Nothing surprising here. Bernadeau and Livings are both head scratchers on the surface, especially the latter. It is safe to say that they were scouted and something about both of them made the coaching staff think they would fit well at a good price. For Bernadeau it probably involves his flexibility. I still think they may be looking at him as our OC upgrade. With Livings it really is a mystery.

that is the problem, Dallas didn't get them at a "good price"
they spent a lot of money for guys that everyone is saying are mediocre at the critical offensive line spot.

I really really hope that I am wrong but my guess is Dallas paid quality player money for mediocre talent at the guard spot. I also hope this doesn't prevent them from drafting DeCastro but my guess is that it will.

 

[BiffWellingtonIII]

I said this yesterday and the board cried like school girls .

 

[hutch1254]

At this point I'm looking at it like this.

Carr - real happy with this.
Vickers - excited about this. This guy can bring the wood.
Connor - mildly excited, hoping that playing with Lee raises his game. Nervous about his lack of speed.
Orton - I'm fine with this. Intelligent, can hold the fort if Romo goes down, could even pressure. Didn't want J. Campbell, Orton is a fine Kitna replacement IMO.
Livings & Bernadeau - not excited at all.

For the most part I like who we have grabbed. However, I'm disppointed, for the moment, that the lines haven't really been addressed. OL and DL, please ramp these up. I understand creating competition at the positions but getting a stud puts things to rest immediately. I'm hoping the coaching staff has a plan here between what they already have and the draft. Romo staying upright and the DL taking away the pocket from the opposing QB week after week are the things I'm looking for.

 

[skinsscalper]

At this point I'm looking at it like this.

Carr - real happy with this.
Vickers - excited about this. This guy can bring the wood.
Connor - mildly excited, hoping that playing with Lee raises his game. Nervous about his lack of speed.
Orton - I'm fine with this. Intelligent, can hold the fort if Romo goes down, could even pressure. Didn't want J. Campbell, Orton is a fine Kitna replacement IMO.
Livings & Bernadeau - not excited at all.

For the most part I like who we have grabbed. However, I'm disppointed, for the moment, that the lines haven't really been addressed. OL and DL, please ramp these up. I understand creating competition at the positions but getting a stud puts things to rest immediately. I'm hoping the coaching staff has a plan here between what they already have and the draft. Romo staying upright and the DL taking away the pocket from the opposing QB week after week are the things I'm looking for.

I agree. I'll also note that I was not AT ALL excited about Kosier when he signed, either. I'll echo Hos' sentiments and hope they both prove us all wrong.

 

[Muhast]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the writer most likely has no idea who Mackenzy Bernadeau is, and gave him a bad grade just because he didn't know it.

Let's be honest, most of us are passionate fans, but how many backup OLmen do you know a lot about on other teams?

Like I've said a few times, obviously the Cowboys FO thinks he and Livings can add valuable depth and start for us. So I'm going to disregard what fans from other teams say about them and give it a shot.

 

[BiffWellingtonIII]

Whether the writer knows or not, the fact is , we only signed one impact guy. We need an upgrade in the trenches and we still need a C and a pass rush DE.

Lotta work to do.

 

[Muhast]

Whether the writer knows or not, the fact is , we only signed one impact guy. We need an upgrade in the trenches and we still need a C and a pass rush DE.

Lotta work to do.

Can someone kill the troll already?:shoot1::shoot2:

And for the record, your OPINION is not a FACT. We signed 4 guys that are impact players. If they are better then who we had last year, they are an upgrade and will make an impact. (Carr>Newman, Vickers>Fiametta, Connor>Brooking/James, Pool>Elam)

 

[juck]

I'm so glad we added Carr so all that Jenkins/Kirkpatrick pothead nonsense can go away.

If u think that 98% of Pro athletes dont smoke herb ur wrong.

 

[Disturbed]

I said this yesterday and the board cried like school girls .

Yeah, I was surprised by how many people were defending these two guards on the boards. Dallas is consistently wrong on the offensive line in FA, they always overpay for average talent.

Just draft Decastro in the first round. The only time we seem to get the OL right is when we take someone in the first round.

 

[skinsscalper]

If u think that 98% of Pro athletes dont smoke herb ur wrong.

I'll guarantee you that your percentages are WAY off base. Yes, many pro athletes smoke weed. The cross section of pro football is no different than real life. 98% of the rest of society doesn't smoke weed, so to project that 98% of pro athletes do, is beyond idiotic considering the fact that all of these guys HAVE to take a drug test at some point, where as most of society doesn't.

Put down the bong and join the rest of us, dude.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

People are underestimating how bad the 2011 OL really was for Jones Cowboys.


Dallas had to practically beg Holland to play that in itself was a red flag from haides... Kosier has been knicked, hurt and washed up for a couple of years running.

Nagy, Arkin, Kowlaski and Costa were first year and rookies thrown into the fire, they got burnt.

Dallas had to do something upfront and they have improved.

You can't give a FAIL grade for players that improved the current squad over the ones who were playing their positions last season.


Now, get onto the real problem, the Dallas 3/4 needs a NT for once.

 

[TNCowboy]

I'll guarantee you that your percentages are WAY off base. Yes, many pro athletes smoke weed. The cross section of pro football is no different than real life. 98% of the rest of society doesn't smoke weed, so to project that 98% of pro athletes do, is beyond idiotic considering the fact that all of these guys HAVE to take a drug test at some point, where as most of society doesn't.

Put down the bong and join the rest of us, dude.

:laugh2:

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

:laugh2:

Put it down and pass it around to the rest of us.