What Bad Contracts Do the Cowboys Have?

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Miles Austin obviously. His 6 year $54m extension has been awful. Since signing it in 2010, he has not had a 1000 yard season. His 24 catch 244 yard 0 TD performance this past year was particularly awful. He is to earn $5.5m and has $8m in dead money coming if we cut him. May we never have to hear of his hamstring again.

Jay Ratliff is owed mention here. Of the 5 year $40m extension he got in 2011, $7m in dead money is on the cap this year because he quit on the team last year when we needed him most. He made the pro bowl in 2011 but 2012 was especially poor with no sacks and 1 TFL in 6 games. What could have been I suppose but Jay Ratliff is a scumbag in my opinion. If I had a Jay Ratliff jersey I would probably burn it.

Demarcus Ware is probably next on the list. In year five of the 6 year $78m extension he signed in 2009, Ware is set to make $12m. Next year that balloons up to $18m. 2013 was a down year for Ware where he sacked only 2 quarterbacks in the last 10 games he played. He ended up with 13 games and 6 sacks. Despite lingering spine problems, he was able to average 15.5 sacks the previous 3 years so its not like he is out there stealing money. He has $8.5m in dead money remaining should he be cut.

Sean Lee and Tony Romo both signed 6 years extensions for $42 and $108m respectively. Both players finished the year on the IR but its much too soon to call them bad quite yet. That worm could very well turn though.

Anyone upset with $3m AAV for a kicker or still hating on Scandrick who is set to make $4.5m this season?

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Current contracts would be Austin's, Ware's and Romo's. Romo's contract is a necessary evil because he makes them competitive; Ware and Austin do not.

 

[casmith07]

All of them. Blow up the team, move it to Los Angeles, start over with no Jerrah Jonez.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Don't have the numbers in front of me, but some would suggest Carr's and Witten (due to age)

Other than that, I think you've listed all the questionable contracts.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Oh I forgot. Jeremy Parnell and fan favorite Phil Costa make $1.5m this year.

 

[casmith07]

Oh I forgot. Jeremy Parnell and fan favorite Phil Costa make $1.5m this year.

In all seriousness I have no problem with either one of those contracts. Those guys are quality depth, something that people always whine about. $3M for guys who can step in if someone goes down and not embarrass the offense is good for me.

 

[casmith07]

Fuzzy, you listed the two most hurtful in Austin and Ratliff. Ratliff should've been cut last year. Miles Austin should be released June 1 of this year.

 

[The Natural]

Romo, Ware, Austin, Carr, Lee*

*pending, if this guy can only play 8-10 games a year its absolutely a bad contract. Yet we have people complaining about paying Dez even though he shows up every week regardless of the injury

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Don't have the numbers in front of me, but some would suggest Carr's and Witten (due to age)

Other than that, I think you've listed all the questionable contracts.

Wittens base the next several years are $5m, $5m, $6.5m and $7.5m. His contract is magnificent.

Carr otoh is going for $7.5m, $8m, $9m, $10m. He's been a mixed bag but he has made some big plays these past two years.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Fuzzy, you listed the two most hurtful in Austin and Ratliff. Ratliff should've been cut last year. Miles Austin should be released June 1 of this year.

Sure and then we are out from under them. Ware will be cut next year as well most likely. We don't need to cut him this year I don't think.

 

[dragon_mikal]

Austin, Lee, Ware...

Austin will be gone and Ware will be restructured...Lee's extension was a head scratcher IMHO.

 

[perrykemp]

Carr otoh is going for $7.5m, $8m, $9m, $10m. He's been a mixed bag but he has made some big plays these past two years.

For what it is worth, PFF ranked Carr as follows over the last two years:

2013: 59th best CB in the NFL
2012: 56th best CB in the NFL

Quite frankly, those numbers say he is in the bottom 10% of starting NFL CBs or so.

Yes, it's looking like a bad contract as it relates to Carr.

 

[RS12]

It is not too soon to say Romo's contract is bad, has been from the second it was signed. Like usual Jerry rushed when he should have waited, have seen that play out way too many times.

 

[dragon_mikal]

It is not too soon to say Romo's contract is bad, has been from the second it was signed. Like usual Jerry rushed when he should have waited, have seen that play out way too many times.

Romo is getting paid the going rate for good veteran QBs.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Paying McCray $1.3 last year was stupid. He did nothing as a special team ace, and even less as a safety.

 

[casmith07]

Sure and then we are out from under them. Ware will be cut next year as well most likely. We don't need to cut him this year I don't think.

I don't think so either. There will be other extensions completed next year that allow us to eat Ware's cap hit/dead money after next season.

 

[Alexander]

Paying McCray $1.3 last year was stupid. He did nothing as a special team ace, and even less as a safety.

That and a contract like Costa are the little ones that add up when you are tight to the cap.

 

[Gadfly22]

My opinion: i'm not bothered by Bailey's contract at all. The way Cowboys games are being decided by such narrow margins these days, a missed kick can be the difference between a win and a loss. And kickers don't grow on trees, and even good kickers lose it (like Mike Vanderjagt, who went from being one of the best kickers in the league to wildly inaccurate, or Nick Folk, who seems to have gotten back on track).

 

[TheCount]

Don't have the numbers in front of me, but some would suggest Carr's and Witten (due to age)

Other than that, I think you've listed all the questionable contracts.

Yeah, Witten and Carr's seem easy to bear now but next year? The year after?

 

[Risen Star]

For what it is worth, PFF ranked Carr as follows over the last two years:

2013: 59th best CB in the NFL
2012: 56th best CB in the NFL

Quite frankly, those numbers say he is in the bottom 10% of starting NFL CBs or so.

Yes, it's looking like a bad contract as it relates to Carr.

But he's not one of the worst starting CBs in the league. He just has no players in front of him.

This is proof that cornerbacks aren't impact players and you should never ever prioritize the position.