CFZ What happened to the “wildcatter” days?

[Bobhaze]

Anyone else remember the days when Jerry was the football equivalent of an oil “wildcatter”? A wildcatter is a speculative oil driller who takes great risks to find oil where most would not even consider. Wildcatters take high risks to achieve high rewards. That was the young JJ. Old JJ doesn’t take many risks anymore.

When JJ was a wildcatter, he was the most aggressive GM in the league. It wasn’t always good. Sometimes it was bad. But he was aggressive. Here are some examples.

• Hiring Jimmy Johnson out U of Miami was a great risk
• The Herschel Walker trade
• Signing Deion Sanders as a FA
• Making trades for big play WRs (yes they were bad trades, but he was being aggressive)
• Signing La’el Collins as an UFA (a guy with first round talent but had a criminal inquiry at time of draft)

I know I’m forgetting some moves. Point is. Where did the wildcatter go?

These days, the NFL wildcatters are Les Snead, GM of the rams who has made more aggressive moves than any other GM. Or Jason Licht, GM of the Bucs who aggressively pursued Tom Brady and has made multiple FA signings. Or Brett Veach, GM of the chiefs? Tons of trades and FA moves. Their teams have won the last 3 SBs.

What happened to our wildcatter?

 

[Reality]

^^^ there's your answer

 

[75boyz]

It seemed to stop after the Carr signing. A whole different philosophy emerged in what types of free agents and their contracts would be acquired.

Do not know the specific reasons why.

 

[maryquality]

Jerry only "wildcats" when it comes to money. Don't think he's going to do any more football "wildcatting" anymore. But, I have no clue.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Greg Hardy
Jaylon Smith
Randy Gregory
Kevin Joseph

 

[John813]

Maybe more influence from his son, who appears to be more of the conservative low risk player acquisition mindset?
"Insert Manziel draft comment"

A few years back they did trade for Cooper that was aggressive and worked out short term.

 

[CouchCoach]

The other trait about wildcatters is intuitiveness to the point of ignoring their own geologists.

It was no accident Booger sought out Crazy Al as his NFL mentor even before the Cowboys, going back to San Diego.

I know several wildcatters and the risk/reward factor drives everything. Until they get to that reward stage where the risk isn’t the critical factor any longer.

 

[shabazz]

The advent of the salary cap may have something to with this

 

[Jipper]

hes still a cat...there is just another word for what he is now

 

[john van brocklin]

Anyone else remember the days when Jerry was the football equivalent of an oil “wildcatter”? A wildcatter is a speculative oil driller who takes great risks to find oil where most would not even consider. Wildcatters take high risks to achieve high rewards. That was the young JJ. Old JJ doesn’t take many risks anymore.

When JJ was a wildcatter, he was the most aggressive GM in the league. It wasn’t always good. Sometimes it was bad. But he was aggressive. Here are some examples.

• Hiring Jimmy Johnson out U of Miami was a great risk
• The Herschel Walker trade
• Signing Deion Sanders as a FA
• Making trades for big play WRs (yes they were bad trades, but he was being aggressive)
• Signing La’el Collins as an UFA (a guy with first round talent but had a criminal inquiry at time of draft)

I know I’m forgetting some moves. Point is. Where did the wildcatter go?

These days, the NFL wildcatters are Les Snead, GM of the rams who has made more aggressive moves than any other GM. Or Jason Licht, GM of the Bucs who aggressively pursued Tom Brady and has made multiple FA signings. Or Brett Veach, GM of the chiefs? Tons of trades and FA moves. Their teams have won the last 3 SBs.

What happened to our wildcatter?

He drafts second round players, with injuries and such hoping to hit on a Hall of Famer.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

It seemed to stop after the Carr signing. A whole different philosophy emerged in what types of free agents and their contracts would be acquired.

Do not know the specific reasons why.

Which is strange to me because, although he wasn't a Pro Bowl caliber player - the guy never missed a game. Was more of a success in this league than Mo Claiborne ever was.

 

[Silver Surfer]

No need to "wildcat" when you're the top dog.

 

[jazzcat22]

Stephen declawed Jerry...took away his wild cat check book....

 

[jwooten15]

Stephen happened.

I do miss the old Jerry. At least back in the day, he'd make bold moves in an attempt to win more games.

 

[Jake]

What happened to our wildcatter?

He got old and extremely wealthy = lower energy levels and no desperation. Three rings, HOF, family set for life for generations, just enjoying running the business with them.

 

[Richmond Cowboy]

Tony Romo happened. Ever since, they are convinced that they can unearth hidden gems at will.

 

[Plankton]

Some of this would involve actually paying attention to and scouting other teams in the league. Neither of the Jones Boys can be bothered with doing this - they are too busy making deals with the Blockchain.com's of the world to perform the actual duties that go with their titles.

This is also part of the reason why they don't go out in free agency - hard to put a proper value on a player when you haven't taken the time to actually scout them.

 

[Runwildboys]

Anyone else remember the days when Jerry was the football equivalent of an oil “wildcatter”? A wildcatter is a speculative oil driller who takes great risks to find oil where most would not even consider. Wildcatters take high risks to achieve high rewards. That was the young JJ. Old JJ doesn’t take many risks anymore.

When JJ was a wildcatter, he was the most aggressive GM in the league. It wasn’t always good. Sometimes it was bad. But he was aggressive. Here are some examples.

• Hiring Jimmy Johnson out U of Miami was a great risk
• The Herschel Walker trade
• Signing Deion Sanders as a FA
• Making trades for big play WRs (yes they were bad trades, but he was being aggressive)
• Signing La’el Collins as an UFA (a guy with first round talent but had a criminal inquiry at time of draft)

I know I’m forgetting some moves. Point is. Where did the wildcatter go?

These days, the NFL wildcatters are Les Snead, GM of the rams who has made more aggressive moves than any other GM. Or Jason Licht, GM of the Bucs who aggressively pursued Tom Brady and has made multiple FA signings. Or Brett Veach, GM of the chiefs? Tons of trades and FA moves. Their teams have won the last 3 SBs.

What happened to our wildcatter?

He's still a wildcatter, but usually in round 2 of the draft.

Hell, he's taking a huge risk every time he speaks!

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

He kept getting richer and richer regardless of the outcome of the seasons.

When you can get maximum (or at least enough) results money wise for minimal effort then some will be okay with that.

It's all about the money and the easiest road to making that money for Jerry.

He's always going to be businessman first.

 

[noshame]

T......O