What to expect from the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 of free agency

[Sydla]

That would not be far from the truth. I like about 30% of what they do.

In my opinion the Cowboys are a poorly run, poorly coached team. Although I do like the coordinators.

We arent winning the SB until we get another stud corner and a stud DE. Every year is wasted until we fill those wholes. How do you expect to fill both of those?

FYI.....I am not a guy that is for spending wildly in FA. But I just dont see any choice at this point. And the team is there. WE are a contender. So if you are to do it, now is the right time.

Poorly coached for sure.

I think they still have some issues in terms of player personnel but I think it's getting much better as Stephen seizes more control.

 

[Doomsday101]

They had a pretty alarming stat on the Jags yesterday, they've by far outspent everyone in guaranteed money in FA in the last few years and like a .260 winning percentage to show for it. I think it was 280 million in guaranteed money

You bet, high priced FA does not guarantee winning. I have seen some teams spend big bucks and get nothing in return. I expect Dallas to make some moves in FA to help shore up some areas and they will look to the draft for core type players.

 

[rynochop]

You bet, high priced FA does not guarantee winning. I have seen some teams spend big bucks and get nothing in return. I expect Dallas to make some moves in FA to help shore up some areas and they will look to the draft for core type players.

Yeah all those FAs get the big bucks and get fat and happy, and how's a coach supposed to motivate those guys
Unless there's a Deion type that will put you over the top, no thx

 

[plasticman]

This article is spot on. Stephen Jones is getting this philosophy straight from Jason Garrett who talked about this issue when he was first given the HC job fulltime. He spoke about value and not overpaying.

The salary cap is like a pie. Each player gets a piece, some get small ones, others get larger. The larger the slice, the less if left for the other players. The trick for management is to correctly assess the proper proportion for each player between their contribution to the team and the size of that slice of pie.

Have you ever noticed that the teams with the most big signings are usually the losing teams? The Jags and Browns are making a lot of noise, far more than they have been making during the season.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yeah all those FAs get the big bucks and get fat and happy, and how's a coach supposed to motivate those guys
Unless there's a Deion type that will put you over the top, no thx

True, that is where character matters. You look at the work ethic and desire to win not just a guy looking to cash in. The Cowboys have a certain belief about FA, they look to it as a means to fill gaps but not a means to build a team. Even when it comes to our own the Cowboys have changed they are not going to overpay where as in the past Jones would overpay and many here would criticize him for it, now he is not doing that and still catching hell. lol

Myself, I like the direction and philosophy the Cowboys have been employing the last few season. I hope we can bring in some decent players to help fill out some areas

 

[rynochop]

Yep, now he's a cheapskate and/or nobody wants to play here anymore

 

[Sydla]

This article is spot on. Stephen Jones is getting this philosophy straight from Jason Garrett who talked about this issue when he was first given the HC job fulltime. He spoke about value and not overpaying.

The salary cap is like a pie. Each player gets a piece, some get small ones, others get larger. The larger the slice, the less if left for the other players. The trick for management is to correctly assess the proper proportion for each player between their contribution to the team and the size of that slice of pie.

Have you ever noticed that the teams with the most big signings are usually the losing teams? The Jags and Browns are making a lot of noise, far more than they have been making during the season.

LOL.

So it's Garrett who taught Stephen Jones this stuff?

 

[big dog cowboy]

"You’re going to pay good players like they’re great, average players like they’re good, below average players like they’re average. It’s just not a great way to build a football team.

 

[gmoney112]

This article is spot on. Stephen Jones is getting this philosophy straight from Jason Garrett who talked about this issue when he was first given the HC job fulltime. He spoke about value and not overpaying.

The salary cap is like a pie. Each player gets a piece, some get small ones, others get larger. The larger the slice, the less if left for the other players. The trick for management is to correctly assess the proper proportion for each player between their contribution to the team and the size of that slice of pie.

Have you ever noticed that the teams with the most big signings are usually the losing teams? The Jags and Browns are making a lot of noise, far more than they have been making during the season.

Those teams sign a lot because they need to keep fans in the seats.

Yeah, you have to determine proportionate value AND opportunity cost.

Teams make big signings all the time. Patriots just gave Gilmore 40million guaranteed. Broncos went crazy on their SB run. If the Giants can fix their OL no one's going to care they spent money.

I just don't think we really care about FA this year. We have a young team, and we have a bunch of guys that missed time last year that should (hopefully) play this year. This is also an incredibly deep draft.

We're not in "win now" mode, we're in "get as much young talent as humanly possible to build around Dak and this offense" mode. They'll bring in some guys to contribute, but I think this year is really a "cut the dead weight and let the young guys play and see what we have" kinda year. We'll get a good barometer on the young talent, and next year we'll be about 60-70 mill under the cap. If we want to spend in FA, next year is the time, not this year.

 

[Rogerthat12]

If you're looking for an NFL front office executive who loves thrashing about in free agency, turn away from Stephen Jones.

Never a fan of that portion of the Dallas Cowboys' offseason, Jones has made it clear time and again he understands fully what the dynamic of free agency is -- which is why he's so hellbent on avoiding falling into its trap so willfully.

With recent news surrounding the freedom of big fish like running backs Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles, Jones was asked if the Cowboys had any want of doing a 180-degree about face on their recently frugal strategies.

His answer was as clear as a crystal chandelier: No.

“I’ve said it always about free agency: Sometimes you’re required to use it, but you better go in with your eyes wide open that you’re overpaying," Jones said from the NFL Combine, via Dallas Cowboys Senior Writer Rob Phillips. "You’re going to pay good players like they’re great, average players like they’re good, below average players like they’re average. It’s just not a great way to build a football team.

"But, sometimes there [are] situations that do present themselves and you’ve got to be ready to do that if you see the right value there.”

http://dal.247sports.com/Bolt/What-...las-Cowboys-in-Week-1-of-free-agency-51679807

 

[Sydla]

And the strawman arguments continue.

I don't think one person here has suggested the Cowboys build their team through FA.

 

[Rogerthat12]

If you're looking for an NFL front office executive who loves thrashing about in free agency, turn away from Stephen Jones.

Never a fan of that portion of the Dallas Cowboys' offseason, Jones has made it clear time and again he understands fully what the dynamic of free agency is -- which is why he's so hellbent on avoiding falling into its trap so willfully.

With recent news surrounding the freedom of big fish like running backs Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles, Jones was asked if the Cowboys had any want of doing a 180-degree about face on their recently frugal strategies.

His answer was as clear as a crystal chandelier: No.

“I’ve said it always about free agency: Sometimes you’re required to use it, but you better go in with your eyes wide open that you’re overpaying," Jones said from the NFL Combine, via Dallas Cowboys Senior Writer Rob Phillips. "You’re going to pay good players like they’re great, average players like they’re good, below average players like they’re average. It’s just not a great way to build a football team.

"But, sometimes there [are] situations that do present themselves and you’ve got to be ready to do that if you see the right value there.”

http://dal.247sports.com/Bolt/What-...las-Cowboys-in-Week-1-of-free-agency-51679807

 

[Doomsday101]

I never expect anything from the peanut gallery. This is the time of year where some Cowboy fans get to complain that Jerry is not signing shiny objects and making it rain. Then phase 2 we get to hear how we will be lucky to win 5 to 8 games next season. It is the norm.

 

[Alexander]

I never expect anything from the peanut gallery. This is the time of year where some Cowboy fans get to complain that Jerry is not signing shiny objects and making it rain. Then phase 2 we get to hear how we will be lucky to win 5 to 8 games next season. It is the norm.

It is also the time of year where some Cowboy fans over exaggerate what they think other people want so they can pretend they actually are better fans because of it.

 

[Doomsday101]

It is also the time of year where some Cowboy fans over exaggerate what they think other people want so they can pretend they actually are better fans because of it.

People are entitled to their opinions I have no issue with that. Some in life are pessimist by nature and others optimist. I don't think the fact that the Cowboys refuse to be big players in FA is a bad thing. I do think they will make some moves in FA and look to the draft.

 

[Hardline]

.

Post of the week.

 

[plasticman]

Those teams sign a lot because they need to keep fans in the seats.

Yeah, you have to determine proportionate value AND opportunity cost.

Teams make big signings all the time. Patriots just gave Gilmore 40million guaranteed. Broncos went crazy on their SB run. If the Giants can fix their OL no one's going to care they spent money.

I just don't think we really care about FA this year. We have a young team, and we have a bunch of guys that missed time last year that should (hopefully) play this year. This is also an incredibly deep draft.

We're not in "win now" mode, we're in "get as much young talent as humanly possible to build around Dak and this offense" mode. They'll bring in some guys to contribute, but I think this year is really a "cut the dead weight and let the young guys play and see what we have" kinda year. We'll get a good barometer on the young talent, and next year we'll be about 60-70 mill under the cap. If we want to spend in FA, next year is the time, not this year.

I agree with just about everything you said. Sure, there are good "big" signings by successful teams but I think the good teams rarely engage in them, it's only when they find something that enhances a team already poised for a Super Bowl run.

Ultimately, veteran free agents can make good fillers on the right team but they won't turn a bad team average or an average team good. I think they typically lack that impact.

I don't think the Patriots are known for always having big signings but, when they do, they always seem to get their value. Does anyone remember a huge Patriot free agent signing that didn't work out?

If the Cowboys sign a free agent for a huge contract then they need to place their reputation on the decision. This guy would have to be special. The Cowboys have been burned far too often on big contracts that didn't work out. in the past, they couldn't even get it right with a kicker.

I never liked the idea of a big contract for a "former 6th round" that benefited from a successful system. I will never understand what they saw in Carr that made him so high paid at the time.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Post of the week.

 

[Sydla]

Sheard off the board.

3 years, 24.5MM. $12.5MM guaranteed.

 

[plasticman]

LOL.

So it's Garrett who taught Stephen Jones this stuff?

Hail, yes!

When your first NFL position is Vice President, it is not a sign of credible knowledge, skill and judgement, it's a sign your dad owns the team.

Attributing their present strategy to Stephen Jones doesn't even make sense. Where did he learn the impressive skills it takes to build a potentially dominating team? From Jerry? Please!

The guys that know what they are doing are put there because they proved in the past that they knew what they were doing and because they were deeply exposed to the skills and techniques involved. They started out in a junior position, mastered it, and was consequently promoted. They have a resume, not positive DNA results.

However, I will give Stephen Jones credit and immense respect for realizing this himself, giving Jason Garrett a real opportunity to build the team and for keeping his father at bay.....usually.

I'm not saying Stephen isn't smart. On the contrary, it is a very wise move to let your experts be the experts and not assume knowledge by osmosis. You don't get to be an expert simply by standing around experts.

Remember, it was Jason Garrett who provided the blueprint for building the team before he ever coached a practice as the permanent Head Coach. Prior to the 2011 season he told us exactly how he planned to build a team and the strategy he planned to use. It has mostly gone that way, with the exception of a few decisions that clearly came from elsewhere. I'm not saying he had final authority, I'm saying that it was clear from the talent decisions that the Jones's defer to him more than anybody else including themselves.

Also, unlike Stephen, his father actually was an expert in evaluating talent. His father was an NFL scout for almost thirty years. Even his brother Judd was a Director of Pro Personnel for the team. You know what that family would discuss at the dinner table.

Jason Garrett, spent years as a backup quarterback standing on the sidelines next to Jimmy Johnson, sat in classrooms taught by Norv Turner, began coaching under Nick Saban.

Anyone who doesn't logically conclude that Jason didn't build this team has an agenda intent on discrediting Garrett over an invalid belief.

I'm not saying that Jason doesn't have his opportunity to improve as a Head Coach. His aversion to flat dominating a team with the running game combined with his determination to design the next Saint offense drives me to insanity. But the guy knows how to build a team and a team culture.