When building a roster: WWBBD

[Bobhaze]

If Brady leaves, then WWBBD comes more into focus. I think Bill changes some of his tactics if he doesn't have the goat on the team. I dont think he would be as enamoured with Dak, at least not to the tone of 35 million. I think Bill would have traded Dak after the 2018 season to get something for him while his value is high. I think Bill would not carry as much of his cap space with this o line, his track record proves it. I kinda disagree with you on the point about Dez. Bill would have made Dez a better player and let's not forget that Bill gave Antonio Brown a shot. Dez would be a cheap experienced chess piece to try out in training camp. Finally, when we look at WWBD, we also need to consider WDJND. What did Jason not do.

Good points. The difference with Antonio Brown is he still had most of his physical ability whereas Dez doesn’t. AB was signed with the idea of him as a starter. Dez is being looked at as a #4 supposedly. So different purposes involved there. I don’t see BB signing an aging WR as a backup.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I thought for sure this thread was "What Would Bryan Broaddus Do?"

I can't speak for Belichick but its always a question of value. If Dez comes back for the minimum salary, I can see it. He would have been a Cowboy this whole time if he had taken a paycut instead of refusing to negotiate.

I thought it was reported that they didn't ask Dez to take a pay cut

 

[fansince68]

Good points. The difference with Antonio Brown is he still had most of his physical ability whereas Dez doesn’t. AB was signed with the idea of him as a starter. Dez is being looked at as a #4 supposedly. So different purposes involved there. I don’t see BB signing an aging WR as a backup.

At the moment, Dez is an enigma. We don't know what he has left in the tank. If he had depleted skills, he will be beat out by one of the other receivers. Will Dez be #4? We have 2 unrestricted free agent WR. Btw, I really enjoy your posts. You make me think.

 

[kskboys]

You’re saying that with hindsight.

When he was in Buffalo a lot of people on this forum didn’t think he was all that.

Yeah, but people on this forum are often wrong en masse.

 

[kskboys]

You know Zeke’s cap hit won’t be 15M until 2022, and we can get out of the deal in 2023 with minimal dead money. It’s actually a pretty team friendly deal. He’s 10M this year and 12M next year. Kamara, McCaffrey, Gordon, Barkley, and Cook will all be surpassing him by them. It was honestly a pretty team friendly deal man, don’t let sticker shock fool you

https://www.___GET_REAL_URL___/s/sp...-deal-really-a-team-friendly-4-year-deal/amp/

“It’s safe to call this a win-win for both the Dallas Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott. Zeke got his status as the highest paid RB in the NFL (kind of) and the security of roughly $50 million in guarantees, while Dallas keeps the average annual salary lower than the $15 million per year indicates because they are ponying up the cash early. Dallas also gets an early out should something happen on or off the field put Zeke’s contributions in jeopardy.
Some in the national media are calling this a clear victory for Zeke, but this worked out to be pretty ideal scenario for the Dallas Cowboys as well. In fact, if we had to pick a lone “winner” in this, we’d have to go with the team since they can control this going forward and only committed to 2 extra years of Zeke. The only part the Dallas Cowboys are really locked into is $50,052,137 over the next four years (which is an average of $12.5 million). And by the time 2023 comes, $15 million per season may be outside of the top-5 so he may be a bargain to keep.
At face value it looks like Zeke cashed in huge and really took the Dallas Cowboys to the shed. But this beauty is only skin deep and the Dallas Cowboys are fully in control of this team-friendly contract.“

They won't listen. People have already been told this several times, but they'd rather P and Moan about Zeke than use their brains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Seven]

You think Belichick is signing Dak for his contract demands? Why?

You also think he wouldn’t sign Byron? He overpaid for Gillmore when most people, besides myself, thought he wasn’t anything special.

Btw, didn’t they bring Dez in for a workout? Maybe Dez didn’t want to play at the time and BB figured that out. Sean Payton eventually signed him anyways.

Who else did he overpay for?

More importantly, who was shown the door?

 

[GMO415]

Hahaha, Bullet I thought you were referring to Brian Braudus at first.

 

[Diehardblues]

I'll set aside "he'd of" and focus on the premise - Bill would already have a plan? He's watching Brady walk away with Jarrett Stidham and Cody Kessler as the only QBs on his roster.

I respect what BB has accomplished this century, but this notion that he'd have a QB back up plan in place is refuted by the fact that he doesn't have one in New England.

I’d argue those two QB are much better than anyone we have sitting on the bench. I followed Stidham at Baylor and Auburn. Brady hasn’t officially left either. And if he does I have already heard rumors he’s ready to pull the trigger in 1st round.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I think you described part of what goes into our owner/GMs thinking every year- investing in “marquee players” for entertainment value, not necessarily “championship” value. Putting together a roster that can win a championship should be the #1 priority. But with this owner, winning is desired but not as much as winning at the cash register.

I think Jerry is primarily motivated by money, but I don't think he does the marquee player thing as much anymore. He let Ware go. Dez go. Tony go.

Witten is the exception I can think of, and that still made sense for the team and was only a mil or two too expensive.

I think Jerry is more interested in his financial empire, but I don't think he spends cap poorly for marketing purposes. It's more in how he runs the team, starting with him at the head, and yapping in the media. That costs the coaches control, and hurts our chances to win that way.

 

[DanA]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

• History suggest BB would re-sign Dez (reference Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon)
• History suggest he wouldn't re-sign Jones (reference Malcom Butler)
• History has shown BB has been ruthless with DL so probably would have cut Tyrone Crawford and wouldn't re-sign Quinn.
• We don't have any history to go off with respect to Dak Prescott but I doubt he would have paid Jaylon Smith or Zeke. (I'm thinking Collins and just about every RB)

 

[gjkoeppen]

They did...and I could be wrong here, but I don’t think they were as serious as they should have been. Put it this way, if Dak started playing hardball last summer on a contract, why hasn’t this FO picked up a decent backup to use if Dak decided to hold out. Or at least this FO should have some kind of coherent strategy about the QB position in all contingencies. Seems like another example of JJ believing in a best case scenario instead of being prepared for the worst.

Here's the problem I have with people always bringing up belicheat. Besides being caught chearting and the patriotsas a team having to pay the price for that, he was in the league 12 years before before the patriots job. Learning and developing his style (including cheating) yet nobody brags about his first head coaching job with the browns. 15 years in the league and he gets the browns job and in 5 seasons had one winning season. When people talk about belicheat why isn't his job with the browns ever mentioned?

Yes belicheat has made what turned out to be some smart moves with the patriots, but he's not infallible.
.

 

[StuckMojo]

Belichick never would’ve paid Zeke in a million years. Stupid mistake on our part.

If you think Zeke’s contract was a mistake wait til you see Dak’s!!

 

[gjkoeppen]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

• History suggest BB would re-sign Dez (reference Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon)
• History suggest he wouldn't re-sign Jones (reference Malcom Butler)
• History has shown BB has been ruthless with DL so probably would have cut Tyrone Crawford and wouldn't re-sign Quinn.
• We don't have any history to go off with respect to Dak Prescott but I doubt he would have paid Jaylon Smith or Zeke. (I'm thinking Collins and just about every RB)

Here's some answers about your list. Yes the patriots have signed some troubled receivers but to only one or two year contracts because belicheat has a zero tolerance for any trouble. Brown after just a single game and more off the field issues came up and he was cut. Gordon after finally getting reinstated he played and eventually got injured and was placed on IR. While on IR he made some statements about how things are handled and belicheat released him as injured. Bryant is a over the hill, 31 year old with an achilles injury history, who was never considered a fast receiver who has to be even slower today and has the distinction of leading the league in drops and you think belicheat would give him a chance? Any team can sign Bryant who isn't under contract with any team today if they wanted him but nobody has, including belicheat.

Next your RB statement is probably why the patriots have never had the league leader in rushing. One last thing list all of the players belicheat let go who the season before led the patriots in any category? Quinn led the Cowboys in sacks and is only 29 and in the prime of his career. Belicheat has a history of letting players go a year earlier rather than a year to late.

 

[Hardline]

I'm more concerned about WWMMD.

What would Mike Mccarthy do.

 

[Nav22]

If you think Zeke’s contract was a mistake wait til you see Dak’s!!

Good starting QBs are worth a thousand times what a good RB is worth.

And only a complete idiot would rank Dak outside the top 12. He’s also young, durable and continues to improve.

 

[StuckMojo]

Good starting QBs are worth a thousand times what a good RB is worth.

And only a complete idiot would rank Dak outside the top 12. He’s also young, durable and continues to improve.

Didn’t say anything about Dak being outside top 12 but a complete idiot would think Dak deserves top pay

 

[pancakeman]

How to add more weight to your opinions:

1. Identify the most successful coach of all time.
2. Decide on your preferred roster moves.
3. Attribute those preferences to the coach through speculation.

 

[Diehardblues]

I think Jerry is primarily motivated by money, but I don't think he does the marquee player thing as much anymore. He let Ware go. Dez go. Tony go.

Witten is the exception I can think of, and that still made sense for the team and was only a mil or two too expensive.

I think Jerry is more interested in his financial empire, but I don't think he spends cap poorly for marketing purposes. It's more in how he runs the team, starting with him at the head, and yapping in the media. That costs the coaches control, and hurts our chances to win that way.

Correct. Jerry’s motivation isn’t driven solely by money. It’s driven by his control and passion to run football operations. The revenue provides him the opportunity to continue his selfish passions.

He contributed his revenue generating ingenuity to secure his football control because he knew that the only thing that would make him change his selfish ways was the fans forcing him to change with revenue declining.

 

[jazzcat22]

I don't give a crap what BB would do. I care what MM does as well as the FO from this point forward.
I don't give a crap about the past years either. Many were wasted, we know, we get the point. But I look to what possibly can happen since we have a new HC and staff.
It looks to get much better, though we really never know, but at least the past is out and the future looks better.

 

[Diehardblues]

I don't give a crap what BB would do. I care what MM does as well as the FO from this point forward.
I don't give a crap about the past years either. Many were wasted, we know, we get the point. But I look to what possibly can happen since we have a new HC and staff.
It looks to get much better, though we really never know, but at least the past is out and the future looks better.

Then this might not a thread you’re interested in participating. Bobs intent here appears to be thoughts on how Bill might have made tough decisions with our roster.

Perhaps you can start a thread of your own discussing what our HC would do.