Why are the Cowboys being so conservative with the Cap?

[LandryFan]

True, but don't be surprised if top QB's have salary cap numbers in the $30-$40M range, WR's in the $20-$25M range. Same with d-lineman. Top RB's $15M or so.

The cap rises quickly. But cap numbers will also rise quickly. I would not be surprised if Fredricks and Martin's cap numbers are around $15M when the time comes for their second contracts. ANd the team needs to keep that future cap space open for when that happens.

Valid point. However, I have a feeling that our next QB will be playing on a rookie contract and if that bears out, that would be a significant help. But you're right regarding paying the OLine and others. The "cap" seems to be the proverbial "tail" that the dog keeps chasing.

 

[Bluefin]

I really think they'd like to get out from under that Romo cap hit if they can.

It definitely gives me the impression the team is worried about Tony Romo's health.

But I've also heard/read that his deal will be restructured in the event it becomes necessary.

If the guaranteed portion of Romo's 2015 base salary ($15M) is converted into a signing bonus, it would create $12M in cap space. They could create even more space or do a smaller amount. But whatever happens, if this turned out to be Romo's final season, he could be released for cap savings using the June designation in 2016.

The Cowboys would save $8.5M, netting just over $8M after accounting for a new salary in their top 51, when the move became official on June 2nd, 2016.

There would be a large dead money hit in 2017, it's $10M right now and would result in $11.5M in savings versus the QB's current cap number.

With my proposed restructure, the dead money would be $19M and would result in $5.5M in savings versus Romo's adjusted cap number.

The difference in these two paths is just $6M.

I'd do it.

 

[LittleD]

You look at the contracts given out Chuck... they're goofy.

$60 mil guaranteed to Suh.
$39 mil guaranteed to a 30-yo Revis.
Parnell becoming the 3rd highest paid RT based on 7 starts.
Harris getting $3.5 mil per season.

These (and many more) have the potential to become very bad contracts very quickly.

It's been a while (Carr maybe?) since the Cowboys gave out a contract that made one think "Geez, this probably isn't going to end well."

I think the Carr deal was the straw that broke the camel's back. Stephen and Garrett
are running a much more taut ship these days.

 

[gimmesix]

Current cap space:
2015
8M nowMore if Carr takes a pay cut or is restructured, 8M more if Carr is June 1st cut
More is Dez signs a contract
More if Romo restructured.
About 30M if Romo, Lee, Witten and Carr restructured.
About 8M more is Dez signs a contract.

2016
54M without Carr, down to 39M if Dez franchised again
Only 41 under contract, but bottom 12 of 53 and practice squad about 10M
That's 29M with Dez franchised, 53 on roster and practice squad
The 29M does not including any restructures.
Crawford is the only significant FA
One thing that is interesting is that Romo's base salaries have averaged about 17M but in 2016 his base is only 8.5M.

2017
77M without Carr
Not many players under contract, but not much committed.
109M if Witten and Free are gone and Romo, Tyron and Lee restructured.

Without restructures, it would be a 2.5M cap hit in 2018 if Romo was cut before that season.

Summary: There seems to be plenty of room in future years that would allow money from 2015 to be restructured and pushed forward.

I think Jerry Jones rides trends. Last year, the Cowboys decided to change its plan from paying aging veterans because of the injury troubles that had cropped up on defense for two seasons. Following that course, they replaced those vets with lower-priced fill-ins and it worked out probably better than Dallas could have imagined on defense, and Dallas made it as far as it has in the playoffs since the glory days.

So, Jerry seems to be riding that trend of spending only on low-priced FAs despite having the ability through restructures to bring in blue-chip players. When that fails (and it eventually will), he'll shift to another trend.

 

[DFWJC]

It definitely gives me the impression the team is worried about Tony Romo's health.

But I've also heard/read that his deal will be restructured in the event it becomes necessary.

If the guaranteed portion of Romo's 2015 base salary ($15M) is converted into a signing bonus, it would create $12M in cap space. They could create even more space or do a smaller amount. But whatever happens, if this turned out to be Romo's final season, he could be released for cap savings using the June designation in 2016.

The Cowboys would save $8.5M, netting just over $8M after accounting for a new salary in their top 51, when the move became official on June 2nd, 2016.

There would be a large dead money hit in 2017, it's $10M right now and would result in $11.5M in savings versus the QB's current cap number.

With my proposed restructure, the dead money would be $19M and would result in $5.5M in savings versus Romo's adjusted cap number.

The difference in these two paths is just $6M.

I'd do it.

His health is really good right now...the best it's been in 3 years.
Still, at 35, it's smart to be cautious.

You're right about the re-structure....They 'd prefer not to do it now, but you can be sure if the right players (especially our own) become available at a price acceptable to the FO, they will use that option IF needed.

 

[Rockport]

Current cap space:
2015
8M nowMore if Carr takes a pay cut or is restructured, 8M more if Carr is June 1st cut
More is Dez signs a contract
More if Romo restructured.
About 30M if Romo, Lee, Witten and Carr restructured.
About 8M more is Dez signs a contract.

2016
54M without Carr, down to 39M if Dez franchised again
Only 41 under contract, but bottom 12 of 53 and practice squad about 10M
That's 29M with Dez franchised, 53 on roster and practice squad
The 29M does not including any restructures.
Crawford is the only significant FA
One thing that is interesting is that Romo's base salaries have averaged about 17M but in 2016 his base is only 8.5M.

2017
77M without Carr
Not many players under contract, but not much committed.
109M if Witten and Free are gone and Romo, Tyron and Lee restructured.

Without restructures, it would be a 2.5M cap hit in 2018 if Romo was cut before that season.

Summary: There seems to be plenty of room in future years that would allow money from 2015 to be restructured and pushed forward.

They've been telling you for weeks why. FA's generally garner contracts that far outweigh their playing abilities. JG is building a young team via the draft . It's no coincidence last years team was successful. They were one of the youngest teams in the league. Signing high priced FA's is counter intuitive to having good team chemistry.

 

[DFWJC]

I think the Carr deal was the straw that broke the camel's back. Stephen and Garrett
are running a much more taut ship these days.

They've been bitten badly several times lately....intentionally (Ratliff?) and unintentionally (Spencer).

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Stephen Jones does not want to get into a situation the Saints find themselves in today.

I disagree. The Saints WON a Super Bowl with that core...and many owners would do just about ANYTHING to win a Super Bowl. It's not like the league, it's team etc...are not FLUSH with cash. It is about winning a Super Bowl. Especially for a franchise like Dallas. Being in the playoffs and being in the conversation is for the Bengals..this is Dallas. And last year was good...but not good enough!

 

[DFWJC]

I disagree. The Saints WON a Super Bowl with that core...and many owners would do just about ANYTHING to win a Super Bowl. It's not like the league, it's team etc...are not FLUSH with cash. It is about winning a Super Bowl. Especially for a franchise like Dallas. Being in the playoffs and being in the conversation is for the Bengals..this is Dallas. And last year was good...but not good enough!

I think the big spending came in the last 3 years...which was after they won a Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl team was made up heavily of draft picks and discounted free agents.

 

[canters]

We are waiting for some reason. The obvious reason would be we don't want to overpay having been there and done that in the past. The "good" players are getting signed however.

I never believd we were looking for qaulity starters in FA-just depth and role players. We have not heard about Carr doing a new contract at all-I wonder if he will be cut?

My guess is that Murray and Dez are the reasons we have not been aggressive?

 

[Direwolf63]

I disagree. The Saints WON a Super Bowl with that core...and many owners would do just about ANYTHING to win a Super Bowl. It's not like the league, it's team etc...are not FLUSH with cash. It is about winning a Super Bowl. Especially for a franchise like Dallas. Being in the playoffs and being in the conversation is for the Bengals..this is Dallas. And last year was good...but not good enough!

Yes. But the Patriots won 4 Super Bowls and the Steelers won 2 Super Bowls using a philosophy more in line with what the Cowboys are trying today. Build through the draft and fill holes using inexpensive free agents. In Pittsburgh case, they almost never isgn any FA's.

There is more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

It is easier to get players to accept less if you don't have much cap space. If you have $25M in cap space, it is hard to tell a player you can't make it work with your present cap situation. Or you can't get a player to take a pay cut if you are sitting on $25M of cap space.

Let the market come to you. No need to be paying over sticker price for the latest and greatest only to find something just as good one month later at a much cheaper price.

Most of the early and active participants in FA this year were teams that drafted poorly the past several years.

This is the by-product of being 12-4, drafting well and managing the cap wisely. No need to be out there begging and paying through the nose.

 

[Direwolf63]

Good points.

 

[Bluefin]

We have not heard about Carr doing a new contract at all-I wonder if he will be cut?

Reports have Dallas slow playing things with Brandon Carr.

They don't need to do anything right now, Carr's contract can be carried as is.

Once the market has settled and teams have spent money on all the best free agents and added new blood during the draft, the Cowboys will be in a stronger position to "offer" Carr a pay cut. The cornerback would stand to make a lot more with Dallas the next two seasons at a reduced rate than he would find on the open market in May/June.

 

[DFWJC]

Yes. But the Patriots won 4 Super Bowls and the Steelers won 2 Super Bowls using a philosophy more in line with what the Cowboys are trying today. Build through the draft and fill holes using inexpensive free agents. In Pittsburgh case, they almost never isgn any FA's.

There is more than one way to skin a cat.

actually "no".
New Orleans' Super Bowl team got Brees 4 years earlier, but was made up of draft picks and less expensive FAs. Much more like Dallas is trying to do now and how Green Bay almost always does.
And as you said, the Pats and Steelers too.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The question becomes can the team draft impact players @ DL to make this D playoff formidable in Romo's window. The draft route (exclusively it seems) will put even more pressure on rooks to generate the pass rush. That seems like a bit of a gamble considering all the resources that were tied into making the team Romo "friendly". Is the window now or is it not? That's what has been a bit confusing concerning this off-season and lack of aggression towards helping the DL. I like patience, but the pass rush has to come from somewhere, and we saw with Lawrence last season, it can take some time to develop.

Well this is also assuming Demarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford and the rest of our young lineman don't continue to progress. IF they continue to get better as they have shown than the defensive line already is better than last year.

 

[Direwolf63]

actually "no".
New Orleans' Super Bowl team got Brees 4 years earlier, but was made up of draft picks and less expensive FAs. Much more like Dallas is trying to do now and how Green Bay almost always does.
And as you said, the Pats and Steelers too.

Thanks for setting me straight. Your right. The Saints mortgaged their future to try to stay on top and the bill is due. They changed after winning and it's cost them big time.

 

[LittleD]

Everyone please take vacation until next Tuesday and then come back and visit the board.
By that time, most all the big name-high dollar players will be signed and we'll have a much
better view of who Dallas might look to bring in for KMart "Blue Light" special Vet Min
2yr deals with little signing bonus. This is the way of the future for Cowboy FA business
and since there are many roads to Dublin, this one might set us up for much better
seasons in the years ahead.

 

[rynochop]

I really think they'd like to get out from under that Romo cap hit if they can.

Why and how?

 

[skinsscalper]

You should be banned for being so sensible! BTW, I very much agree that Murray will return. When he wasn't signed by someone else right out of the gate, the odds of him returning increased significantly. The more time that goes by with him unsigned, the greater the odds he returns. JMO.

And Dallas will have played the whole thing out perfectly. Meanwhile, the Summer's Eve crew will change their diapers and move on to the next whinefest.