Witten Contract?

[NoLuv4Jerry]

As I said earlier, he's fine for now, that isn't to suggest two years from now that his contract will be optimal, but it appears many care less about that and more about seeing their favorite players retire as cowboys. I'd much rather see this team win championships.

The owner has created this culture. It's actually pretty ingenious. The GM tries to win football games. The owner tries to make money. Since we are the Dallas Cowboys....making money is a lot easier than winning. Especially when the strengths of the owner is making money...and the strengths of the GM are still an unknown(to everyone except the owner). So the owner has chosen the path of least resistance.....make money. And because the owner has succeeded at making money.....it has bought the GM years of time to try and figure out how to do his job! Did you see what I did there

 

[Frozen700]

If he's eating up to much space, and we can save a lot, kick him out, just like Ware and Austin.

 

[Lonestar94]

OP wants Witten gone. Its the "cool' thing to do now

 

[AKATheRake]

OP wants Witten gone. Its the "cool' thing to do now

Lol! I didn't say yeh or neh.

I asked what everyone wants to do.

The consensus is he retires a Cowboy, not considering contract.

Then depending on his decline to wage ratio he either stays or goes.

But mostly let him retire here as he's paid his dues.

 

[Hoofbite]

It'll happen.

 

[Hoofbite]

As I said earlier, he's fine for now, that isn't to suggest two years from now that his contract will be optimal, but it appears many care less about that and more about seeing their favorite players retire as cowboys. I'd much rather see this team win championships.

Contracts are written at the discretion of the team so you could have both.

You could build a team that pays the youngest and most productive players the most while designing contracts that allow older, yet productive (albeit less), players to remain on your roster at lesser cap hits.

You'd have to pay more in the earlier years of the contract but you'd essentially be building in leeway for the player to decline as most players do.

Who here couldn't anticipate that Ware would be less productive at the age of 31 than he was at 28 or 29? Then why hope he can produce at the level necessary to justify his cap figure for this year?

There's obviously varying opinions on cap management, not just on this board but throughout the league. I think a decreased likelihood of having players finish their careers in Dallas is a natural consequence of taking all your discounts up front and creating a cap figure in later years that is nearly impossible for an aged player to justify simply because of decline over time.

 

[casmith07]

Witten's a bum guys, this will be the year - washed up, cut him now.

 

[Fredd]

wow, the guy has done nothing but produce and is a consummate professional on and off the field...he is not over paid...why is this even being discussed? he does NOT have the same scenario as Ware or Austin

is there going to be a thread on "Smith is pretty good, but he is about to get paid. What do you want to do with him?"

 

[casmith07]

wow, the guy has done nothing but produce and is a consummate professional on and off the field...he is not over paid...why is this even being discussed? he does NOT have the same scenario as Ware or Austin

is there going to be a thread on "Smith is pretty good, but he is about to get paid. What do you want to do with him?"

To your first paragraph - you're right. But this is CowboysZone. These people are only happy to bash someone. Doesn't matter who. Look what they did with Ware after he missed games for the first time in his career.

To your second paragraph, you know it's coming.

 

[Galian Beast]

I love the straw man arguments. No one said cut Witten right now. What people, myself included have said is that his play has to match his contract going forward, and when it doesn't you release him or ask him to work on his contract.

There are people here who can't seem to understand that, and want these players here no matter what they're getting paid, and no matter what they do on the field.

Winning comes first.

 

[casmith07]

I love the straw man arguments. No one said cut Witten right now. What people, myself included have said is that his play has to match his contract going forward, and when it doesn't you release him or ask him to work on his contract.

There are people here who can't seem to understand that, and want these players here no matter what they're getting paid, and no matter what they do on the field.

Winning comes first.

Just a veiled way to start the train. We're just getting ahead to the point you'll be making in February next year if Witten doesn't have an All-Pro season.

 

[Galian Beast]

Just a veiled way to start the train. We're just getting ahead to the point you'll be making in February next year if Witten doesn't have an All-Pro season.

If Witten doesn't have an all pro season, yet we're paying him like an all-pro... You're really not good at this huh?

 

[Fredd]

To your first paragraph - you're right. But this is CowboysZone. These people are only happy to bash someone. Doesn't matter who. Look what they did with Ware after he missed games for the first time in his career.

To your second paragraph, you know it's coming.

I mean, people love to make stuff up, but this is (basically) throwing Witten under the bus...really? if his production was limited and his salary was prohibitive, then I could understand the comments (not agree with them)....but this stuff (these notions) cracks me up

 

[zrinkill]

it appears many care less about that and more about seeing their favorite players retire as cowboys. I'd much rather see this team win championships.

So the secret behind this whole thread is so you could say that line.

very clever

 

[xwalker]

Since it's the cool thing to do?

What you guys wanna do with Witten?

His salary is 5M and he played almost 100% of the offensive snaps in 2013. That's a drastically different situation than Ware.

 

[BlindFaith]

Contracts are written at the discretion of the team so you could have both.

You could build a team that pays the youngest and most productive players the most while designing contracts that allow older, yet productive (albeit less), players to remain on your roster at lesser cap hits.

You'd have to pay more in the earlier years of the contract but you'd essentially be building in leeway for the player to decline as most players do.

Who here couldn't anticipate that Ware would be less productive at the age of 31 than he was at 28 or 29? Then why hope he can produce at the level necessary to justify his cap figure for this year?

There's obviously varying opinions on cap management, not just on this board but throughout the league. I think a decreased likelihood of having players finish their careers in Dallas is a natural consequence of taking all your discounts up front and creating a cap figure in later years that is nearly impossible for an aged player to justify simply because of decline over time.

This is exactly the dilemma with what the Cowboys are doing.

Jason Witten counts $8,412,000 towards the cap this year. (Highest cap hit for a TE in the NFL)
Vernon Davis - $7,342,916
Rob Gronkowski counts $5,400,00

Is Witten the best TE in the league? No, but his cap hit suggests he is. And his cap hit is what it is because of restructuring.

 

[Nightman]

This is exactly the dilemma with what the Cowboys are doing.

Jason Witten counts $8,412,000 towards the cap this year. (Highest cap hit for a TE in the NFL)
Vernon Davis - $7,342,916
Rob Gronkowski counts $5,400,00

Is Witten the best TE in the league? No, but his cap hit suggests he is. And his cap hit is what it is because of restructuring.

And it can be restructured again to make him the 12th highest, right next to Craig Stevens and Jer Gresham

 

[Future]

What does that have to do with Witten who is still incredibly productive and isn't overpaid?

Well, like Ware, they haven't won diddly piddly with him.

And anyone who thinks he hasn't declined is sorely mistaken, imo. The pick that went off his shoulder in the Philly game should be evidence enough of that.

They should have traded him two years ago.

 

[Jason 82 Witten]

In my opinion, Witten is one of the few that have lived up to their contract

 

[gmoney112]

This is exactly the dilemma with what the Cowboys are doing.

Jason Witten counts $8,412,000 towards the cap this year. (Highest cap hit for a TE in the NFL)
Vernon Davis - $7,342,916
Rob Gronkowski counts $5,400,00

Is Witten the best TE in the league? No, but his cap hit suggests he is. And his cap hit is what it is because of restructuring.

His "cap hit" has nothing to do with his salary or how much he's getting paid. It's simply a number for salary cap purposes.

His salary is 5 million this season. I doubt anyone can sit here with a straight face and say that's a bad figure for Jason.

As for as what to do with him, you keep him until he isn't worth his salary. Just like any other player.