What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

**OFFICIAL 2014 Dallas Cowboys Offseason Thread (1 Viewer)

Texasmouth

Texasmouth

Footballguy
2013 is good and gone....let's start talking about what is going on this year, this off season, etc.

- Draft ideas

- Free agency

- Departing free agents

- Recovering injuries

- Outlook for 2014

 
I am reading in a lot of places that Miles Austin will be a cut sooner rather than later. I think Terrance Willians, Cole Beasley, Harris can do fine without Austin since they have been anyway.

I am also a fan of Escobar, I think he gets a lot more looks this year.

As far as the draft, I think we need Dline help. I am not as high on drafting a safety. We already have young guys that are learning and progressing. An improved Dline instantly makes the secondary better. I would like to see a dominant D-lineman selected. Would love to see the kid from Florida State slide to the Cowboys.

I am also worried about Sean Lee getting hurt every season. The guy just place with reckless abandonment.

 
So many holes to fill, not enough healthy players or FA money $

With all the cap issues we've had from Jerry, we can't sign any FA's to fill the holes. Same story different year.

He's going to do it again when he restructures Ware this year. As much as I love the guy, time to save $15ML and build.

We are dependent on the draft and that's not been great. Sure we've had hits like Dez, Smith and Fredrick.

Lee is great if healthy. Lots of misses here though.

I'd like to see them go DL,OL,LB and Safety. Add a young QB later and get rid of an expensive backup. Groom the young guy as an eventual replacement for Tony.

If we get some additional compensation picks, then take flyers on WR's/RB/OL

Here's hoping Jerry doesn't think we're just one game away from making the playoffs and starting that BIG run he's always talking about. We're pretty far away from any run IMO. BUILD BUILD BUILD Please

 
BigDave said:
Add a young QB later and get rid of an expensive backup. Groom the young guy as an eventual replacement for Tony.

BUILD BUILD BUILD Please
Click to expand...
They worked out Mike Kafka a few days ago :shrug:

Jerry shouldn't even worry about the playoffs this year. Cut some salary, don't reach in the draft, try to acquire more picks, and build for the future - 2015 on. They will continue to be in cap hell the way he has been moving and restructuring contracts and continues to do it. They are not close to being a Super Bowl winning team. He needs to realize it.

 
I will not denigrate the talent of their players, but I will say that they are overpaying too many players. Today's game is a game of maximizing the value of a dollar and Jerry Jones is incapable of doing so. Yes he bought some championships before the cap came into being and he managed to take advantage of

the foolishness of Mike Lynn in the most epic of lopsided trades, but he has done nothing, and I mean nothing, when on a level financial playing field with others.

He has started this off season as foolishly as last year. He sticks by Jason Garret while at the same time continuing to slowly neuter him with a dull

knife. The players see that there are three head coaches on the staff and none of them are named Jason Garret. This is a recipe for disaster. Jones will continue to overpay Romo which means he has to skimp elsewhere, and this is not a team that can afford to skimp on talent by overpaying the wrong talent. He is in danger of losing Ware's value completely or continuing to overpay for it, or I suppose, he has the option to continue the slow death of the team by moving salary deficits out further into the future.

This team needs to understand it has to completely rebuild after getting out from under salary cap hell. All large cap number players over 28 years old should be sold now for whatever draft value they have. The cowboys should stockpile draft choices in the round 2 and round 3 range and should accept that this next year they are going to be young and rebuilding while they get their cap under control. They will in that circumstance essentially be drafting #1 overall in 2015. From there they can move forward with their young nucleus and healthy cap. Jerry needs to remember that 4 years ago S.F. and Seattle were wrecks. Things can be turned around pretty quickly in this league, but only if the G.M. and owner are realists. Since Jerry is both he will have to wake up himself to the fact that the present formula is not working. He needs to go hands off and he needs to hire a great and all powerful G.M. in sync with a dynamic young coach.

Of course none of this is new. None of it. All see it except the most delusional of Cowboy fans and Jerry Jones himself. I must note that for a long time I have found the vast majority of Cowboy fans to be obnoxious, delusional idiots. No more. The last 15 years of Jerry Jones has shocked these folks back to reality. Now most just want their team, their history, and their pride back from the Razorback carpetbagger.

As I see it the only hope for Dallas fans is if Jones sells the team, and there is no way that happens as long as he can fill Jerryworld. If Cowboy fans want a return to former glory they need to drive Jerry from their midst. They need to stop buying merchandise, they need to stop going to games, and they need to stop watching. They need to use Jerryworld against Jerry. He cannot relocate the franchise if it suffers none support because the franchise value is tied to the stadium and to the ardent nature of Texas folk. Cowboy fans need to break Jerry.

He has become as delusional as Al Davis was and he will make his franchise just as big a laughingstock if left to his own devices.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
If the core of this team can stay healthy there is no reason they can't win and make the playoffs in what should be a weaker division. Really odd coaching situation but really ... I can't imagine a rebuild at this time with so many veterans including Romo it just doesn't make sense. If the team stays healthy then 9+ wins are a given while a lack of health from what has proved to be injury prone talent and instead we are more likely to have another near-miss.

I don't think drafting a safety makes sense for a team in contention and typically take awhile to become viable so veterans is likely the way to go. Not sure drafting OL, WR, RB, QB, or TE make sense ... but a mid to late pick at any would be OK for me if there are any clear BPA. Primarily I want nothing but DL/DE drafted with a few LB and SF mixed in.

At some point the deferred cash means a tanked season or two but hopefully Jerry PLANS for it and takes the hit and gains a VERY high pick all at once. It is coming ... but 2014 shouldn't be the year.

 
I think the new TE coach, who is one of the best in the business, will be a huge help to Escobar and Hanna. I can definitely see Escobar having a much bigger year ahead.

Like everyone, I want to see 2 or 3 DL taken. Hopefully starting in the first. But if the board doesn't fall right, then I'd have no problem going OL again in the first. We still need to add young talent there.

More passrush will improve the DB and LB play.

I also agree with some of the above posters that there are too many holes and not enough real options to fill them. This team seems at least a couple more good drafts away from being a realistic contender. Of course, that will mean that the team has wasted the talents of Ware, Witten, Romo, Ratliff, Hatcher, Spencer, Austin, etc. Sad.

 
I am just resigned to the fact that this team will never be a winner again with Jerry Jones as the owner/GM. One stupid decision after another.

 
New Orleans just cut Greer, Harper and Smith today, clearing $17ML in cap space. That's the way you get younger and manage older players in this cap system.

Miles is certain as a June 1st cut. How about Ware? He's really the only player that

can open up cap space and he's on the age decline and more often injured. I love the guy for what he's

done, but it's not practical to pay him or even renegotiate and take a future cap hit.

Draft a skilled DE and put Ware in the ring of honor as soon as possible.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Obviously, defense will be the focus of the draft. I'm torn about what to grab first: S or DL/DE.

Agreed about Jones. He is a detriment to the Dallas Cowboys.

 
Ariakis said:
If the core of this team can stay healthy there is no reason they can't win and make the playoffs in what should be a weaker division. Really odd coaching situation but really ... I can't imagine a rebuild at this time with so many veterans including Romo it just doesn't make sense. If the team stays healthy then 9+ wins are a given while a lack of health from what has proved to be injury prone talent and instead we are more likely to have another near-miss.

I don't think drafting a safety makes sense for a team in contention and typically take awhile to become viable so veterans is likely the way to go. Not sure drafting OL, WR, RB, QB, or TE make sense ... but a mid to late pick at any would be OK for me if there are any clear BPA. Primarily I want nothing but DL/DE drafted with a few LB and SF mixed in.

At some point the deferred cash means a tanked season or two but hopefully Jerry PLANS for it and takes the hit and gains a VERY high pick all at once. It is coming ... but 2014 shouldn't be the year.
Click to expand...
I get that Dallas had a lot of injuries in 2013, but were they equally injured in 2011 and 2012 when they could only manage 8 wins both years with Garrett and relatively the same supporting cast? I don't see how you say 9+ wins is a given if they stay healthy.

 
Is this overly optimistic? I suppose 5-13 is possible but the usual 7-9 wins seems more likely. Assumes a healthy squad (for a change) and improvements on defense (hard to be worse) this schedule isn't great (NFCW) but not horrible as the offense should be solid ... just win 4 of 8 coin flips and there's your 9 win season and (weak NFCE) division champ:


5 Should wins
8 Coin flips
3 Losses

New York Giants (7-9)
* Should win

Philadelphia (10-6)
* Winnable

Washington (3-13)
* Should win

Arizona (10-6)
* Winnable

San Francisco (12-4)
* Loss

Houston (2-14)
* Should win

Indianapolis (11-5)
* Winnable

New Orleans (11-5)
* Winnable

Cowboys’ road games:

New York Giants (7-9)
* Winnable

Philadelphia (10-6)
* Likely loss

Washington (3-13)
* Winnable

St. Louis (7-9)
* Winnable

Seattle (13-3)
* Loss

Jacksonville (4-12) — at London
* Should win

Tennessee (7-9)
* Should win

Chicago (8-8)
* Winnable
 
Ariakis said:
Is this overly optimistic? I suppose 5-13 is possible but the usual 7-9 wins seems more likely. Assumes a healthy squad (for a change) and improvements on defense (hard to be worse) this schedule isn't great (NFCW) but not horrible as the offense should be solid ... just win 4 of 8 coin flips and there's your 9 win season and (weak NFCE) division champ:


5 Should wins
8 Coin flips
3 Losses

New York Giants (7-9)
* Should win

Philadelphia (10-6)
* Winnable

Washington (3-13)
* Should win

Arizona (10-6)
* Winnable

San Francisco (12-4)
* Loss

Houston (2-14)
* Should win

Indianapolis (11-5)
* Winnable

New Orleans (11-5)
* Winnable

Cowboys’ road games:

New York Giants (7-9)
* Winnable

Philadelphia (10-6)
* Likely loss

Washington (3-13)
* Winnable

St. Louis (7-9)
* Winnable

Seattle (13-3)
* Loss

Jacksonville (4-12) — at London
* Should win

Tennessee (7-9)
* Should win

Chicago (8-8)
* Winnable
Click to expand...
I didn't say the Cowboys couldn't win 9+ games. I was saying that it is in no way a given that they win 9+ games if they stay healthy. Keep in mind that no one was predicting the AFC west to be as good as it was last year before the season. I don't think the AFC South will be as bad as last year, and I think the Eagles and Redskins will be better this year. The other thing about the Cowboys, because of their weak depth, which probably won't get much better this year due to no cap space, even if they have a normal amount of injuries, they are not well equipped to plug guys in and not lose much.

 
Jerry seems to REALLY be pissed off at Ware missing time

if Dallas cuts him he'll prolly end up within the division giving them fits

 
So Jerry's solution to get under the cap is to move more cap money into the future for Romo, Lee, and Scandrick:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/04/dallas-creates-more-cap-room-by-restructuring-tony-romo/

If Romo has a career ending injury (keep in mind he has had back issues) this year, The Cowboys will take about a $40 million cap hit next year. Jerry is gambling that his overpaid

veterans keep performing at a high level long enough for the cap to go up and their deferred cap bonuses to be worked off. The problem is each year there is no new money available because

he has so much in prior bonuses hitting the current year cap.

 
dhockster said:
So Jerry's solution to get under the cap is to move more cap money into the future for Romo, Lee, and Scandrick:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/04/dallas-creates-more-cap-room-by-restructuring-tony-romo/

If Romo has a career ending injury (keep in mind he has had back issues) this year, The Cowboys will take about a $40 million cap hit next year. Jerry is gambling that his overpaid

veterans keep performing at a high level long enough for the cap to go up and their deferred cap bonuses to be worked off. The problem is each year there is no new money available because

he has so much in prior bonuses hitting the current year cap.
Click to expand...
What's the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Jerry is NUTS. We need to stop this craziness that we're one game away from the SB.

The blueprint of the NYG's does not work for the Cowboys no matter what Jerry believes.

We are very far away from the SB. Have a LONG term plan to build Jerry.

 
The hope is that camp increases over time help absorb these push forwards to an extent.

it is not much hope, but it is all we have.

 
dhockster said:
If Romo has a career ending injury (keep in mind he has had back issues) this year, The Cowboys will take about a $40 million cap hit next year.
Click to expand...
Is that true/accurate? If so would they have any way to lighten that?

I only ask if it is accurate because that is absolutely amazing and I have not seen it reported anyplace.

 
B-Deep said:
dhockster said:
If Romo has a career ending injury (keep in mind he has had back issues) this year, The Cowboys will take about a $40 million cap hit next year.
Click to expand...
Is that true/accurate? If so would they have any way to lighten that?

I only ask if it is accurate because that is absolutely amazing and I have not seen it reported anyplace.
Click to expand...
Go to overthecap.com (they have not adjusted for the restructure yet).

Romo, prior to the restructuring had about a $21 million cap number this year: $13.5 in salary and $8 million in deferred bonus. That leaves about $33 million of deferred bonus to be offset against the cap in the remaining 4 years of Romo's contract (after this year). The restructuring pays Romo $12.5 million of his current year salary right now and that is prorated over this year and the next 4 years: $2.5 million of that counts against the cap this year and $10 million counts over the remaining 4 years. So if you take that $10 million plus the $33 million already deferred, you have $43 million that would hit the Cowboys cap next year if Romo had a career ending injury this year.

Add to that the fact that one of the players they restructured is Sean Lee, who is very injury prone, and the Cowboys are at a big risk of incurring a lot of dead money against their cap.

There really is no way to lighten that other than to stop signing big contracts and stop deferring salary over the next couple of years. Jerry Jones shows no desire of wanting to do that.

 
Actually I may have overstated that number because some of the dead money was not bonuses but guaranteed salary for 2014 and 2015. I think the hit they would take for Romo is $29 million next year if he had a career ending injury this year.

By the way, I am in no way advocating or predicting Tony Romo will have a career ending injury. I was just trying to point out the precarious position the Cowboys will be in if it does happen.

 
dhockster said:
Actually I may have overstated that number because some of the dead money was not bonuses but guaranteed salary for 2014 and 2015. I think the hit they would take for Romo is $29 million next year if he had a career ending injury this year.

By the way, I am in no way advocating or predicting Tony Romo will have a career ending injury. I was just trying to point out the precarious position the Cowboys will be in if it does happen.
Click to expand...
understood

 
So Costa is now gone and we're under the cap! :thumbup:

Now here are a few possibilities to generate much needed cash to sign rookies and a select FA or two

Cut Ware - sorry it's a business

Austin - June 1st

Orton - June 1st

Net per over the cap web site is +$15.8MM to spend wisely(please Jerry)

 
Last edited by a moderator:
BigDave said:
So Costa is now gone and we're under the cap! :thumbup:

Now here are a few possibilities to generate much needed cash to sign rookies and a select FA or two

Cut Ware - sorry it's a business

Austin - June 1st

Orton - June 1st

Net per over the cap web site is +$15.8MM to spend wisely(please Jerry)
Click to expand...
I think you have the right idea. $4 - $5 million to pay draft picks, probably another $1-$2 million for a veteran back-up QB. Leaves about $8-$10 million for all the other openings.

 
dhockster said:
deadlyrange0321 said:
What is the word with Miles Austin? I just assumed he would be cut, but haven't heard much on that front.
Click to expand...
He can't be cut yet to be a June 1st cut. The Cowboys have to wait until the official start of next season which is in the next week or two.
Click to expand...
He can officially be declared a post June 1st cut tomorrow which is the start of the league year. The cap savings are not useable until June 1st of course.

Pittsburgh is doing this with Lamar Woodley.

 
fasteddie_21 said:
So, no splashes, whatsoever this year in FA, right?
Click to expand...
I'd say ripples, not splashes.

Looks like we are in serious consideration of keeping Ware and negotiating a reduced salary before tomorrow per "blogging the boys". That would change big time if it falls through. Then we need a DE in the $6-$8MM range per year IMO

Otherwise look for the boys to go after a veteran WR for a cheap one year deal.

Could also see them getting a safety off the street and maybe a G/T vet.

Figure they dump $7.5MM for Ware, another $5MM for Miles, maybe save some $ if Orten retires.

getting interesting :thumbup:

 
BigDave said:
fasteddie_21 said:
So, no splashes, whatsoever this year in FA, right?
Click to expand...
I'd say ripples, not splashes.

Looks like we are in serious consideration of keeping Ware and negotiating a reduced salary before tomorrow per "blogging the boys". That would change big time if it falls through. Then we need a DE in the $6-$8MM range per year IMO

Otherwise look for the boys to go after a veteran WR for a cheap one year deal.

Could also see them getting a safety off the street and maybe a G/T vet.

Figure they dump $7.5MM for Ware, another $5MM for Miles, maybe save some $ if Orten retires.

getting interesting :thumbup:
Click to expand...
I'm thinking they get Ware renegotiated, cut Miles and sign Henry Melton. Melton is from Texas and familiar with Marinelli and the scheme. They lure him, and try to sign a cheap FA OG.

In the 1st round they get Clinton-Dix, Anthony Barr, Dee Ford, or maybe even CJ Mosley if he falls that far and follow up with defensive players in rounds 2 and 3 as well.

This would be my ideal offseason, and get me pretty excited about 2014 kickoff.

 
DevilDog919 said:
BigDave said:
fasteddie_21 said:
So, no splashes, whatsoever this year in FA, right?
Click to expand...
I'd say ripples, not splashes.

Looks like we are in serious consideration of keeping Ware and negotiating a reduced salary before tomorrow per "blogging the boys". That would change big time if it falls through. Then we need a DE in the $6-$8MM range per year IMO

Otherwise look for the boys to go after a veteran WR for a cheap one year deal.

Could also see them getting a safety off the street and maybe a G/T vet.

Figure they dump $7.5MM for Ware, another $5MM for Miles, maybe save some $ if Orten retires.

getting interesting :thumbup:
Click to expand...
I'm thinking they get Ware renegotiated, cut Miles and sign Henry Melton. Melton is from Texas and familiar with Marinelli and the scheme. They lure him, and try to sign a cheap FA OG.

In the 1st round they get Clinton-Dix, Anthony Barr, Dee Ford, or maybe even CJ Mosley if he falls that far and follow up with defensive players in rounds 2 and 3 as well.

This would be my ideal offseason, and get me pretty excited about 2014 kickoff.
Click to expand...
If we get Ware renegotiated, then I think they stay away from DT in the FA mkt. Drafting is much cheaper. They could get Donald or Jernigan or Hagman and another later in the draft.

Problem is cash. Dropping Miles Austin frees up enough to get the rookies signed.

Renegotiating Ware is not going to get a big time DT FA. Even though Melton is coming off injury he's going to get paid too much for us to offer.

I would rather us let Ware go IMO that's the smart move and frees up big bucks. Get younger at DE with one FA and the draft.

Sign an ILB and a safety and WR3.

 
B-Deep said:
fasteddie_21 said:
B-Deep said:
Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 5m
Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware is currently meeting with the team. His future is in the balance....
Click to expand...
:popcorn:
Click to expand...
i have this fear that if he leaves he'll end up in the division taking it out on the cowboys twice a season

but i don't know that the finances will work to keep him
Click to expand...
My thought is if they are meeting face to face, then they probably are closest enough to getting a deal done on a restructured contract that they will get one done.

 
B-Deep said:
cobalt_27 said:
Ware's release had to be done. Unfortunate, but the consequence of terrible management.
Click to expand...
yup

there's no way this does anything but make the defense worse

plus he is one of my favorites
Click to expand...
Definitely makes the defense worse, and I'd say hurts team morale a bit too.

I'm happy, yet torn. I loved Demarcus, a true player. But this had to be done if he wouldn't take a cut, and Jerry is usually true to his veterans. I honestly didn't see Jerry releasing him.

 
There is never any money, free agency is a talent bleed from a team without much talent to bleed off

 
B-Deep said:
cobalt_27 said:
Ware's release had to be done. Unfortunate, but the consequence of terrible management.
Click to expand...
yupthere's no way this does anything but make the defense worse

plus he is one of my favorites
Click to expand...
Yup. I have both road and home #94 jerseys. Sucks big time. But, we have to pay for draft picks and depth with no money. All the restructuring catches up eventually. We're just playing whack-a-mole.

 
Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones released the team’s longtime star pass rusher DeMarcus Ware today, but Jones said Ware’s days in Dallas aren’t necessarily over.

Jones released a statement shortly after the decision to cut Ware became official, saying that Ware would be open to coming back, and the Cowboys would be open to bringing him back.

“After meeting this afternoon, DeMarcus and I agreed on an understanding that would allow him to explore the options he will have for the 2014 season and beyond,” Jones said. “We were also in very strong agreement that playing for the Dallas Cowboys would be one of the options we would both be exploring.”

But if Ware is going to come back, it will be at a discount: The Cowboys cut Ware because it saved $7.4 million on their 2014 salary cap, and the Cowboys don’t have much cap space. It seems quite likely that some team that does have a lot of cap space will make Ware a deal better than what Jones can offer.

So while Jones may want Ware to remain in Dallas, there’s a good chance he’ll go elsewhere. Maybe soon.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Scoresman
Complete Offseason Summaries by Team??
Replies
7
Views
555
Ministry of Pain
Ministry of Pain
BobbyLayne
**Lions at Cowboys (+3, 52.5) 4:25
5 6 7
Replies
330
Views
11K
Hot Sauce Guy
Hot Sauce Guy
Chaka
Week 16 2024 who should I start thread **OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL**
7 8 9
Replies
439
Views
11K
Barksdale
Barksdale

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top