Dallas Cowboys receive some love

by Dave Halprin (Grizz) on Jun 26, 2008 10:38 AM CDT in News Comment 19 comments

ESPN Insider has a roundtable discussion of the NFC East. They asked who has the best offense in the NFC East and the Cowboys were the winner across the board. When asking about the defenses, the Giants got three of the votes and the Cowboys got two of the votes. They also asked who made the most important offseason moves in the NFC East and the answers were all over the board. One guy had this to say about the Cowboys.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has opened up his wallet and his Cowboys have made more moves than any other team in the NFL. They are not looking to the future and this team is built to win a championship sooner rather than later. Jones' roster is loaded and his players are well-paid and happy. Jones seems to relish in his role in personnel.

We are definitely built to win now but I don’t think we’ve mortgaged our future in anyway to accomplish that goal.

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Don Banks takes a subtle shot at Romo, but not in a malicious way.

I see where Tony Romo is reportedly close to a $10 million endorsement deal with Starter that would give him his own line of clothes and shoes.

That's great. Now if the Cowboys always-telegenic quarterback can somehow negotiate an actual playoff victory as his next feat, I'm sure the slightly out of order procession of these accomplishments will quickly be forgotten.

Ah yes, win in the post-season. I can’t lie, I agree. Although I love Romo’s skills and truly believe he will start winning in the post-season – this year – it still has to happen for him to rank among the elite.

Tuna Helper’s article from yesterday revived the debate about regular season vs. post-season and the role a QB plays in those victories.

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The Manster was at Texas Stadium recently and had this to say about the current edition of the Cowboys.

"I think they've improved," White said of the Cowboys. "Sometimes you have to go through some different experiences to learn, and when you get back there again, hopefully you'll handle things different. Last year, I think they learned some things at the end of the season that hopefully will help them this year, as far as maturing as a team. They've got a young group and maybe they can create their own history."

Randy White was one of my favorite players as a kid. He and Too Tall were my heroes on the Doomsday Defense.

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Jason Hatcher is a good guy.

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Nice story on Hatcher.

You can't have Thunder without Lightning.

by Nelson... on Jun 26, 2008 11:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Romo is receiving honest criticism; he needs to win in the playoffs. If you are a superstar in sports you have to prove yourself- It is Romo’s turn. It wasn’t too long ago Peyton was criticized for his inability to win the big game. Romo is competitor, he will be ready. This is only his 2nd season as the full time starter come Game 1.

+1 on the story on Hatcher.

I still don’t see how you can put the Giants D above ours when they lost there heart and soul on Defense to retirement? That secondary is very suspect.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 26, 2008 12:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

its not honest criticism

because he’s only started less than 2 seasons. It took P Manning 8 years to win a SB, it took E Manning 5 years to win a SB, give the kid a freakin break he’s only started 27 games in the league. If this pattern would continue for 4 or 5 years the criticism is justified, but not after a year and half as a starter.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 26, 2008 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

How can it be honest criticism? The guy has played in 2 playoff games, one was lost on a play when he was holding for a FG, sorry but that has zero to do with him as a QB. The 2nd game Romo played well, but other teammates made too many mistakes.

Try back in a few years if Dallas still hasn’t won a playoff game, then it will be an honest evaluation.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Jun 26, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honest

It is honest criticism because a lot of cowboy fans, including me, rank him as 3rd best QB in the league above guys who have won playoff games and Super bowls. If you are giving him that much praise then you need take in to consideration his short comings. It is not a matter of talent or ability; it is a fact Romo hasn’t won a playoff game. So the criticism he needs to win the playoffs is fact and honest.

I brought up the fact that Romo is 2nd year full time starter, so I understand as well as anyone that he just needs to time, but I am realist. Romo is ultra talented and 3rd best QB in the league, but he has to win a playoff before he can overcome the playoff criticism. Peyton and Eli did it, it is Romo’s turn.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 26, 2008 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think it's "dishonest" criticism

I just think it’s unfair criticism based on the 2 games he’s played in.

I agree, with all his talent, his salary, and where he plays, there are very high expectations placed on him. But I don’t lay blame at his feet for the losses. He played well enough to win the last playoff game, and the mis-handled snap the previous year was as a holder, not a QB. That game was over if the FG is made. There was the first playoff win.

At any rate, I’m pretty sure the “streak” of Romo’s playoff losses officially comes to an end this season. So we can put it to rest then.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Jun 26, 2008 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well, you consider Ware a top 3 OLB

and he hasn’t won a playoff game either, so whats the difference. The answer: there is no difference.

A players worth or value shouldn’t determined by post season success because teams win and lose playoff games, not individual players. That is truly unfair criticism.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 27, 2008 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Terry

All I can do is smile…

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 27, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The debate is getting old

But I’ll say this – you can be one of the best in football without winning in the playoffs. P Manning had to go through that and he was STILL one of the best playing at the time. Can be a HOFr? Maybe not, but it’s just one milestone of many.

That said, the money spent on talent and coaching either needs to pay off this season or a LOT of people will have questions to answer.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jun 26, 2008 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

another view

I”ll compare Romo’s first two years as a starter to both Peyton & Eli’s, there first couple of years were ugly(like Troys first year,super ugly). I think Romo is ahead of the curve on that note. Romo got the benefit of being able to observe before being thrown to the wolves like the others. that in itself has made him better at this stage. were in good shape

by bleedn blu on Jun 26, 2008 2:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ken Hamlin update

The Cowboys will eventually sign Hamlin to something similar to what Gibril Wilson received in Oakland (six years, $39 million). It’s hard to imagine Hamlin holding out of training camp and we’re told he’s in excellent shape.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=mosley_matt&id=3460392

Cowboys fan since 1978.. I was 3 years old

by Mullin on Jun 26, 2008 3:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It'll be great if we get it done.

Ham was a difference maker, but imagine him with a real third and fourth CB out there with him…

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jun 26, 2008 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where is Jerry getting all this money?

I believe Jerry has been great managing the cap and don’t think we’re mortgaging the future, but it is starting to look like he’s mortgaging the future. First no WR drafted because there are none “immediately” better than our current guys, then restructuring contracts less than 1 year old to fit guys in, uping TO to ensure he’s happy. I think Jerry is making a run. It makes sense since he is a gambler. We have a great shot with this talent. Self distruct in t minus three years.

by BigE on Jun 26, 2008 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spending it right

Our money is tied up starters, not in dead money like a lot of other teams. We aren’t mortgaged, we are just managing the cap effectively. Plus we don’t have any of those high 1st round picks taking up cap space..

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 26, 2008 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He may be banking on an uncapped year too ;)

by ChrisRichey on Jun 27, 2008 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Under normal circumstances it would mean that

I think the wildcard here is that Jerry is banking on protecting himself by upping the cap come labor labor negotiations somehow.

From my Madden exploits, I can tell you this much: the contract extensions Jerry is handing out are surely backloaded, and if he were to cut those players later on, there will be cap penalties (though perhaps offset in part by their larger salaries). However, you can keep extending and restructuring those deals for a long time. The trick for Jerry will be convincing guys to retire with big cap numbers remaining (I think there’s no penalty there), assuming no relief comes in the renegotiations.

Another reason for these extensions is to avoid having guys hit free agency in the uncapped year(s). I forget the exact reasons why, but it would be bad if that happens, and as a result most of the smart teams with good players (us, SD, etc.) are locking up their guys through those years.

by grapejoos on Jun 27, 2008 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Addendum

I think the master plan for Jerry here is to keep what we’ve got. The other owners will scream bloody murder if Jerry were able to use these uncapped years to buy up players, but we’re not going to be able to do that – there are complicated restrictions that keep you from signing players for other teams if you are good unless other teams have signed away your players first.

HOWEVER, what Jerry probably can sneak past the tightwad owners is the argument that he should be able to grandfather in whatever salary he’s committed to current Cowboys. That way he’s not robbing from other teams, he’s not driving up salaries – he’s just standing pat.

I predict the plan is to get Hamlin, Canty, and Ware locked up before the uncapped year(s) come, then extend Felix and Jenkins once we get there (likely no room for their non-rookie salaries under our current cap). Better yet, I could see him reworking a few other deals to sneak in another WR like Roy Williams as a free agent or in a trade to get them in the mix before the uncapped year, too.

Bottom line is that this tactic usually leads to cap hell, but we’ve got a window now, and thanks to these extensions, it’s a bigger one than we would have otherwise hoped for. I think that Jerry is banking on the CBA renegotiation to avoid cap hell, but even if it does come to that, he is rich enough and committed enough to winning that he can keep digging the hole deeper for a long time.

by grapejoos on Jun 27, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs