The Dallas Cowboys are Every Free Agent's Fantasy Island
by Rafael Vela on Feb 18, 2009 3:04 PM CST
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PrintRay Lewis couldn't stop gushing about Dallas last week, an obvious show of his desire to up his contract offer from Baltimore admiration for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys organization.
Now, Julius Peppers apparently sees himself getting off the plane, shaking Herve Villechaise's hand, and accepting a bungalow laden with cash from Mr. Roarke Jones:
The Carolina Panthers haven't yet placed the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers -- or signed Jordan Gross.
And while both are still expected in the next 24 hours, the Peppers half of the equation is becoming complicated.
According to sources with knowledge of his intent, Peppers has a list of just four teams to which he's willing to accept a trade. Only one is in the AFC, and another is Dallas, which lacks a first-round pick the Panthers would be seeking in any deal. The other two are believed to be NFC South opponents, to which the Panthers would be hesitant to move their disgruntled star.
I know Jerry has lots of other things to do, what with the new stadium opening soon and the roster evaluations to complete, so I'm offering my services. I've got a Hispanic surname, and can dash down to my local gym and put in some quick tanning sessions. The great Ricardo Montalban left us just days ago, but I've got an old J. Peterman linen suit (right, one of those) sitting deep in my closet, and I'd be happy to don it, work on my fake Montalban accent, and act as the official Cowboys greeter to Fantasy Island.
Oh wait! Villechaise is dead too. Who to play Tattoo? Maybe Adam Jones? He's got lots of ink, needs work and would do anything to get near the Cowboys again:
Me: "Welcome to Fantasy Island, Meeester Peppers. You're limousine has been adorned with fine Corrrrrinthean leather..."
Yeah, it's nuts. Just as nutty as Julius Peppers joining the Dallas Cowboys.
On the other hand, what does it say when every free agent is using you as his fantasy destination? Have at it.
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It could be
worse. I would ask to be traded to the Raiders. Al has plenty of cash to burn, and I still would not have to produce since the rest of the team sucks too.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
you nailed it Raf
Signing Peppers is a fantasy…. although it would work in fantasy football, this is the real world of the NFL.
In Romo we Trust
Players know
Jerry gives big contracts, especially to star free agents.
Jerry loves his stars. Jerry World will become Constellation Stadium.
"Aw Shucks" - Wade Phillips
So does Dan Snyder
how has that worked out?
I have nothing
personal against Ray or Julius. I am just tired of old LB’s. Throw Carp into the fire and let him show what he has. I am of the opinion next year is a wash anyway. Jerry is biding his time till he can get out from under the Cap. Get us a NT and a Safety and next year look at a LB if Bobby doesn’t get it done. I’m going to be one mad screaming fan this year, but that’s on par for the last 30.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
+2
Keep the position inside young. Bobby’s gotta prove it.
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
by Aaron Novinger on Feb 18, 2009 6:09 PM CST up reply actions
Is Peppers old?
He just turned 29.
"If your good at something never do it for free." - The Joker
by houseofprime on Feb 18, 2009 8:24 PM CST up reply actions
Peppers is in his prime...
One can only dream of a LB corp of :
Ware-olb
James-ilb
Lewis-ilb
Peppers-olb
can you say 70+ sacks ??
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 18, 2009 8:33 PM CST up reply actions
There still may be a cap...
in 2010. A lot of NFL folks thing they will work something out.
0 = The number of Super Bowls the Eagles have won.
It makes a lot more sense for the players to have a cap
regardless of what you hear. All this posturing about more money is bunk.
The top players will get more money and the rest of them will get crap. Take
salary floors out of the CBA and cheap ass teams like the Bengals won’t spend
crap on player salaries.
by Rafael Vela on Feb 19, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions
and then it's not the NFL anymore
it’s college football, where you’ll have 8-10 really good teams and 8-10 really
crappy teams and some horrible mismatches.
by Rafael Vela on Feb 19, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
My biggest problem is the same as most have...
College kids coming out and being drafted top 5 make more money than the Brady’s and the Manning’s of the world. Long making 30 some-odd million guaranteed before he even straps up is beyond ridiculous…
by AikmanNailedMySis on Feb 19, 2009 3:47 PM CST up reply actions
Good Lawd
4 OT’s in the top 10 and 6 total in the first round? Man I thought last season was just a fluke with 7 in the first round. Can there be that many good OT’s 2 years in a row?
Game Recognize Game
by pretty ricky on Feb 18, 2009 3:32 PM CST up reply actions
OTs always rise
and now that bust factors show that OT is the safetest big money position, expect them to keep rising.
Aye
Be that as it may, though, I think It’s becoming a bit overvalued, especially with the enormous price-tag associated with that pick. I subscribe to the KC Joyner line of thinking in this regard: It’s more effective to field a line that’s solid across the board than to have a couple of stars and a couple of spares.
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
sure, but if you're given a choice between, say an OT and WR with similar grades
the OT is the much, much surer bet.
So talent wise these guys might not grade as a top 10 pick ?
But since their position has a low bust factor they get pushed up into the top 10?
Game Recognize Game
by pretty ricky on Feb 18, 2009 3:56 PM CST up reply actions
I don't think so, not in this year's draft
The top 4 are legitimately great prospects. Maybe later on, with guys like Eben Britton, the position will start to get overvalued much as it was in the late first last year, evidenced by teams trading up for Duane Brown.
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
Thank you to both you and Raf for the explanations.
Game Recognize Game
by pretty ricky on Feb 18, 2009 4:13 PM CST up reply actions
Low Bust Rate
Too bad Jacob Rogers was 2 standard deviations from the mean.
by JimmyJohnson on Feb 18, 2009 9:46 PM CST up reply actions
Now that's
funny in an engineering math nerd sort of way.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
deh plane, deh plane...
ha-ha-ha.
and nice j-peterman reference from seinfeld. U know he’s the latest host on “Family Feud,” now right?
btw, no to peppers and ray-ray. both will cost too much with odometers reading excessive mileage.
love ’em as players, but not at this point in their respective careers and not at exorbitant prices…
Celebrity or Imposter?
YOU Decide...
http://www.xanga.com/metaltometal/689036052/celebrity-or-imposter/
No, dude
I have an honest to goodness J. Peterman suit. :)
You don’t think I would impersonate the Peerless Mr. Roarke in any cheap rags?
It was a real company, but went bankrupt, I think
They had unbelievably pretentious catalogs and really high prices
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
No wonder Elaine worked there
Game Recognize Game
by pretty ricky on Feb 18, 2009 3:59 PM CST up reply actions
Right
Peterman was a fictional character,
who went around the world looking for exotic items to sell. It was a short step for the
Seinfeld people to hire John O’Hurley to play Peterman and for Elaine to write his
pretentious descriptions for every item.
actually, it turns out there was a real J. Peterman
but he was not seen in the catalogs.
The horror...the horror
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
by Aaron Novinger on Feb 18, 2009 6:25 PM CST up reply actions
LOL
The urban sombrero, still cracks me up.
Feb. 18-24 -- NFL Scouting Combine
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Feb 18, 2009 9:12 PM CST up reply actions
Yes
it was a real company that got into the show, in the same way Costanza worked for the bonafide New York Yankees.
Everyone's age is showing in this thread.
I only know of Fantasy Island thanks to VH1’s “I love the 80s”
I can remember when I was a teenager
that Fantasy Island came on Friday nights right after Love Boat.
In Romo we Trust
yep...watched it every week....
until i learned about smoking grass and sneaking booze from the parents….friday nights took on a whole new meaning after that…
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 19, 2009 9:15 AM CST up reply actions
Just hysterical...
That was the funniest post in ages.
The best thing about that show was that in every episode there was a morality play, a lesson to be learned, from some odd twist in the fulfillment of fantasy. Oddly enough, if Pepper’s fantasy is to be adorned with riches by joining America’s Team, I’m sure there would be an interesting turn of events. What do you have in mind, Richardo Vela?
Oh man,
You almost owe me a new keyboard for that last comment.
Damn.
LOL!
Carolina wants a number one
for starters.
And how is Dallas going to pay Ware and Peppers, when both want to be the
highest paid defenders in football?
Money Schmoney...
This is fantasy island. There will be no new CBA and 2010 will be uncapped. We’ll backload his contract and Jerryworld will make us flush with cash. Let’s sign everyone. Ray Ray, Peppers, Jordan Gross, Haynesworth. We’ll ship our No. 2 this year and No. 3 next year to Carolina. They’ll take it because they still feel guilty about stealing Matt Moore. TO will behave, Romo will lose his pear shape figure (Tex reference). Jerry will turn into Steinbrenner, and the Pokes will rule for years as the mediots scream foul. This is my fantasy (evil laugh…)
by Boundforbeach on Feb 18, 2009 5:05 PM CST up reply actions
I really like the sound of all that.
"If your good at something never do it for free." - The Joker
by houseofprime on Feb 18, 2009 8:29 PM CST up reply actions
FIRST Carolina would have to franchise Peppers..IF they do not Gross before tomorrow(last day to place the franchise tag on a player)
They are not going to risk losing OT- Jordan Gross by letting him hit the free agent market….just to tag Peppers for compensation..
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 18, 2009 8:39 PM CST up reply actions
Who knows whats going to happen, how big the contracts given out this year will be
There’s a chance that Peppers won’t get paid like he would of 2 years ago. I sense elite players like him will be taking short term contracts to try to get bigger ones next year or the year after. If the market is low enough, maybe we could get everything we ever wanted.
How about Ratlif at DE, Hayensworth at NT? since we’re on fantasy island
by AustonianAggie on Feb 19, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
that would be even better..
Haynesworth is a FA after all..Peppers is not……
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 20, 2009 5:10 AM CST up reply actions
I can understand your opinion for the '07 season (injury plagued, missed 2 games), but several players off a off year once in awhile..example Dwight Freeney '06-'07.
But his 2008 figures of :
51 Tackles
14.5 Sacks
5 Forced Fumbles
5 Passes Defensed
From the 4-3 DE position is normally DPOY and D MVP consideration from my geographic location.
There is no doubt if Peppers was paired with Ware, it would be the most dominant 1-2 pass rushing punch of all time, and in my opinion, well worth exploring the possibility…cuz if an opponent can’t pass, they can’t win.
watch video…http://www.nfl.com/players/juliuspeppers/profile?id=PEP422041
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 19, 2009 3:54 AM CST up reply actions
it's that
the people in North Carolina, and Charlotte especially, expect Julius Peppers to walk on water and be the greatest football player ever. I sometimes listen to Billy Packer’s son’s radio show, and the calls that crackerass redneck gets from Charlotte about Peppers are astonishing. People literally expect him to be the greatest defender ever, and, they HATE him because he’s only human.
BTW, that’s the meanest, most right wing sports show anywhere… I once heard the CEO of NASCAR call in and in a 3 minute phone call he put down black Americans, liberal politicians, non-Christians, and declared Jerry Falwell the greatest human who ever lived.
But back to Peppers, for the past few seasons, last season excepted, he’s been the lone talent along their defensive front, so he’s been keyed on and shut down.
exactly why he wants out of there...in a 3-4 he would have much more freedom to roam, and destroy QB's...
and certainly wouldn’t have to be the savior and feel pressure to single handedly control offenses…I knew when i heard the 3-4 comments he wanted to come here…i bet him and Ware would combine for 40+ sacks easily in Wade’s system…
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 19, 2009 9:19 AM CST up reply actions
I read the Charlotte paper yesteday to see how his negotiations were going
the letters from readers were the most vicious I’ve ever seen. The common slur is that Peppers is gay, is lazy, needs to be slapped around and made to like it.
And you think I’m exaggerating, don’t you?
I understand fully why he wants to leave. I think the odds are actually in negative territory that he would land in Dallas, but I understand why he wants to leave. I was impressed by this line about him —
“the Panthers offered to make him football’s highest paid defender last year, and he walked away from the offer…”
It’s not money. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure he wants to get paid, but he wants no part of the Panthers any more.
by Rafael Vela on Feb 19, 2009 10:08 AM CST up reply actions
How about Peppers and Hayensworth?
This would be like signing Deion in yore
by AustonianAggie on Feb 19, 2009 11:00 AM CST up reply actions
can you play defense with four guys?
How much of the cap are you going to devote to these guys?
That’s what got Jerry in trouble in the late ‘90s. He could allocate a disproportionate amount of his cap to the Triplets and Deion and Haley in the mid-’90s, but once those guys started to age a bit and get hurt there was no money whatsoever to buy depth.
You want to add to the years of good but not good enough, go this route again.
by Rafael Vela on Feb 19, 2009 11:17 AM CST up reply actions
lol...Peppers and Haynesworth....geeez...wht would the no cap start NEXT season..
IF there was no cap this team would be sick….
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 20, 2009 5:13 AM CST up reply actions
You are exaggerating
Again, utter nonsense. What Charlotte paper was it that slurred Peppers like that? We only have 1.
What utter nonsense
Peppers wants to be the highest paid defender in the NFL, and Carolina fans have wanted him to play at that level. He has not the last 2 seasons.
what about Reed
since we are on fantasy island, why not trade this years 7th rounders to the ravens for Reed.
And we can get in our time machine and bring Darren Woodson circa 1992 to 1998 to play next to him
with Cliff Harris circa 1972 to 1978 as the backup
Fantasy Island is cool. You can make ridiculous trades and use time machines to make the Cowboys better.
Here is an idea: A machine that makes players live up to their potential. Roy Williams (the safety) becomes Canton Bound; Miles doesn’t get injured; I could go on forever
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
Isn't sad that the most joy we're getting out of this offseason...
starts with us being on Fantasy Island and ends with trying to pick up a face-stomping @sshole like Haynesworth…kinda sad…
And on that note, HELLLLLLLLLLLS YES IT WOULD BE NICE haha
by AikmanNailedMySis on Feb 19, 2009 3:49 PM CST up reply actions
Hayensworth is becoming a FA
he’d be an over the top addition to Dallas’s front 7, his FA is huge.
I think he’ll be the highest ticket player in FA, and out of our price range. Dallas can’t act like 2010 is for sure uncapped
I can because they want to win
vitriolic tension is good for the locker room
by AustonianAggie on Feb 19, 2009 11:01 AM CST up reply actions
Welcome to Dallas
Who wouldn’t want to come to Dallas as a free agent? You get a huge payday, all the media attention turns you into a star (hot women love stars!), there are no expectations for off-season improvement, and then when the games finally do start, nobody is held accountable for performance on the field. Sounds like a dream job to me.
by Cowboy Louie on Feb 18, 2009 6:25 PM CST reply actions
My thoughts exactly
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
Just say no to Peppers
What this team does not need is one more high priced “star” with an ego.
by StillHateTheGiants on Feb 18, 2009 7:32 PM CST reply actions
Not to mention he only had 2 sacks in 2007. Im from Charlotte, and trust me, even if we could get him, you don't want him.
by TARHEEL PAUL on Feb 18, 2009 9:46 PM CST up reply actions
That makes sense to me.
He should go to KC; they’re lookin’ to go 3-4.
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
by Aaron Novinger on Feb 18, 2009 10:17 PM CST up reply actions
omg.....what ??
dude…can you drop his injury riddled ‘07 season already……2008 season means nothing to you ?? he didn’t bounce back good enough ??
That makes sense to me.
I THINK NOT !!
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 19, 2009 3:57 AM CST up reply actions
-1
We dont need another old declining player, especially on defense. Your overpaying for the name more than the player at this point in his career…..BIG PASS on RAY…Hopefully Jerry uses his head on this one…
I assume a guy that played healthy for 16 games...
recorded 117 official tackles – 160 unofficial tackles
3.5 sacks from MLB position
9 Passes Defensed
3 Interceptions
Sure looks like a washed up has been to me —-
NOT !!!
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 19, 2009 4:02 AM CST up reply actions
yeah ask the pats how useless 30 something LBs are?
Don't believe everything you think.
Your causes are cute!!!
especially ones that are used to running a 3-4,right.And destroyed us last year.I'd rather have Scott but will gladly take RayRay.
Don't believe everything you think.
Your causes are cute!!!
If you are a toy........don't you want to go to the TOY COLLECTOR.
The players know we are heading towards an uncapped year.
Jerry Jones would gladly be the George Steinbrenner of the NFL if there was no salary cap.
Why wouldn’t any player want to make more money?
Also……………who are these guys agents? Probably got smart ones…………
Your last line was the key line
I don’t think half of these players want to or think they will come to Dallas.
But their agents know that the mention of Dallas drives their worth up.
Quick question...
All three of these guys have been in the NFL for 13 years (Ray Lewis, Zach Thomas, Teddi Bruschi) . Which one has the most tackles for their career?
Answer is ZT
That's a highly misleading stat
I remember in the late ‘80s, when Tom’s Cowboys were on their down slide, a fan wrote a letter to the DC Weekly using tackling stats to “prove” that Eugene Lockhart, who led the NFL one particular year, was a better player than Lawrence Taylor, who didn’t come close to the Hitting Machine in tackles.
I’ll as you, which 56 would you rather have? LT or Gene?
by Rafael Vela on Feb 19, 2009 10:12 AM CST up reply actions
Statistics are like bikinis...
What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.
by Boundforbeach on Feb 19, 2009 10:40 AM CST up reply actions
Stats, depend
alot on who takes them, how they are taken and how they are interpreted. I’m sure there is some stat out there that makes me look like I could step on the field and play, and if you ever met me you would know how much of a lie that would be.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
stats are important
if you know how to use them. Some are more important that others. The key is using
the ones that actually tell you a players contribution to winning and losing.
by Rafael Vela on Feb 19, 2009 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
Not everyone
does that though. Players will only mention the stats that get them more money. On the flip side they will shy away from stats that make them look bad. When “Thong” was renegotiating his contract he didn’t talk about being lost in coverage. He talked about being a pro-bowl safety and a vicious hitter. I bet he didn’t mention that the league was about to make a rule prohibiting him from using his favorite tackling technique, or how he was going to get religion and stop wanting to hit anyone. It isn’t just “Thong”, but he is the easiest to look at.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
Well, its up to intellegent management to know whats up.
Hey Raf, do you think Roy Williams as a line of scrimage attacking safety would, conceptually, be better performing in 46 defenses?
by AustonianAggie on Feb 19, 2009 12:20 PM CST up reply actions
I agree,
but our fearless, I am always right leader signed the very same players we all complain about. Roy was a good safety till he got paid. Hamlin was a great safety for us then he got paid. Ellis was on fire last year, then he got paid, and nothing this year. Romo was on fire till he (need I say it?) got paid. Jerry is in this rut of paying players for past performance, that apparantly are flashes in the pan. I understand that he only has past performance to look at, but he should be able to get a percentage back on lack of performance in the present. Well I wish he could anyway.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
Pray to everything holy this trend doesn't steal D-Ware's tenacity...
by AikmanNailedMySis on Feb 19, 2009 3:51 PM CST up reply actions
I don't think Ware will.
But, Jerry has been wrong before. I get the feeling that all these players lose production because the coach can’t lite a fire under them without Jerry the Fireman Jones putting it out. I understand he want’s to protect his investment, but when he flat out busted on Stewart for running the players in Camp and one of them pulled a muscle then Stewart lost any credibility he had with the players. Maybe the player should have gotten busted for not stretching properly before running?
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
You need to listen to Drew Pearson on DC Fanatic.....
says that the game of football has changed but one thing hasn’t changed and that’s discipline and leadership. Check it out, good stuff.
Which one would you rather have ?
Answer is RL
huh?
I don’t think you understand what you’re talking about.
Zach Thomas comes from a mediocre 4-3 defense… where for a decade he was the best player on the field. A 4-3 is designed for the MLB to be the playmaker. He can be little and quick and if he has a nose for the football, he’ll have a ton of tackles.
Bruschi and Lewis played in a 3-4 which is fundamentally different. Also, did you even watch Zach Thomas last year? He’s done, and, he’s on the wrong team, and, he’s in the wrong defense.
Miami had some good D's
and Jason Taylor was the best player on the field
by AustonianAggie on Feb 19, 2009 11:10 AM CST up reply actions
Who would y'all rather have in FA?
1) Hayensworth
2) Peppers
3) Lewis
I got to go with Hayensworth, moving Ratlif to the DE
by AustonianAggie on Feb 19, 2009 11:11 AM CST reply actions
I'll take Scott, thank you
“Sinatra or Mathis?”
“Presley”
by Rafael Vela on Feb 19, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
Interesting item that just came up on today's lunch break in regards to this year's draft
The guys were talking about how due to the uncapped year it affects terms that a team could sign a 1st rounder and that the cowboys did not want to have a 1st round pick this year because of how the contract would have to be structured. The feed is live right now but after 12:00 noon (cst) the episode will be available for replay on the cowboys website. The topic gives some explanation as to why JJ was willing to trade away the 1st to Det for RW2. I cannot remember all the details but give it a listen later today and give your impressions.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
Yeah
I agree with what most people are saying, I would love to get Peppers, but it’s virtual impossible and I wouldn’t go out of the way to make it happen either.
by joey7289 on Feb 19, 2009 11:23 AM CST reply actions
Not disagreeing
But compare Spencer to Peppers and there is none, regardless like I said I wouldn’t give up what they want, which is a 1st, and 2 3rd.
by joey7289 on Feb 19, 2009 11:27 AM CST up reply actions
the truth is, Dallas does not need a big name FA of any type
Hayensworth is young and all that but I believe Dallas needs to focus on drafting and developing talent, and identifying cheap but good free agents
by AustonianAggie on Feb 19, 2009 11:29 AM CST up reply actions
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