Cowboys To Use RFA Tenders Again This Year
by One.Cool.Customer on Feb 27, 2011 9:07 AM CST
in Dallas Cowboys News
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PrintJosh Ellis from the mothership writes that the Cowboys will use restricted free agent tenders to protect the rights of their fifth- and sixth-year players. The situation is complicated slightly by the uncertainty over what exactly constitutes a free agent right now. Under the rules in effect for the 2010 season, Doug Free, Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher and Sam Hurd would be restricted free agents this year. Under the previous free agency rules, they would all be free agents.
Bowen, Hatcher and Hurd were already tendered last year, and could be tendered again this year, as they have less than six accrued seasons. Assuming they all receive a 2nd round tender as they did last year, they would each receive a tender worth at least $1.935 million, or a 10% increase over their $1.759 million salaries from the 2010 season.
Free is likely to receive a 1st and 3rd round tender worth at least $3.168 million, the same deal Austin got last year. It was enough to protect Austin from other teams, will it be enough to keep Free in Dallas?
According to ESPNDallas, five more players are restricted free agents: Alan Ball is likely to get a right-of-first-refusal tender, Bryan McCann and Jesse Holley are exclusive rights free agents, Leon Williams and backup quarterback Chris Greisen will not receive tenders.
The Cowboys tendered eleven players in 2010. Four were eventually released or traded (Patrick Watkins, Pat McQuistan, Cory Procter, Duke Preston), and only one, Miles Austin, was signed to a long-term contract.
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What scares me is some team could think Free is worth a 1st and 3rd.
After all, he is a good, young LT that is a immediate starter for you. You know his production and you can’t say that about any of the OL in the draft.
I agree. Especially this year's draft
They may have to match someone else’s offer…
Don't believe everything you think.
From a financial standpoint...
that would still be better than franchising him and paying something like $10M. Especially, if they’re hoping to draft an OT in the 1st round.
They could set themselves up for quite a predicament. They establish that Free is their franchise LT and worth $10M, but they bring in someone like Tyron Smith that has all of the signs of being a franchise LT. While it’s a nice problem to have from a talent standpoint, it’ll be tough to swing financially with a salary cap coming back. If Smith truly does show that he’d be a better LT than Free, what then? Do you move the LT you already had franchised at $10M to RT in 2011 and ask him to take a big pay cut? I bet he’d walk. Now you’re back to where we are right now hoping someone either steps up at RT or we draft one.
On the other hand, if they are able to retain Free at a tidy $3.1M and keep his salary expectations somewhat realistic for a RT, there is a chance he could be retained longer term and at a reasonable price. A mid to high 1st round OT is going to cost a pretty penny even with a possible rookie salary cap. It’s the only way I see them being able to retain both long term and still afford to fill other positions.
Rabid and luvin' it
by lonewolfz28 on Feb 27, 2011 11:43 AM CST up reply actions
Even if they move Free to RT he has shown he can be a above average LT.
If we don’t pay him to play the position someone else will now.
On the other hand, a rookie we can put in at RT and leave them there. Their pay will be much less for the first 4-5 years. By that time Free will be getting up in age and we might flip them, or be looking at them as Free’s replacement if we should chose to not pay him what it would take to keep him.
And if we get Tyron Smith and he turns out to be...
everything they say he is? Do you leave your best OT on the right side for his second year? Just to please an “above average” LT you just paid $10M due to a franchise tag? I just don’t see the team doing that if Smith truly is that good.
Assigning Free a 1st and 3rd tender doesn’t preclude them from working out a long term deal at $3-5M per year. A franchise tag at $10M sets that bar much higher IMO.
Either way, I do want Free here. I just don’t want to see us paying $10M where we could be paying less and not have to scrimp at another position.
Rabid and luvin' it
by lonewolfz28 on Feb 27, 2011 12:22 PM CST up reply actions
I didn't say franchise him, IMO he isn't worth $10 million a year.
I don’t see us getting him to sign at $3-5 million a year. IMO he will get at least $7 million a year.
I also can’t see us planning his contract on what might and might not happen in the draft. And how that OL, if we draft a good one, might or might not turn out better than Free is in years down the road.
Franchising him is the only other option...
they would have to ensure he’s still here. I don’t believe they can/will sign him to a long term deal until the new CBA is done. And, it’s looking more and more like that will be post-draft. Even if they did complete the CBA before the draft, Jerry and Stephen tend to wait until Sept-Oct to hammer out the long term deals. So, for now, it’s either assign him a 1st and 3rd at $3.1M or franchise him at $10M. I believe they took the more financially prudent option.
Why wouldn’t he sign at $3-5M? That’s 3+ times what he made last season. It’s not like he’s achieved All-Pro status at LT either. He’s very good, but he’s not on the level of a D’Brickashaw Ferguson ($3.4M) or a Matt Light ($4.3M) yet.
Rabid and luvin' it
It would allow us to grab Tyron Smith at #9 and Carimi with the later 1st
Not terrible.
Obviously, you don’t want two rookie tackles — not ideal to say the least. But it’s somewhat adequate compensation and you’ve still got an extra 3rd round pick to spend on a guard or safety.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Feb 27, 2011 2:14 PM CST up reply actions
No promise of where the 1st and 3rd would be at.
For instance it could be the Steelers at #31, which is after all the projected top ranking OT’s are already gone.
if that is the case
you take the highest rated O-line at #9 then Draft the Highest rated DL/S at #31….
formerly I draft the Cowboys!!!
Yes...I am Ironman....seriously my last name is ironman in German
Knowledge and Skill overcome superstition and Luck-Dawn Patrol
by I am Ironman!!! on Feb 27, 2011 10:54 PM CST up reply actions
Well, it would be more than just a 1 and a 3. Any team that might want to sign Free would have to throw out a money offer big enough to make Free want to sign. In that scenario, obviously that team would have to view Free as a guy worth a 1 and a 3, so Free’s agent would be looking for “1 and 3 money,” if that makes sense.
Personally, while I think Free is a good player, he’s not worth a 1 and a 3, and certainly not worth a 1, a 3, and a boatload of money. The RFA tag essentially guarantees he isn’t going anywhere, assuming under the new CBA the RFA rules remain the same.
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/
RFA is worth a 1st and 3rd if you believe he is your'e LT .
stupid move if true .
some team will pay this.
Davie Wilson
"how bout them cowboys"!!!
by scotscowboyfan on Feb 27, 2011 1:03 PM CST up reply actions
No one paid a 1st and 3rd for any players last year
It won’t happen this year.
Only Jerry Jones is that stupid *cough*RoyWilliamsTrade*cough*
But, then again, we can’t rule out Jerry double-out-smarting himself and finding a way to trade away our 1st and 3rd for Doug Free…
The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Feb 27, 2011 2:17 PM CST up reply actions
Not with the current CBA uncertainty.
I remember reading where the GM’s were saying they were much less interested in making FA moves this season because of the lack of CBA.
Rabid and luvin' it
they would each receive a tender worth at least $1.935 million, or a 10% increase over their $1.759 million salaries from the 2010 season.
And the players are complaining about what again? Those guys are not superstars, just avg, replaceable guys and they will make almost 2mil in one year with a 10% raise!
Must be nice to be Sam Hurd, be in on 30 plays a year for 2million dollars
+100
exactly.
these guys don’t know how good they have it, they should work a real job at a real salary for a few years.
At $60,000 a year it’ll take me over 30 years to make $2 Mill. !
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
by Realist Larry on Feb 27, 2011 12:37 PM CST up reply actions
yeah, a lot of years!
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
by Realist Larry on Feb 27, 2011 3:15 PM CST up reply actions
Heck
It took me over 15 years in ONE job to get close to $60K. And that was while getting shot at, missiles lobbed at me and tearing up my body working on aircraft. There are more people that have gotten killed or severely injured working around aircraft than playing on the football field.
Rabid and luvin' it
thats what Im saying
Players need a reality check, they need to realize they have it great and a 7-22% pay cut won’t kill them. The fans need football, I know for a fact thousands of soldiers use NFL to escape deployment.
Julio Jones ran a 4.39 @ 220 lbs. Wow.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Feb 27, 2011 11:41 AM CST reply actions
He's going to be good
Never got to really shine at Bama, was hurt here and there. A competitor.
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
by Realist Larry on Feb 27, 2011 12:39 PM CST up reply actions
I hope not
because there is a shot the Redskins could get him.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Julio Jones and AJ Green are going to be monsters
They’re the Dez Bryants’ of this year’s draft class…
Here’s to hoping an AFC team drafts them! :-D
The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Feb 27, 2011 2:18 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah that's sick.
I don’t think he jumps Green, but I think the Rams just lost out on a chance of picking him at 13.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Which could be good for us.
Would this be fuel for the Rams to want to make a deal with us to jump the Redskins?
Rabid and luvin' it
If he falls that far
I think the three teams in most dire need of a WR this year are Cincinati, Cleveland, and St.Louis.
Too bad there’s only 2 WR prospects and 2 of those teams are above our draft pick.
I think if Julio Jones falls to #9 and your St.Louis… you HAVE to get him. You have a solid O-line, a franchise QB, and one of the best RBs of the last decade on your offense — all they’re missing is a WR to complete that side of the ball. I don’t think you can risk losing this chance if you’re the Rams.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Feb 27, 2011 2:22 PM CST up reply actions
A couple things that could possibly play into our favor there.
-Cincinnati is supposedly strongly considering QB due to the Carson Palmer situation. Even if Palmer stays, they need a viable QB of the future.
-Cleveland (and the Broncos) are supposedly converting back to a 4-3 defense. That means Cleveland could definitely be looking for a pass rushing DE. They don’t really have a good option on their roster right now.
I could definitely see it playing out either way. It would be perfect if Jones or Green, but not both, are still there at #9.
Rabid and luvin' it
I think if Julio Jones falls to #9 and your St.Louis… you HAVE to get him.
no team HAS to do anything.
I think this is below the quality of your typical comments which are usually more logically driven than hope/emotion driven.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Feb 27, 2011 4:29 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah they dont have too
However they might pull a dallas and trade a 1st and a 3rd if they are enamored enough, I would take that.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
which is my point. I think the majority of Dallas fans would be thrilled if Dallas could swap picks with St. Louis, move to 14th, draft an OT, and pick up a 3rd round pick.
but don’t confuse what Dallas fans want to see with what St. Louis HAS to do.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Feb 27, 2011 4:55 PM CST up reply actions
I also think that that is conceivably a possible scenario.
There are alot of things I feel like Dallas fans have in their minds that are a tad unrealistic, but I don’t think that would be too far fetched.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
i didn’t say it was far-fetched.
i’m really quibbling about semantics.
the all-caps HAVE is my issue. That implies a certainty. I think even if Jones is there at #9 there’s maybe a 10% probability that St Louis makes that trade.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Feb 27, 2011 8:30 PM CST up reply actions
Why 10%? How’s that figured?
Agree on your issue with the “certainty”. Only one I know of is death.
Point After (rule change): You score, you kick. Debate welcomed.
Why 10%? How’s that figured?
my gut feel of how frequent draft day trades are.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Feb 28, 2011 11:53 AM CST up reply actions
Got it. Mine says could be even less so this year, with CBA/FA situation what it is and sense of most talk from other teams even being the trade-down rather than trade-up.
You get yourself hooked into that UA bio-wear?
Point After (rule change): You score, you kick. Debate welcomed.
Unrealistic? Us?
Nahhh… – never happens.
Point After (rule change): You score, you kick. Debate welcomed.
Anyone know-Are they talking to Free about a long term deal? I guess w/the bargaining probably not.
They finally find a good OL, I’ll go on a Chia binge if hey lose him!
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
Only thing I've read on the subject...
is where Stephen Jones commented at the Combine that they have plans in place for every scenario. I can’t find the link right now. But, I kind of got the impression that they do have a couple options in mind based on how the CBA comes out regarding cap and signing our FA’s.
Rabid and luvin' it
by lonewolfz28 on Feb 27, 2011 12:49 PM CST up reply actions
"Alan Ball is likely to get a right-of-first-refusal tender"
Can we give him a right-of-first-approval?
Want to give us a plate of warm biscuits and gravy? Awesome, Alan Ball is yours Detroit!
The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Feb 27, 2011 12:52 PM CST reply actions
Ball isn't a bad cheap guy to keep on your roster.
He shouldn’t ever be a starter, but any guy that can act as a CB or safety in pinch isn’t bad. I wouldn’t just toss him.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
I don't want to see Ball on the field as a safety (ever again).
Davie Wilson
"how bout them cowboys"!!!
by scotscowboyfan on Feb 27, 2011 1:08 PM CST up reply actions
Yep, till the Ball-cutters come up with a viable replacement
Say nay to the castration.
Point After (rule change): You score, you kick. Debate welcomed.
Ready for the replacement?
last year they went with 9 defensive backs. 6 safeties, 3 CBs. This year they will go with at least 4 CBs. So your roster will look like this:
[new starting FS]
[new starting SS]
AOA – backup FS
Barry Chuch – backup SS
Danny McCray – special teams/depth
Terrence Newman
Mike Jenkins
Orlando Scandrick
Brian McCann
Which of those 9 are you kicking out to keep Alan Ball?
The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Feb 27, 2011 2:27 PM CST up reply actions
Danny McCray isn’t going anywhere, he was our only great special teams player last year.
Alan Ball is a CB/FS tweener. You kicking out AOA? Brian McCann?
As much as Ball can’t play free safety he REALLY can’t play strong safety as a small guy that tackles poorly so he can’t replace Barry Church.
Sorry Ball, it’s time to hit the road and take Detroit up on their offer of biscuits and gravy!
The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Feb 27, 2011 2:32 PM CST up reply actions
No offense, but...
I’ll trust training camp, the coaches and the process more than you, me and everyone here.
That assumes all mentioned (and others) make it to camp.
Point After (rule change): You score, you kick. Debate welcomed.
Take your ball and go home why don't you? ;-)
That’s like saying “I don’t want to discuss next sunday’s game because i trust the players and coaches more than you”
The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Feb 27, 2011 4:36 PM CST up reply actions
Ok, given the 9DB/4CB laid out
If it was my call, right now, Ball would be gone. Despite the fact that, for whatever reason, he was starting in latter half of season when the coaches could have easily played the rooks in his place. Come 2011 or whenever the next regular season game is, if it was me and me alone, yeah, I’d be going with new blood. Ball, going into this season, as a versatile depth/backup guy was ok with me. Playing safety, I cringed, more so as the season went on.
And yeah, over time he’s not done anything impressive, this year aside. Never stood out or impressed me. Never was really put in a position to be the number one guy and when he was, this year, it was in a situation that he never should have been, frankly. The guy’s not a FS, not a starter there or as a CB. Period.
He was a decent depth guy, one we may no longer need. And yeah, maybe he wasn’t all that, all everything everybody always wants in players, but the guy made the goddamn team, for whatever reasons. And the coaches judged him starter, even after JG took over, with all the other options available. Maybe all that was coaching incomptenece, being stuck between a rock and a hard place, the rooks not having the confidence of the staff, whatever. But they’re the guys with the inside take, a pile more know-how than me and I guess it’s just hard for me to say I know better than men who have done and do it professionally. Call me insecure about my judgment compared to them or whatever.
Point After (rule change): You score, you kick. Debate welcomed.
And none of that's said...
Because of his safety play this year (other than the part about him being put in the position and being unsuited, in my opinion, for it).
Frankly, I felt sorry for the guy.
Point After (rule change): You score, you kick. Debate welcomed.
See below
I’ve not the authority/responsibility to make the decision. If I did, I’d follow an evaluatory process that would include substantial input from football minds far greater than mine.
Point After (rule change): You score, you kick. Debate welcomed.
He's OK for a #4 CB
Just not safety!
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
by Realist Larry on Feb 27, 2011 3:16 PM CST up reply actions
One of the best tackles out there
=Doug Free
But with a few decent tackles in the draft already, i highly doubt any team would pick him up for a 1st & 3rd round pick.
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