Stephen Jones: Cowboys' 2016 season was good, not good enough - Charean Williams, The Star-Telegram
How true this comment is.
"It’s been taking some time for us to get back to [the Super Bowl]," said Jones, the team’s executive vice president. "It’s certainly the one thorn in our side right now. We’ve accomplished a lot. Jerry [Jones has] accomplished a lot. Our organization has accomplished a lot. …Whether it’s AT&T Stadium or The Star, what our brand represents, there’s been a lot of great things happen to us. But it is a thorn in our side that we haven’t been back to the Super Bowl – that we haven’t been to championship games to compete to go to a Super Bowl. We have to fix that, and certainly that’s our focus."
As combine begins, Tony Romo's future should come into focus - Todd Archer, ESPN
Archer takes another stab at the Romo situation, but he's just guessing like everyone else.
For those wondering about a potential trade, Jones has often said a player’s value is at his lowest around the draft, which could hamper a deal. While Romo’s base salaries from 2017 to 2019 are not guaranteed, the $14 million he’s due this year could make a deal difficult. Plus, Romo has a de facto trade veto because he can simply say he has no desire to go to Team X, which would tighten his market.
All of this is difficult, but not impossible.
What happens either on the Cowboys’ bus or in their hotel suite this week will go a long way in determining Romo’s future.
Jerry Jones, Tony Romo meeting will come 'sooner rather than later' - Todd Archer, ESPN
As usual, Stephen Jones talks only about bringing back the Cowboy's own free agents. In this case, it's Kellen Moore at quarterback. Of course, as the headline says, they also have to make a move with Tony Romo, but there really isn't anything new on that front.
"Gotta have some quarterbacks, it's a priority for sure," Stephen Jones said. "The question is how we go about that whether it's just Kellen, whether it's Kellen and another veteran, whether it's Kellen and a draft pick. Those are the things that we're looking at. Obviously we'd like to have Kellen back, very comfortable with him, what he brings to the quarterback room. Hopefully we can get him resigned."
Jaylon Smith's videos have looked great, but he still is using the brace. He can likely play that way, but will be as good as he would without it? We may have to find out. They also discuss DeMarcus Ware, Barry Church, and Byron Jones. Oh, and they believe Romo will be cut, rather than traded. This last point seems like nonsense to me.
They think that he can be a very good player even if it doesn't regenerate all the way. I think he can be a very good player, but I don't know what kind of limitations he's dealing with. They believe he'll be able to participate in OTAs. Now, will it be all-out, full-go, every day? I doubt it. He's so positive off the field. He's just one of these guys that's always optimistic, always positive, always smiling. I think he'll continue to fight, continue to push. He'll have a chance to bring himself all the way back because he just has the right kind of attitude.
There were lot's of ridiculous articles linking Adrian Peterson and Dallas. We didn't link to any of them. Let's deal with it this way.
With that said, Adrian Peterson is not coming to the Cowboys
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 28, 2017
Franchise tag after 25 years: Looking back at best, worst decisions - Kevin Seifert, ESPN
Franchising Anthony Spencer twice made the best list. Where will the decision by Washington to franchise Kirk Cousins twice end up on a future list?
In truth, this two-year arrangement worked out well (financially) for both sides. In 2012, Spencer delivered the Cowboys a career season. He totaled 11 sacks and 95 total tackles in 14 games, in exchange for about $8.8 million. The Cowboys franchised him for a second consecutive year in 2013, at a cost of $10.6 million. Spencer then suffered a knee injury that required microfracture surgery. He played in only one game that season and was out of football by 2015. So in the end, the Cowboys were able to pay as they went rather than commit to a long-term deal. And Spencer received a total of $19.4 million over two years, at least as much if not more than he would have taken in over two seasons of a multiyear deal.
What can Cowboys really expect if they draft a pass rusher in first round? - Bob Sturm, DMN
This is just the intro by Sturm. Click on the article for the meat. In short, finding a 10-sack a year guy at the end of the first round is like finding Dak Prescott in the 4th round, or an undrafted Tony Romo.
I wanted to take you on a trip to reality-land for some thoughts about fixing the Cowboys defense by throwing another draft pick at the problem at #28 or #60 or both to get someone who can go get Aaron Rodgers when the need presents itself in January (in the event history repeats itself a third time).
Profiles on a number of draft possibles. Taco Charlton gets the most attention out of several guys discussed.
"Even if Dallas adds a pass-rusher in free agency, they should snatch up Charlton if he makes it to the 28th pick. He's a crazy physical specimen that truly broke out once he was finally able to play in a 4-3 defense. Rod Marinelli could help him progress even further." -- Jared Dubin, CBS Sports
10 prospects Cowboys fans should watch at the NFL combine - Jon Machota, DMN
Machota offers his 10 guys. It's all defensive ends or cornerbacks. Teez Tabor, anyone?
"Tabor has terrific size and quickness, but it will be interesting to see how he times in the forty. While he has some lapses in judgement and awareness in coverage, his nine career interceptions didn't happen by accident. He is a pure cover corner with the ability to pattern match around the field, but don't expect him to be a plus tackler in run support. He has the traits of a first-round cornerback, but some teams may be put off by some of his annoyances."
Is this still a debate? BPA all the way.
Brandon George: To me, I think the plan should always be go best player available. But if it's close, if it's not far off, if it's a tie the tiebreaker has to be the need factor. And the need factor is clearly defense and pass rushers. So if it's close I think you need to go pass rusher. If there is a clear cut best player out there when you pick [at] 28; if there is this tight end who could be your future Pro Bowl tight end or receiver that's fallen in the draft that could possibly be a No. 1 receiver down the line for you I have no problem for them taking that kind of player at 28 and then trying to get a pass rusher in the second or third round. That wouldn't bother me at all.
Though Martin is a big priority, his signing doesn't have to come early in the free agent process. The team definitely needs a free agent cornerback and safety to protect itself against the draft not falling their way.
Jones said the Cowboys’ biggest priority of the offseason is signing All-Pro guard Zack Martin to a long-term contract extension, while also coming to decisions on their own free agents at cornerback and safety. Cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr and safeties Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox all have expiring contracts.
The team needs to bring back at least one at each position.
To finish, Jets cut Darrell Revis, Chiefs cut Jamaal Charles, but re-sign Eric Berry to six year, $78 million contract, with $40 million in guarantees, and Washington franchised Kirk Cousins again, to the tune of $24 million for next year.