Post by prossman on Jan 22, 2009 17:51:28 GMT -7
DC.COM: Spagnola: The Roster Pretty Much Set For Next Year
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Beware Of The Frenzy
Spagnola: The Roster Pretty Much Set For Next Year
Mickey Spagnola
January 22, 2009 4:32 PM
IRVING, Texas - The feeding frenzy already is beginning, and we haven't even played the Super Bowl yet.
My gosh, free agency is 36 days away, but a few days ago, in fact at kickoff of the AFC title game, have mercy, a blog in The Baltimore Sun, a blog I'm telling you, already had the Cowboys "very interested" in Ray Lewis, including projected numbers, and his season had not even ended . . . yet.
Ah yes, the never-ending battle to be first, accuracy no longer a requirement, as long as you put whatever in a blog or something called an "insider" or "talk" or "scoop," meaning it's more hunch or gossip than hard news.
So as is usual, when this stuff begins churning for your attention, the Dallas Cowboys still are always front and center. They are always interested, be it real, rumored or just imagined, and most times me thinks nothing more than marketing genius by these agents, who realize better than most tying your clients name to the Cowboys will bring you immediate - free - national exposure.
What better way to drive up interest, or the price, by slyly planting some seed the Dallas Cowboys are interested in your guy? Meaning if nothing else, you will get at least a day's mention on the ubiquitous ESPN crawler.
The Ari dude on Entourage is closer to the truth than you think.
So it goes, and has gone, and will continue to go, so first of all, beware when you actually read something beginning with "Word around the NFL is that the Dallas Cowboys are very interested in (fill in the blank)." This time it was Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. This to me means some scout or team official from another club tells some writer, "Well, you know what? I wouldn't be surprised if . . . ."
But here it is, no more than Thursday, and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is saying he wants to re-sign Lewis, within reason, and I can't imagine paying a 13-year veteran, even one with 10 Pro Bowls to his name, the blogged $27 to $30 million, with $25 million guaranteed, is "within reason."
Also, when considering these firestorms, remember, and this happens every year, something called the franchise tag, where teams routinely reserve a players rights for one year if they can't get them signed by the start of free agency, which this year begins Feb. 27. Now Bisciotti claims the Ravens won't tag Lewis.
That's today, but he did say cleverly during a press conference "I've got my wife on budget already to try to save some money so we can sign (Lewis)."
(Short aside: The same guy who wrote the Cowboys are interested in Lewis wrote he believes Lewis will re-sign with the Ravens.)
So that's two points to remember here, 36 days before free agency, when technically (wink, wink) it's against NFL policy to begin negotiations with impending free agents. Like agents follow all the rules.
Now here is a third, and this came right out of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' mouth but two days ago from the Senior Bowl:
"I don't expect much in free agency. I don't for that reason, because we've made a lot of commitments on our roster. It's a positive. I view it as a real positive, the strengths that we have, and that's why I want to take a lot of what we've got - and certainly we'll make some changes where we think we can improve - but basically get this team back out on the field. We've got something to prove."
I won't insult everyone by reminding of the hard salary cap instituted by the NFL, that there is not an endless amount of cap space - routinely considered about $10 million this year for the Cowboys at this premature stage - and that contrary to popular belief, one of the four U.S. Mints is not Valley Ranch.
But here is what Jones is trying to tell you: While the Cowboys might tweak this roster in a spot or two, because of re-signing so many of their star players or previous free agents to long-term contracts since that summer of '06, the Cowboys basically are who they are.
Think about it. Sign Ray Lewis, so that means you are benching or cutting Bradie James, who was handed an $8 million signing bonus back on Sept. 19, 2006. Because neither one of them is cut out to play Zach Thomas' spot at weak inside linebacker.
Of course, this is not about Lewis or James. Check this out: Since free agency began in 2006, the Cowboys have handed out either signing bonuses or guaranteed money totaling at least $6 million to 19 players. That is 19 out of a possible 53 on a roster, meaning 36 percent. Chances are, because of those prorated bonuses and what accelerations would cost by dumping such players, they aren't going anywhere.
Yeah, I'm talking about the likes of James, Terence Newman, Marion Barber, Flozell Adams, Leonard Davis, Ken Hamlin, Tony Romo, receiver Roy Williams, Andre Gurdoe, Jay Ratliff, Jason Witten, Felix Jones, Mike Jenkins, Anthony Spencer, Kyle Kosier, Bobby Carpenter and Mat McBriar, and while everyone wants to debate the merits of keeping them, Terrell Owens and safety Roy Williams, too.
Long time ago the players on those 1980s Cowboys teams taught me to follow the money when trying to figure out who was staying and who was going; who was playing and who was substituting. That always has been a sound formula. Owners didn't become owners by flushing money down the drain, no matter how badly they want to win.
So when looking at this roster, one Jerry Jones has paid out more than $200 million in signing bonuses alone over the past three years, this would seem to be a pretty static roster. I mean, there are three players signed through 2014 (James, Newman, Barber); five signed through 2013 (Adams, L. Davis, Hamlin, Romo, receiver Williams); six signed through 2012 (Gurode, Jenkins, Felix Jones, Ratliff, Witten, L.P Ladouceur); seven through 2011 (Owens, Spencer, McBriar, Patrick Crayton, Martellus Bennett, Tashard Choice, Orlando Scandrick); and eight through 2010 (Kosier, safety Williams, Carpenter, Nick Folk, Deon Anderson, Isaiah Stanback, Doug Free, Courtney Brown).
That's 29 guys, though not to say every one of them will be around to the end of their contracts. That just doesn't happen, and some, if their play suggests, become more easily expendable because of relatively low signing bonuses and probably no guaranteed money.
Also remember this, because of the potential of 2010 being an uncapped year: There is no cutting a player this year after June 1 with escalation still remaining on the cap, and spreading out the cost to part this year and dumping the rest in the next as has been standard practice. The writers of this constitution were a step ahead of the posse. The entire escalation, including any guarantees or performance incentives, gets dumped into 2009 to prevent uncapped abuse. In other words, there's double jeopardy for cutting guys with multiple years remaining on their deals.
So just think when some folks want to say, hey, the Cowboys have to beef up their offensive line.
OK, but remember, every one of the five starters is at least signed through Kosier's 2010 deal.
Running backs? I don't think so. Wide receivers? If Owens is retained, how much more money can you spend there? Tight ends? Not when you are paying Witten what he's getting and having just successfully used a second on Bennett, meaning if you do, it's just a third guy. Quarterback? Backups, sure, that's where your resources likely will start being spent.
On defense, secondary? How much more can you spend back there? Linebackers? Probably need another or two, especially if the Cowboys don't get Thomas and/or Kevin Burnett re-signed.
Defensive line? Now we're talkin', since it would not seem Tank Johnson will be back and that Chris Canty might end up testing the market. Special teamers/returners? Now I can be talked into that, but again, you're not spending a bundle on those guys.
As you can see, Jerry Jones is pretty much right when he says, "I don't expect much in free agency," and remember don't become deluded by thoughts of opening up cap room if Owens is shown the door. That would cost the Cowboys $680,000 more than his current $9.2 million charge.
OK?
So when you see the next guy the Cowboys are supposed to be interested in signing, and there will be a next guy and a next, just stop and think twice about it.
Logically. Follow the money, and then decide if such a move is fiscally feasible.
Don't feed at the trough of frenzy . . . and for goodness sakes, even if you must, at least not for another 36 days.
__________________
Cowboy Fan since 1960.......You young-uns stay outta my yard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beware Of The Frenzy
Spagnola: The Roster Pretty Much Set For Next Year
Mickey Spagnola
January 22, 2009 4:32 PM
IRVING, Texas - The feeding frenzy already is beginning, and we haven't even played the Super Bowl yet.
My gosh, free agency is 36 days away, but a few days ago, in fact at kickoff of the AFC title game, have mercy, a blog in The Baltimore Sun, a blog I'm telling you, already had the Cowboys "very interested" in Ray Lewis, including projected numbers, and his season had not even ended . . . yet.
Ah yes, the never-ending battle to be first, accuracy no longer a requirement, as long as you put whatever in a blog or something called an "insider" or "talk" or "scoop," meaning it's more hunch or gossip than hard news.
So as is usual, when this stuff begins churning for your attention, the Dallas Cowboys still are always front and center. They are always interested, be it real, rumored or just imagined, and most times me thinks nothing more than marketing genius by these agents, who realize better than most tying your clients name to the Cowboys will bring you immediate - free - national exposure.
What better way to drive up interest, or the price, by slyly planting some seed the Dallas Cowboys are interested in your guy? Meaning if nothing else, you will get at least a day's mention on the ubiquitous ESPN crawler.
The Ari dude on Entourage is closer to the truth than you think.
So it goes, and has gone, and will continue to go, so first of all, beware when you actually read something beginning with "Word around the NFL is that the Dallas Cowboys are very interested in (fill in the blank)." This time it was Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. This to me means some scout or team official from another club tells some writer, "Well, you know what? I wouldn't be surprised if . . . ."
But here it is, no more than Thursday, and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is saying he wants to re-sign Lewis, within reason, and I can't imagine paying a 13-year veteran, even one with 10 Pro Bowls to his name, the blogged $27 to $30 million, with $25 million guaranteed, is "within reason."
Also, when considering these firestorms, remember, and this happens every year, something called the franchise tag, where teams routinely reserve a players rights for one year if they can't get them signed by the start of free agency, which this year begins Feb. 27. Now Bisciotti claims the Ravens won't tag Lewis.
That's today, but he did say cleverly during a press conference "I've got my wife on budget already to try to save some money so we can sign (Lewis)."
(Short aside: The same guy who wrote the Cowboys are interested in Lewis wrote he believes Lewis will re-sign with the Ravens.)
So that's two points to remember here, 36 days before free agency, when technically (wink, wink) it's against NFL policy to begin negotiations with impending free agents. Like agents follow all the rules.
Now here is a third, and this came right out of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' mouth but two days ago from the Senior Bowl:
"I don't expect much in free agency. I don't for that reason, because we've made a lot of commitments on our roster. It's a positive. I view it as a real positive, the strengths that we have, and that's why I want to take a lot of what we've got - and certainly we'll make some changes where we think we can improve - but basically get this team back out on the field. We've got something to prove."
I won't insult everyone by reminding of the hard salary cap instituted by the NFL, that there is not an endless amount of cap space - routinely considered about $10 million this year for the Cowboys at this premature stage - and that contrary to popular belief, one of the four U.S. Mints is not Valley Ranch.
But here is what Jones is trying to tell you: While the Cowboys might tweak this roster in a spot or two, because of re-signing so many of their star players or previous free agents to long-term contracts since that summer of '06, the Cowboys basically are who they are.
Think about it. Sign Ray Lewis, so that means you are benching or cutting Bradie James, who was handed an $8 million signing bonus back on Sept. 19, 2006. Because neither one of them is cut out to play Zach Thomas' spot at weak inside linebacker.
Of course, this is not about Lewis or James. Check this out: Since free agency began in 2006, the Cowboys have handed out either signing bonuses or guaranteed money totaling at least $6 million to 19 players. That is 19 out of a possible 53 on a roster, meaning 36 percent. Chances are, because of those prorated bonuses and what accelerations would cost by dumping such players, they aren't going anywhere.
Yeah, I'm talking about the likes of James, Terence Newman, Marion Barber, Flozell Adams, Leonard Davis, Ken Hamlin, Tony Romo, receiver Roy Williams, Andre Gurdoe, Jay Ratliff, Jason Witten, Felix Jones, Mike Jenkins, Anthony Spencer, Kyle Kosier, Bobby Carpenter and Mat McBriar, and while everyone wants to debate the merits of keeping them, Terrell Owens and safety Roy Williams, too.
Long time ago the players on those 1980s Cowboys teams taught me to follow the money when trying to figure out who was staying and who was going; who was playing and who was substituting. That always has been a sound formula. Owners didn't become owners by flushing money down the drain, no matter how badly they want to win.
So when looking at this roster, one Jerry Jones has paid out more than $200 million in signing bonuses alone over the past three years, this would seem to be a pretty static roster. I mean, there are three players signed through 2014 (James, Newman, Barber); five signed through 2013 (Adams, L. Davis, Hamlin, Romo, receiver Williams); six signed through 2012 (Gurode, Jenkins, Felix Jones, Ratliff, Witten, L.P Ladouceur); seven through 2011 (Owens, Spencer, McBriar, Patrick Crayton, Martellus Bennett, Tashard Choice, Orlando Scandrick); and eight through 2010 (Kosier, safety Williams, Carpenter, Nick Folk, Deon Anderson, Isaiah Stanback, Doug Free, Courtney Brown).
That's 29 guys, though not to say every one of them will be around to the end of their contracts. That just doesn't happen, and some, if their play suggests, become more easily expendable because of relatively low signing bonuses and probably no guaranteed money.
Also remember this, because of the potential of 2010 being an uncapped year: There is no cutting a player this year after June 1 with escalation still remaining on the cap, and spreading out the cost to part this year and dumping the rest in the next as has been standard practice. The writers of this constitution were a step ahead of the posse. The entire escalation, including any guarantees or performance incentives, gets dumped into 2009 to prevent uncapped abuse. In other words, there's double jeopardy for cutting guys with multiple years remaining on their deals.
So just think when some folks want to say, hey, the Cowboys have to beef up their offensive line.
OK, but remember, every one of the five starters is at least signed through Kosier's 2010 deal.
Running backs? I don't think so. Wide receivers? If Owens is retained, how much more money can you spend there? Tight ends? Not when you are paying Witten what he's getting and having just successfully used a second on Bennett, meaning if you do, it's just a third guy. Quarterback? Backups, sure, that's where your resources likely will start being spent.
On defense, secondary? How much more can you spend back there? Linebackers? Probably need another or two, especially if the Cowboys don't get Thomas and/or Kevin Burnett re-signed.
Defensive line? Now we're talkin', since it would not seem Tank Johnson will be back and that Chris Canty might end up testing the market. Special teamers/returners? Now I can be talked into that, but again, you're not spending a bundle on those guys.
As you can see, Jerry Jones is pretty much right when he says, "I don't expect much in free agency," and remember don't become deluded by thoughts of opening up cap room if Owens is shown the door. That would cost the Cowboys $680,000 more than his current $9.2 million charge.
OK?
So when you see the next guy the Cowboys are supposed to be interested in signing, and there will be a next guy and a next, just stop and think twice about it.
Logically. Follow the money, and then decide if such a move is fiscally feasible.
Don't feed at the trough of frenzy . . . and for goodness sakes, even if you must, at least not for another 36 days.
__________________
Cowboy Fan since 1960.......You young-uns stay outta my yard.