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2009-2010 Regular Season: Postgame -
Similar Star Signings
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- October 30, 2009
At 2:00 AM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Cowboys' triumph over the Falcons this past Sunday was made
even sweeter by a long-term commitment between the organization and
one of their shining star players. The festivities began with a pre-Falcons-game handshake
between Jerry Jones and DeMarcus Ware, and they topped it off with the Monday afternoon signing
of Ware to a long-term contract extension.
Ware will be paid $78 million over six years with $40 million of
that total being guaranteed, including a $20 million signing bonus.
He will be paid $45 million in base salaries and bonuses in the
first three years of the new contract, the most in NFL history for a
player who is not a quarterback.
There was never fear of IF a deal would be struck between the
Cowboys and Ware but WHEN it would be struck. The list of people
waiting for word of the wonderful widening of Ware’s wallet was seemingly
endless: the Cowboys organization, the fans, the media, the teams
who had dreams of stealing him away through free agency, and the
fans of those teams.
No one was surprised to learn of Ware’s (or Ware’s agent, Pat Dye’s)
original desire to be paid as handsomely as some star NFL
quarterbacks - especially with the handsome $100+ million contract
awarded to Defensive Tackle Albert Haynesworth by the Washington
Redskins. Ware’s contract negotiations with the Cowboys – for
perceived value versus reasonable value – were reminiscent of those
engaged in by Emmitt Smith during the second year of the
back-to-back Super Bowls.
While the stakes were a little different – as the Cowboys needed
their proven puzzle pieces in place to pursue a second straight
Super Bowl – the relative financial arrangements were similar. When
Emmitt was pushing for his big pay day – every penny of which he had
earned – Jerry was in the uncomfortable but necessary position of
having to plead fiscal responsibility due to the looming salary cap
restrictions facing teams the following year. Jerry wanted to pay
Emmitt, but he needed to pay him in a more salary cap-friendly way.
The organization needed to come before one of its most important and
most productive players. The impending salary cap era was going to
change new player contracts forever, and there was no good way
around it.
Emmitt – after making himself unavailable during two painful
Cowboys’ losses to start off the season – won out, forcing Jerry to
acquiesce as reasonably close to Emmitt’s original dollar amount as possible.
Emmitt rewarded Jerry and his Cowboys teammates by helping them
quickly recover from their unimaginable 0-2 start, turning the
season around, and leading to a second straight Super Bowl victory.
The 2009 Cowboys – objectively – are neither on an imminent path
towards a second straight Super Bowl victory nor a desperately
coveted playoff victory. Ware - unlike Emmitt - did not choose to
hold out for a better deal prior to receiving one. The stakes with
Emmitt were, again, a little different. No one – neither coaches, nor players, nor
prognosticators, nor fans – has been able to peer into their crystal
ball and confidently predict how this season will unfold, either.
You will hear most people, however, agree about the similarities in
what Emmitt and DeMarcus – in their prime – meant towards their
respective teams, post season achievements or not. Successes – let
alone survival – without such high caliber talent do not inspire a
good prognosis. No Cowboys fan wishes to see the "ware and tear"
that would be endured without Ware.
DeMarcus – with a different team and under different circumstances –
has earned every penny he will receive under his new contract, just
like with Emmitt. The grand or not so grand accomplishments which
may occur in the years that follow this celebrated signing are a
separate issue, just like with Emmitt. Jerry and Emmitt had the
salary cap with which to contend. Jerry and DeMarcus had (and still
have) a non-salary capped year with which to contend in 2010. Fiscal
responsibility was the controlled (or controlling) substance in both scenarios,
then and now.
Nonetheless, this kind of monstrous financial commitment tends to
wreak mental havoc on a player’s focus until the day arrives when it
is signed, sealed, and delivered. The player in question typically
explains away any signs of on the field anxiety, stress (fractures),
or tentativeness as having no relation. Ware is no different.
DeMarcus said during the press conference, "A lot of
weight went off that (stress fracture in my) foot." His defensive teammates can
breath a little easier and play a little better, as well - knowing
one of the best players on the team is even more focused and
determined than ever to see the Cowboys win out - for years to come.
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- We shall see. We always do.
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