-
-
-
2011-2012 Offseason: Pre-Selection Catch
Up And Other Considerations
-
- April
25, 2012
At 6:50 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
-
- Money makes the world go round. The
more you have, the more you can potentially accomplish, and there
are few things worse than making confident plans with a concrete
budget (only to see some or all of that budget suddenly
disappear, because "someone" insisted you were trying to unfairly
fudge it).
From the first-time home buyer to the businessperson looking to
expand their operations to the NFL owner preparing to indulge in the
2012 free agency market, suddenly diminished funding can force even
the deepest thinker with the greatest of ideas to park it.
Salary Cap Showdown
Everyone in and around the NFL is now fully aware of the penalties
levied against the Cowboys and Redskins – by NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell – for how they structured certain player contracts during
the 2010 uncapped year.
The "NFL" claims the Cowboys and Redskins purposely used that uncapped
year to dump bad contracts – while all other teams abstained from
doing so (per an alleged gentlemen’s agreement among all 32
owners). Such an agreement, of course, was not legally binding (and
neither the Cowboys nor the Redskins were going to join the others
in hiding).
When fans think of the salary cap – and what it has done for the
“competitive balance” of today’s NFL – they most often think of the
Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Redskins.
It is no mere coincidence that no three NFL teams have come to
better understand and deeply dread “dead money” more than the
Cowboys, the 49ers, and the Redskins – since the NFL salary cap was
first introduced in 1994.
While Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. has long-since vanished from his days as a
free-wheeling member of the NFL ownership elite, Daniel Snyder has
done quite well in mimicking Eddie’s high-spending ways, though his
investments on game days have been unreliable in sticking the
landing (uneven
drafting, free agency reaches, and lousy record notwithstanding).
While the 49ers appear to have a reasonably bright future – nearly
reaching the Super Bowl from the depths of an average NFC West – the
Cowboys were docked $10M and the Redskins were dealt a $36M
forfeiture (to be divided up over the next two seasons however
each team deems best to avoid complete financial torture).
The Cowboys and Redskins have gone the arbitration route in
challenging Goodell’s ruling (potentially willing to go as far
as suggesting the other 30 NFL teams were colluding).
A $10M dollar penalty – while still undesirable – has proven
reasonably manageable. Jerry Jones – to his near-instant relief –
benefited from a conga line of Cowboys veterans stepping up to the
donations plate to give him more of a fighting chance in free agency
(and helping to create new locker room vacancies).
The financial sting – philosophically – may be less bothersome to
Jones and Snyder than the equally unfair timing of the penalties
which literally left them with just one day to artificially dampen
their free agency dreams.
-
-
-
- The one-day redesign of their free agency plans may be
even less bothersome to Jones and Snyder than the knowledge that their
punishment fire was set by an arsonist so filthy. The responsible
party is mischievous guy with a Big-Blue-branded lighter (none other
than New York Giants co-owner John Mara (the current chair of the NFL Management Council Executive
Committee).
Whether or not the Cowboys’ and Redskins’ salary cap showdown
succeeds in reversing the decision, fans should thank their lucky
stars the cap-challenged Cowboys were not saddled with a greater
obstacle to their postseason mission.
If the Cowboys ultimately end up having to swallow their $10 million
dollar shortfall, fans should expect America’s Team to heap even
more incentive upon added incentive to bring their salary cap
showdown to MetLife Stadium to start the season.
Maybe that lost salary cap money is going to fund another bounty (but
let us not digress from one to the next mess).
Mutiny On The Bounty
Football – at any level – for "The Tortured Cowboys Fan," has always been a bit less about
the mammoth hits and a bit more about getting to a particular spot
and getting to the football (before your opponent arrives for an
expected haul).
Why do Cowboys fans have such great memories of “Thurman’s Thieves?”
They got to the football – more often than not – before the
receivers they were covering. Dennis Thurman led a gaggle of
football-fetching gangsters – starring Thurman himself, Everson Walls, Ron Fellows,
and Michael Downs. These turnover terrors were rounded out by
beloved Bill Bates and role players Ricky Easmon, Victor Scott, and
Dextor Clinkscale.
-
- The core members of this pickoff posse – while in
the prime of their careers –
made secondary play into quite the elegant display. Thurman’s
Thieves certainly were able to make most of the tackles they needed
in their day, but they rarely had to do it.
-
-
-
- Why do Cowboys fans have such great memories of Deion Sanders? He
got to the football – more often than not – before the receivers he
was covering. Deion – throughout his career – was an accurate
defensive dart making corner play into an art. Deion certainly
could make most of the tackles he needed in his hay day, but he
rarely had to do it.
He may have made no (broken) bones about avoiding
collisions, but if you had the ability to step in front of a
football to pollute before the intended receiver even finished his route, would you bother with tackling? Neither would anyone else.
-
-
-
- Why do Cowboys fans have such great memories of Ed “Too Tall” Jones?
Well, he was simply too tall, and he could almost spend all
day batting down passes without having to lay a finger on opposing
offensive linemen. Watching Ed bat down passes or reach over
offensive linemen to get to the quarterback was like watching Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar sink sky hook after sky hook in the face of players who
simply had no chance (and never quite enough height in their
competitive stance).
While he certainly did
throw around his fair share of linemen, fullbacks, running backs,
and quarterbacks
in his day – while also moonlighting as a heavyweight boxer – he
rarely had to do it.
-
-
-
- Why do Cowboys fans have such great memories of Randy “Manster”
White? What did he not accomplish (with the strength of a
beast, the speed of a much smaller man, and the leverage / body
control of a martial arts expert)?
Randy quite literally could have
killed anyone he faced – and he certainly could have beaten on them
all game long – but he did not have to do it. Randy – like
the other great players mentioned here – did not need to demolish
you in order to demoralize you.
-
-
-
- The Tortured Cowboys Fan could name plenty of other Cowboys – like the entire Doomsday
defense or Charles Haley or DeMarcus Ware – but the historical point
has been made (about what an NFL defensive player could do versus
what they should do).
Fast forward to the NFL as it is today, and you see the overall
quality of body control, leverage, tackling, and the ability to “get
there first” has eroded faster than urban decay "but, But, BUT," to the
point of being so desperate as to want to potentially end another
player’s career?
As former pro tennis great John McEnroe might say: “YOU CANNOT BE
SERIOUS!”
The Tortured Cowboys Fan would be remiss without acknowledging the dwindling number of
active players who still know how to beat and embarrass an opponent
without having to knock them out of the game.
Some combination of fans, prognosticators, players, and coaches will all
say “But that is what the fans want – monstrous hits! They want to
see at least three players looking out their ear holes per game! They want to see one player laid out every
other
game!”
Even the NFL’s own marketing wizards were saying the very same thing
(until a certain group of retired people decided to sue the NFL
for allegedly lying to that group about the NFL's knowledge of
concussions and how well prepared the NFL was to prevent concussions).
Procter & Gamble is probably getting ready to sue the very next person
who refers – in any way – to “Bounty” without paying a two-ply royalty . . .
but let us not digress.
There needs to be a "Mutiny on the Bounty" as soon as possible, but for a reason that might more accurately resonate with all NFL
fans.
Fans – most but not all – view professional football as an absolute
gladiator sport (where someone has to be completely
destroyed, regardless of the score, and before everyone has headed
out the door).
Fans – some but not all – are well aware that the talent pool
(primarily hailing from NCAA football programs throughout the
nation) has been thinning out more than it has been maintaining
depth.
Fans – more than ever before – are seeing big ol’ tackling dummies
(SEE Albert Haynesworth) who simply give up after the first
shove or double-team.
Fans – more than ever before – are seeing offensive linemen who
would rather hug a defender than block one, because offensive
linemen are
lovers, not fighters, right?
Fans – more than ever before – are seeing cornerbacks who treat sure
interceptions like hot potatoes.
Fans – more than ever before – are seeing receivers with alligator
arms or hands of stone.
Fans – more than ever before – are seeing quarterbacks who cannot
even “drive the team bus” for a game or two.
Fans – more than ever before – are seeing running backs who would
not know a running lane if one was laid out in front of them (covered in yellow bricks).
One surefire way to keep watering down the existing and incoming
talent pool is through bounty systems like the one Gregg Williams
established and used with a handful of NFL teams.
-
-
-
- It is far less important that Williams and his Saintly players got
caught with their hands in a (possible) cookie jar (of broken bones, torn ACLs,
and concussed heads). It is far more
important that everyone in and around the NFL understands that
bounties can and will ruin the quality of the game.
It is far more important that everyone in and around the NFL
understands that bounties (if allowed to continue) can and will turn
the game of professional football – the most popular sport in the
United States – into something that stands more for quantity than
quality.
It is far more important that everyone in and around the NFL
understands that bounties merely represent a (potential but not
guaranteed) short-term gain versus a (potential but not guaranteed)
promise of long-term success, depending on whether or not a
variety of star players are "allowed" to (potentially) play a more complete NFL
career.
Fans should hope (and pray?) that enough people of influence – from
within the NFL and the NFLPA – have finally made the connection
between knocking out star players and accelerating the
disintegration of the NFL talent pool. The Colts could barely count the
days of the week on one hoof without Peyton Manning last year . . .
but let us not digress.
What is done is done, and everyone can only move forward from this
event in NFL history (that existed long before it was
publicized loudly enough to be noticed).
Fans should hope that enough people of influence – from within the
NFL and the NFLPA – have finally made the connection between the
general lack of maturity and abundant greed that seems to keep the
NFL from possibly-and-realistically becoming the greatest show on
Earth.
There must be a Mutiny on the Bounty (system), and it starts
with players who are determined to compete and win with courage
rather than cowardice.
From Fore To Aft – Who To
Draft?
The 2012 NFL Draft is mere minutes away from beginning this evening.
The Dallas Cowboys are – at maximum – 140 minutes away from making
their first selection.
Fans are beside themselves trying to figure out who the Cowboys will
have found in the first round.
Sure – the Cowboys resigned Anthony
Spencer to his one-year franchise tender (with the hope that
better effort it will render).
-
-
-
- Sure – all of Cowboys Nation
continues to be absolutely sick over how the Dallas pass rush has seemingly
remained on vacation.
Sure – Anthony may have been intrigued with testing the free agency
wire – as "Spencer For Hire" – but the Cowboys believed they had no
one better to hire (giving him one more shot before sparking a
potential open market fire).
Spencer's desire for a long-term
deal is officially on the clock, and he will have at least one more
year to prove he can beat a block almost as well as his good buddy, Hawk
(DeMarcus). While fans – some but not all – may want to ignore the
fact that Dallas' secondary has been so abysmally poor,
Spencer (far more than Ware) had been asked to help finish the
chore.
Spencer was forced to regularly drop
back into the very coverage with which they had been tasked (and potentially sacrificing more of the collective sacks
fans have expected to be amassed). This just added to his "fun" in
playing even more of the run, and it remains only partially fair
that he be expected to put up more-than-similar numbers to
Ware.
The Tortured Cowboys Fan is
certainly not giving Anthony Spencer a free pass (especially
after he previously admitted to taking plays off, showing a
serious lack of judgment and class).
Spencer – nonetheless and regardless
of the Cowboys' complete defensive mess – has another chance to show America's Team that
he can care as much as Ware. Spencer can help his teammates advance to
the playoffs (rather than adding to the Cowboys' season-ending nod-offs).
Sure – the Cowboys traded in Terence Newman for a brand new
(Brandon) Carr (with the hope he will help drive the defense
far).
-
-
-
- Sure – the Cowboys dipped their feet into the deep end of the (Brodney)
Pool (with the hope of more depth at safety).
Sure – the Cowboys decided to allow two proud veterans (Bradie James
and Keith Brooking) to slowly walk off into the sunset (in
exchange for the honor of signing Sean Lee’s former college teammate
Dan Conner).
Sure – the Cowboys allowed Laurent Robinson (Crusoe) to continue his
nomadic NFL career in Jacksonville – to the dismay of most (but not
all) fans. The Cowboys – when faced with seemingly-divine plans –
chose to became non-believers who had to go back to the drawing
board for that elusive, inexpensive, and completely unrealistic
third starting-quality wide receiver.
-
-
-
-
-
- Sure – fans (some but not all) must
remember how rare it was to see Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Jake
Reed lining up for the Minnesota Vikings in those terrifying
three-receiver sets with Robert Smith lurking in their backfield.
Not even the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams enjoyed a three starting-quality
wide receiver yield. Az-Zahir Hakim – their third "starter" – was not
even full-time in the slot or out on the flank, as it was in the
return game where he really made bank.
Sure – the Cowboys relied heavily
upon their third wide receiver – due to the intermittent mental and
physical failures of their first and second retrievers.
Sure – while fans should understand
that having three starting quality wide outs on your roster involves
more luck, timing, and extremely reasonable pricing than anything
else. Fans also have the right – even with a strike-altered
season in their rearview mirror – to be concerned about the
sturdiness of their starters.
-
-
-
-
-
- Sure – the Cowboys were no longer
feeling quite as cozy with Kyle Kosier. Dallas decided to snuggle up with two potential free
agent starters to guard Tony “The Treasure” Romo.
Kosier had been a smart,
multifaceted, and valuable member of the Cowboys' offensive line
since 2006 – often playing through a variety of nagging injuries to
provide a patchwork fix (except for a miserable 2008, which –
for the organization – ended far from great).
Those same injuries were beginning
to pile up too often, potentially placing his playing career – as
the Cowboys' favorite utility man – in the can. The Cowboys felt
they had no choice but to sift through the free agent bargain bin
before Kosier truly became a has been.
While Kosier's farewell did not have
nearly the same cache as the Mavericks' send-off of Steve Nash
(before re-occurring injuries were supposed to turn his
awesome talent into trash), Kosier had, in fact, become the Cowboys'
offensive line point guard (among inexperienced youngsters who
had to try way too hard).
-
-
-
- Sure – the Cowboys are hoping new guard Mackenzy Bernadeau will
perform for them more like a St. Bernard (helping to turn their
o-line into an outstanding line).
Sure – the Cowboys are hoping for no misgivings with what Nate Livings can accomplish for them as they
plot what to do at the other guard spot.
Sure – the Cowboys raised their hands when prognosticators wondered
aloud: “Orton heard from WHO?" But with the now-annual
injuries to Romo, what else were the Cowboys to do? "Ready" is not how
they are willing to describe Stephen McGee, so he shall continue –
for the time being – at number three.
-
-
-
- Sure – the Cowboys made a “hire” calling to Lawrence "The Vicar"
Vickers (with the hope he will forge a holy flurry of running lanes for DeMarco Murray).
Sure – the Cowboys might believe something could be afoot with the
punter of great desire – (a
fully healed?) Mat McBriar (just in time for him to start making
special teams plays at the mandatory OTAs).
Sure – the Cowboys encouraged Hudson
"Line Hawk?" Houck to retire – and asked Dave "Press
Coverage?" Campo to exit the backfield (hoping their
replacements can mine more ore out of what should be solid draft
score).
Sure – the Cowboys and their fans hope in 2012 for the fulfillment
of the usual Super-Bowl-winning theme, underpinned by Jerry, Jason, and their scouting department (cherry) picking and choosing the best available new members of
America’s Team.
Will They Or Won't They?
It would be easy to say there is an
incredible amount of pressure on the Cowboys organization to deliver
solid top-to-bottom draft results – following another disappointing
season – but it has always been this way for America's Team in
the good times and the bad.
Cowboys fans – even 16 years removed
from significant postseason glory – continue to expect Super
Bowl-quality results, no matter the activity or task, and
certainly with the draft.
Will the Cowboys craft a successful
draft and deliver what their followers have expected, or will
the fans be left feeling poorly acknowledged and rejected?
Will the Cowboys use all their picks
on defense (knowing Romo could use even more post-free agency love
for his offensive line to keep him feeling fine)?
Will the Cowboys use an early draft
choice to select the missing member of DeMarcus' dynamic duo, or
will they go after another corner to pair with their new Carr (fearing an injury-prone Mike Jenkins may not be able to make it too
far)?
What on Earth will the Cowboys do?
The fans, the press, and the known free world want to know in which
way the Cowboys will go.
If the Cowboys get even half the
players they covet, will the fans still love it?
What will Jerry, Jason, Rob, and Joe
do with those players and – most importantly – how well will
those players respond? Eagerly and respectfully or insubordinately?
We shall see. We always do.
|
