SPORTSDAY

Posted by Brandon in Connecticut @ 10:01 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Are you sure that isn't supposed to be $13.8 Million in salary cap space?

Posted by Brandon B @ 10:28 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

I hope that should be $13.8 or the Cowboys are going to have an awful hard time resigning Flozell or anyone else.

As far as players leaving Dallas to follow Parcells goes, I doubt we will see as many follow him as in the past. Parcells tenure in Dallas was not successful by any means and there have been way to many players openly criticize Parcells to think that many did like him. On top of that, why would anyone want to go from what should be a perennial Super Bowl contender to a team that hasn't been good for 20+ years and has the #1 pick?

Posted by Chris/Denton @ 10:32 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Brandon, $3.8 should be the correct amount. They used some of the cap to sign Ratliff, used some on that fullback they signed last week ($422,000 I believe) and now Crayton's deal. That might be just enough to get either Canty or Hamlins deal done this year.

Posted by WilliamC @ 10:43 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

I believe the 3.8 million is what is left of the 2007 salary cap, not the 2008 salary cap.

But I sure would like to understand how the team can still put salary or bonus into the 2007 cap. It was my understanding that the allowed use of any 2007 cap money ended about mid-season.

So how much of Crayton's money was buried in 2007?

Posted by Peter @ 10:49 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

If I am not mistaken, the mid-season deadline was ONLY for bumping up the base salary to towards 2007. I believe since it is an extension of the current deal, they can spread across the bonus to 2007 cap number....

Posted by Brian @ 11:14 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Ah who cares...ya'll aren't the GM/President/Owner. He'll figure out a way to make it work. If Danial Snyder can fudge numbers...

Posted by WilliamC @ 11:17 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Peter,

Maybe thats it.

If thats the case, 20% of his $6-Million signing bonus can be absorbed in 2007 - approx. 1.2 Million, and then 1.2 million of the bonus will hit each of the next 4-years.

That would mean his salary cap hit for 2008 and 2009 would be 2.2 million and 2.7 million respectively if my math is correct.

Just as in the case of Ratliff's deal, very cap friendly considering Crayton's importance to the offense.

You gotta think Hamlin is next as he is the only "unrestricted" free agent remaining that the boys can't afford to lose(I dont consider Flozell a guy they cant afford to lose - to some extent, keeping him can be a progress stopper at left tackle considering they have McQuisten and Doug Free ready to step in).

Posted by WilliamC @ 11:18 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Peter,

Maybe thats it.

If thats the case, 20% of his $6-Million signing bonus can be absorbed in 2007 - approx. 1.2 Million, and then 1.2 million of the bonus will hit each of the next 4-years.

That would mean his salary cap hit for 2008 and 2009 would be 2.2 million and 2.7 million respectively if my math is correct.

Just as in the case of Ratliff's deal, very cap friendly considering Crayton's importance to the offense.

You gotta think Hamlin is next as he is the only "unrestricted" free agent remaining that the boys can't afford to lose(I dont consider Flozell a guy they cant afford to lose - to some extent, keeping him can be a progress stopper at left tackle considering they have McQuisten and Doug Free ready to step in).

Posted by Brandon in Connecticut @ 11:22 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Ok, 3.8 Mil for this year makes more sense. Peter, you're correct, the mid season deadline was for base salary, but his signing bonus can be spread into this year a bit. Not much of an impact on next year, since the cap jumps to $116 million next year. Currently the Cowboys have 41 players signed for something around $90 Million, I can't get the exact figures, but the team will be WELL under the cap for next year with plenty of room to maneuver in the offseason.

Posted by Tally @ 11:25 AM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Brian,

Maybe you don't understand the purpose of a blog.

The is where fans discuss things and give their take on things. I has nothing to do with being the GM/President/Owner. It has to do with opinions of Cowboy fans, good, bad, or indifferent.

I see guys come on here and say, "hey, leave it to the experts at valley ranch". Well, if we did that, there would be no blog.

Posted by Brian @ 12:04 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Tally (is that Tally-Lama?),

I just wish people would do a little more reading/research before posting banter and such. Then again...the average IQ is 100.

Posted by Brian @ 12:05 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Tally (is that Tally-Lama?),

I just wish people would do a little more reading/research before posting banter and such. Then again...the average IQ is 100.

Posted by James @ 12:07 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Another Jerry reach. Big money for a medicore player. Add Crayton to James and Roy Biscuit. Next over reaches -- Hamlin, Flo and Colombo. I guess Jerrah never expects them to get old or for that matter give you guys a shot. (Remember your +++ Bledsoe comments last year Jerry after his benching??)

Crayton is a 3. Parcells is right. Crayton scares no one in the NFL. He is a possession reciver ideal for the slot. Fact is he can't excel as a #2 versus Cover 2 teams -- zone or man. He is tooooo slow.

But overall, in 3 years this team will once again stink b/c we are over investing in mediocre players easily replaced with younger guys. Colts and Steelers are perfect examples of how Jerry should do it -- only invest in young super stars. Not mid-level players.

Jerrah will eventually undo the Parcells' personnel magic and back we go to 5-11 -- even with Romo.

Enjoy Parcell's team for a few year kids. His good young players will leave to be starters. His good older players will break down. Jerry's draft's will prove mediocre like this year's.

Posted by James @ 12:08 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Younger guys a shot .....

Posted by Steven @ 12:12 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Ken Hamblin and Keith Davis I think are most keeps on the UFA. And Marion Barber and Chris Canty on the RFA side are must keeps.

The projected cap for the Cowboys is 20.8 Million for 2008.

Posted by steven @ 12:29 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

James

How can you call this years draft mediocre a draft we got some good young talent and got us a extra 2008 first round pick.

Some of Parcells picks great either like Peterson and Skylar Green.

And you are harsh on Roy Wiliams wasn't that Parcells first pick?

Loved Parcells when he was here be now he is gone let's move on.

Posted by 666 @ 1:24 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

James,

Give younger guys a shot!

Like Crayton is old?

Do you realize the cowboys are the 4th youngest team in the league? THE 4TH YOUNGEST, out of 32 teams.

You Parcells lovers are all alike. Nobody can do anything right except the big Tuna. You say the cowboys will be back to 5-11 in 3-years. Why don't you get a head start and go NOW.

Posted by Eddy @ 1:49 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Roy Williams was Campos last pick. TNEW was his first pick.

Posted by Brandon B @ 2:12 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

Brian, if you don't want to read "banter and such" then why the hell are you on a blog? And how are fans supposed to research the freakin' salary cap when many deals are not announced? Perhaps you can enlighten the rest of us on a site that has up-to-date salary numbers and is 100% accurate? The venerable Mr. Archer's post was ambiguous at best. We have nothing left but to post "banter and such" to figure out what he was referrng to.

Posted by Phill @ 3:47 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

James
No-one can discount the players Bill Parcells brought to this team - good and bad - but even he seems to have realised that coaching today's players and getting the best out of them is beyond him. The Fact that 'his' team has won 50% more games this season with a 'looser' coaching approach has to have been a factor in his decision to be a VP of Football Operations and stay out of the hands-on coaching role. Parcells identified a lot of potential in low profile players but he didn't have the confidence in tthe ability he saw to just let them play.

Posted by jtt @ 4:28 PM Fri, Dec 28, 2007

James,

On the money with most of your observations....people, Crayton just robbed the bank (ok so Tom Davis is a safety, but he could NOT separate from him last week) he is a #3 at best, Hurd and Austin have every bit the talent (more speed, maybe worse hands.) Hamlin is another reach even though he has been serviceable (next to Roy most would).

The GM is no great talent evaluator and ofen compounds his mistakes by over-compensating with like-position players.....afraid that your prediction of future drafts will come true if JJ retains complete control of the drafting procedure.......even Unitas/Montana had top complimentary players, Romo is no different....

PS Peterman may be starting for the LIons these days so Parcells may have been right with him after all; agree on Green and Carpenter though......Roy was the GM's last pick before the Tuna came to town......Dave Campos was more gopher than coach/draft expert.

Posted by MikeInUkraine @ 9:46 AM Sat, Dec 29, 2007

With the exception of the 2004 draft I would call all the rest of them pretty average. In fact, I would go so far as to say the only reason Bill Parcells name is discussed so often now as one that deserves credit is because Tony Romo's emergence has made the team a winner. Take him away and the team isn't winning nearly as much and the players Parcells drafted lose their luster.

The second point I would like to make is that the improvement this year is as much attributable to the FAs Jerry Jones is responsible for as the draft picks Parcells gets credit for. Tell me these are not prominant names when doling out credit to the team success:

Tony Romo
Terrel Owens
Leonard Davis
Ken Hamlin
Mark Columbo (spent years chasing a capable RT}
Maybe:
Tank Johnson (with Fergy injured Ratliff may have broken down even worse before now)