Michael Thomas‘ new deal with the Saints isn’t going to make negotiations between Amari Cooper and the Cowboys any easier. Thomas reportedly received an annual salary of $19.25MM from New Orleans, and that figure will almost certainly factor into discussions between Cooper and Dallas. Despite that dynamic, the Cowboys haven’t made an effort to get in front of the rest of the market in order to secure a cheaper deal for Cooper (or Dak Prescott, Byron Jones, or Ezekiel Elliott, for that matter).
“We can’t push the issue unless we want to be a market-setter,” Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said on KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM, via David Moore of Sports Day DFW. “And we’re damn sure not going to be a market-setter because of all the things that go with being a Dallas Cowboy. We want our players to feel good about their contracts. But at the same time, we don’t want to do things that are out of line because we can’t afford to be that way. When we save money, whether it’s with Dak, whether it’s with Zeke, whether it’s with Amari, it’s not saving Jerry [Jones] and I a dollar. It’s just money that’s going to another player.”
Per Moore, Jones and the Cowboys told defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence during their negotiating sessions that Lawrence implied to accept less money in order to allow Dallas to account for other star players. Lawrence reportedly told Jones that fitting the rest of the Cowboys’ stars onto the salary cap wasn’t his problem to solve, and Cooper, Prescott, et al. could potentially take the same approach.
Here’s more on the Cowboys:
- The Ezekiel Elliott headline machine continues. Per TMZ Sports, a new lawsuit alleges the Cowboys “conspired with police to cover up info from a 2017 car crash that would have sidelined [Elliott] from a crucial NFL playoff game.” The plaintiff in the suit claims he was hit by Elliott’s car just four days before Dallas’ playoff game against Green Bay, and further alleges the Cowboys didn’t want the accident reported because Elliott would have been placed in the concussion protocol, potentially endangering his availability for their playoff game. Additionally, the plaintiff is suing the Cowboys for damages, but as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains, it’s highly unlikely Dallas gets dragged into this suit.
- The Cowboys worked out free agent tight end Jake Fisher, tweets Todd Archer of ESPN.com. A second-round pick of the Bengals as an offensive tackle in 2015, Fisher is now attempting to convert to a skill position. Fisher, who played tight end in high school, has been limited by injuries and ineffectiveness throughout his career, and has started just 12 games in four years. He signed with the Bills earlier this offseason but was cut after two months on Bufflo’s roster.
- In case you missed it, the Cowboys signed running back Alfred Morris earlier this week, giving them some form of insurance against Elliott’s ongoing holdout.
“ All the good things nag of being a Cowboy”. For real? Like what? Having your owner pick his nose on live TV. Have his puppy dog son at his beck and call? Have one of the worst head coaches in Dallas History? Having a clueless owner as GM? Wow
Wow Larry
I get Zeke wanting to be paid but at the same time he’s trying to leap front Dak and Cooper who are both up first since both can be free agents after this season while he has two years left. So why not wait your turn? Seems greedy to me. What bothers me most is that the team has stood by him after all his crazy off the field crap and now he’s holding out on them. I think it’s BS and he needs to get back and play. Talk about s contract next off season. I like how Jerry basically said he doesn’t need to pay him and to don’t need a league leading rusher to win the SB lol. Obviously he makes them so much better and I feel he’s more important than Dak so he should get paid but wait your turn, man. This is annoying to see! I’m not even a Cowboys fan, I’m a football fan though and I just have to see this going on.
On a different note…Will cooper be paid? How can they pay all these guys? Doesn’t seem realistic so someone’s gonna walk regardless. Doubt they let Dak walk so it’s either Cooper or Zeke. I’d love to see my tram grab either of them if they become available in free agency or if they decide to trade Zeke but if that’s the case the guy needs to grow up big time. Stop getting in trouble for one and secondly, how about you show some respect to the real rhags has your back while you got into trouble and even covered up a crime scene for you. Ridiculous.
Not greedy when he’s going to have the shortest career of the 3 and gets run into the ground
This
So it’s more valuable to have a shorter career? Isnt that one of the main reasons RB don’t make “enough”
He’s still going to make “some” millions more than 99% of the U.S. population.
How many millions are enough? Greed is not good…..
Seems greedy to me he needs to at least honor his first four years every player is in the same boat on that one. I could see him asking for an extension next year and maybe holding out for an extension then but this is greedy to try to kump in front of dak and amari and all your other teammates that are totally counting on you this season to help make a superbowl run. And why didnt you say something earlier about holding out we could of picked up a decent running back in the off season or try and trade you. Other than the team what do you think you are accomplishing for yourself you have zero chance of getting a huge guarenteed contract for that far down the road no one is going to guarentee money for 3.4.5.and 6 yrars downn the road on a rb .im sure they would give you an additional 4 year prob 60-65 mollion extension if they dont have to guarantee any of it its either that or sit i mean you can hold out and come back for the final six games and you will still get an accrued year ans your already under contract for 2020 so you could do the same thing next year and in both years make next to nothing then as long as dallas didnt franchise tag you you might get a so so contract thru free agency at around 7 or 8 million a year . if they franchise tag you and you sit out again you wouldnt even get 7 or 8 in free agency it would prob be more like one year at 4 so why not do the right thing and make a deal with jerry jones that you will be here come monday give it your all this year and in return jerry will agree to eithet pay you per an extension or trade you to some one that will next season and forget about the fifth year option but i have a feeling there would not be much interest in giving up much in terms of a trade for a player that is asking for a max deal so you see jerrys hands are kind of tide too so honor this 4th year of your rookie contract win a super bowl get a three year extension for 45 million that will net you 60 million over the next 5 seasons play a another year or 2 if you want or just retire an enjoy yours
Cowboys will sign Cooper and Dak. They will stand firm with Zeke and make him live out the contract ( or he holds out) . Either way he isn’t long for Dallas.
Jerry doesn’t take kindly to those who show him up especially after he went to bat publicly for Zeke.
Also, Zeke has little leverage here considering he’s two years away from FA. Would Jerry trade him ? Hell he fired Jimmy Johnson.
I love that Lawerence line “its not my responsibility to solve cap problems.” He’s exactly right. Maximize yourself when you can.