HEADLINES

Dez Bryant

Extra Points: Byrd, Murray, Smith, Jets

May 31st, 2014 at 1:05pm CST by Matt Feminis

Miscellaneous news and notes from around the league. . .

Cowboys Notes: Lee, Bryant, Sims

May 30th, 2014 at 2:09pm CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of the reported sale of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion, the NFL world has been abuzz with speculation about what its marquee franchises may be worth. For now, only the Bills are available, but what might a team like the Cowboys be worth? Well, it’s a moot point, according to the team’s executive VP Stephen Jones (link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News).

“All I can tell you is it doesn’t matter what’s the number, Jerry’s not selling,” Stephen said on 1310 AM in Dallas, referring to his father and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. “Only he can make that decision. It’s kind of fruitless to even discuss it.”

We can speculate all we want, and it should just be a matter of time before we get an idea of what the Bills will sell for, but it doesn’t sound like we’ll find out the Cowboys’ open-market value anytime soon. Here’s more out of Dallas:

  • In addition to being a serious blow to the Cowboys’ defense, Sean Lee‘s injury is a reminder that huge contracts for players like Tony Romo, Brandon Carr, and Morris Claiborne could end up haunting the club, says Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News. As Sabin writes, the club hasn’t been shy about committing big money to injury-prone players, and it may end up backfiring in some cases.
  • Dez Bryant is one of the next Cowboys in line for a big extension, and Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News says he’d be hesitant about paying Bryant like a top-five NFL receiver, though he expects the team to do it. Asked today during his aforementioned radio appearance if the Cowboys will extend Bryant before or during the 2014 season, Stephen Jones acknowledged that it’s “a real possibility,” per Machota.
  • Former Cowboys linebacker Ernie Sims met with the Cardinals this week, and said on SiriusXM NFL Radio today that Arizona wasn’t ready to make a decision on him at the time, though he expects to hear back by Monday or Tuesday (audio link). Asked about the possibility of a return to Dallas, Sims said the team hasn’t reached out to him yet, which didn’t surprise him — although the veteran linebacker knows the system very well and has a “great relationship” with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, Sims recognizes the Cowboys are trying to get younger at linebacker.

Cowboys Rumors: Bryant, Lee, Hitchens

May 28th, 2014 at 11:49am CST by Luke Adams

Many of the league’s top wide receivers – including Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Larry Fitzgerald, and Vincent Jackson – have signed deals in recent years that average at least $10MM and exceed $20MM in total guarantees. While Dez Bryant didn’t cite specific figures, he suggested to Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com that he thinks his next contract should reflect his place among the NFL’s best wideouts.

“Yeah, I deserve it,” Bryant said of a long-term extension. “I deserve it. I feel like I do. I put the work in, but I let that kind of stuff take care of itself. It is what it is. I let my agent talk about it and give me some feedback.”

According to Bryant, agent Eugene Parker has already engaged in preliminary talks with the Cowboys about a multiyear extension. The standout receiver is slated to earn a base salary of $1.78MM along with $250K in workout bonuses in 2014, the final year of his rookie contract.

Let’s check out a few more Cowboys items….

  • Would Bryant accept a hometown discount to remain in Dallas? He was somewhat noncommittal in his conversation with MacMahon: “I’m loyal to the squad. I’ve always been. Me and my agent are going to talk about [a hometown discount]. We’ll talk about it. You know, this is big. This is life-changing. Like I said, I’ve done everything asked of me, and we’ll see what happens.”
  • In a chat with readers at the Dallas Morning News, columnist Rick Gosselin pointed out that the next contracts for Bryant and offensive tackle Tyron Smith will likely be the biggest deals of their respective careers, so it’s not fair to expect them to accept discounts. Still, Gosselin expects Dallas to keep both players around, since they’re the “shining stars in [Jerry Jones‘] draft legacy.”
  • The silver lining in the news of Sean Lee‘s torn ACL is that the linebacker didn’t tear any other ligaments in his knee, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). That means Lee can likely have surgery sooner, which advances the timetable for his recovery.
  • As the Cowboys consider options to replace Lee, rookie linebacker Anthony Hitchens admits that he may not be ready to immediately step up into the starting lineup (link via DallasCowboys.com). “It’s going to take time,” Hitchens said. “I’ve still got to get everything down. If we had a game tomorrow, no, but it’s a good thing we don’t. I have time to get better.”

Mailbags & More: Cowboys, Lions, Rams, Jets

May 4th, 2014 at 8:47am CST by Rory Parks

Let’s have a look at some mailbags and related links to kick off this Sunday morning:

  • The Cowboys will have some contractual decisions to make regarding a few of their top offensive weapons, writes ESPNDallas.com’s Todd Archer in his latest mailbag. Although they have picked up the fifth-year option on Tyron Smith, thereby locking him up through 2015, they still would like to get a long-term deal done. Extension talks could take place this summer.
  • As for Dez Bryant, who is entering the final year of his contract, the Cowboys want him to stay and Bryant does not want to leave, so Archer predicts that something will get done. However, he does think that a lot of the money in any potential deal will be in the base salaries, which would give Dallas some protection. And although DeMarco Murray has been terrific, the market for running backs has stagnated and the Cowboys would be wise to approach him with a modest deal now to see if he would bite.
  • Finally, Archer believes that if the Cowboys are unable to land Zack Martin or another top tackle in the draft, they will try to extend Doug Free. If they do manage to snag a highly-rated tackle, they will be willing to set Free free.
  • ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein investigates the possibilities of the Lions‘ trading back from their No. 10 overall pick and the possibility of an Ndamukong Suh trade.
  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press is going all out in his pre-draft coverage of the Lions this week, taking a look at Detroit’s options at defensive back, the most likely candidates for the team’s first round pick, and he puts up another mock draft.
  • Chris McCosky of The Detroit News makes a case for the Lions to draft Zack Martin with their first-round choice.
  • Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com had a two-hour chat with fans on Friday regarding the most important draft-related topics facing the Rams.
  • Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explains why Clemson WR Sammy Watkins would be an intriguing fit for the Rams.
  • Seth Walder of the New York Daily News looks at three players the Jets could target in the first-round: Odell Beckham, Jr., Brandin Cooks, and Darqueze Dennard.
  • Kimberly A. Smith of Newsday examines the importance of this draft for Jets GM John Idzik, who has 12 picks to work with and a healthy salary cap situation.
  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com looks at Rex Ryan’s influence in the Jets‘ draft room, the possibility they may trade up in the draft, and several other draft-related issues.

Cowboys Rumors: Draft, Spencer, Smith

April 3rd, 2014 at 6:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at a handful of notes pertaining to America’s Team…

Extra Points: Fox, Monroe, Cowboys, Cap

February 20th, 2014 at 3:28pm CST by Luke Adams

There will be plenty of meetings between teams and player agents this week, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (via Twitter) that clubs will also have the opportunity to touch base with their coaches’ agents. The Broncos have a meeting scheduled this weekend with agent Bob LaMonte to discuss a new deal for head coach John Fox, according to Rapoport. Here’s more from around the league, as updates from the Indianapolis combine dominate the NFL news wire:

  • Speaking to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times, offensive tackle Eugene Monroe confirmed that he and the Ravens have entered discussions about a new contract, and said those talks in and of themselves are a positive sign. Although Monroe cautioned that it’s still early, the free-agent-to-be said it would be “awesome” to continue as a Raven.
  • While the Cowboys are expected to explore extensions for wide receiver Dez Bryant and offensive tackle Tyron Smith this offseason, those talks haven’t gotten underway yet, according to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.
  • In the wake of the new $130MM salary cap projection put forth by Adam Schefter this morning, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com has adjusted his estimates for 2014’s restricted free agent tenders and franchise tags.
  • New Browns GM Ray Farmer told reporters, including Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland, that he’s looking forward to meeting with quarterback prospect Johnny Manziel.
  • While he likely won’t have much say in the decision, Jarrett Bush tells Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link) that he’d be “shocked” if the Packers don’t re-sign fellow defensive back Sam Shields.
  • The Seahawks aren’t expected to use the franchise tag this year, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.
  • In a piece for the National Football Post, Joel Corry identifies 10 players who are candidates to restructure their contracts this offseason.

Cowboys Links: Bryant, Smith, Austin, Ware

February 20th, 2014 at 8:28am CST by Luke Adams

With a deadline of March 11 for getting under the 2014 cap, the Cowboys don’t sound like they’re in any hurry to make roster moves quite yet, writes Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Still, there are a number of interesting decisions to be made over the next several weeks by the team which has the most 2014 cap commitments in the NFL. Let’s check in on some of them….

  • While the Cowboys intend to spend “efficiently” in free agency, that doesn’t necessarily preclude contract extensions for wide receiver Dez Bryant or offensive tackle Tyron Smith, Archer notes in a separate ESPN.com blog post. Both players are eligible for long-term deals this summer, and executive vice president Stephen Jones suggests the team will “make decisions individually” on Bryant and Smith, meaning it’s possible that just one of the two will be extended this offseason.
  • Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News contextualizes some comments made by Jones in examining the team’s options with Miles Austin and DeMarcus Ware.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes an in-depth look at how Terrell Suggs’ new extension with the Ravens could influence Ware’s contract negotiations with the Cowboys. Dallas may not have as much leverage as Baltimore did, but the club could create significant cap savings by cutting Ware, so he figures to be open to restructuring his deal.

Fitzgerald On ‘Boys Cap: “Really No Escape”

February 8th, 2014 at 1:32pm CST by Matt Feminis

OverTheCap.com editor Jason Fitzgerald joined the Pro Football Focus podcast (listen here) to discuss NFC salary cap situations. A chunk of the two-hour chat was focused on the Cowboys, as Fitzgerald details the team’s current woes and paints an even bleaker future. Highlights:

      • The Cowboys are currently $24MM over the salary cap.
      • The contracts of Tony Romo and Sean Lee were designed to be restructured, and doing so will bring the excess number down to $13MM or $14MM. “From there, they’ll do what they always do,” said Fitzgerald.“They will restructure, restructure, restructure every player on the roster, they’ll convert base salaries to signing bonus money. In some cases, they’ll add voidable contract years, which essentially are ‘dummy’ years thrown on to the end of the contract just for salary cap purposes to let you lower the cost down, and then at some point in time when their contracts void – automatically – that money will all just accelerate onto the cap in two years from now, three years from now.”
      • The team does not have prime candidates to cut for short-term cap relief.
      • Fitgerald also criticized the team’s reluctance to cut the chord with high-priced veterans:“They’re the one team that does not have willingness to let go from anyone they consider like a star player. You saw that last year with Anthony Spencer, that, really, they’re making a transition in defense, they have salary cap problems – he’s a player they really should have let walk. Instead, they franchised him for the second year in a row and they just can’t let go. . .And then he got hurt and never played a down, really, for them. This is what happens, is you have a roster like this which is just incredibly high cap charges for everybody on the team and really no escape.”
      • Defensive end DeMarcus Ware, who will be 32, began to deteriorate last season, and the day is fast approaching when the team will have to address his exorbitant deal [$16MM cap hit in 2014, $17.5MM in 2015].“Do they restructure him?” asks Fitzgerald. “Which basically means you’re going to be stuck with DeMarcus Ware for a very long time, or do they do the smart thing, which is approach him with a pay cut?”
      • Fitzgerald believes if the Cowboys slap the franchise tag on defensive tackle Jason Hatcher and/or restructure Ware’s deal, it portends continued shortsighted spending, insinuating the team either will have refused to change or simply not learned its lesson.
      • The roster is littered with too many players on the wrong side of 30, and each restructured deal makes it more difficult to release players.
      • The Cowboys’ cap situation is “probably going to be much worse” next year, and Fitzgerald posits the team will eventually have to bite the bullet, a la the Oakland Raiders.“[The Cowboys are] going to have to have one year where they just hit that emergency button, dump a lot of guys, take a $50MM or $60MM “dead money” hit for one year and basically field an expansion roster.”
      • And oh by the way, Dez Bryant’s deal is up after 2014.

NFC East Notes: Bryant, Orakpo, Redskins

February 3rd, 2014 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

While the Redskins, Eagles, and Giants should all have a moderate amount of cap flexibility this offseason, no team in the NFL currently projects to be further over the 2014 cap than the Cowboys, as Jason Fitzgerald’s newest update as OverTheCap.com shows. With about $152MM in total commitments among their top 51 contracts for 2014, the Cowboys will likely have to clear $24MM+ in salary before March 11 in order to get under the cap. As we look forward to seeing Dallas’ moves over the next several weeks, let’s check in on a few other NFC East items….

  • Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant is eligible for unrestricted free agency a year from now, but it doesn’t sound like he’s thinking ahead to the possibility of testing the market. Asked by TMZ about his upcoming free agency, Bryant replied, “I don’t even think about leaving Dallas. I’m Dallas forever” (hat tip to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com).
  • In his latest piece for the Washington Post, Mike Jones discusses Brian Orakpo‘s impending free agency, noting that some league insiders believe the linebacker will be seeking something in the $10MM per year range on a long-term contract. Responding to Jones’ column, cap expert Joel Corry tweets that Orakpo’s asking price figures to exceed $10MM annually and will probably be in the neighborhood of $30MM in guaranteed money. As Jones writes, the Redskins will certainly attempt to work out a multiyear deal with Orakpo, but may also consider using the franchise tag in order to put off a long-term commitment for one more season.
  • The NFL’s offseason waiver system opens today, and it figures to be of great interest to the Redskins, according to Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com. The Redskins may not have their second overall pick, but they have the second overall waiver priority, meaning that when other teams start to release young players, Washington will essentially have its pick of those players on waivers.