Cowboys Free Agents

Cotton

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Cowboys free agents: Phillip Tanner

February, 24, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


Phillip Tanner
Position: Running back
Free-agent type: Unrestricted
2013 salary: $555,000

Summary: Tanner had nine carries for 12 yards and a touchdown in 2013 on offense and made nine tackles on special teams in 16 games.

Why keep him: He is everything Jason Garrett wants in a teammate. He is tough, dependable and trustworthy. He will do whatever it takes for the team to win. He is an excellent practice player. He knows the offense and can contribute on every special teams’ unit. He can be a useful short-yardage back.

Why let him go: There comes a time where the cost of a player outweighs his usefulness on the roster because of price. Tanner was set to make $1.389 million as a restricted free agent, but a source said the Cowboys will not tender him an offer, making him an unrestricted free agent With DeMarco Murray, Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle, who is entering his second year, there just isn’t enough snaps for him on offense.

Best guess: Danny McCray was a restricted free agent last year and the Cowboys chose not to tender him an offer, giving him a $100,000 signing bonus and $630,000 base salary instead. And he was their best special teamer. The Cowboys could choose to do the same with Tanner this year, minus the signing bonus. In this scenario his base salary would be a non-guaranteed $645,000.
 
Cotton

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Texas Ace

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Iamtdg said:
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Was there ever any question as to whether he should be tendered?

What idiots would actually tender this scrub?

~Remembers Cowboys tendering Danny McCray~

Oh....:unsure
 
Genghis Khan

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Danny McCray was their best STer last year? Based on what?

I barely noticed him last year. He's nothing special and yet we keep clinging to the fucker like the playoffs depend on it.

And Tanner? Yeah, seeyabye.
 
Cotton

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Cowboys free agents: Ryan Cook

February, 24, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


Ryan Cook
Position: Center/guard
Free-agent type: Unrestricted
2013 salary: $1.1 million

Summary: Cook spent the season on injured reserve with a back injury after practicing just a handful of times in training camp. In 2012, he started 11 games at center after he was acquired in a trade from Miami the week before the season opener.

Why keep him: He has position flexibility, which is always a good thing for backup offensive lineman. He has experience, which is another benefit. With Phil Costa set to count $1.75 million against the cap in 2014, Cook would be a cheaper option.

Why let him go: Preferably teams would rather go younger and cheaper on a backup offensive lineman. Costa is younger, if not cheaper. He is also coming off a back surgery. Cook is something of a progress stopper. He might be solid for a handful of games, but he will not be a long-term answer on the offensive line.

Best guess: Cook will have a chance to see what the market will bear for him. The Cowboys could bring him back at a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum salary benefit. Costa might not have the same position flexibility but he is a better fit in this zone blocking scheme than Cook if something were to happen to Travis Frederick.
 
Cowboysrock55

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Genghis Khan said:
Danny McCray was their best STer last year? Based on what?

I barely noticed him last year. He's nothing special and yet we keep clinging to the fucker like the playoffs depend on it.

And Tanner? Yeah, seeyabye.
Click to expand...
I think it meant the year before last. Meaning he was our best special teamer and then we chose not to tender him but instead just offer him a contract. He didn't do shit as a special teamer last year. The roster spot should have been used on a legitimate safety option. Of course Jeff Heath didn't belong on an NFL roster either.
 
Cowboysrock55

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Iamtdg said:
Cowboys free agents: Ryan Cook

February, 24, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


Ryan Cook
Position: Center/guard
Free-agent type: Unrestricted
2013 salary: $1.1 million

Summary: Cook spent the season on injured reserve with a back injury after practicing just a handful of times in training camp. In 2012, he started 11 games at center after he was acquired in a trade from Miami the week before the season opener.

Why keep him: He has position flexibility, which is always a good thing for backup offensive lineman. He has experience, which is another benefit. With Phil Costa set to count $1.75 million against the cap in 2014, Cook would be a cheaper option.

Why let him go: Preferably teams would rather go younger and cheaper on a backup offensive lineman. Costa is younger, if not cheaper. He is also coming off a back surgery. Cook is something of a progress stopper. He might be solid for a handful of games, but he will not be a long-term answer on the offensive line.

Best guess: Cook will have a chance to see what the market will bear for him. The Cowboys could bring him back at a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum salary benefit. Costa might not have the same position flexibility but he is a better fit in this zone blocking scheme than Cook if something were to happen to Travis Frederick.
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I would rather cut Costa, save the money, and bring Cook back on a veteran minimum deal.
 
boozeman

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Iamtdg said:
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:fistpump

Get rid of the crap. No more of these stupid $1-$2 million deals to schlubs.
 
boozeman

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Cowboysrock55 said:
I would rather cut Costa, save the money, and bring Cook back on a veteran minimum deal.
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I would rather just draft a center late who is better than the both of them. Bernadeau could also back up Fredbeard.
 
Smitty

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boozeman said:
I would rather just draft a center late who is better than the both of them. Bernadeau could also back up Fredbeard.
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You may not have a pick to burn if a better player at a different position comes up.

But yeah, I'm ok with undrafted FA.
 
Cotton

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2014 Cowboys free agents: Jason Hatcher

February, 25, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


Jason Hatcher
Position: Defensive tackle
Type: Unrestricted
2013 salary: $2 million

Summary: Hatcher picked the right time to have the best year of his career. He was added to the Pro Bowl after putting up 11 sacks. In his first seven seasons he had 16 sacks and never more than 4.5 in a season. The move to the 4-3, as well as Jay Ratliff’s health issues, was of great benefit to Hatcher.

Why keep him: Hatcher was their best defensive lineman last year and it makes good sense to keep your better players, even those on a unit that finished last in the NFL in 2013. The three-technique is a major force in the 4-3 scheme and the Cowboys do not have an in-house replacement.

Why let him go: Cost. In a perfect world the Cowboys would have been able to put the franchise tag on Hatcher, which would pay him more than $9 million, but they are not in a perfect world because of their salary-cap situation. Hatcher also turns 32 in July, and it’s rarely good business to commit big-time money to an older player.

Best guess: Hatcher has put himself in position to cash in and he has said he will take the best deal. The best deal almost assuredly will come from another team. If the Cowboys want to remain in the mix to keep Hatcher, they have to hope the defensive line market is as soft this year as it was last year where somebody like Cliff Avril received two years for $15 million from the Seattle Seahawks. Hatcher could see the benefit of remaining with the Cowboys, even on a shorter deal, when all factors are considered.
 
Cotton

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2014 Cowboys free agents: Edgar Jones

February, 25, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


Edgar Jones
Position: Defensive end
Type: Unrestricted
2013 salary: $715,000

Summary: Acquired in a trade from Kansas City the week before the season began, Jones played in only seven games with five tackles, three pressures and a pass deflection on defense. He also had five special teams' tackles. He missed nine games because of a groin injury that eventually required sports hernia surgery.

Why keep him: Maybe you've heard the Cowboys need defensive linemen? Jones has the added benefit of being able to cover kicks and punts, which is not a trait you usually find in defensive ends. Before the injury he was doing well in a limited role, so maybe he could be a rotation player in 2014.

Why let him go: He has 1.5 sacks in seven seasons. You would like more production than that, even in a backup. He turns 30 in December and getting younger and cheaper is always a better option for a team in cap trouble.

Best guess: Jones will be able to test the market, but he is looking at another year of making the minimum wherever he signs.
 
Cotton

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2014 Cowboys free agents: Ernie Sims

February, 26, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


Ernie Sims
Position: Linebacker
Type: Unrestricted
2013 salary: $840,000

Summary: Sims played in 12 games, starting six because of Bruce Carter’s ineffectiveness and injuries to Justin Durant and Sean Lee, but he had a hard time staying healthy as well, dealing with a groin injury. He had 42 tackles and forced a fumble.

Why keep him: He played for new defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli in Detroit and knows the scheme to the point where he can play all three linebacker spots. He will be a physical presence on a defense that needs as much physicality as possible.

Why let him go: He was out of position too often last year, looking for the big hits. The development of Kyle Wilber and DeVonte Holloman gives the Cowboys younger and less expensive options at the backup spots. They can also play on all of the major special teams' units, which Sims did not do.

Best guess: It’s time to move on.
 
Cowboysrock55

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Iamtdg said:
2014 Cowboys free agents: Edgar Jones

February, 25, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


Edgar Jones
Position: Defensive end
Type: Unrestricted
2013 salary: $715,000

Summary: Acquired in a trade from Kansas City the week before the season began, Jones played in only seven games with five tackles, three pressures and a pass deflection on defense. He also had five special teams' tackles. He missed nine games because of a groin injury that eventually required sports hernia surgery.

Why keep him: Maybe you've heard the Cowboys need defensive linemen? Jones has the added benefit of being able to cover kicks and punts, which is not a trait you usually find in defensive ends. Before the injury he was doing well in a limited role, so maybe he could be a rotation player in 2014.

Why let him go: He has 1.5 sacks in seven seasons. You would like more production than that, even in a backup. He turns 30 in December and getting younger and cheaper is always a better option for a team in cap trouble.

Best guess: Jones will be able to test the market, but he is looking at another year of making the minimum wherever he signs.
Click to expand...

The problem with a veteran like this is even if you can sign him for a minimum amount you are better off going younger because the minimum for a rookie is so much cheaper. Plus you can get that type of production from an undrafted guy.
 
midswat

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I never understood our Edgar Jones infatuation last year.
 
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