DMN Blog: Cowboys' free agency plan... Stephen Jones speaks
by Todd Archer
From some of the sounds coming from this blog and e-mails, there is an element of Cowboys fans upset with the team's lack of action in the free agent market.
Some of you don't want to count the re-signing of Flozell Adams or keeping Tony Romo and Patrick Crayton during the year or getting Zach Thomas at a good price. You want to know why the Cowboys didn't jump out there and give Randy Moss his own suite at the new stadium at the 50-yard line and $20 million guaranteed.
That's OK. Stephen Jones understands those feelings, but he said the team does not need to spend unwisely.
"We feel like our resources are better spent keeping those young players than going out and overpaying for what at best is a good player in the market," Jones said, "because rarely do your great players ever hit the market. [Other teams] do what we do with the Wittens and the Romos. You don't ever see those guys out there. What ends up happening is the best of the rest end up getting paid like they're the best, and we just don't feel that's good use of our money."
He even put into context some of the Cowboys' past free agent runs. Last year's looked pretty good with Leonard Davis and Ken Hamlin making the Pro Bowl. But he also pointed to the deals they gave to Marco Rivera and Jason Ferguson ($9 million signing bonuses apiece) in 2005.
"Not to be negatiive ... those were good players, but I don't know they are great players with what you've got to pay just to go get a guy like that," Jones said. "We're looking at is as a plus through drafting, through getting the good young players we've got and spending our resources on keeping our own guys."
What's next for Hamlin?
11:46 AM Mon, Mar 10, 2008 | Permalink
Todd Archer E-mail News tips
The Cowboys wisely put the franchise tag on safety Ken Hamlin before free agency, guaranteeing them the Pro Bowler will be around for at least another year at $4.396 million.
Since the start of free agency, however, the Cowboys chances of getting Hamling signed to a long-term deal might have taken a hit. Minnesota signed Madieu Williams to a six-year deal worth $33 million that includes $13 million in guarantees. Oakland signed Gibril Wilson to a six-year deal worth $39 million that includes about $16 million in guarantees.
Hamlin is a better player than both of them, but do the Cowboys pony up another mega-contract for a safety?
"What other players make, it affects everything," Executive Vice President Stephen Jones said this morning at the Cowboys' new stadium where it was announced Texas A&M and Arkansas will once again be yearly foes.
Jones said he wasn't surprised at the contracts that have been handed out in free agency, but good players are getting great player money.
"Anytime there is an abundance of cap space, and there was a big jump in the cap this year, people are going to spend their money and are going to try the best way they can to improve," Jones said.
From some of the sounds coming from this blog and e-mails, there is an element of Cowboys fans upset with the team's lack of action in the free agent market.
Some of you don't want to count the re-signing of Flozell Adams or keeping Tony Romo and Patrick Crayton during the year or getting Zach Thomas at a good price. You want to know why the Cowboys didn't jump out there and give Randy Moss his own suite at the new stadium at the 50-yard line and $20 million guaranteed.
That's OK. Stephen Jones understands those feelings, but he said the team does not need to spend unwisely.
"We feel like our resources are better spent keeping those young players than going out and overpaying for what at best is a good player in the market," Jones said, "because rarely do your great players ever hit the market. [Other teams] do what we do with the Wittens and the Romos. You don't ever see those guys out there. What ends up happening is the best of the rest end up getting paid like they're the best, and we just don't feel that's good use of our money."
He even put into context some of the Cowboys' past free agent runs. Last year's looked pretty good with Leonard Davis and Ken Hamlin making the Pro Bowl. But he also pointed to the deals they gave to Marco Rivera and Jason Ferguson ($9 million signing bonuses apiece) in 2005.
"Not to be negatiive ... those were good players, but I don't know they are great players with what you've got to pay just to go get a guy like that," Jones said. "We're looking at is as a plus through drafting, through getting the good young players we've got and spending our resources on keeping our own guys."
What's next for Hamlin?
11:46 AM Mon, Mar 10, 2008 | Permalink
Todd Archer E-mail News tips
The Cowboys wisely put the franchise tag on safety Ken Hamlin before free agency, guaranteeing them the Pro Bowler will be around for at least another year at $4.396 million.
Since the start of free agency, however, the Cowboys chances of getting Hamling signed to a long-term deal might have taken a hit. Minnesota signed Madieu Williams to a six-year deal worth $33 million that includes $13 million in guarantees. Oakland signed Gibril Wilson to a six-year deal worth $39 million that includes about $16 million in guarantees.
Hamlin is a better player than both of them, but do the Cowboys pony up another mega-contract for a safety?
"What other players make, it affects everything," Executive Vice President Stephen Jones said this morning at the Cowboys' new stadium where it was announced Texas A&M and Arkansas will once again be yearly foes.
Jones said he wasn't surprised at the contracts that have been handed out in free agency, but good players are getting great player money.
"Anytime there is an abundance of cap space, and there was a big jump in the cap this year, people are going to spend their money and are going to try the best way they can to improve," Jones said.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:26 PM
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