Jul 14, 2015

so apparently dez bryant is going to sit out regular season games if he doesn't get that long term deal done with the cowboys

 

Jul 14, 2015

People keep trying to make this connection when there isn't one. Brady will likely have his suspension reduced but not for the same reason Hardy had his reduced. When the incident with Hardy occurred, the consequence for his offense was a 2-4 game ban. The NFL let Hardy's due process play out before issuing a consequence but while that was happening the NFL altered its code of conduct & changed its domestic abuse ban from 2-4 games to 6-10 games. When Hardy's due process was over he was slapped with the new 10 game ban & he claimed that wasn't fair because when his incident actually occurred, the consequence was a 2-4 game ban.

Yeah, I understand both positions in this situation. Cowboys see that the WR market is ridiculously high thanks to Calvin Johnson's contract & they don't want to set the market higher with Dez's contract. Dez wants the 16mil a year that Calvin is making but Cowboys want to wait until stars like Demaryius Thomas get paid to truly see where Dez's value sits at. I can understand why Dez is frustrated though, he's gone 5 years without complaining about his contract he's arguably been the most productive WR in that time span & he wants long term security. On the other hand, Cowboys have found themselves in a lot of cap trouble these past several years & want to start to be cautious financially. They believe 12-15 mill a year is Dez's range, Dez wants more than that & wants to be paid like the top WR in football, it's a very complicated situation.

 

Jul 14, 2015

In Dez Bryant's case, Pay the man!

 

Jul 15, 2015

I'd let a s-----y, desperate franchise pay Dez that money. f--- that, for a wide receiver? Peace out bruh.

If I'm Dallas, call his bluff. He's franchised, therefore, in a contract year. Dallas can franchise him for two seasons. What, he's going to sit out both seasons and lower his value? bs. He'll play. Dallas better not be p-----s about it.

And @Enigma I was half joking about the Brady/Hardy connection, but I think the maximum games that Brady will serve is 1.

They have no evidence on the guy. It's literally all circumstantial evidence against him. If Brady takes this to court, he'll win. NFL will reduce it.

I'm still pissed at Kraft for back pedaling though, and accepting the penalties that they dealt out. It wasn't warranted AT ALL.

 

Jul 15, 2015

How many WR's in the NFL are better than Dez Bryant?

 

Jul 15, 2015

You know you're talking to a Pats fan, who knows first hand that you don't need highly paid WRs to win in this league.

 

Jul 15, 2015

the point fitz is missing is that the cowboys offense being as good as it is has A LOT to do with how good dez bryant is. you can't just say "oh well he's just a WR so we shouldn't pay him all that money"

if he's not playing, their offense won't be nearly as explosive, especially considering the departure of murray and the fact that witten is getting up their in age. certain players are not replaceable and dez bryant is one of them.

 

Jul 15, 2015

Everything you're saying makes sense, but over paying him like Dez wants is also detrimental to the team

@TimmyT

 

Jul 15, 2015

@TimmyT is right to an extent though, Dez is special. He's not just another good WR in this league. At this rate, with the way he's producing, he could go down as one of the greatest ever. I don't think the Cowboys have ever had a WR as dynamic as Dez is, TO comes close & so does Irvin though he was a bit limited due to Aikman but still. Pure athleticism, passion & production, Dez is among the best of the best. I think he'd be in a league of his own if it wasn't for Johnson. Not to mention, he's a huge reason why the Cowboys offense is as explosive as it is. His ability to stretch the field vertically, forcing defenses to double cover him, allowing other players like Beasly & Witten to get open.

@Fitz i wouldn't mind the Cowboys paying Dez 12-15 mill a year but 16 mill is pushing it. He's an extraordinary player that's still young & is a big part of our offense. Dez said he'd be willing to take a home town discount so I guess we'll just have to wait & see. This isn't like the Murray decision though. With Murray it was clear, he's injury prone, hard running RB in his late 20's with a lot of tred on his tires, history told us signing him to a big contract wouldn't be smart. Nothing really points to not signing Dez.

 

Jul 15, 2015

Dez is a big time wide receiver, he deserves that money.

Dallas is extremely talented though, outside of Dez. They have an absolutely dominant offensive line, one of the best run blocking offensive lines that I've ever seen. It has nothing to do with Dez, when they're blowing back defensive linemen and linebackers 3-5 yards off of the line of scrimmage. They can make ANY back look good, as long as they're healthy.

Dallas could be utterly dominant for years if they center their philosophy on their offensive line, and a ball control approach on offense. I literally can't think of an offensive line in recent memory as good as this Dallas line, that's how good they are.

Does Dez help them reach another level? Yes, definitely. Is he worth that much money to a team like Dallas, who I believe are Super Bowl contenders at this point? NO.

Dallas could use that money for a premier defensive free agent.

I also believe Dallas stole the draft, and picked up another great offensive linemen as an undrafted rookie. Dallas has been doing WAY better than years' past at developing their team.

The only reason I think Dez is worth more, is more for Romo, than the actual offensive philosophy they've installed.

I think with Dez, they're Super Bowl contenders. Without Dez, they're above average, and possibly a playoff team.

First of all, Dallas holds the cards to Dez's career. They have the power. They can franchise him the next two years, and there is nothing Dez can do about it.

So what's his solution? He's going to sit out two full years, in his prime, with a chance to make even MORE money afterwards? Or he can play for his next contract, and increase his value.

Dez is bluffing, and Dallas better not budge. He'd only be screwing himself out of a big pay day. And Dallas would be screwing themselves out of, potentially, 1-2 explosive seasons.

Dez will probably only sit out training camp and the pre-season. If he sits out any games in the upcoming season, he's losing out on about 750K a game.

If he sits out 10 games? He's entitled to 5 million, but he loses out on 7 million, and he is unable to play PASSED week 10, for Dallas or anyone,. Not to mention, Dallas can franchise him AGAIN the following season...

Dallas won, Dez. Strap up and play. It's over.

@Enigma @Boos @TimmyT

 

Jul 15, 2015

Dallas' offensive line is just so good. I suggest you guys really watch how they block. It's pretty f---ing amazing. The holes they opened up for Murray were incredible. Murray was just really good at making safeties and corners miss tackles, but Dallas was giving him an easy 4-5 yards every run.

Now, if they have a great defense? Dallas will run the NFC for years, with or without Dez. They had a great draft, as far as I can see. Now you have Hardy, added to that defense? You have 3 potential super stars on the defensive side, that will ALSO need contract extensions in the next few years.

They NEED to keep that offensive line together, way more than they need Dez Bryant. And they NEED to rebuild that defense, way more than they need Dez Bryant.

Oh yeah, pretty soon, they'll need a quarterback too, in a few years.

Dallas does not need Dez at all. He's an addition to their franchise. The fact that they can franchise him, for 2 years? HUGE advantage. If he wants to b---- out? Fine. Call his bluff. He'd only be hurting himself.

Some of you need to understand the difference between a luxury and a need.

 

Jul 15, 2015

I disagree, he's a huge part of the Cowboys offense. Even Michael Irvin said they're a .500 team without him.

"But if you think you see better than 8-8 without Dez Bryant, I'm telling you, you will not see better than 8-8 without 88."

 

Jul 15, 2015

Michael Irvin is a receiver fanatic, obviously he's going to say that about an elite wide receiver, who, coincidentally, plays for his old team lmao.

I remember this guy was saying how the Pats weren't going to be contenders without Wes Welker lmao.

They had Dez for years. They didn't go to the playoffs until they handed over the power of the offense to the line. They have one of the most dominant position units in recent memory. I don't think many of you are understanding how great their offensive line really is lol.

 

Jul 15, 2015

The offensive line is great, but so is Dez. They probably don't make it past the Lions in the playoffs without him. He was largely unproductive that game because of double coverage, but that added attention to him allowed Romo to begin to move the ball frequently through the air targeting Dez's counterparts in the receiving corps as the Cowboys would win 24-20 after being down 20-7 late in the 3rd quarter.

Then the catch he had in the Packers game nearly won that game too if it wasn't overturned..

 

Jul 15, 2015

I think Dez makes them a Super Bowl contender...

But, they can be a Super Bowl contender with a dominant defense and dominant line.

They NEED to keep that line in tact. That is their identity now. If you lose any of those lineman, due to a long term contract for Dez Bryant? You're losing your offensive identity for the future.

Dez Bryant had chances to shine BECAUSE of that line. That line got them over the hump, and into the playoffs, not Dez Bryant.

It's just like the Patriots with Gronk. Gronk is an unstoppable force, but without the elite pass blocking of the offensive line? It means jack s---.

Gronk makes the Pats better, sure. But does the offensive system run through him? No.

s---, even Brady isn't as great as he is without a great offensive line. Look how the Patriots build their team, and their uses of draft picks. They are always stockpiling offensive line talent, and front 7 talent on defense. That's why they're so successful. Granted, having Brady helps, but the offensive line is as big of a reason as any for their long term success.

As great as Gronk is, I'd much rather keep Vollmer or Solder. Want proof? Look no further than the 2013 Patriots.

Or, as far as Brady? Look no further than the game against Kansas City, when the Patriots' offensive line was in disarray and had 2 of their starting offensive linemen out.

Dallas could be great for the next 5 years if they stick with this new found philosophy.

With Dez as their focal point? They will forever be an 8-8 team.

You don't build an offense around ONE player. The offensive line is crazy important to your success as an offense. Dallas has like 6 amazing linemen. That's unheard of.

Now, if they can duplicate that on defense? It's a f---ing wrap. They will win a Super Bowl if they can get a top tier defensive unit. Hardy and Gregory? You're already starting the process of reshaping it.

Dez is a huge talent, but the wide receiver position is a LUXURY.

 

Jul 15, 2015

Luxury vs. necessity.

 

Jul 15, 2015

Now....

If there is a team who doesn't have an identity? SIGN DEZ. There are desperate teams out there that could use his boost of offensive efficiency, and that's where his paycheck comes in.

But Dallas has a system now. They don't need Dez like they did before.

It'd be like Seattle or New England or Green Bay needing him. Unless you can get him cheap, why bother? He would be a luxury to those teams.

Much like Moss was to New England. He put them over, into an undefeated season, set a ton of NFL records, and almost won the Super Bowl...

But was Moss REALLY a necessity? No.

 

Jul 15, 2015

And my point also is... Dallas won't lose Dez for two years, as long as they're smart. They don't need to sign him long term, unless he's willing to take less, which he isn't.

He will absolutely cripple Dallas if they sign him to 16 million a year. They won't be able to afford their linemen when their contracts expire... Which means their system will be gone.

Systems and identities in football mean everything.

 

Jul 15, 2015

@Fitz you're REALLY over-thinking/over-complicating this. this is a simple matter, not a complicated one.

can the cowboys afford to pay dez every dollar their franchise has? of course not, but the point is dez is easily one of their best players (and you can make an argument that he is their BEST player), so therefore he warrants making big money. and to think they'll be OK without him is a joke, especially considering how questionable their defense is.

personally, i don't think he'll miss any regular season games. i think him and the cowboys will get the deal worked out. dez wants to play football and loves to play football, he just wants to be paid for his production and i think the cowboys are smart enough to know that they won't be doing much winning without him.

actually, it has quite a bit to do with Dez. dude, when you have a WR who's a great vertical threat like dez is, it helps the cowboys offensive line, because defenses are going to be a lot more hesitant to stack the line of scrimmage because they know dez can take the top off the defense on any given play

 

Jul 15, 2015

@Fitz not over yet, Cowboys have till 3 to strike a deal. Yeah, a lot of sources & the Cowboys them self think Dez is bluffing though. I can see him missing training camp & maybe the first game though.

EDIT: Cowboys pushed their offer to Bryant to more than 13 mill. Things are getting serious. Like I said, I'm fine with anything in the 12-15 mill range. I just want Bryant locked up. Yes, we could franchise him next year too but that's going to make a really sketchy relationship between Dez & the Cowboys management. Not to mention Cowboys can actually save more cap space by signing him long term rather than franchise tagging him.

EDIT 2: 5 years, 70 million dollar contract for Dez. 14 mill a year + there's reportedly a clause in the contract that protects the Cowboys in case Bryant gets in any legal troubles. This is a win/win for both sides.