Jerry Jones the Smoke Machine
Posted: March 23, 2008 @ 11:03 am
“That statement is backed by another NFL voice who said Friday, “within the league, you hear the Cowboys are attempting, or will attempt, to work a trade for Chad Johnson, for Roy Williams, for maybe others.”– Randy Galloway, ‘Shakin trees, but can ‘Boys avoid nuts?
Let’s connect some dots here.
The Cowboys have three obvious needs — a cornerback, two actually, but one to play the nickel spot and another to groom, having lost #3 and #4 corners Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones in free agency.
They needs a running back to complement Marion Barber.
The Cowboys also need a second wide receiver to complement Terrell Owens.
The team has three picks in the first two rounds of the draft.
The big rumor all week is that Dallas will obtain the troubled and talented Tennessee CB Pacman Jones. The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter has suggested the deal could be worked out this coming week. News from Boston is that the Patriots have also been contacted by Jones’ agent but it’s not clear if the team has reciprocated Jones’ interest.
The story did say Jones’ price is likely a 4th or a 5th round pick. That’s a severe markdown for a player who was the sixth overall selection a few years ago.
Acquiring Jones would lessen the need to draft a cornerback in round one. That helps because it appears less likely that any of the top four corner prospects — Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Leodis McKelvin, Aqib Talib and Mike Jenkins — will be available at pick 22. The Patriots at 7 are allegedly interested in a corner, as are the Ravens at 8, the Saints at 10, the Bills at 11, the Cardinals at 16, the Texans at 18 and the Bucs at 20.
The next tier of CBs includes Brandon Flowers, Tracy Porter, Antoine Cason, Charles Godfrey and Justin King. Flowers’ name sneaks into the last 1st, most often linked to the Chargers at pick 27 and Dallas at pick 28. The others are sure 2nd round picks. They may be rated a bit high for Dallas 61st overall pick but would be reaches at 28.
If Dallas does move one of its #1s on a veteran receiver, what to do with the second one? It’s becoming more apparent that running back could be the pick. ESPN’s Matt Mosley, who gets good juice from Cowboys’ sources, commented yesterday in his updated mock draft that the Cowboys would try to choose between Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart and Arkansas RB Felix Jones. Stewart carried a first round grade but is falling after turf-toe surgery and both will almost certainly be on the board at 22. There’s a fair chance they will both on the board at 28.
Dallas is also looking at Texas RB Jamaal Charles, though he, like the second-tier CBs listed above, is rated a solid second rounder.
To me, it appears:
- Dallas is hoping one of the top four CBs lasts to pick 22;
- If that happens, it will take the CB and flip the 28th pick for a veteran wideout;
- absent that, the team could flip the 22nd pick for a veteran wideout and take a RB at 28;
- or select a RB at 22 and flip the 28th for a veteran WR;
- Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys also try trading up from the bottom of round two to ensure they fill the CB or RB need they didn’t address in the 1st round. The Cowboys had Steve Smith snatched from their grasp by the Giants last year. I don’t think the Cowboys want to sit and watch that scenario replay itself this year.
All this means you better have your pizza, beer and chips stocked up on draft night, cause things are gonna move fast at Valley Ranch. Jerry loves to blow smoke around the draft but there are too many rumors coming from too many other league sources right now.
It appears he’s not just blowing smoke this time. But where is he building the fire? Cincinnati? Tennessee? Arizona? Detroit? Some other “mystery team”?
Stay tuned.
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Yes !!!
Cb at 22 and sign Ty Law. Trade down out of the 28 spot for extra picks.
5RAC,
Have you seen what Ty Law costs? And who do you put on the bench among Henry and Newman? The reason for Pacman is he’s cheap. Even if he doesn’t redo his deal his cap number is $1.7M in ‘08. Law has been getting 7-10 million a year.
and Law is even older than Henry and Newman. Pacman is 24.
just think about this for a second….
terry glenn and chad on the outside, with owens in the slot and witten on the other side….
WOW
Raf
For some reason I just have a hard time believing we would draft a rb in the first
I thought the rule of thumb most of the time is NOT to draft a rb that high as it is a position of high risk (injury wise) and a “good” rb can play the role we need in Dallas
Am I wrong about that?
i would love to take chad, i bet owens would love it too …”he just wants a ring”…says his tears at the end of the giants playoff game.
boyz4ever
i agree with you …look were we found marion the barbarian
Raf,
If that is the case,I would prefer Stewart at pick 22 followed by a trade of pick 28 for Chad Johnson or Roy Williams. They can move up in 2nd rd to address a 2nd tier CB (Flowers, Cason or King) or another RB (Felix Jones or Jamaal Charles) if they feel they grade out higher than the avail cb’s. I would not spend pick 22 on Felix Jones, that is too high for him IMO and there will be other players there with higher grades I believe.
I have no problem with a 4th rd pick for Pacman Jones on incentive laden contract. He shores up 2 postions of need and allows maximum flexibility in the draft.
Can’t wait for draft day! My mind is spinning out of control with all of the possibilities - I find it comical that folks get nasty when they disagree with someone’s thoughts. Lighten up - none of us know what’s actually going to happen.
When I know whether Dallas gets Pacman, when I know if Dallas wants to trade a pick for CJohnson or RWilliams, when I know who slips in the draft (RB, CB - somebody unexpected) I’ll have a better idea on who Dallas will pick.
But until Goodell says: “With the blankety-blank pick, the Dallas Cowboys select….”, until then my guess is as good as yours.
Raf - Are you aware of anyone ever nailing the correct order and pickes for the top 10 selections, or 15, or 20? There’s just way too many possibilities!
You can justify taking Stewart in the 1st round if he starts to slip. He is a top 15 player. I’m not sold on Felix Jones in the 1st round. I agree with the thinking that the Cowboys may trade up in the 2nd round, but I wouldn’t mind seeing them do that in the 1st round. If they need to move up a couple spots to get one of the top 3 or 4 CBs, I’d be all for it.
I don’t understand scenarios 3 and 4:
“# absent that, the team could flip the 22nd pick for a veteran wideout and take a RB at 28;
# or select a RB at 22 and flip the 28th for a veteran WR;”
Then what do we do about our gaping CB hole? Getting and having him take the field Pacman is hardly something that should be relied upon. Are we going to put a late 2nd round CB pick on the field as our nickel? That’s frightening.
Tim Wilson,
If the top four CBs are gone, what do you do? The only late 1st option is Flowers and does Dallas like him there?
To me, the most interesting parts of the Galloway article were these points:
What is the organization’s No. 1 priority between now and training camp?
“Without question, creating a threat on the other side of the ball from [Eldorado] Owens,” said Jerry.
That statement is backed by another NFL voice who said Friday, “within the league, you hear the Cowboys are attempting, or will attempt, to work a trade for Chad Johnson, for Roy Williams, for maybe others.”
But Chad’s agent is a certain Drew Rosenhaus, the same agent for Eldorado, and a guy who knows how to force teams to make deals.
By the way, another receiver client of Rosenhaus would be Anquan Boldin of the Cardinals, who is both lowly paid and not exactly pleased about the massive new dollars the team gave fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
I repeat, Jerry mentioned no names, but did stress not to rule out any possible deal when it comes to a wide receiver.
One last thing on receivers. Finding one in the draft at the end of the first round, where the Cowboys’ have two picks, has become remote.
“Don’t think so,” was the Jones comment.
Trading for Pacman and one of the 3 above mentioned receivers, to me, would be the best draft haul of ANY of the 32 teams. Mixed in with the RB and depth we are going to acquire would be the equivalent to any of the top-ranked drafts in team history.
Raf,
Yeah, I don’t know that there’s an easy solution given our draft slots, but unlike Jerry, I put the CB hole ahead of the WR hole in terms of priority. I get that it might be easier to find a WR solution than a CB one, though (there is no Roy Williams/Chad Johnson equivalent out there on the CB market). If we went with one of those latter scenarios, in which our two first round picks were dedicated to offense, either via trading them for a player or drafting a player, I’d want to see us move up substantially in the second round to have a shot at someone like Porrter.
just think about this offseason fellas and who would have thought it were possible, to keep hamlin, flo, sign zach thomas.. trade a fifth for pacman, #28 for CJ, and use 22 on Stweart… then i would take a CB to groome in the second… wooooooooooooooow… how sweet it is
make it happen jerry.
GO GIANTS! THEY WON THE SUPERBOWLLLLL, THEY DONT EVEN NEED TO STRESS ABOUT WHO TO DRAFT BECAUSE THEY CAN BEAT EVERYONE AND ANYONE!
The cool thing this year is that not only are the first 2 rounds looking to be real exciting from a Cowboys standpoint, but the first 2 rounds are actually going to be on primetime. That means that instead of having to record it and watch it later, I’ll actually get to watch it live and post on the blog at the same time. Sweeeeeeetttt!!!
Well, the Giants can beat anyone and everyone when they get 3 chances at it.
raf, you have a jackass to ban, lets get on that lol
casual,
yawn. You’re going to have a flame war in March?!
negative sir.
Good talk.. glad we had it ha
Raf,
I think the assumption of flipping picks for these player can be dismissed. Reason being, if we are to sign Pacman at his present cap count it would drop us to less than 2 mill above the cap. We wouldn’t be able to absorb either of the players’ mentioned salaries. Or any others in their categories for that matter.
My thought is that a player or players on the current roster would be involved. What players do we move?
Of course contracts can be renegotiated. But what players contracts?
Most of the players with contracts that are large enough to make a substantial difference are those that resently signed or have contracts that expire after this year.
I like the idea of getting a veteran wideout, but i think we need a corner in the first round rather than a back.
22. trade for johnson or williams if a corner we want looks like he will fall to 28. if not, get the best corner we can here.
28. get that corner if hes still there.
and to GIANTSFAN:
We also reserve the right to refuse service to those being rude, disorderly, obscene, obnoxious without the prerequisite wit, too dumb for words, or anyone coming anywhere close to viewing the Eagles, Giants, Redskins with anything less than utter contempt.
read the fine print!
You know, I can very well see the scenario play out where the top 4 CB’s are all drafted before #22. I think I’ve been ignoring that possibility on purpose ’cause I didn’t want to face it. IF we get Pac-Man then it makes it a lot easier to draft a position other than CB at #22.
Mendenhall is my favorite RB in this draft but I like Stewart too. I had the same thought that Raf did in so far as if he can put on the workout at the combine that he did with a foot injury, what can he do when he’s healthy?? Then you can still draft a guy like Cason or Flowers at #28, or a WR like Manningham or Hardy, but IMO, if you draft a WR at #28 then we need to move up in the 2nd round and get someone like Tracy Porter at CB. Lots of possibilities!!!
Giantsfan = flamer
flamer?
im sorry, im not understanding the language.
could anyone elaborate?
well i just dont want pacman. hes too much of a disturbance
im a fan of my draft being
1st 22- Stewart~this guys a machiene
28- CJ or Boldin~who wouldnt love to have mr Degree himself opposite owens???
2nd-Tracy Porter or Antoine Cason to groom for when henry leaves his position and moves to safety or contract runs out… same goes for Tnew, if he doesnt get resigned we have a pretty big pair of cleats to fill.. so my point is, might as well get someone with potential to possibly step in and make that happen
3rd-Red Bryant~need a nose.. word on the street is tank is coming around and getting in football shape and wil murder people in the middle. but still i would rather not see ratliff rotating in the nose.. i would much rather see him in a rotation rushing on the edges.
4th or 5th
PACMAN
i dont think anyone on this planet would complain with this draft.. and i certainly think its the best thing for us. we get two good corners for the future. a wideout desperatly needed to go alongside owens.and a RB to compliment or replace barber if he chooses he wants a monster Michael Turner contract becuase he wont be getting it from dallas. plus a nose we need to stuff the middle.
Group,
We will not trade a draft pick for Johnson, Boldin or Williams!!!!
We do not have the cap space!!!!
After Pacman deal only 2 mil remaining!!!
bigmoney,
Jerry Jones is the guy quoted that his top priority is finding T.O. a wingman.
He’s also the guy quoted that he won’t seek that need in the 1st round.
So you’re saying he’s blowing smoke and is trusting the 2nd WR slot to a 2nd or 3rd round pick?
We have many players that could and will be renegotiated.
Romo: $1.64 prorated SB, 6.5 base = $8.14 million cap charge
Signed $11.5 million signing bonus, and the following base salaries:
2007 - $6 million (the Cowboys added $4.5 million to his $1.5 million base this year)
2008 - $6.5 million (fully guaranteed)
2009 - $7 million ($6 million guaranteed)
2010 - $8.5 million
2011 - $9 million
2012 - $9 million
2013 - $11.5 million
T.O.: $1.66 prorated SB, 4 mil base, 3 mil roster bonus = 8.66 cap charge
Ken Hamlin: $4.396 base = 4.396 cap charge
TO would be the obvious first choice, as signing another receiver would mean TO gets a new deal, to keep him complacent. I’m sure there are others that can be reworked, it doesn’t seem a very difficult thing to do, if your main interest is winning the superbowl immediately.
How can you be so lame that you would seek out other teams websites and post things?
by the way, i feel that the way Galloway mentions Boldin as a trade possibility, then refreshes your memory that in no way did Jerry mention any names to him, means to me that Jerry indicated this is the most likely addition, and the other names are backup plans/smokescreens.
But that’s just my conspiracy theory a$$.
I personally would love to have Boldin. He’s one of the more complete wideouts in the NFL. He blocks like a madman.
Raf,
I’m not saying that a trade cannot be done. I’m saying that it will not be for draft picks.
When we bring the new player on board his cap figure comes with him. We have to offset that figure with either a lower renegotiated salary of an existing player or send a player in exchange along with a salary large enough to offset the incoming player.
Of course a drafted player has no cap count until he signs a contract. Historically we don’t do that until just before training camp.
bigmoney,
That makes sense, but let’s say you’re Cincy or Arizona.
Who do you want off the roster whom the Cowboys are willing to flip? (yeah, I know we would all love to dump Thong, but that won’t happen.)
In Arizona’s case, they might ask for Barber, but are you willing to give him up and would he give you enough cap relief?
My guess is that they would insist on a #1, especially the 22, since it would bring actual 1st round value.
Forgive me folks, I’m new to this site and a huge Cowboys fan from Canada. I live abd breath “blue” but mostly for the Maple Leafs. - The Cowboys are a distant 2nd in favorate sports teams so I’m afrad I can’t be as well versed as most of you on Cowboys related stuff. Having said that, most people seem to think we need some “lightning” to complement Barber’s “thunder.” - I may be way off base here but can we not consider Barber the “lightning” and go out abd get some more “thunder?” In my humble estimation, we have yet to replace a guy like “Moose.” Are backs like that a ting of the past or perhaps there is a guy like that available in day 2 of the draft that we might consider? Then we can focus on CB and WR on day 1.
If JJ can’t help himself and the deal has to be done we will need to make some clever decisions.
It might involve a third team and movement of their cap figure.
Miami come to mind and some of the players that fit the “Parcels” mold.
Thong is not a good choice because his remaining 2 years cap figure would hurt more that help. Ellis, Brad Johnson, Columbo, Ayodele, Burnett, Carpenter could work.
If we don’t get Pacman and don’t get Boldin or Chad Johnson through a trade in FA then we have to rely solely on the draft. We won’t hit on all our needs.
Obvious I know but JJ must be cooking something good….