Cowboys melting down?

by BadMaafala on Oct 15, 2008 4:29 PM EDT

In the wake of losing Romo for a few weeks and possibly seeing the last of Pacman, Jerry Jones traded 1st, 3rd, and 6th round picks for Roy Williams (the WR). This is an shaky move on several fronts:

- Williams is a good player, but he's only had one 1000+ yard season, and that was also the only season he played in 16 games. He's caught good but not great TD numbers in his first four seasons as well.

- Williams hasn't been playing well this season because he's grouchy, and he's in the last year of his contract with a bad organization. For some perspective, the Patriots also aquired a receiver who wasn't playing well because he was grouchy and who was in the final year of his contract with a bad organization, but he was a lot better than Roy Williams, they paid a 4th round pick for him, and they got him for the whole season.

- Williams signed a new deal with the Cowboys, but I'm sure the Cowboys could have aquired Williams for similar money next year (probably in the $8-10M/yr range), so they just paid over 2/3 of their "value" in 2009 draft picks for 10 games of Roy Williams, 3-4 of which their starting QB will miss.

- The Cowboys don't need more offensive playmakers. Barber, Jones, Owens, and Witten are all great playmakers. Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin are decent complements, and have been reasonably productive. Everyone looked at these guys pre-season and said they're going to the Super Bowl. If your Super Bowl caliber offensive playmakers can't get you to the Super Bowl, why not try to add more? This is one thing that's better about football than baseball: you play teams, not players.

- The offense Jones is upgrading has scored at least 24 points in every game they've played. They're 3rd in both yards and scoring. Why does Jones think adding another guy where they're already stacked is going to make a big difference? The Redskins held the ball for 38+ minutes against them, which is how they beat them. Maybe they should have picked up a LB that can cover. Maybe Jerry Jones can buy a bottle of extra strength chemistry to make everyone happier with their roles. Buying another quality playmaker with a superstar ego isn't going to fix their problems.

- Obviously Jones understands the state of the CBA better than I do, but he's gambling that there won't be a cap in 2010. Is there anyone who doesn't have a big contract with the Cowboys? They have to be so far above the cap that if the new CBA institutes a salary cap, they're going to crash and burn. They're giving away draft picks and payroll like they were just laying on the ground. It reminds me of the last days of the 90's Cowboys' dynasty minus the playoff victories and Super Bowls.

We'll see if this move helps them in the short term, but it's a disaster for their long term outlook. Stranger things have happened, but I doubt they'll beat the Giants or Bucs, and if Romo is ready to go after the bye, he could walking into Washington with a sore pinky, a 5-4 record, and a 1-2 divisional record. Jones has built his team with unstable players, and it's situations like this that encourage all those players to break down. This is why the Cowboys are so media friendly.

Bonus Picture:

Owens only has one lover, but Romo likes to play the field. Well, the field just got bigger.

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Nice picture

Michael Wilbon just wrote in today’s Wash. Post about how badly the NFC East has fared this past weekend despite all the hype that they are the best division in football. He paid particular attention to the Girls. You would think that the punditry, the networks, etc. would finally feel ashamed of themselves. Jerry Jones is obviously crazy and will go to any lengths to overhype his team as he attempts to sell seats to his overpriced new stadium. I don’t want to hear anymore about them until they win a least one playoff game. And at this point given their division it may be life and death if they even make the playoffs this year. If we don’t tear them a new one on Pearl Harbor day I’ll be very disappointed.

Thanks Bad.

by RickVa on Oct 15, 2008 4:41 PM EDT 0 recs

Karma is a bitch,

and she is taking out her frustrations on the Cowgirls. They are a dysfunctional team, from the owner, to the head coach, to their halfway house living team. Romo struggled some before the injury, and may have a hard time getting back into the swing. I would say they are in mortal danger of their season getting away from them before we get our chance to apply an ass-whooping.

"Steeler Nation= We are better than you!"

by il_steeler_fan on Oct 15, 2008 4:56 PM EDT 0 recs

What a terrible, terrible move.

by steelguy99 on Oct 15, 2008 6:00 PM EDT 0 recs

GREAT PIC!!

I’m e-mailing this to everyone including the COWGIRLS fans I know!!!

by Qdog on Oct 15, 2008 6:00 PM EDT 0 recs

haha

I actually saw it on the Eagles blog a while back, so I held onto it.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Oct 16, 2008 12:59 AM EDT up 0 recs

Stinks of desperation

As has been well pointed out the Cowboys were at 29.2 pts a game. Does Roy add to that? And when you’re at that point and not undefeated aren’t you more worried about a different side of the ball?

Much like the browns mortgaging picks for right now, this is going to bite them in the ass as the move forward. 1st and 3rd rounds should bring starters in the draft. And cheap starters to since the ’Boys are going to end up above the top ten picks.

And as per usual… I’m a big fan of the Rooneys and how they run a team. No giving away the future for a player who can’t change the present.

by Chicago Steeler on Oct 15, 2008 6:13 PM EDT 0 recs

At least the Browns moves make sense

I wouldn’t complain about the 2nd and 3rd rounders the Browns gave up for 2 good to great DL’s. It’s mortgaging their future a little, but at least they’re getting something in return now. If this move doesn’t completely destroy the Cowboys, it might make their offense 5% better. To make the move, they pretty much got ass-raped by THE DETROIT LIONS. Unbelievable. Maybe his next move will be to trade 95% of the ownership of the Cowboys for Jack Wilson and Adam LaRouche.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Oct 16, 2008 1:12 AM EDT up 0 recs

Jones

selling out for a SB this year, damn what happens in the future. Glad he isn’t our owner. They will crash hard in the coming years—if not this year. That is a mentally fragile team.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Oct 15, 2008 6:15 PM EDT 0 recs

Cowgirls' 2009 Draft

You are 100% right about adding a disgruntled WR to an already stacked offense. How long will it take before Roy starts also claiming that “The Cowboys will win if they get me more touches”? Their offense looks to be pretty scary at some point during this season, but without the defense there’s very little chance for them.

However, their 09 draft doesn’t look terribly bad. They have 9 picks listed here plus a few compensatory picks for other deals made. I stole this list from the Bloggin the Boys forum, so I have no idea how accurate it is, but the dude seemed trustworthy:

ROUND ONE (0)
To Detroit for Roy Williams
ROUND TWO (1)
Dallas
ROUND THREE (1)
To Detroit for Roy Williams
Cleveland (Acquired in 2008 Draft Day trade: for Detroit 2008 R4 pick)
ROUND FOUR (2)
Dallas
Detroit (Acquired in 2008 Draft Day trade: for Dallas 2008 R3 pick)
ROUND 5 (2)
Dallas
Tennessee (As a result of Adam Jones 2nd suspension)
ROUND 6 (1)
To Detroit for Roy Williams (Tennessee contingency canceled as a result of Adam Jones 2nd suspension)
Miami (Acquired in 2008 Ferguson Trade)
ROUND 7 (2)
Dallas
Detroit (Acquired in Roy Williams trade)

With these pick numbers, you can bet that Jerry Jones will reach for whatever player he wants no matter what the price.

Needless to say, the Cowboys are one of my least favorite teams in the league, very much due to Jerry Jones (and the rest of the organization by association) thinking that he has this league wrapped around his finger. And from what I’ve heard, since I don’t pay much attention to other teams’ draft choices, the Girls aren’t that draft savvy. So they probably don’t even care haha.

Brandona

by PrimantisStillersNAt on Oct 15, 2008 7:12 PM EDT 0 recs

I dont know if any of you have read the new book about the Cowboys, Boys Will be Boys, but its said in there that Jones has never been great at managing the cap. To me the timing of this trade seems desperate. Jones has been claming for ages that he doesnt want a new WR but with Romo and Felix going down and Pacman being pacman this trade seems like a way for jones to try to calm the masses that are fans and players.

by archon095 on Oct 15, 2008 9:45 PM EDT 0 recs

I HATE THE COWBOYS!

more than any other team in sports. Its not even that i hate the whole team that much. I cant stand TO and i really think they are overrated anyways. Paper Champs! Mainly i hate their fan base. There is nothing worse than a cocky Cowboy fan who jumped on the wagon in the 90`s.

by SteelerDomination on Oct 16, 2008 3:00 AM EDT 0 recs

great analysis folks!

jones obviously wants some playoff wins and a SB NOW, and most likely with the goal of selling all the PSLs at top dollar.

Man they paid a heavy price for this guy! If I rooted for an up and coming team in NFC east (or the rest of the NFC) I’d feel pretty good that the cowpokes are due for an extended down period in the next few years as the draft picks losses and cap woes come to fruition.

a related AFC North thought:

I wish houshyermama would have been traded somewhere. Johnson is already jealous about williams going to the dallas after he kissed jerry’s ass. If TJ escaped instead of him it would probably make his head explode!

ah cinci this weekend. good times

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Oct 16, 2008 6:43 AM EDT 0 recs

I love this pic.

Hey gang, I don’t think this is it for owner Jerry Jones. I bet anyone that coach Phillips is out by seasons end. If you really think about it. Jerry Jones is slowly becoming the next Al Davis, He want to do what he has always done, control the entire team both on and off.
He will as the OC as head coach next year and control him.

But what kills me more than this trade is like most of you are probably thinking. Why didn’t he just wait till seasons end to get a Chad Johnson or TJ (you know).

by C-Mac on Oct 16, 2008 10:42 AM EDT 0 recs

Contiuned

But now the real kicker is going to be Mr. I’m so sensitive T.O. Who is going to be on suicide watch if he continues to not to see passes thrown his way. He will show up Jerry Jones and the whole Dallas Cowboy organization like ever before.

by C-Mac on Oct 16, 2008 10:48 AM EDT 0 recs

I actually like the move.

Hear me out. Williams is a great receiver that has been toiling on a lousy team with lousy management. Say what you want about his numbers, but Detroit has been flat out terrible since he has come to the team. Once Romo comes back, he will be throwing to Roy more, and that will limit the touches that TO gets. He wasn’t happy with 17 looks in one game, how unhappy do u think he will become after RW starts getting 8-10 looks a game? I am giddy with anticipation of a TO blow up, complete with tantrums and Romo name calling.

by steelerark on Oct 16, 2008 12:03 PM EDT 0 recs

Isn't detroit where WR's go to die? Who said that?

I saw that funny quote somewhere. maybe it was about cinci.

by SteelersVT on Oct 16, 2008 3:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

TO

That was my first thought when I saw this trade. TO’s going to be pissed soon, because someone else will be getting his looks. How long until he demands a trade? Who knows, but I’m glad to the ’girls giving up so much to shore up an area of strength, rather than fixing their secondary.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Oct 16, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

If I know TO!!

TO will screw up the Roy Williams deal because he won’t be the go to guy. TO’s ego will destroy all of this; the wonderful thing about the Cowgirls the will eventually implode!!!

by Qdog on Oct 17, 2008 5:49 PM EDT 0 recs