Catching up with the Pokes

　

Cowboys add 6th new coach

Mon, Feb 11, 2013 5:23 PM

(AP) -- The Dallas Cowboys have a full coaching staff again with the addition of running backs coach Gary Brown. Brown is the sixth new coach hired for coach Jason Garrett's staff since Dallas missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The new coaches include defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, defensive line coach Rod Marinelli and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. Derek Dooley is the new receivers coach and Frank Pollard was named an assistant offensive line coach.

　

Man who designed the Dallas Cowboys' logo dies

Fri, Feb 15, 2013 5:40 PM

(AP) -- Jack Eskridge, 89-year-old former Cowboys equipment manager, was one of coach Tom Landry's first hires in 1959, the year before the Cowboys' debut season. It was he who designed the white-bordered blue star used after the Cowboys began with a white star.

　

Talks on a Romo extension have not begun

Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:20 PM

(sports.yahoo.com) -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will enter the final year of his contract in 2013, however, ESPNDallas.com reported discussions on a new contract for Romo have not begun. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said last week the team considers Romo an important part of the team's future. Romo is scheduled to earn $11.5 million in base salary in 2013, and he represents a $16.8 million hit on the team's salary cap.

　

Cowboys redo 5 contracts, save cap space

Thu, Feb 28, 2013 6:07 PM

(AP and Ft Worth Star-Telegram) -- Dallas, which was penalized $5 million off its cap in both 2012 and 2013, needed to scramble to free up space. By restructuring the deals of star linebacker DeMarcus Ware, tight end Jason Witten, wide receiver Miles Austin, cornerback Brandon Carr and center Ryan Cook, the Cowboys wiped out the $20 million they were projected to be over the cap this year.

The biggest savings will come in the Carr deal. Dallas signed Carr as a free agent last year, and Thursday's moves turn $13.5 million of the $14.3 million he was due in salary into a signing bonus. Carr will count $3.5 million against this year's cap, saving the team $10.8 million. Ware's salary is going down to $1 million for this season, and a $5 million bonus is being spread over the rest of the contract, saving $4 million. Austin's deal also will save $4 million by converting part of Austin’s $6.7 million base salary into a bonus. Witten had $4.56 million of his $5.5 million 2013 base salary converted into a signing bonus to save $3.65 million off the cap.

The Cowboys could get further under the cap with a new contract for Tony Romo, who is entering the final year of his deal and counts $16.8 million against the cap this season. Right tackle Doug Free, who struggled most of last season, could save $7 million on the cap if he is cut by June 1.

Dallas is interested in re-signing linebacker Anthony Spencer, an unrestricted free agent, but owner Jerry Jones said at the NFL combine last week he wasn't sure the Cowboys could afford to keep their sacks leader from 2012.

The Cowboys also re-signed highly respected long snapper L.P. Ladouceur to a five-year contract. He's been with Dallas since the fourth game of the 2005 season, and hasn't missed one since. He's handled snaps on 562 punts, 245 field goals and 341 extra points. His contract averages $1.1 million a year and includes a $600,000 signing bonus.

　

Dallas Cowboys: Restructuring the Present and Compromising the Future

Fri, Mar 1, 2013 7:51 PM

(Commentary by Justin Bonnema) -- It looks as if things are starting to get comfortable at Valley Ranch. The coaching staff is complete and the Dallas Cowboys are officially under the salary cap following an outbreak of contractual realignments. DeMarcus Ware, Miles Austin, Brandon Carr, Jason Witten and Ryan Cook all had their deals adjusted in order to clear up the $20 million necessary to meet the 2013 salary cap. Now the Cowboys are just one Tony Romo extension away from being able to resign Anthony Spencer and maybe even have enough left over to avoid any cap casualties.

But this is hardly a cause for celebration. The immediate need for financial relief was one of the biggest offseason concerns and had to be addressed one way or the other, but the net result of all these restructured deals is a compromised future. Restructuring a player's contract means taking a percentage of their base salary and turning into a bonus. That bonus is guaranteed money which can be spread out across the life of a deal. It's common place in the NFL for teams to write restructuring options into the language of a contract which allows them to be more strategic in free agency. But if it's not done correctly, or done excessively, it can cripple a franchise for years.

There is some hope that the new TV deal, which goes into effect in 2014, will result in a much higher salary cap. That should provide some relief for the Cowboys and their impending financial crisis. Still, there's no doubt that we'll be having this exact same conversation next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. What's absolutely clear in all of this contractual hoopla is the obvious "win now" attitude that seems to have such a death grip on the Cowboys' front office. You don't bankroll the present at the expense of the future unless there's a real sense that a Super Bowl championship is within reach. The Joneses are evidently ready to bet the house. But then again, what choice do they have? Cut everybody and start over?

　

Cowboys extend Costa deal

Sun, Mar 3, 2013

(Star-Telegram) -- The Dallas Cowboys have signed center Phil Costa to a two-year contract worth $2.7 million and saved roughly $350,000 of salary cap space in the process. Costa was set to become a restricted free agent and would have been tendered a $1.323 million contract in 2013. The new deal includes a $450,000 signing bonus and will only count $975,000 against the cap.

Injuries wrecked Costa’s season in 2012. He missed much of training camp with a back injury and then re-aggravated the injury in the season opener. He missed four games before returning for two games and suffering a dislocated ankle, which sidelined him for the rest of the season. The three-year veteran, who made the team as an undrafted free agent in 2010, started every game in 2011.

　

　

　

　

Flacco highest paid ever

(ESPN.com, Sat. March 2nd, 11:28 am) -- Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a six-year, $120.6 million contract that will make the quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history, a source familiar with the deal told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Friday. The two sides will work on the contract language this weekend, and Flacco is expected to sign the deal Monday in Baltimore. Reaching agreement with Flacco before Monday's 4 p.m. franchise deadline means the Ravens are assured of retaining their starting quarterback and don't have to take a salary cap hit of approximately $19.5 million. Flacco played out his rookie contract this past season for $6.76 million. Now, based on the $120.6 million deal, he will make an average of $168,908 each day of the regular season for the next six years.

The unassuming and unheralded Flacco completed 22 of 33 passes for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns, and earned Super Bowl MVP honors for leading the Ravens to a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. He wrapped up Baltimore's four-game run to the title with a record-tying 11 TD passes and zero interceptions, going 73 of 126 for 1,140 yards. It was an impressive streak that included road victories against two of the game's most respected quarterbacks, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, and a first-round home win against No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Luck.

The 28-year-old Flacco, a fifth-year pro, has thrown for 17,633 yards, 102 touchdowns and 52 interceptions in 80 career games. He has never missed a game, and Flacco is the only quarterback in NFL history to win a postseason game in each of his first five pro seasons. He also holds the record for playoff road wins with six.

Had Flacco been franchised, he would have earned at least $14.896 million this season.

Unable to cash in

Of the eight $100 million contracts that are no longer active, the closest who reached the mark was Brett Favre, who received approximately $55 million. Of the five that are still active, Drew Brees has earned the most at $40 million of his $100 million deal. Joe will be 34 in six years, so there is a chance he could play out his entire contract and earn the full $120.6 million.

Does Flacco deserve to be highest paid?

According to ESPN's Sports Nation poll question:

Does Joe Flacco deserve to be the highest-paid player in the NFL?

As of March 3rd at 11:10 am with 14,826 responders, 84% said 'No' and only 16% said 'Yes'. Maryland, with 1,426 responses was the only state where the majority voted 'Yes', and even there it was a slim 52% Yes to 48% No.

With all he's accomplished, Joe still has a long road to travel before he will gain the respect that his record says he deserves.