Assassin said:

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Franko said:

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Zack Martin's deal is 7 years, $93.41 million. Best part is that it creates $3 million in cap room for this year. Earl Thomas anyone?

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Or see if we can extend DLaw?

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I don't think Dallas will need cap room to do that. He's making over $17 million already. His annual salary will probably be around that number once extended and will likely be structured in a cap friendly way in the early years.

Franko said:

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Assassin said:

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Franko said:

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Zack Martin's deal is 7 years, $93.41 million. Best part is that it creates $3 million in cap room for this year. Earl Thomas anyone?

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Or see if we can extend DLaw?

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I don't think Dallas will need cap room to do that. He's making over $17 million already. His annual salary will probably be around that number once extended and will likely be structured in a cap friendly way in the early years.

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Correct, his cap number on a long term deal will be lower than his franchise tag number.

According to over the cap dot com, the Cowboys have $11,473,673 in cap room. This is without the Zack Martin extension that frees up $3 million. So we have over $14 million in cap room now. Rumor has been that Earl Thomas wants to be the highest paid safety which is currently Eric Berry at $13 million. But he would be a fool not to take $48 million over 4 years. It's now doable if they want to go that route.

Franko said:

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According to over the cap dot com, the Cowboys have $11,473,673 in cap room. This is without the Zack Martin extension that frees up $3 million. So we have over $14 million in cap room now. Rumor has been that Earl Thomas wants to be the highest paid safety which is currently Eric Berry at $13 million. But he would be a fool not to take $48 million over 4 years. It's now doable if they want to go that route.

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I dunno about that one. That's a lot for a player who might never be as good as he once was.

What do you think Assassin?

GoldMind said:

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Franko said:

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According to over the cap dot com, the Cowboys have $11,473,673 in cap room. This is without the Zack Martin extension that frees up $3 million. So we have over $14 million in cap room now. Rumor has been that Earl Thomas wants to be the highest paid safety which is currently Eric Berry at $13 million. But he would be a fool not to take $48 million over 4 years. It's now doable if they want to go that route.

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I dunno about that one. That's a lot for a player who might never be as good as he once was.

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I am a little hesitant too. But I *think* he has 2-3 years of his prime left. The 4th year of a contract would likely not be guaranteed, so we could cut him once he declines without much cost.

a side note. Before we made all our changes, I would have loved to get him down here. Now not so sure he would work into the rotation

Corey Coleman - WR - Browns
Browns OC Todd Haley considers 2018 a make-or-break season for third-year pro Corey Coleman.
"He understands this is a big, big year in his career," Haley said of Coleman. "Year three is usually the make-or-break year of what kind of you're going to be. I've made that clear to him. He understands it, and he's working hard accordingly to try to be the best that he can be." A mega disappointment through two seasons thanks in part to hand injuries, Coleman faces stiff target competition this year, and might not even be guaranteed a spot in three-receiver sets if rookie Antonio Callaway has a strong camp. It's still possible Coleman is ultimately traded before Week 1.

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Jun 14 - 3:56 PM

Cowboys DL David Irving hopes to drop from 303 pounds to 285 before Week 1.
Irving is listed at 290. "Got to get those abs back," he said. Headed into a contract year after tallying seven sacks in just eight games last season, Irving is trying to set himself up for a major payday, or at the very least the franchise tag. The 2015 UDFA turns 25 in August.

Source: Brandon George on Twitter
Jun 14 - 2:01 PM

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett expects Terrance Williams (foot) to be ready for training camp.
Williams suffered a broken right foot during the offseason. The injury is not a concern, but a perplexing off-field incident which included a charge of public intoxication could cost him some time if the league decides to intervene.

Source: Jon Machota on Twitter
Jun 14 - 12:34 PM

Doesnt sound good for Rico after the OTAs. His mind seems to be elsewhere.
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Gathers seems to be falling behind in tight end competition
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Drafted late in 2016, the basketball convert who hadn't played organized football since middle school is the darling of much of Cowboys Nation. He redshirted his rookie season, but got accolades for being Tony Romo's go-to-guy in scout team practice. In 2017, Gathers had a phenomenal preseason, then suffered a concussion that knocked him out until midyear. Along the way, the legend only grew.

Only, the Cowboys didn't activate him when they could have, instead allowing a narrative to build he was still seriously injured. That wasn't the case and now that the top two tight end roles are available, it doesn't appear Gathers has made himself the favorite for either.

Geoff Swaim is the only TE with experience, and that has allowed him to take on a leadership role that will serve well in a youthful room. Blake Jarwin is the player making all of the downfield plays according to multiple reports. Dalton Schultz seems to be the team's prototypical blocking tight end with pass-catching ability.

The Cowboys never let their down-the-line tight ends run many routes because of Witten's presence. That should change now. Most teams would look at Gathers' potential as a pass catcher and work around it. Dallas isn't most teams, as they prefer to run the rock and that means a tight end who's priorities include run blocking. That isn't Gathers just yet. He'll have training camp to change the narrative.

Post OTA note:

In OTA drills and plays, Jaylon Smith was so disruptive to the Cowboys' vaunted running game, the running back coach asked him to dial it down a notch or two so they could get some plays off.

Now this could be fantastic. We have to consider that Irving could have a great year and might price himself out of our range in a big contract after the season

The Cowboys acquired Ward for Ryan Switzer in a draft-day trade that angered many Cowboys fans who gravitated towards the diminuitive receiver. From the early look of things, the Cowboys may have made the wise decision. Former NFL scout and Cowboys' analyst Bryan Broaddus has been singing the praises of Ward through the OTA sessions. ESPN's Todd Archer chimed in with praise as well.

Broadus/Archer on Jihad Ward:

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It's tremendously early and you never want to make huge judgments about line play when players are not in pads, but I wonder if the Cowboys have found something in defensive tackle Jihad Ward Ward was a disappointment in Oakland, but the Cowboys coached him in the Senior Bowl and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli was/is a big fan. Through the two OTAs we've seen, Ward has been active and moves well. Marinelli has a way of getting the most out of defensive linemen, and Ward might be the next one, but there always has to be a bit of caution until the pads come on in training camp.

Ward has the ability to play both tackle positions and the absence of 1-tech Maliek Collins and 3-tech David Irving has given him plenty of opportunities. As Archer cautioned, things change when the pads come on but sometimes a trade is enough to jolt a player into realizing his lifelong dream of playing in the league is starting to slip away. If Ward has his act together, the Cowboys defensive line has another strong building block.

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Assassin said:

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Post OTA note:

In OTA drills and plays, Jaylon Smith was so disruptive to the Cowboys' vaunted running game, the running back coach asked him to dial it down a notch or two so they could get some plays off.

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We got a Danny Bateman on our hands lol

Assassin said:

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Now this could be fantastic. We have to consider that Irving could have a great year and might price himself out of our range in a big contract after the season

The Cowboys acquired Ward for Ryan Switzer in a draft-day trade that angered many Cowboys fans who gravitated towards the diminuitive receiver. From the early look of things, the Cowboys may have made the wise decision. Former NFL scout and Cowboys' analyst Bryan Broaddus has been singing the praises of Ward through the OTA sessions. ESPN's Todd Archer chimed in with praise as well.

Broadus/Archer on Jihad Ward:

Quote:

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It's tremendously early and you never want to make huge judgments about line play when players are not in pads, but I wonder if the Cowboys have found something in defensive tackle Jihad Ward Ward was a disappointment in Oakland, but the Cowboys coached him in the Senior Bowl and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli was/is a big fan. Through the two OTAs we've seen, Ward has been active and moves well. Marinelli has a way of getting the most out of defensive linemen, and Ward might be the next one, but there always has to be a bit of caution until the pads come on in training camp.

Ward has the ability to play both tackle positions and the absence of 1-tech Maliek Collins and 3-tech David Irving has given him plenty of opportunities. As Archer cautioned, things change when the pads come on but sometimes a trade is enough to jolt a player into realizing his lifelong dream of playing in the league is starting to slip away. If Ward has his act together, the Cowboys defensive line has another strong building block.

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I'm willing to admit if I'm wrong on Jihad...I just want to see him live up to his name on the field.

The D line might be dominant this year. Especially if Gregory gets reinstated. Pass rushers everywhere.

trumpetbear said:

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Ugggh. That guy is going to piss away what could be a great career. He has the talent to be a sack per game guy.

5th year in a row a defensive starter has been suspended to start the season

BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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Now this could be fantastic. We have to consider that Irving could have a great year and might price himself out of our range in a big contract after the season

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I'm willing to admit if I'm wrong on Jihad...I just want to see him live up to his name on the field.

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Hopefully he ain't no man of peace!

trumpetbear said:

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his breakout season price just dropped within next years range. I dont think a sack a game will get him a superstar contract now

trumpetbear said:

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And this will be his last year here.

What kind of contract extension will Dak Prescott get?

Newey Scruggs: Dak Prescott is looking at a contract that will pay him at least $25 million a season. That will put him right there will Derek Carr of the Raiders. Five years $125 million with $70 million guaranteed is the baseline I think the Cowboys will have to operate from.

If Dak has a tremendous Pro Bowl season then the price tag will go up. But for now I think the Cowboys should have to expect it will cost them $25 million a year to employed Prescott on his second contract.

March 1960 paper - a few months before the first season:

Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch (ankle) is expected to be ready for training camp.
Vander Esch has been sidelined since OTAs. The ankle issue isn't serious, but it's a reminder of his injury proneness. Vander Esch is expected to open the season on the strong side opposite Sean Lee.

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Jun 15 - 5:20 PM

Assassin said:

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March 1960 paper - a few months before the first season:

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I like stuff like this. Thanks

Assassin said:

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Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch (ankle) is expected to be ready for training camp.
Vander Esch has been sidelined since OTAs. The ankle issue isn't serious, but it's a reminder of his injury proneness. Vander Esch is expected to open the season on the strong side opposite Sean Lee.

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Jun 15 - 5:20 PM

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Can't wait to see him play. Hope he can hold up. lol

Dallas Cowboys
Defensive tackle Jihad Ward

The Cowboys acquired Ward during the draft from the Raiders for wide receiver Ryan Switzer. A former second-round pick, Ward was a major disappointment for two seasons in Oakland, picking up one sack in 21 career games. The Cowboys were high on Ward coming into the 2016 draft because they had coached him at the Senior Bowl. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli saw something in Ward that made him think he could be a valuable part of a rotation. It is difficult to judge line play in OTAs because players are not in pads, but Ward has shown the movement Marinelli likes, along with the right attitude. With Maliek Collins recovering from foot surgery and David Irving not practicing, Ward got a lot of work with the first team in the spring and has a chance to contribute during the season if he shows the same performance in training camp. -- Todd Archer

trumpetbear said:

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you gotta be kidding... due to missed tests and failure to adhere to program. Not for an actual 'bad test'?

What an idiot. If as he says, he was/is clean, how many millions did you lose because you cant set an alarm clock?

this should be shown to every Cowboy. Not to motivate, but to pizz them off so bad, they crush these cheesesteak eaters!

Sick

Many are fretting about the Cowboys' lack of a true No. 1 wide receiver, but newcomer Allen Hurns is not among them.

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"As far as this locker, to ourselves or in the meeting rooms, we don't talk about that at all," said Hurns (via Charean Williams of PFT). "The main thing for us is we come in and compete and try to earn our job. I feel like we've got a lot of guys who've got to come in and prove ourselves regardless. It's motivation, but that's not our main motivation. Our main motivation is to come in and be great. Me, I'm not coming off my best year. That's the same with Beas. He didn't have his best year last year. Same with TWill [Terrance Williams] and Tavon [Austin]. The list goes on. We're not coming off our best year. Being young guys coming into the league, you've got something to prove. That's not our main motivation, but it does add fuel to the fire."

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Hurns is the Cowboys' only receiver with a 1,000-yard campaign to his credit, and that was back in 2015. Many see that as cause for concern, but then again, quarterback Dak Prescott has been known to move the ball around in his offense.

The Cowboys worked out defensive end Jimmy Bean this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Bean was on the Raiders' practice squad in 2016 and recovering from an injury last year. This marked the second time Dallas has worked him out

Cowboys team reporter David Helman noted that third-round rookie Michael Gallup has shown a "good rapport" with Dak Prescott.
Per Helman, Gallup has "found ways to generate space" and has been a reliable pass-catcher when thrown to. The Colorado State alum will have a good opportunity in year one following the offseason departures of Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Beat writer Jon Machota previously projected Gallup for around 450 yards and four touchdowns.

Source: dallascowboys.com
Jun 17 - 10:06 AM