Draft Nuggets 2013: Week 1
By Jeff Bowers of www.thesportsnarrative.com
Twitter: @sportsnarrative
As the calendar turns to 2013 and the Cowboys are left out of the playoffs once again, the process of building this team into a Super Bowl contender begins in earnest. And that, of course, starts with Free Agency and The NFL Draft. Welcome back, P1s, to your inside look at The Ticket’s coverage of Dallas Cowboys Off-Season. I am Jeff Bowers, associate producer and draft researcher for Norm Hitzges and The Ticket’s NFL Draft coverage. The Ticket is still the only station in America that broadcasts the Draft wall-to-wall live from Radio City Music Hall in NYC. Over the next few months, this weekly blog entry will keep you up-to-date on all the machinations that go into constructing a roster to withstand the rigors of a 16 week regular season.
To begin this journey together, let’s take a look at the Calendar of Events for the off-season:
Jan. 15: Deadline for underclassmen to enter 2013 NFL Draft
Jan. 19: East-West Shrine Game (Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL)
Jan. 24-25: Regional Combine (University of Hawaii in Honolulu, HI)
Jan. 26: Senior Bowl (Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, AL)
Jan. 27: Pro Bowl (Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, HI)
Feb. 2: Texas vs. Nation College All-Star Game (Eagle Stadium in Allen, TX)
Feb. 3: Super Bowl XLVII (Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA)
Feb. 9-10: Regional Combine (Orange Coast College in Los Angeles, CA)
Feb. 16: Regional Combine (Methodist Training Center in Houston, TX)
Feb. 17: Regional Combine (Cleveland Browns Training Facility in Cleveland, OH)
Feb. 20-26: NFL Combine (Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN)
Mar-Apr: Private Workouts for Players or Schools (schedule TBD)
March 2-3: Regional Combine (Atlantic Health Jets Training Facility in Florham Park, NJ)
March 9: Regional Combine (One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, FL)
March 9-11: Teams can begin negotiating with the agents of players set to become unrestricted free agents at the start of the league year (teams can only talk to agents and not the players during this negotiating window)
March 10: Regional Combine (Halas Hall in Chicago, IL)
March 12: 2013 League Year begins at 4 p.m. ET, opening Free Agency and the trading period
March 16-17: Regional Combine (Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Atlanta, GA)
March 17-20: Annual League Meeting (The Biltmore in Phoenix, AZ)
March 23-24: Regional Combine (Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, WA)
March 23-24: Regional Combine (Baltimore Ravens Training Facility in Baltimore, MD)
April 7-8: Super Regional Combine (Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX)
April 25-27: 2013 NFL Draft (in New York City, NY)
May 20-22: NFL Spring League Meeting (Hyatt Harborside in Boston, MA)
Aug 3: Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement
Since that’s where we are going, let’s see where we are right now:
COWBOYS FREE AGENCY SITUATION
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UNRESTRICTED FAs |
ANALYSIS |
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LB Victor Butler |
This 4thround pick showed flashes but never given a real opportunity behind Ware and Spencer. Only returns at a backup rate if no one offers more |
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CB Michael Coe |
Emergency signing unlikely to return |
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DE Kenyon Coleman |
At 34 and coming off an injury shortened season, I can’t see more than a 1 year deal, if that |
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OG Derrick Dockery |
Appears to be done here |
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SS Eric Frampton |
A nice find during the season. Solid special teams contributor. |
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CB Mike Jenkins |
Will probably get a starting job somewhere else |
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RB Felix Jones |
Injuries and expectations have hampered his Cowboys career. If he returns, it’ll be for depth and at a greatly reduced price |
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LS L.P. Ladouceur |
The fact that you haven’t heard his name all year means he is doing his job well. Should look for him to be brought back. But as tight as this team will be to the cap, they may have to find a cheaper option |
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P Brian Moorman |
Former Pro-Bowler was serviceable, but the returning and cheaper Chris Jones will take his job back |
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WR Kevin Ogletree |
After an opening night splash, he just could never be consistant and ultimately lost out to Dwayne Harris. Doesn’t play special teams, almost certainly gone |
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SS Charlie Peprah |
Veteran vagabond that might be brought back simply for depth |
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TE John Phillips |
Never emerged as hoped prior to the season. May return but could use an upgrade at that position |
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LB Brady Poppinga |
Will go back to his Bat-Cave and wait for a phone call |
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LB Ernie Sims |
Filled in admirably and could return for the right price. Good depth luxury but may have caught other eyes in the NFL with his play here |
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LB Anthony Spencer |
A solid season should translate into a VERY nice payday for Mr. Spencer. Cowboys should bring him back |
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RESTRICTED FAs |
ANALYSIS |
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C Phil Costa |
Should get tendered and return as a depth guy |
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SS Danny McCray |
Might not get tendered but may return. Will compete with Frampton at SS and special teams |
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DE Brian Schaefering |
Always need warm bodies at camp, but probably goes back on the street |
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In addition to these free agents, the Cowboys may have to massage the salary cap a bit this off-season and therefore may be forced to cut or re-work some of their larger contracts. Let’s take a look at the Cowboys salary cap and some of the players that could be targeted (Figures are approximated):
Players under contract for 2013: $132 million
Dead money: $6.5 million
NFL Cap penalty: $5 million
Total: $143.5 million
Projected Salary Cap for 2013: $121 million
Salary Cap Space: -$22.5 million
Keep in mind, this number includes Romo’s $17 million dollar cap number which will almost certainly be reworked, whether through a new deal or a trade.
Players that could be cut/traded:
– WR Miles Austin – 3rd year of a 7yr $57 million dollar deal
o Cap Penalty if released – $2.7 million
– NT Jay Ratliff – 2nd year of a 7yr $48.6 million dollar deal
o Cap Penalty if released – $6.5 million
– OT Doug Free – 2nd year of a 4yr $32 million dollars deal
o Cap Penalty if released – $4.1 million
Players that could be restructured:
– QB Tony Romo – Final year of 6yr $67.4 million dollar deal
o Cap Number – $17.23 million
– CB Brandon Carr – 2nd year of 5yr $50.1 million dollar deal
o Cap Number – $16.3 million
Analysis:
Look for the Romo and Carr contracts to get reworked to free up some money. For Romo that probably means an extension. As for the other players, many of those deals are too recent for any real cap savings in 2013. Austin’s deal (the reason for the salary cap penalty) might be the easiest to cut, but with little depth at the WR spot the Cowboys options to replace him may preclude it. Ratliff has been a warrior inside for this team, but age and injuries appear to be catching up to him more quickly than anticipated. Free performed far lower than his bloated salary would indicate, but the big hit it would take to release him might force Dallas to hang on to him for at least 1 more year. If Dallas does work a contract with free agent-to-be Spencer, it’ll greatly reduce the $8.8 million he counted against the cap last year and help give Dallas as much as $4-$5 million more in cap room compared to what he cost last year.
Overall, the Cowboys should head into 2013 with very little wiggle room to sign free agents. A very focused effort on 1 to 2 key positions should be the order of the day. Coming up next week, we will dive headlong into those free agency waters.