Mick Shots: Free For All

this week. I am Bill Jones, and wow do we have a lot to get to on this edition of Mick Shots. As as expected, the Cowboys are not active so far in the one. They call this the tempered then tampering period or the tampering period of the last over a two day period. It's an opportunity for agents to do their negotiating with teams, and there's a lot

of players that have already come off the board. But Mickey, most of these players are not players the Cowboys had eyes on because they're out of their price range a little bit. And I think, probably Bill, that's where we probably need to start with this to quell the uproar out there that well, this is typical Cowboys, they're not doing anything. Well, it's hard to do things when you don't have very much money available, and that's one of the things that continues to haunt them in free agency.

I understand the caps one hundred and eighty two point five million, so that went down from one hundred ninety eight point four, but the Cowboys cap space, especially after signing Dak Prescott to his deal last week and taking up twenty two point two million of the salary cap, which was significantly less right Bill than had he remained on the franchise tag at thirty seven point seven million,

they still don't have that much money. And I keep seeing this figure being floated out there that the Cowboys

have eighteen million dollars in space. Well, the one thing you need to remember is they do have to fund a draft and right now, and I can't imagine they would they would use all ten draft choices, but their rookie pool for the draft is ten point three one nine million, So take that off and now you're left with eight million, and that's very little space right now, not a lot of wiggle room, and they're gonna have

to basically, unfortunately, do some bargain hunting. Even after they did the restructuring of the contracts with Tyrn Smith, Zach Martin, and Lele Collins. My understanding is that they've probably got a couple more they need to do just to facilitate signing back some of their own guys along with you know, trying to keep a little nest egg of five to eight million going in the season for other costs that cop rop during the season. So yeah, I just don't

see them being big players in free agency. So let's just start right there and quell the outroar that happens

every year at this time. And let's also start with what has transpired reportedly up to this point as we sit here at just after eleven thirty on Tuesday morning, and we are constantly monitoring social media to see the get the very latest on what might happen as we over the course of the next hour, because things are happening very quickly, as a lot of you know, following it throughout the day on Monday, but most recently this morning, it looks like Cheetaowoozier has found a new home with

the Cincinnati Bengals. I haven't seen the money figures on that yet, but it sounds like it's a three year deal deal for a Woozier with the Bengals. And of course, yesterday cam Irving agreed to a deal's reportedly with the Carolina Panthers that was reported as two years, ten million on I'm not sure where the guarantees was. It was eight eight million, okay, eight million, yeah, And so I'm gonna I'm gonna go through these then we'll break them down here as I after I run through these. Houston

Joe Thomas one year, two million dollars. And it looks like the Cowboys are moving away from LP Lattissar after sixteen years and two hundred fifty three games, two games shy of Jason Witton's all time record of two hundred and fifty five games played with the Cowboys, as the Cowboys reportedly are bringing in the long snapper from the Rams, Jake McQuaid, and of course with coach Fossils passed in with the Rams organization going back Greg Zurline going back

basically nine to ten years, and McQuaid came in the same time that Zerline did when the Rams were in Saint Louis, and so he's very familiar with them. But LP just turned forty the other day, and it sounds like he may like to entertain some offers. If there are offers out there, why wouldn't there be, even at age forty as good as he's been in his career.

But boy, he practically perfect. I say practically because there's no way you can be perfect, but he is about as perfect as you could be at his position over the last sixteen years. Mackey. Yeah, I think I saw one snap this past season come in like low and that's but that's how perfect that was. Yeah, I mean I don't remember anything. You know, there's nothing up here or out wide or bouncing in or you know, sailing over someone's head. He's been awfully, awfully good since they

signed him in two thousand and five. He was a rookie free agent that I hadn't signed with anybody, And I could remember the day Bill at San Jose State when the Cowboys were practicing. They had played San Francisco on a Sunday and the next Sunday they were going to play the Raider. So the Bill Parcels decided to stay out there, and he had just about had no he already had enough with John Condo, the rookie deep snapper that was taken over for Robinson. Uh. Oh, I

forgot his first day. Jeff Jeff Robinson, Jeff Jeff Robins. That's it. Uh. And so it was like, Okay, we're gonna have tryouts. And it was like, well, you know what, there's this kid that was at CAW by the name of LP Latissour and he's still out here on the coast and he can drive in for a workout because he had still remained around the San Francisco area. Uh. And he drives in and they worked him out in the morning and before practice. He was signed and ready

to go. And here it is twenty twenty one, and he had still been with the Cowboys for sixteen seasons before they've decided to move along. So inauspicious beginning for him. But he was awfully good during his two hundred and fifty three games, as Bill pointed out, And you know what, Bill, they must have been ready to move along because what he had been doing these last couple years is he basically is playing on a one year minimum contract with a very modest signing bonus so they can give him

the veteran exception. Like last year he made one point seventy five million, but he only counted eight hundred and eighty seven thousand against the salary cap. So I would imagine he would have been willing at age forty to do the same thing. But maybe they decided it was time to move along. Who knows, Maybe you know, he's decided. Well, unless somebody really convinces me with a contract, this you know, could be it. So we'll see what happens there with him.

But as you said, McQuaid had ten seasons with the Rams and several of those with John Fossil, all right. In fact, I would assume every year and until last year he has been with Fossil, I believe, because Fossil was there starting in twenty eleven or twenty twelve, which is when McQuoid came into the league same year that Zerline did, as well as Johnny Hecker, their punner for so many years out there. All right, So let's go by player on here. How about Cheeto to Cincinnati. What

are your thoughts on that? You know that that one. You know a lot of people were saying Wow, they don't want him back. He's no good, And I was thinking, well, maybe they can get him back on a prove it deal because he only played like five games last year between the injuries he suffered and missing a game I think it was a game or two with on COVID nineteen reserve, and I thought, maybe, you know, somebody might

shy away. But evidently the Bengals saw how talented he was, and you know, and I know he wasn't perfect and he didn't have a bunch of interceptions, but to me, you know, he was their best, most consistent corner over these last several years, and he including the games he played last year. So the Bengals kind of saw it

the same way. It'll be interesting to see the numbers, but this just kind of puts a big circle around the cornerback position, saying, Okay, they've got to do something here, whether it be the draft or at least something in free agency as a bridge to whatever they're going to do. And I understand everybody's given the Cowboys a cornerback in the draft, either filey or certain, but boy, would you hold your breath just a little bit that your two starting corners as a second year guy in a first

and a rookie at cornerback. And we saw the transition problems Trey Von Diggs had. Uh. And that's not to you know, you're the other guys aren't going to come in. There's still a transition there. But who knows when you find an Everson Walls right as a rookie while you're playing up to Everson and he's not even here? He did hopefully. Yeah when ever since said he couldn't be here? I uh, I said, what Belichick, get a hold of it. You're signing with Belichick. Everybody else is signing with the

Patriots right now, going going back uh in time? Um, but yeah, good for Cheeto if he uh And again we haven't seen the money on that yet. I mean good for him if that he got the money that

he was looking for, apparently signing with Cincinnati. All right to Cam Irving and uh, I'm you know, I'm surprised where Cam Irving was in his career, although you know, it just goes to show, especially offensive tackle position, it's very rare that tackles even get to the open market unless they've got some wartz injury issues or lack of production. In the past, and here's Cam Irving, a former first

round draft pick. Yeah, he did start eight games for Kansas City in a Super Bowl year the year before, but and didn't you know, had some injury issues here with Dallas and didn't start a whole lot of game, didn't see a whole lot of action here in Dallas. But he lands two years, eight million guaranteed in Carolina. He played here, he managed to play six games in five starts, so he basically missed all of training camp.

I think he had about a COVID that got kind of covered up, and then he had knee problems and he ended the season on injured reserve. Bill. I just didn't think he was very good when he did play, you know, I don't know that he was better than almost average maybe, And he signs like a two year deal like that with eight million guaranteed. But you're right, the desperation for veteran tackles is high in this league. So that leaves the Cowboys, and we're going to assume

that Tyran Smith is good. Leal Collins is good. I've seen Lal working out. He seems to be doing all the kind of rehab stuff on the the resistant chords. Well, so if we assume that, then what they have here potentially as backups, Brandon Knight, Terrence Steele, and Mitch Hyatt are the guys that are on the roster. To me, Bill, here's what they have to do. If anybody gets either of those starting tackles gets hurt, they don't need to sit there and deliberate what to do with Zach Martin.

Just move him to one of the tackle positions and insert with Connor McGovern at the other guard. If if indeed, Connor Williams is still the starting left guard, because I think Connor McGovern showed that he can play well enough at guard that you can move Zach Martin to tackle. And this doesn't preclude the fact that I always have been thinking that third fourth round draft an offensive tackle draft.

A guy that might be good enough to be the backup swing tackle and your tackle of down the line future, or maybe a guy that can play guard and tackle and challenge for one of those spots. So I think in the draft, I'm not a fan of doing it in the first round, but third, fourth, fifth round get you a tackle. Well, and then you know one thing that did come out of the twenty twenty season, is Terrence Steele and Brandon Knight got playing time and so

they are not. Yeah, they're still in their recent past college free agents right deemed quality enough to be drafted into this league, but they do have And as far as competing for a backup offensive tackle spot on the roster, you have a little bit of depth there guys that have played snaps in this league now. But I'm with you on as far as the draft is concerned, they really need to comb over these offensive tackles and especially guys that can play inside compete right off the bat.

Let's assume and hopefully that Tyron Smith and Lyle Collins are healthy and good to go and can start. But if you if you've got a rookie who can in the meantime work in and maybe compete with Connor Williams at left guard, someone I'm talking a tackle who's going to be a guy that's going to eventually because obviously Tyrn and Lyle or getting up there and there's not as much tread on the tire anymore for either one

of the those guys. And so I'm looking at a top one hundred pick, first, second or third round where you probably need to make an investment in an offensive tackle who can compete inside until those guys, until there's an opening on the outside with the Cowboys. And you know, Bill,

here's the other thing that they might consider. If you've been watching what's been happening for cap reasons, there's a bunch of veteran offensive tackles who have been pretty decent in their careers have been released, and I'm sure those guys are sitting around waiting for a big deal, right Well, if they don't, you might be able to sign one of those guys for a prove it deal one year and you know, and maybe you can re enter the market next year, because look, with the cap going down,

I'm just be surprised because I don't think there's more than a handful of teams six eight that have enough cap space to put out some big deals. I think there's gonna be a lot of one year prove it deals this year, and maybe you can get one of those guys. You know, and you know, and and I know what happened in Kansas City, but you know, they basically got rid of their two starting tackles that didn't play in the Super Bowl. That really cost them. And I know Eric Fisher tore his achilles h in the

in the AFC Championship game. So that was late January. You know, in nine nine months or so, he could be ready to go. Uh. Speaking from experience, by the way, on that injury, you know, you might be able to pick him up for one year. And you know, if he wants a play now, a lot of these guys may be too proud to come in and play for you know, one year, two million dollars, even if the

Cowboys have that available. But you might might be able to pull one of those off, and those guys could say, Okay, I'm gonna you know, re establish my market value for twenty twenty two when the salary cap goes back up. And then Joe Thomas one year, two million dollars deal

with the Texans. Texans made a lot of under the radar moves yesterday and they so Thomas will play the same kind of role with the Texans that he did in Dallas as a backup linebacker, special teamer and but a dependable guy if you have an injury with one of your starters. Uh. He's a guy who can play some can start some games for you. So he's a value. I know he was a valued member of not only the Cowboys organization, but also when he was in Green Bay with the Packers as well. What do you think

the Cowboys when you look at the linebacker situation? Uh? What do you what do you think the Cowboys are thinking beyond uh Jalen Smith and uh Layton Vanderish right now? You know, I would think that depending on how they evaluate some of these guys in the draft, if if if one of those top linebackers is available in the first ground, I'm grabbing him. I'm I'm I'm not sitting still and saying, Okay, I've got a couple of young guys that came onto the squad as undrafted free agents rookies.

Uh And and you know I've and you know, you guys probably get tired of me saying this, but I and one of them, and you know this putting your big green notebook together, right that you gotta be larry of of relying on highlight film on guys. But this

Micah Parson is a baller. Uh And if he was available at ten boll, I seriously think about doing that as long as I can cover myself at some point at the cornerback position, because I think linebacker is a need on this team, especially now that you know the Swiss Army Knight. Joe Thomas, a good play all three spots and special teams is no longer here and Bill, here's the deal. And this I think just signifies the

cap problems the Cowboys are facing. Joe Thomas played last year for one point nine three million, and it sounds like they couldn't cut They couldn't qualify two million for a guy that might be a versatile backup for you. So and the other thing I'm thinking this year and I hope to God that you know they're gonna need a third starting linebacker, that they're not going to play nickel all the time, that sometimes they'll have to be forced to play a strong side linebacker on the field. Right.

But maybe that extra million they were sitting there going, Ah, I don't know about Joe Thomas, but Houston had no problems agreeing to a one year, two million dollars deal with him. Yep. And the other thing with linebacker, you know, first off, you know we've heard it throughout Sean Lee's career, well, if he could only stay healthy, if I think if you're seeing it early in Laton vander Esh's career where

he's had a hard time staying on the field. Jalen Smith obviously had the devastating knee injury in the Fiesta Bowlers last year at Notre Dame. But you look around the league in linebacker, it's a very difficult position to stay healthy at and I think you're always have to be looking at linebackers, and in the meantime, they're always

good on special teams and with sub packages. In the NFL, there's ways of getting even a first round pick, even if you have two starting linebackers like the Cowboys have with Jalen Smith and vander Esh, there would be a way if there's somebody you love at number ten, to get him on the field where he's playing, say thirty three percent of the snaps his rookie season in the regular defense, also contributing on special teams. So I agree

with you. I think I think it's it's a priority, and it gets back to my draft philosophy of best player available. When you've got positions of need, whether it be cornerback, offensive line, linebacker, defensive line, I think that you've got to have your you have to go into it with your eyes wide open. But at linebacker, there are ways to get that player on the field, even if he's not quote unquote one of your starting eleven. Yeah. And if you look at if you look at Parsons,

you know, and he's one of these guys. And this is going to be a difficult part, uh, part of the draft this year. He didn't play last year, so he's got two years of you know, college experience at Penn State. Now do you trust what you've seen? Especially Uh? You know, he didn't start every game as a freshman, but he played every game and ended up UH. And I can't remember if it was this freshman year or

sophomore year. He ended up being the MVP at the Cotton Bowl, the defensive m MVP for UH Penn State. And he can from some of the stuff I saw, he can he can rush the quarterback, he can penetrate, So that one will be interesting. And if you look at the linebacker position now with Joe Thomas uh having look or getting ready to leave the only and Sean Lee, you know who knows at thirty five do they want him back? Does he want to play again? Might he retire.

That means the only other linebacker they would have under contract would be Luke Giffer, undrafted free agent in twenty nineteen and Francis Bernard, undrafted free agent this past year. That's it. And and you're two yeah, and you're two assume starters, probably not playing special teams at all or hardly at all. Uh So yeah, linebacker to me. Uh, and cornerback right now our huge needs, especially knowing that

you're not going to have a woozierum. Jordan Lewis is a nice third fourth corner, but I don't think you

want him starting on the outside. Now. You do have Anthony Brown, and you can, but you need three of them, uh, three guys that are at least four and I'm not sure they have that all right, when we come back here on Mick Shots, let's take a look around the league and uh, let's see apparently Andy Dalton is getting some nibbles around the li Let's talk about the backup quarterback situation and what else is going on as free agency is underway, whether they call it that or not,

whether it's they have to wait until three o'clock on Wednesday to start signing these deals. Free agency has already started, and it's exciting time. As the new league year gets started, we come back and talk more about it on mix shots in just a moment, Honey, big news. Gary? Are you okay? Oh? I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. What see? I want the latest smartphone, but the best deals are only for new customers. So to get a

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Get more details or book a tour at formation at the Star dot com. On the eve of the NFL's new league year, This is Mick shots would take you all the way to twelve thirty. We are monitoring what is going on around the league. A couple of other things that the Cowboys did in the last twenty four hours or so. Mickey Noah Brown is coming back on a one year deal, and they also have placed the tenders on restricted free agents as well, Cedric Wilson wide

receiver as well as Antoine Woods defensive tackle. Yeah, and both of those guys, they tendered him at the original draft choice level, which means if they sign an offer sheet from another team that the Cowboys don't want, they would get a six back for Cedric Wilson. You wouldn't get anything back from Antoine Woods because he didn't get drafted.

Those tenders are worth two point one three million, and I'll keep an eye on that because both guys are fourth year fourth year guys in the minimum in your fourth year is nine hundred ninety thousand, and One of the things that Cowboys have done previously to try to create cap space is they would sign those restricted guys to two year deals, give them a little bit of a signing bonus to offset the two point one three million over two years and lower their cap hit for

this year. They've done that a couple times with guys. We'll see if they try to free up space that way. If I was if I was Cedric Wilson and Antoine Woods the first time that's official and I don't know if that becomes official before tomorrow or at three pm tomorrow, I'd be signing right away. Although you take the chance that somebody might sign you to a bigger, long term deal, that's the chance you take. There's a great example of that last year what happened with Cooper I believe it

was with Cooper Rush. Last year year he had he was a restricted free agent, had the tender at the two million whatever, and as it turns out, um then Andy Dalton gets signed after the draft, and then Cooper Rush wound up not having a deal and he was

he was languishing, basically trying to find a spot. I think it's always I think for like Cedric Wilson, especially with what the Cowboys have at wide receiver or with the depth that they have, I think that he if I was his agent, I would be working some sort of a deal with the Cowboys to give if you get the player more security. Um, it may be less money than what the tender is right now, but um you know just the way out and how tight it is around the league as well, I would be I

would be looking at doing a deal like that. Well, Tomura's cap hit and to me, Cedric Wilson, you know, I thought he was a valuable kind of chess piece. Right, He's not a starter, but he had the fourth catches as a wide receiver and I realized it was only seventeen. But he was pretty valuable on special teams, except when they hand him the ball on fourth down on a fake punch and decides to run it instead of throwing

it to the wide open receiver downfield. And then Noah Brown, you mentioned him on a one year deal and I can't imagine he signed for much more than the fourth the fourth, the fifth year minimum which is nine hundred ninety thousand, And I saw somebody called him their their fourth receiver. Well he had fourteen catches, but technically they relied a little bit more on Cedric Wilson as that

fourth receiver than Noah Brown. But you know what Noah Brown, and you know, I've always been on them for kind of keeping him around. And everybody's saying, well, he's the best blocking wide receiver we got, and I'm going I don't want my wide receiver blocking if that's his best attribute. Put a tight end out there, right. Well, you know what, he reshaped his body last year, slim down, got stronger, and he looked like a wide receiver and he had

a couple really nice catches last year. So you know, if you get Cedric back, you got five wide receivers and you would be happy with those five guys. Well, the other thing on Noah Brown is keep it. And remember how young he was when he came into the league. I mean he left Ohio State early, so he was about twenty one years old. He's not very old and sometimes and he didn't have a whole lot of experience because of that, even coming into the league, and so

he could be one of those late bloomer types. But I think it's important for players like that to understand where they are in order to The key is to stay in the league. And now, once you get to this point in your career, where okay, like in the case of Cedric Wilson, I do qualify for the two million dollars salary, but where I am on the depth chart right now and where the team my team is

as far as the salary cap. And to keep to keep that secure job, you got to factor that in, I think, and then maybe you'll get your opportunity and to be able to show and have a bigger payday later. And you know, all right, how about and let me one last thing on that. And I think for a guy like Cedric Wilson, this is when the player agent is very important because he's got to have the pulse

of the market. Is somebody going to pay my guy like the third at least the third receiver on a team, or if if that market value is not there, then just stay where you are and continue to make money, you know, sort of the LP Latticer philosophy. Don't price yourself out of the league if you still want to play even if you're not trying to make big bucks, but you know, keep playing because you're working on a

pension too. By the way, also, you mentioned I think one of the biggest needs the Cowboys have when you mentioned Andy Dalton. Yeah, and the other thing. The other thing on all those type of Noah Brown Cedric Wilson type players is understanding as you said, the market and okay, yeah, there's the cap is strapped all across the league right now. But it looks like we're coming out of this the big TV contracts coming, there's gonna be more money to

play with. You might get an opportunity to get more as snaps and if you show something then when that when the raps come off the cap around the league, you might be able to really benefit if you but you gotta stay in the league to begin with. All right, as far as the court back situation, how about Andy Dalton. Looks like he is getting some interest around the league. He's been linked to Chicago quite a bit. I saw San Francisco mentioned as well, and then you look at

Washington signs Ryan Fitzpatrick. It was reported as a one year, ten million dollar deal, and you know, so Washington made a decision to go that route rather than than Dalton. I'm not sure what Dalton's price range is, but I would imagine it would be in that vicinity. But it's

interesting how things are playing out with Andy Dalton. Yeah, and the other thing that I saw is likely to take place is the Saints are going to resign Jamis Winston also, so I think if you'll look kind of money, Andy Dalton's probably the top rated quarterback right now remaining in free agency. I think in the top one hundred. On NFL Network they had Dalton ranked thirty fifth overall. I think Brussel was right behind him, but they had him as the top free agent quarterback. So again, what's

the market value? Is somebody gonna pay him the money to be their starter or challenge for a starting job when he knows staying here means he's a backup to Dak Prescott, And so will somebody offer him enough money to pry him out of where he's living now to have a chance at either starting or competing for a starting job. And if that happens, I don't know that the Cowboys can spend that much money to try to

resign him or match somebody's one year deal. They might have to settle with Garrett Gilbert and then see what happens after the draft, because again, if there's gonna be think about it. Bill, I don't know what you think, but you know, I've seen mock drafts with as many as five quarterbacks taken, you know, in the top twenty. And if that's happening, somebody's quarterbacks gonna get released somewhere along the line. May not be the starter, but it might be the backup guy. And so there may be

more quarterbacks on the market after the draft. So the Cowboys are going to have to judge is Garrett Gilbert? Would we settle for him to be the backup from what we saw? And what was it a game and a half? Or do we want better? If i'm Andy Dalton's I'm not settling on that. Yeah, all right, let's say Andy Dalton's not available, Chase Daniel apparently being released by the Lions. Uh. Colt McCoy, I believe as a free agent those type players, would you go that route?

And how much would you spend on a player like that? How much would you have available to spend on a player like that? And I think that's the question with their budget. So yeah, gosh, if you if you can get your backup quarterback for I don't know, three million on a one year deal, that's what I'm thinking you might have to do, which is basically what Dalton's deal was, right.

Wasn't that like Dalton's deal last year? Yeah, and which if a bunch of incentives if he had played so many games and they got in the playoffs, he made as much as seven million, but obviously none of that took place. See, I'm in favor of that price range. But I think you've you've got to have someone who you have confidence in that can steer the ship if

Dak went down for a couple of games. Yep. And and so I think that's why you you know, I know Gary Gilbert played well in the one game against Pittsburgh, but I want somebody who's who's done a little bit more. Although you know, Chase Daniel had got much opportunity to pay. But but I I mean even going back to his college days, which was eons ago. Now, I mean Gilbert didn't do a whole lot in college either. So I thought you were talking about Chase Daniel. I was going

to have to correct you on that. No no, no, no, no, no, no, no, I'm saying. I'm saying even going back to his college days though, Yeah, you know, Chase has more skins on the wall, and uh and as does Colt McCoy. And so I would take one of those guys as the backup over you know, bring them in whichever one you know, two to three million dollars there. Uh you know, Chase is from here, Coult basically from here, and uh, you know, I would be very comfortable with the backup quarterback situation.

And then you got a young guy that you're developing. Also, Yeah, and I and this is this doesn't mean to just you know, throw throwd Nucci to the curb. I think what everybody needs to run stand. This was a seventh round pick with no offseason work on the field, with no basically a short training camp and no preseason games, hardly got to practice at all with any part of the first team offense, and all of a sudden they had to throw him in there. And it's like did

he struggle? Well, yeah, not surprising. So I think, yeah, you can't give your hat, can't give up on that, especially if he should come around for the amount of money he's making, you know, And I'm not gonna throw this guy under the bus, but I saw this tweet in my mentions, and I won't say the guy's name because he's you know, a bunch of guys are right

there with him. They say, find it very annoying that Dallas never is active in free agency teams with left cast bait, so why can't the Cowboys be So these are the same people that were probably saying, why is it taken so long to sign Dak Prescott? Right, Well, they were trying to get a deal so they didn't have to spend you know, whatever percentage of the salary cap, especially in that first year on the quarterback. They were trying to do the deal to protect the salary cap.

They weren't trying to be cheap. They weren't trying to undercut whatever his market value was. They were trying to figure out how to do a deal so at least this year the salary cap would not cripple this team.

It wasn't because they didn't want to sign them. They just needed to sign them to a deal that was commensurate with the amount of salary cap they were gonna have available and so now you signed them, and it took up twenty two point two million, and that was a good deal because they put the voidable year in there so they could spread the sixty six million dollars signing bonus over five years instead of the four that

they were insisting on signing for. Yep, and it takes into account that, okay, the need for for money now and uh, and knowing what the TV contract is going to be in the future and h so I thought it was. It was well worked as far as the structure of the contract. All right, us break time again. Uh, we'll go around the league when we come back. There's some interesting things going on, and some of this impacts the Cowboys as well. We talk about that when Mick

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star studded adventure. To run a winning play for spring Break, visit us in stores and online at Shop dot Dallas, Cowboys dot com. All right, final, fifteen minutes or so. I'm monitoring some of the comments on periscope, Mickey, and here's a here's a late round quarterback prospect that someone mentions on periscope. Sam Ellinger is the twelfth college quarterback on somebody's list. Could be picked in the seventh or as an undrafted free agent. How about Sam Ellinger as

one of those developmental guys here, bring him in. Yep, I'm all for it. That'd be great. He's got the he's got those intangibles that you look for. You know, he could be the next Chase Daniel all right around the league. How you think Belichick likes going seven and nine or the Patriots They're they're spending and bringing guys in over fist, right, uh huh, that's right. Well they in this morning they signed Hunter Henry after signing a tight end John hu Smith yesterday, maybe the two best

tight ends on the market. So I think they figured out that where their bread has been buttered for so many years with those two tight ends, and uh and maybe uh, maybe that can help Cam out to get some couple of tight ends because their tight end production was horrible last year, Yes it was, and I'm not sure how well their protection was either. Um. So yeah,

they they've they've they've started off quick. So here's the one that surprised me, and I kept using him as an example of why Dak Prescott should not try to go on a franchise tag a second year in a Row Pittsburgh defensive end Bud Dupree. He played had the same agent as Dak Todd France. He played on the franchis tag, and this is always the downside of the franchise tag. He tore his ACL the first week in December, so now he's going in the free agency three months in.

And while his previous market value would have been pretty high, you know, who's gonna pay him a lot of money when the guy can't even you know, it might not even be able to be ready for the start of the season, or at least not the off season for sure. Well, Tennessee's gonna pay him a lot of money because they just agreed to a five year contract. Now it says up to eighty five million, So I would imagine there's a lot of incentives in there because the guarantees thirty

five million. Had he been had played an entire year on that franchise tag in state healthy, it might have been straight five year, eighty five million dollar deal for the pass rusher that he has been. But now it's got to be five years, but only thirty five million and guaranteed. And that's always the downside of plan on the franchise tag because you're on a one year deal

and that's it. And if you get hurt the way Dak did last year, he's very fortunate it wasn't worse than it was because you know when he talked on Wednesday about you know, I didn't feel like I was gambling on myself. No, he wasn't gambling on his ability to play football. But you're gambling on staying healthy. And that's the downside when somebody had just offered you a fifty five million dollars signing bonus, as the Cowboys did

last year. Yea, and especially especially at a position like what Bud Dupree plays, where I mean you got to have that edge speed to get to the quarterback. You know, as a quarterback has been proven by plenty of quarterbacks through time who have played through injuries. They had injuries that have happened in their career. Uh, they're not a lot of career ending injuries that happened to a quarterback. But for for a linebacker or for a defensive end who relies on his speed so much to do his job,

that that's got a factor in Uh you know. So, Uh, that's a great point. Um, what else around the league is uh. Yeah, let's look at the NFC East. You know, Fitzpatrick to Washington. Uh, they are obviously are still in the market for a quarterback. He is a stop gap until they find their quarterback eventually. Yeah, that's the way

it looks like. And um you know, I mean they still might be in the quarterback market in the draft, you're right, Uh, and and sure and to help you know, I think no doubt And and you know you only signed him to a one year deal, so maybe he's a ridge to whatever future they think they they might have. So uh yeah, And you know, Philadelphia it's having problems

resigning guys. Um me, looks like they're you know, moving on from zach Ertz, right, and zach Ertz might there's an opening in uh with the Chargers now that Hunter Henry's gone to New England. Uh, that could be a something where ertz uh Ertz was also rumored I think to Buffalo, but ERT's obviously wants it sounds like he wants to move out of there. Uh. You know, it's all there for the taking in this division, as it

has been for a couple of years now. The Giants, when you look at them, I would think they have got to improve at the skill position on offense, a wide receiver, I would think that they have to be in on ju Ju Smith Schuster. Yeah, I think he would be a perfect fit there as a wide receiver there. I know Jason Garrett loved him in the draft. The Cowboys brought him in for a visit when they even when they didn't feel like they needed a wide receiver. So he would be a great fit there. Whether he

would want to play there or not, I don't know. Um. But and so then as it relates to the Cowboys, there's not a lot of activity amongst their division rivals right now, and so it's just going to be very interesting to see what the Cowboys can do to be being judicious and economical with their money because I as you've pointed out earlier, I think that there's gonna be some veteran players to be had that at a reasonable rate that that can really contribute even more so than

what a draft pick can this year to get the Cowboys back on track. Yeah. Absolutely, And one of the I think there was a big port floating around out there that Cowboys he's had interests in the Atlanta safety Demante caz Is that how you say it, Caze. You know, he's played four years for Quinn in Atlanta, and the first year he started in twenty eighteen, it was a second year in the league. He had seven interceptions and so as as a and I'm guessing a free safety.

So it's his four years. He had ten picks, thirteen passes broken up in one hundred ninety nine tackles will be twenty eight and he was a three year starter. Now the downside is, but this is where you can pick up a guy maybe on the cheap. He ended up suffering a season ending another guy, by the way, a season ending torn achilles four games into the season. So that means his injury occurred the first of October. October to basically the start of trening camp in July.

He should be ready to go rehabbing that achilles and if if all went well, then maybe you get that guy on somewhat of a more inexpected I can't say it inexpensive, inexpensive, yes, thank you, deal that would allow him to you know, be affordable because he needs maybe a proof of deal. We'll see, especially knowing that he only played four games last year. So those are the things I think the Cowboys and everybody goes, wow, they take these chance as well, as long as they're inexpensive chances,

it's okay. Right like last year, you know, I understand the veterans they brought in basically flopped, right except for zerline h for sure. But again, when you're not these guys big deals that you're you're basically rolling the dice. You're you're you. You can't afford to buy a sure thing. Like think about the Packers right now. They just lost or gonna lose their starting Pro Bowl center, Corey Lindsley us supposedly as signing a five year, sixty two point

five million dollar deal with the Chargers. You think Aaron Rodgers is happy to hear that his starting center is no longer going to be there. But when you're an established player like that, especially on the offensive line, boy, those are big contracts. So people would say, wow, the

Cowboys overpaid Lale Collins. Well not really, because they got him on the cheap the first several years of his career and then you got to pay and that guy was on his way to be in a Pro Bowl tackle before he missed the entire season with the back problems that he had that were eithering him all off season and they were hoping rehab would improve and it didn't do it. But that just goes to show you how how how valuable offensive lineman are when they become available.

All right, there's been talk about Richard Sherman to the Cowboys. What do you think of that? And don't want to keep getting older? It can't be a big deal. And you better you better be playing zone uh coverage because he's not. He's no longer a man demand cornerback. Uh. He's got to play he's got to play cover two and he needs help over the top. So but again,

what's the price, right? Is he willing to play? Uh for a million or two dollars three at the most with incentives incentives that he didn't match the year before so that he he doesn't those incentives don't count against the cap. You know, normally, if you if you get, if you give an incentive laced contract that they didn't achieve those incentives the year before, then you can push

back that money to the next year's salary cap. But if it's something they'd already done, like played ten games or started ten games, then that incentive counts against the salary cap this year. Okay, let me ask you this, all right, Obviously the Cowboys need to fix this defense. Yes, if they draft, if they If the Cowboys draft, Let's say the Cowboys draft a cornerback in the first round, they draft a stud defensive lineman in the second round,

and a stud linebacker in the third round. Well, when they need a safety too, Okay, we gotta okay, we get a safety in their two You got the nine of the cop pick at ninety nine also, right, so you got four picks in the first ninety nine picks. Okay, So let's say they get a cornerback, a safety, and a linebacker and a defensive lineman. How much will that improve the defense? Considering these are rookies. Yeah, I was gonna say, are every one? Are those guys going to

be a starter? You know? Look here, here's what I wrote last week, And they've already made the best move they're gonna make on defense by hiring Dan Quinn as

the defensive coordinator. Because they've got to believe, and they answered my question in the press conference last week that this could be the biggest move they make on defense was hiring Dan Quinn as the defensive coordinator, and and my thoughts are built that in twenty nineteen they finished ninth overall total defense, eleventh against the run, and gave

up twenty points a game in one year. I understand they lost three starters, Byron Jones being the best one, but then they end up twenty four thirty first against the run and dead last and points allowed, giving up more points than any team in franchise history. And you had seven eight starters that were the same. What changed? So to me, dan Quinn has to come in here as the new defensive coordinator and make the biggest impact on this football team, either side of the ball or

special teams. He has to be the guy. And he's been pretty good as a defensive coordinator right He cut his teeth in the NFL and Seattle as a defensive coordinare and the other thing that has been his specially he's been the defensive line coach. So maybe he's doing both sort of the way Marinelli did with the help of like Leon Letton, and I believe they did. They did sign a sort of defensive line assistant type. But

he's the one that has to make the difference. And then if you draft well in those first couple rounds and you get Tristan Hill back playing the way he was before his turn towards ACL, you get Randy Gregory for an entire season, not a half a season, and with an offseason that he can work out with the team, And who knows what happens with Alden Smith if they

can get him back. If you do, if all those things fall into place, yeah, if you pick up a defensive lineman, but Neville Gallimore was coming on that last quarter of the season, so you know, linebackers still out there. Linebackers still out there as a need. And so if I'm looking at their needs right now, they got to figure out the backup quarterback thing for sure, and then linebacker and cornerback before even they worry about the defensive line.

If they can get Alden Smith back signed and they don't have to overplay him amount of snaps as they did early in the season, and he's healthy and not dealing with a knee problem that he dealt with probably three quarters of the season. And you know, but my point on that is that, Okay, you can draft all these brookies coming in and as you've you've mentioned earlier in the show. I mean, they can have all the potential in the world, but it is tough making that

transition into the NFL the first year. I think it's gonna be key. And I'm not talking about spending big money at all. I'm talking they can even be veteran minimum type deals or close to it. That's key having veteran guys, and the Cowboys have done a real good job of this. I think in free agency in the past they didn't. Last year, they struck out on their

free agent guys. Last year one Gerald McCoy, they struck out on him because of his age, and you know it is you know, quad goes out the first practice that he suits up in, you know, and by the way, they were gambling on Gerald McCoy because he had a pre existing condition with that Quad exactly that's right, That's

exactly right. But in the past they have done a good job of in free agency without spending a whole lot of money where they could go into the draft and if they had a game on Draft weekend, they could go play a game. And that way you can be true to your board during the draft. And I think that's always important. Got a little bit of breaking news. I have to go here we go a little bit

of breaking news as we close it out. The Cowboys have agreed to terms Mickey with c J. Goodwin on a two year, three and a half million dollars deal that includes two million dollars guaranteed. So c J. Goodwin remains a Cowboy. According to Adam Schefter, Mickey, well, they've got their their special teams guy. And basically, you know, his salary last year was nine ten, so you said

it was two years, how much? Two years, three and a half million, two million guaranteed, So the two year guaranteed is probably the majority of that, a little bit of signing bonus so they can spread it over two years with a probably close to a minimum base salary. So yeah, if the cap hit ends up being a million and a half, well okay fine. And you know, and he was a valuable special teams guy that they used in a lot of different ways. So that's a and those are the type of deals they're gonna have

to do, you know. And they're gonna have to take a chance on a guy coming back from a season ending injury at a low value and and hope they you know, get high production. But that's what their situation they're in right now, and I think everybody just needs to understand that and not start, you know, jumping out

the window. Oh they're not signing anybody, you know. I mean they kind of did the same thing to what was it two years ago with Randall Cobb who had an injury plague last year twenty eighteen season in Green Bay and came here in twenty nineteen and turned out to be one of the best free agent guys they had ever signed. The only problem was he was too good, and he got signed away in the next year's free agency last year by Houston. All right, we're out of

time on this edition of mix Shots. Imagine how much news will be made by the next time we get together next Tuesday. I would imagine it'll be even more than this. And we had no problems doing this with two of us. Right, Everson to be back next week. He has not signed with the New England Patriots by then,

and and we'll start digging into the draft. We'll be close to a month out from the draft, and my big green NFL Draft scouting notebook will be starting to really fill up by then, So it's gonna be fun for the next month. So and without Everson here, I'll sign off by saying, go Tigers, go. Oh, I tried, I forgot we a matchup on I can't prepare Saturday night. Yeah, I can't prepare. Just in case you had brought out stuff. Well, I've given up them since since my team hasn't won

a game since January. Now, they knocked off four top ten teams in January, but they haven't won since then. I don't think, I don't I don't. Uh, you can have that game, all right. I'm I'm into football. I'm not into March madness. And by the way, and good luck in your second round matchup, Mickey, Yeah, I saw that. You know you got Gonzaga in the second round. Well, then there's no price, right, you'll throw caution to the wind, that's right. Well, maybe Chase Daniel will be a Cowboy

by next Tuesday. All right, all right, we'll we'll see you next story here on mix Shots. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.