WEBVTT - Talkin' Cowboys: NFL March Madness! 0:00:08.520 --> 0:00:11.040 The following is a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com 0:00:11.080 --> 0:00:21.160 and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. This he is Talking 0:00:21.320 --> 0:00:25.760 Cowboys Screaming live from the Dallas Cowboys World Hours at 0:00:25.760 --> 0:00:34.920 the Star in fris Jolls, Got Tay and now your 0:00:34.960 --> 0:00:40.320 hosts Isaiah Stanback, heck My Harrison, Rob Phillips, and Kyle 0:00:40.479 --> 0:00:45.600 Yeoman's in this business, it is kind of easy to 0:00:45.760 --> 0:00:49.559 lose track of just how much things can change in 0:00:49.600 --> 0:00:52.040 a week. Because if you'd go back to our last 0:00:52.080 --> 0:00:56.160 episode here on Talking Cowboys presented by Geico, we were 0:00:56.200 --> 0:00:59.280 completely at the crossroads. We were unsure of what was 0:00:59.320 --> 0:01:01.600 going on. We were trying to figure out exactly what 0:01:01.760 --> 0:01:05.000 the next step was going to be for the Dallas 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:10.080 Cowboys organization. Well, now as we enter this Monday, March fifteenth, 0:01:10.080 --> 0:01:12.880 we have an opportunity to say we know what crossroads 0:01:12.880 --> 0:01:16.560 had been chosen. We know who our franchise quarterback is 0:01:16.640 --> 0:01:20.759 and it's Dak Prescott. Plus North Texas men's basketball's going 0:01:20.880 --> 0:01:23.319 dance in the NCAA tournament, So I'm going to throw 0:01:23.360 --> 0:01:25.200 that out there as well, get that out of the way. 0:01:25.240 --> 0:01:28.720 So I'm pretty excited about both of those factors as well. 0:01:28.959 --> 0:01:31.280 We've got a lot to talk about here on Talking Cowboys, 0:01:31.319 --> 0:01:33.760 Glad You're with us, on Dallas Cowboys dot Com, and 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:37.760 the various streaming platforms, Kyle Yeoman's, Rob Phillips, Isaiah Stanbacked 0:01:37.760 --> 0:01:41.280 in the crate, heck my Harrison, and Rob it's crazy. 0:01:41.680 --> 0:01:44.959 The deal got done last Monday, and every other show 0:01:45.000 --> 0:01:46.920 has gotten a chance to talk about it so far, 0:01:47.080 --> 0:01:50.040 but except for us, we were the ones that were 0:01:50.120 --> 0:01:54.000 early on Monday, And of course the deal happened right 0:01:54.040 --> 0:01:57.760 after our show was concluded. So what are your overall 0:01:57.800 --> 0:01:59.760 thoughts on the deal as we kind of get a 0:01:59.800 --> 0:02:05.040 chance it's to finally dissected on this specific podcast. I 0:02:05.120 --> 0:02:08.720 said this last week and I'll say it again. Everybody wins. 0:02:09.360 --> 0:02:12.160 The Cowboys win, they get the deal done, they get 0:02:12.200 --> 0:02:16.720 some precious cap space. Dak gets a massive contract, second 0:02:16.800 --> 0:02:20.760 highest contract basically an average per year in NFL history. 0:02:21.400 --> 0:02:25.320 The fans win. If if you wanted Dak resigned, you win. 0:02:25.600 --> 0:02:28.320 If you didn't want to resigned, hey you get something 0:02:28.360 --> 0:02:32.920 else to complain about it. That'll be refreshing, right right Andy, 0:02:33.000 --> 0:02:36.040 And hey we win, We win because we you know, 0:02:36.080 --> 0:02:38.440 we had something to talk about up until the start 0:02:38.440 --> 0:02:41.000 of free agency. Which is basically today. And now it's done. 0:02:41.080 --> 0:02:45.560 It's a weight off everybody's shoulders. And uh, I'm surprised 0:02:45.560 --> 0:02:48.320 it got done before the tag. I thought there was 0:02:48.360 --> 0:02:52.960 a chance based on rumblings before free agency, but I 0:02:53.000 --> 0:02:56.000 didn't think they would put it together five hours after 0:02:56.040 --> 0:02:58.840 we got off the air. And I think it just 0:02:59.160 --> 0:03:00.880 it just turned out to be the right time for 0:03:00.919 --> 0:03:03.920 everybody because and really for the Cowboys to kind of 0:03:03.960 --> 0:03:07.520 segue into free agency, able to spread that money out 0:03:08.200 --> 0:03:11.720 and allow themselves to possibly be somewhat active in the 0:03:11.760 --> 0:03:18.399 coming weeks, if not this week. Well, I only got 0:03:18.440 --> 0:03:21.560 one word for that, man, and it is relieved. Was 0:03:21.639 --> 0:03:25.440 relieved relieved when I saw the text from Isaiah saying 0:03:25.440 --> 0:03:29.400 that it was a done deal. Um, yeah, Isaiah, were 0:03:29.440 --> 0:03:32.240 etched in history together because you let us know that 0:03:32.320 --> 0:03:35.200 the deal was done. So you know, I'll just really 0:03:35.200 --> 0:03:38.200 happy to see that we were able to get it 0:03:38.200 --> 0:03:40.400 done and not get muddy the waters with this thing 0:03:40.440 --> 0:03:43.320 any longer. But I tell you, man, that the press 0:03:43.360 --> 0:03:47.480 conference on Wednesday was that that was the main attraction 0:03:48.520 --> 0:03:52.960 just of the some of the cringe worthy comments that 0:03:53.040 --> 0:03:56.800 came from the press conference. You know, Jerry admitting that 0:03:57.160 --> 0:03:59.520 you know he's the only guy that he would take 0:03:59.560 --> 0:04:04.040 advantage of him. Things like that that came out about 0:04:04.080 --> 0:04:07.280 the money and Dak digging in and I really just 0:04:07.480 --> 0:04:09.440 you know, all jokes aside on that. Man. I really 0:04:09.440 --> 0:04:11.480 loved some of the things that Dak had to say. 0:04:12.240 --> 0:04:14.120 Pressure is a privilege. Man. I had to write that 0:04:14.160 --> 0:04:17.640 down immediately because that was definitely a quote to keep. 0:04:18.279 --> 0:04:20.560 I love the way that he handled himself and just 0:04:20.720 --> 0:04:23.880 knowing that he dug in, he dug in and wouldn't 0:04:23.960 --> 0:04:27.360 move on principle of what he wanted for his contracting. 0:04:27.440 --> 0:04:30.440 I think for the organization just gives us a sense 0:04:30.480 --> 0:04:33.400 of we're able to move forward. We can move forward now, 0:04:33.520 --> 0:04:35.799 we can all the rest of the I guess the 0:04:35.800 --> 0:04:39.320 proverbial dominoes can fall where they may because we got 0:04:39.360 --> 0:04:41.680 the biggest deal done and just really happy that this 0:04:41.760 --> 0:04:45.440 doesn't have to linger any longer and Jerry and Stephen 0:04:45.480 --> 0:04:55.840 got it done. Yeah, finally it happened. No, I'm glad. 0:04:56.120 --> 0:04:58.640 I'm glad everybody walked away winners. Man, I'm glad everybody 0:04:58.680 --> 0:05:00.440 walked away winners. Obviously, there's a lot the guys in 0:05:00.520 --> 0:05:03.000 the league right now that are walking away winners, getting 0:05:03.040 --> 0:05:05.720 some of this money in their pocket right now, just 0:05:05.800 --> 0:05:08.479 because of the parameters of this season, in the in 0:05:08.520 --> 0:05:11.880 the cap going down. So super happy not only for everybody, 0:05:11.880 --> 0:05:14.360 but obviously super happy for a dat. He got his brand. 0:05:14.760 --> 0:05:16.800 Like you guys already mentioned, he sunk his feet in there. 0:05:17.000 --> 0:05:19.120 He got what he was due, right, he got what 0:05:19.160 --> 0:05:23.400 he was due. And unfortunately it took um you know, 0:05:23.560 --> 0:05:27.880 external pressures and external you know other other things that 0:05:28.040 --> 0:05:31.080 really applied pressure on the Cowboys, such as a cap 0:05:31.120 --> 0:05:33.760 and all those things that really added to this getting done. 0:05:33.800 --> 0:05:36.880 But you know, whatever is required, it happened. Now we 0:05:36.880 --> 0:05:38.640 can roll and now these guys got to figure out 0:05:38.680 --> 0:05:40.560 how to make some more room. Obviously they're starting to 0:05:40.560 --> 0:05:42.120 do those things so they can go out there and 0:05:42.120 --> 0:05:43.440 get some of these free agents that they need to 0:05:43.720 --> 0:05:47.760 solidify this team. Oh, Isaiah providing a perfect segue into 0:05:47.960 --> 0:05:50.520 what I really want to talk about next, and that's 0:05:50.960 --> 0:05:55.400 those external pressures exactly. Uh, those external pressures kind of 0:05:55.800 --> 0:05:57.719 forcing this deal to get done. You talked about the 0:05:57.720 --> 0:05:59.880 salary cap. You also talked about how it needed to 0:05:59.880 --> 0:06:02.800 be the first domino to fall, because that was really 0:06:02.839 --> 0:06:05.400 what our conversations had been each of the last two 0:06:05.440 --> 0:06:09.360 weeks was we can't talk about free agency without Dak Prescott. 0:06:09.480 --> 0:06:12.159 We can't talk about it without that contract and seeing 0:06:12.160 --> 0:06:14.440 what kind of piece of the pie that the Cowboys 0:06:14.440 --> 0:06:16.800 would be allotting to their franchise quarterback. Well, now we 0:06:16.880 --> 0:06:19.080 know exactly how big that piece of the pie is. 0:06:19.520 --> 0:06:21.400 Still a pretty darn big piece of pie, but it's 0:06:21.400 --> 0:06:23.919 a little bit smaller than what they dealt with a 0:06:24.000 --> 0:06:26.880 year ago with the franchise tag. So, Rob, whenever the 0:06:26.920 --> 0:06:29.039 money comes in and you look at this deal and 0:06:29.120 --> 0:06:32.800 now you have an opportunity to start talking to teams. 0:06:32.839 --> 0:06:35.479 I mean, as of what thirty seven minutes ago as 0:06:35.480 --> 0:06:39.240 we're recording this, teams can agree to terms to a 0:06:39.279 --> 0:06:42.320 potential team. So now that you're looking at this money, Rob, 0:06:42.400 --> 0:06:44.839 what is the next step for the Cowboys in free agency? 0:06:44.839 --> 0:06:47.599 And where do they start looking because is this going 0:06:47.640 --> 0:06:49.960 to be a discount offseason or do they have a 0:06:50.000 --> 0:06:54.919 little bit more to spend here. That's a great question 0:06:55.000 --> 0:06:58.279 because you know, the salary cap is always it's always 0:06:58.279 --> 0:07:00.440 a bit of a moving target. You know, we've seen 0:07:00.480 --> 0:07:02.880 projections all off season about oh, well, how much space 0:07:02.960 --> 0:07:04.680 might they have? Well, number one, we didn't know the cap. 0:07:04.720 --> 0:07:07.680 We know the cap now it's just a little over 0:07:07.720 --> 0:07:10.840 one eighty five and so I'm sorry, one eighty two 0:07:10.840 --> 0:07:14.760 five is what it is. So by getting this Dack 0:07:14.840 --> 0:07:18.480 deal done, they're allowed to they're able to spread out 0:07:18.520 --> 0:07:20.920 the hit. So really, instead of what would have been 0:07:20.920 --> 0:07:24.720 thirty seven seven million on the franchise tag, it's going 0:07:24.800 --> 0:07:26.880 to be a little over twenty two. So when you 0:07:26.920 --> 0:07:29.920 can look at it like they're basically saving fifteen million 0:07:29.920 --> 0:07:33.400 on this year's tag this year's cap, you factor in 0:07:33.440 --> 0:07:36.840 the three restructures they did last week. We talked about 0:07:36.840 --> 0:07:39.400 that the last few weeks. That's a possibility, still could 0:07:39.440 --> 0:07:41.360 be a possibility. They could continue to do that if 0:07:41.400 --> 0:07:45.800 they want to. But with Zach Martin, Tyrant Smith, Lyle Collins, 0:07:45.840 --> 0:07:48.440 that opens up more space. I think. I think the 0:07:48.520 --> 0:07:52.120 projection is they're about eighteen and a half million under 0:07:52.160 --> 0:07:54.680 the cap right now. That's good. You need to be 0:07:54.760 --> 0:07:56.800 under you have to be under the cap by Wednesday. 0:07:57.280 --> 0:08:00.160 I don't think that sounds it sounds like more to 0:08:00.240 --> 0:08:03.280 me than it really is, because you have to budget 0:08:03.320 --> 0:08:06.960 for your draft class that can be upwards of ten million, 0:08:07.000 --> 0:08:10.320 maybe a little less. Sometimes usually they like to keep 0:08:10.360 --> 0:08:13.400 a little bit of a break glass fund, you know, 0:08:13.440 --> 0:08:16.480 set aside a few million in the cap for injuries 0:08:16.480 --> 0:08:18.720 that happen, things of that nature. So when you factor 0:08:18.800 --> 0:08:22.800 all that in there, they're a handful of million under 0:08:22.840 --> 0:08:26.120 the cap. So to me, it's I would think they 0:08:26.200 --> 0:08:28.680 need to maybe do something else, whether it's more restructure 0:08:28.720 --> 0:08:31.360 or something, if they want to be active beyond just 0:08:31.400 --> 0:08:34.559 going out in the market. Guys, they've got twenty something 0:08:34.679 --> 0:08:37.760 plus free agents on their own roster, so I'm very 0:08:37.800 --> 0:08:40.440 curious to see what happens. I mean, certainly some of 0:08:40.480 --> 0:08:42.960 their guys. I'm sure they want to bring back. They're 0:08:42.960 --> 0:08:45.600 going to have to bring back some guys, and I'm 0:08:45.640 --> 0:08:49.120 just really curious now that the negotiating window has started today, 0:08:49.960 --> 0:08:51.840 what's going to happen. You know, we're gonna talk about 0:08:51.880 --> 0:08:53.560 that a little bit later, but how many guys are 0:08:53.600 --> 0:08:56.240 going to settle for one year deals just because hey, 0:08:56.720 --> 0:08:59.280 just bank on the cap going up next year, and 0:08:59.360 --> 0:09:02.840 instead of instead of putting myself in a lower multi 0:09:02.920 --> 0:09:05.440 year deal than I could normally get, just bank on 0:09:05.520 --> 0:09:08.520 myself and sign a one year deal for less and 0:09:08.559 --> 0:09:10.599 go get it next year. So that might help the 0:09:10.640 --> 0:09:14.600 Cowboys ultimately beyond the first wave because I usually they're 0:09:14.600 --> 0:09:16.200 not in that first wave, and it's hard to see 0:09:16.240 --> 0:09:22.360 them doing that this year. Heck Man. Yeah, that one 0:09:22.400 --> 0:09:24.559 eighty two point five is going to not only affect 0:09:24.559 --> 0:09:26.800 that Dallas Cowboys, is gonna affect a lot of teams. 0:09:26.840 --> 0:09:29.840 So they're gonna they're they're thirty one other teams that 0:09:29.960 --> 0:09:32.680 may not be able to keep guys that they if 0:09:32.679 --> 0:09:35.760 the salary cap had been a regular football year without COVID, 0:09:35.920 --> 0:09:38.520 may have been able to get guys signed. So there 0:09:38.559 --> 0:09:41.760 may be a lot of talent here out on the 0:09:41.760 --> 0:09:45.240 free market in just a few right, So with all 0:09:45.240 --> 0:09:47.400 the with all of the guys that we're looking to sign, 0:09:47.480 --> 0:09:49.960 one of the things that you have to ensure, you know, 0:09:50.000 --> 0:09:53.240 Will McClay and his staff are really, you know, closely 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:56.320 looking at the fact that there is some talent in 0:09:56.400 --> 0:09:58.400 the free agent market. I know we're gonna talk about 0:09:58.400 --> 0:10:00.520 that in a few but there are a lot guys 0:10:00.600 --> 0:10:03.360 that you probably wouldn't necessarily been able to get. You 0:10:03.360 --> 0:10:06.559 talk about the number that the Cowboys have a free agents, 0:10:06.640 --> 0:10:10.840 and that's a that's a lot. And when you only 0:10:10.880 --> 0:10:14.400 have eighteen million plus the draft to try and choose, 0:10:14.440 --> 0:10:17.360 you know, kind of divvy up those funds. I'm really 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:20.000 interested to see how they're gonna get dance around this. 0:10:20.040 --> 0:10:22.439 And it may be that they're looking at other players 0:10:22.440 --> 0:10:26.800 on other rosters to get that done with. Yeah, and 0:10:26.800 --> 0:10:28.920 I'm with you guys, man, but but I think the 0:10:28.960 --> 0:10:30.800 reality is I think Robber the heck of a job 0:10:30.800 --> 0:10:35.240 really breaking down the financial positioning of the Cowboys. I mean, 0:10:35.240 --> 0:10:37.120 these guys, the realities. These guys got about ten million 0:10:37.160 --> 0:10:41.319 dollars to play with. Yeah, how it is? Yeah, if that, 0:10:41.480 --> 0:10:44.120 how many guys can you get for that? You probably 0:10:44.120 --> 0:10:51.240 get two, maybe three impact guys, not stars, you know 0:10:51.240 --> 0:10:53.719 what I'm saying. So that's the reality. I mean, I'm 0:10:53.720 --> 0:10:56.120 not there's a lot of great players out there obviously 0:10:56.160 --> 0:10:58.720 that are skilled to play in this league. However, you 0:10:58.720 --> 0:11:00.920 can get you an impact player for about five million, 0:11:01.600 --> 0:11:03.400 a guy who's gonna come in and have a real effect, 0:11:03.960 --> 0:11:07.440 a star. You're going to spend your your whole little, 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:10.760 your whole little allowance on one person. Right, So when 0:11:10.760 --> 0:11:12.679 we started talking about feeling up these spots, and that's 0:11:12.720 --> 0:11:15.440 not even addressing to free agents, right, So there's really 0:11:15.440 --> 0:11:17.640 not much room. And like you guys already said, they 0:11:17.640 --> 0:11:19.480 have to make a lot of other moves if they 0:11:19.480 --> 0:11:22.320 plan on being active, if they even plan on feeling 0:11:22.320 --> 0:11:25.599 out this roster. So I just kind of want to 0:11:25.640 --> 0:11:28.160 play Devil's advocate here. I love doing that on this show. 0:11:28.240 --> 0:11:30.600 But the cap has already shown that it can be 0:11:30.640 --> 0:11:34.280 easily manipulated. I mean, there are plenty of ways for 0:11:34.360 --> 0:11:36.160 you to either kick the can down the road like 0:11:36.200 --> 0:11:39.040 we did with Dak Prescott for three years, or you 0:11:39.040 --> 0:11:41.599 can figure out a way to restructure deals, which the 0:11:41.640 --> 0:11:44.920 Cowboys have already done with Lyell Collins, Zack Martin, and 0:11:45.080 --> 0:11:49.319 Tyrn Smith. Those three offensive linemen already having their contracts 0:11:49.360 --> 0:11:53.000 restructured to have saved you seventeen million dollars. So is 0:11:53.000 --> 0:11:54.960 there not a way to continue doing that? Rob, I 0:11:54.960 --> 0:11:57.640 know you said that there was one more place, or 0:11:57.960 --> 0:12:00.400 excuse me, a couple more things that they probably should do. 0:12:00.720 --> 0:12:03.040 I think Jalen Smith is on that list. I think 0:12:03.080 --> 0:12:06.199 there's maybe a DeMarcus Lawrence on that list that could 0:12:06.280 --> 0:12:09.280 maybe help you out contract wise there if you wanted 0:12:09.280 --> 0:12:13.679 to restructure. But it is confusing from a money standpoint 0:12:13.679 --> 0:12:16.040 because it's easy to manipulate the cap, but it's not 0:12:16.120 --> 0:12:19.440 so easy to find that cap room for free agents 0:12:19.480 --> 0:12:24.040 to go and signed. Right. Well, yeah, I mean they 0:12:24.120 --> 0:12:27.319 you're right, they can create more room. They can they 0:12:27.320 --> 0:12:32.000 can restructure Tank again. They could restructure Amari Cooper. Now, 0:12:32.040 --> 0:12:34.760 the thing with that is, you know, if you were 0:12:34.840 --> 0:12:39.280 to move on at some point from Amari, that's been speculated, 0:12:39.320 --> 0:12:41.720 and I just I don't really I don't see that 0:12:41.760 --> 0:12:43.680 as much as maybe other people do, just because he 0:12:43.720 --> 0:12:46.040 had ninety three catches or ninety two catches last year 0:12:46.040 --> 0:12:50.040 and he's your best receiver, but it's structured and very friendly. 0:12:50.559 --> 0:12:54.719 As you move into future years, you restructure him, that's 0:12:54.720 --> 0:12:57.560 not the case anymore. And so that's that's what you 0:12:57.640 --> 0:13:00.160 constantly have to weigh with these restructures. But sure, they 0:13:00.160 --> 0:13:01.960 can open up millions of dollars in more room if 0:13:01.960 --> 0:13:04.320 they want to touch more deals like that. How so 0:13:04.360 --> 0:13:07.000 it's possible, and I wouldn't rule that out, But I'm 0:13:07.000 --> 0:13:09.600 just saying right now they are well under the cap. 0:13:09.679 --> 0:13:11.839 That's great, but they have a lot of work to do, 0:13:11.960 --> 0:13:13.640 and they don't you know, they don't have a ton 0:13:13.679 --> 0:13:15.839 of room when you really factor in everything they need 0:13:15.880 --> 0:13:18.440 to do in the coming months. Rob explain this to me. 0:13:18.480 --> 0:13:22.280 How does the rollover cap work? From a cowboy standpoint, 0:13:22.280 --> 0:13:24.440 because you not only have that one eighty two point 0:13:24.480 --> 0:13:27.880 five as the pure salary cap, but the Cowboys have 0:13:27.920 --> 0:13:30.200 close to twenty seven million actually a little bit over 0:13:30.240 --> 0:13:33.800 twenty seven million that they have in rollovercap that from 0:13:33.880 --> 0:13:37.760 twenty twenty could be allocated. But what does that do specifically? 0:13:37.800 --> 0:13:40.600 Can you go through and explain exactly what that money 0:13:40.720 --> 0:13:45.680 is over what the cap already allocates. That's confusing, and 0:13:45.720 --> 0:13:48.080 I don't I think it has something to do with 0:13:48.160 --> 0:13:50.680 dead money. It's it's not you see that number and 0:13:50.720 --> 0:13:52.680 you think, oh, they have all that all that room. 0:13:52.840 --> 0:13:57.320 They don't. It's it's hard to explain, but it's it's 0:13:58.640 --> 0:14:00.720 what you're really looking at is what the actual cap 0:14:00.800 --> 0:14:04.319 number is and what they're able to where they are 0:14:04.400 --> 0:14:07.679 and before the before the deck deal, I think they 0:14:07.679 --> 0:14:10.200 were still over the cap when you factor everything in. 0:14:11.200 --> 0:14:14.000 So that got them, that got them underneath. You mentioned 0:14:14.040 --> 0:14:18.320 the seventeen million or so from the three restructures, so 0:14:18.480 --> 0:14:20.920 they're in a decent spot. You look around the league 0:14:20.920 --> 0:14:24.960 and there's some teams that have a decent amount of 0:14:25.000 --> 0:14:26.960 cap space. I mean, there's some guys, some teams that 0:14:27.000 --> 0:14:29.400 can get out there and make some moves. So there's 0:14:29.400 --> 0:14:31.760 gonna be. Like Isaiah mentioned, there's some guys at the 0:14:31.800 --> 0:14:33.560 top of the market that are probably still going to 0:14:33.600 --> 0:14:37.240 get their money. But I'm just really curious to see 0:14:37.320 --> 0:14:40.080 how many guys who are quality players are like, man, 0:14:41.720 --> 0:14:43.960 this is this sucks. You know, maybe I'll just take 0:14:44.000 --> 0:14:46.200 a one year deal here, or stay here on one 0:14:46.280 --> 0:14:48.680 year deal and next year when the team, maybe when 0:14:48.680 --> 0:14:51.360 the TV money comes in, or just when things are 0:14:51.400 --> 0:14:53.920 better in the world, the cap goes back to where 0:14:53.920 --> 0:14:57.120 it is or where it should be, and guys can 0:14:57.160 --> 0:15:01.280 get what they're worth. I'm without there. I'm without said 0:15:01.400 --> 0:15:04.160 on the fact that you know, no matter what type 0:15:04.160 --> 0:15:06.760 of grocery shopping whatever, you got on that list, let's 0:15:06.760 --> 0:15:09.400 have guys on there that are impact guys, Guys that 0:15:09.440 --> 0:15:11.560 if they signed a one year deal, it's we're not 0:15:11.640 --> 0:15:14.120 back to where we were last year. Looking at what 0:15:14.160 --> 0:15:16.760 the heck did we do in free agency? Is why 0:15:16.880 --> 0:15:19.400 is this guy able to back the brink truck up 0:15:19.440 --> 0:15:22.240 at the start and get paid to go. You know, 0:15:22.360 --> 0:15:25.320 that's that's what we can't afford. And look, that's why 0:15:25.560 --> 0:15:27.960 the Dak deal was so important, and we kept hammering 0:15:28.000 --> 0:15:30.080 that home that dude, if we don't get this done. 0:15:30.160 --> 0:15:32.760 We're pretty much where you talk about eighteen million dollars 0:15:32.760 --> 0:15:35.680 without the Dak deal and a franchise tag. We're less 0:15:35.680 --> 0:15:39.960 than that and unable to really get anybody signed. We 0:15:40.040 --> 0:15:42.560 know for sure, defensive line wise, we're gonna need to 0:15:42.560 --> 0:15:44.640 get some help. Maybe we go into the draft. That's 0:15:44.640 --> 0:15:46.720 the number one thing. But there are some other positions 0:15:46.920 --> 0:15:48.280 on this team, and I don't want to say a 0:15:48.320 --> 0:15:52.920 curse word like safety, but we're gonna have to explore 0:15:52.920 --> 0:15:57.280 trying to get an effective guy that if he signed 0:15:57.320 --> 0:15:59.440 a one year deal, fine, you know, but who is 0:15:59.480 --> 0:16:02.320 that guy? Because we're gonna have to bargain shop for 0:16:03.040 --> 0:16:06.320 absolutely for that guy. And the last time I check, man, 0:16:06.320 --> 0:16:09.920 if you're shopping for guys on the bargain, you're really 0:16:10.000 --> 0:16:12.800 not gonna give much because you get what you pay for. See. 0:16:12.800 --> 0:16:16.040 But isn't that what this offseason is gonna be, Because 0:16:16.080 --> 0:16:18.320 that's kind of the question I asked early on. You 0:16:18.400 --> 0:16:22.040 got the deal done, you restructured the offensive lineman, and 0:16:22.160 --> 0:16:24.360 you have a little bit of extra space to work with. 0:16:24.960 --> 0:16:27.200 That's great, That's all fine and dandy until you look 0:16:27.240 --> 0:16:29.880 at Oh wait, I've got, like Rob said, twenty free 0:16:29.920 --> 0:16:32.880 agents on my own roster. You're gonna have to bargain hunt. 0:16:32.960 --> 0:16:35.000 You're not gonna be able to go be high spenders 0:16:35.400 --> 0:16:38.120 in this free agency class. You're not gonna be able 0:16:38.160 --> 0:16:43.160 to go hand pick guys like Patrick Peterson and Jadevian Clowney, Like, 0:16:43.200 --> 0:16:45.040 You're not gonna be able to go get those guys 0:16:45.440 --> 0:16:48.120 because you just have to find a way to bargain hunt. 0:16:48.120 --> 0:16:49.920 But you just got to do it better than you 0:16:49.920 --> 0:16:54.840 did in twenty twenty. No, I agree, and you're gonna 0:16:54.840 --> 0:16:58.600 have to do that. And regardless of it, Like I said, Kyle, 0:16:58.680 --> 0:17:00.640 you get what you pay for this league, and if 0:17:00.640 --> 0:17:03.160 you're going out and you get you know, older veterans, 0:17:03.200 --> 0:17:05.800 guys long in the tooth that are at the end 0:17:05.840 --> 0:17:08.040 of their playing days and expect for them to come 0:17:08.080 --> 0:17:10.960 to Dallas and rejuvenate their careers. We just got to 0:17:11.040 --> 0:17:14.560 get out of that and actually get guys that can't 0:17:14.560 --> 0:17:16.840 be effective. And I just feel like that whole bart 0:17:16.880 --> 0:17:19.359 we're still in a pickle. We're in a pickle. But 0:17:19.400 --> 0:17:21.760 the thing about the pickle we're in, everybody else is 0:17:21.800 --> 0:17:24.040 in it too. So there are guys that teams are 0:17:24.040 --> 0:17:26.320 gonna want to sign him because of the draft. Because 0:17:26.359 --> 0:17:28.760 of the the cap being where it is, they're not 0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:30.119 going to be able to sign him, and I think 0:17:30.160 --> 0:17:34.840 that's where the advantage may be for the Cowboys. Well yeah, 0:17:34.920 --> 0:17:38.359 and there this is their comfort level. Sorry, this is 0:17:38.440 --> 0:17:40.439 real quick, This is their comfort level. They don't like 0:17:40.720 --> 0:17:44.159 being top of market anyway, so usually they like to 0:17:44.200 --> 0:17:46.840 pick their spots and I don't think they're gonna have 0:17:46.880 --> 0:17:49.280 as much of a choice anyway this year. And and 0:17:49.320 --> 0:17:52.040 you know, when Stephen was asked about it at Dak's 0:17:52.080 --> 0:17:54.320 press conference last week, he did reference the draft. They 0:17:54.359 --> 0:17:58.040 got ten draft picks now with four compensatory picks, and uh, 0:17:58.119 --> 0:17:59.840 you know, it's hard to imagine all of them making 0:17:59.840 --> 0:18:02.719 the team, but that might be the best way they 0:18:02.720 --> 0:18:05.240 can add talent, you know. But again, there may be 0:18:05.320 --> 0:18:07.280 some bargains out there and maybe guys willing to settle 0:18:07.320 --> 0:18:10.879 for less. I mean, there's always a chance, right fellas. 0:18:10.880 --> 0:18:13.040 I mean, there's alreays somebody who's out there really were 0:18:13.080 --> 0:18:16.640 willing to take a little bit less than other. However, 0:18:16.960 --> 0:18:19.080 you know, as as Heckman mentioned, I mean, everybody in 0:18:19.160 --> 0:18:22.480 this league can play. It really comes down to if 0:18:22.520 --> 0:18:24.440 you do go out there and get some of these discounts, 0:18:24.480 --> 0:18:28.000 discount players. What is the coaching staff going to be 0:18:28.000 --> 0:18:30.080 able to do to bring that bring that dog back 0:18:30.080 --> 0:18:32.280 out of them? Yeah, And I think that's that's the 0:18:32.320 --> 0:18:34.520 fact that that's the thing that we're really overlooking right now. 0:18:34.760 --> 0:18:36.719 It's not always just about Okay, the player just comes 0:18:36.760 --> 0:18:39.720 in and it's supposed to just ball out these Just 0:18:39.760 --> 0:18:41.879 because these guys professionals doesn't mean that they need they 0:18:41.920 --> 0:18:44.480 need that. They don't need coaching, they don't need motivation, 0:18:44.520 --> 0:18:47.040 they don't need a mentor to really get them, get 0:18:47.080 --> 0:18:49.200 the best out of them if possible. That's why there's 0:18:49.200 --> 0:18:52.160 professional coaches. So these guys there are there's a ton 0:18:52.160 --> 0:18:54.720 of talent that's fully capable of playing in this league 0:18:55.119 --> 0:18:58.240 that really has untapped potential that these coaches are going 0:18:58.320 --> 0:18:59.760 to have to bring out of some of these guys, 0:18:59.760 --> 0:19:02.160 maybe a guys on his roster already, maybe as guys 0:19:02.240 --> 0:19:05.160 outside of his roster. But either way, these coaches have 0:19:05.240 --> 0:19:08.240 their have their hands pull and getting the most out 0:19:08.280 --> 0:19:12.080 of whoever they acquire. Dan Quinn has his hands fully, 0:19:14.040 --> 0:19:17.840 yes he does. And there are potentials for dan Quinn 0:19:17.880 --> 0:19:19.880 out there on the free agent market that could fit 0:19:20.040 --> 0:19:23.399 into his system and really I think this defense is 0:19:23.440 --> 0:19:25.679 one or two And this is gonna sound crazy, but 0:19:26.200 --> 0:19:28.680 just based off of the injuries last year and how 0:19:28.720 --> 0:19:30.720 bad they were last year, but the growth that you 0:19:30.760 --> 0:19:32.960 saw on the backside of the defense, you're one or 0:19:33.000 --> 0:19:37.719 two studs dogs away from being a decent defense. I'm 0:19:37.760 --> 0:19:39.640 not saying top of the league by any means. There's 0:19:39.640 --> 0:19:41.080 a long that's a long way to go to the 0:19:41.119 --> 0:19:43.800 top of the league. But being a formidable defense is 0:19:43.840 --> 0:19:46.080 only one or two players away. And I think dan 0:19:46.200 --> 0:19:48.720 Quinn allows you to do that. But now we get 0:19:48.720 --> 0:19:51.359 to see are there any of those dogs out on 0:19:51.400 --> 0:19:54.080 the open market. When we come back on Talking Cowboys, 0:19:54.119 --> 0:19:56.520 we not only celebrate March Madness, but we give our 0:19:56.560 --> 0:19:59.359 Cinderella picks. Who are some of those dogs at the 0:19:59.400 --> 0:20:03.200 Cowboys would love to sign? We're done talking money, We're 0:20:03.240 --> 0:20:05.920 done talking Dak Prescott contract. It's how is this team 0:20:05.920 --> 0:20:09.040 gonna get better? When we return on Talking Cowboys? Presented 0:20:09.040 --> 0:20:13.120 by Geico Honey, Big News. Gary, Are you okay? Oh? 0:20:13.160 --> 0:20:16.600 I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. What see? I 0:20:16.640 --> 0:20:18.720 want the latest smartphone, but the best deals are only 0:20:18.760 --> 0:20:20.800 for new customers. So to get a new customer deal, 0:20:20.840 --> 0:20:24.000 I changed my name to Jackie Flash. 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