Why DEZ? WHY?

I love Dez Bryant. I really, really do. He is one of the top receivers in the NFL and is a huge weapon for the Dallas Cowboys. Yet, I can’t help but feel he is making one of the most idiotic decisions a player could make regarding his contract decisions

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So far, the Cowboys have put the franchise tag on Bryant for the 2015 NFL season, which should guarantee him $12.823 million for this year.  Bryant and the Cowboys have until July 15^th to work out a long-term deal or he will be forced to play under the tag this season. That means no long-term deal can be worked out until after the season is over.

So that begs the question of Bryant’s latest negotiation tactic. On Friday, Bryant confirmed a Chris Mortensen report that he plans to miss the season-opener if he does not get a deal done by July 15^th. According to Mike Fisher, Bryant might even extend his hold-out past the opener. My question to Dez is why?

If the Cowboys call Bryant’s bluff and go past the deadline, Bryant will be sitting out for nothing. If he misses the opener or anymore games after that, what will bring him back onto the field? The Cowboys can’t sign him to a long-term deal, so all he will be doing is losing money. In his first three-years in the league, he has made up to $11, 810,500 on a five-year deal. So it makes too much sense for him to just sign the franchise tag and push negotiations to next year.

Plus, Dez loves to play football and does not want to be away from his team. He wants to be with them during every aspect of the off-season, as we saw when he came to practice during OTAs. You can’t keep this kid off the football field, and the Cowboys are going to take full advantage of it.

My prediction? A standoff until July 15^th and the Cowboys sign him to a long-term deal. Both sides want this done and this deadline will force them to make the deal. But, no need to worry about Dez missing any games this season; it is just not in his DNA.

Adrian Peterson to the Cowboys? Hell Yes, for the right Price

Imagine for a minute the Dallas Cowboys with Adrian Peterson. You have arguably the best running back in recent memory behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. Can you say Lombardi Trophy? Ok, I am getting ahead of myself there but this improbable dream just got closer to becoming plausible. On Friday, Peterson will be re-instated by the NFL and it seems that there will be no additional suspension. While it does mean he can rejoin the Minnesota Vikings in all off-season activities, this really opens the door to possible trade situations. So how do the Cowboys fit in and why should they go for it?

First off, we know the Vikings will not release Peterson. They would not only eat a lot of dead money on the salary cap, but they would also not get anything in return. So if they truly want to part with him, a trade is the best option. But, Peterson has a massive contract, including being owed $12 million for next year alone.  I will tell you now, no team in their right mind will trade for a running back with that kind of price. So if Dallas wants to get into the mix, they need to convince Peterson to take a pay cut and drop his salary to at least $8 million. Now, the Vikings are going to want draft picks as well and some are speculating it could be maybe a 1^st or a 2^nd and then adding in a 4^th or 5^th pick. Should Dallas do it?

Absolutely.

The Cowboys are built to win right now thanks to their superior drafting in the past two seasons and their new thrifty approach to paying players. Yet, the problem lies in the fact that the quarterback is over 35 and dealing with back injuries. Tony Romo doesn’t have but maybe three more years left before he retires. You can build the best team around for the next few years, but you need a good quarterback to put you at the next level. Plus, you do want to strike gold in the Tony Romo era. Peterson helps you do that.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not going to break the bank for Peterson or leverage the future. If you have to give him big money and a lot of high-quality draft picks, then move on. The team can draft a quality back in the draft, and the defense is starting to shape up already with Sean Lee and Rolando McClain returning. Defensive end Greg Hardy brings you a low-risk, high-reward option on the defensive line and you can always draft a great cornerback.

Yet, if the price is right and you can make it work, go for Peterson. Because that would not only make you the odds-on-favorite to win the Super Bowl this season, but probably for the next three years as well.

Dallas Mavericks Playoff Preview:

Man do I love playoff time in the NBA, especially when my Dallas Mavericks are in it. It seems that lady luck is on our side because everything went right Wednesday night to set up the dream match-up for the Mavs in the first-round. Here come the Rockets! Some might be discouraged because of the Rockets being a number 2 seed and the injury and chemistry concerns with the Mavs. Yet, this match-up is really favorable for the Mavs.

How can the Mavs win? They need Center Tyson Chandler to make an impact in this series and go toe-for-toe with Dwight Howard. To have a chance in this series, you need to be able to neutralize Howard’s ability to protect the rim and dominate the paint. Of course there is also a matter of trying to stop James Harden from going crazy on the offensive end. Put Rajon Rondo on him and let him frustrate Harden. In the regular season series with the Rockets, Harden went down five percentage points anytime Rondo covered him.

Then on the offensive end, you’ve got to find ways to score. They need to Run DMC! Dirk, Monta, Chander Parsons! If those three can get going, this series will be long and very entertaining.

So I am going with Mavericks in 6 because I have to have hope right?

Texas Rangers:

Speaking of hope, there is none for this team. They suck!

Irvin says Cowboys are going to "explode"? Really?

So Demarco Murray is gone and the Dallas Cowboys are going to explode? That is what former Cowboys great Michael Irvin said when asked about the decision for Murray to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles this past week. In fact, Irvin was rather upset, not with Murray, but with the Cowboys for not paying him what was necessary to keep him around. Sounds kind of foolish don’t you think?

Murray picked the Eagles over the Cowboys mainly because the team wouldn’t offer him the big guaranteed money. According to the reports, the Cowboys offered around $12 million in guaranteed money, while the Eagles came in with $21 million. The decision wasn’t about loyalty or being hurt, it was all about the money. If Dallas even came close in that regards, he would be a Dallas Cowboy still. So why is Irvin blaming the Cowboys for sticking to their financial model?

“The new Dallas Cowboys, everyone says they’re not wasting money,” Irvin said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News. “Well when you have a winning formula and you keep a winning formula, that’s not wasting money.”

Irvin also said in an interview with 105.3 the Fan that he felt the Cowboys had a family and that is what it takes to win in this league. He recalled stories about his relationship with former Cowboy great Emmitt Smith and how they backed each other up on the football field. He tries to say that is what you had with Dez Bryant and Murray. Sorry, Playmaker, but there is one inherent flaw to your argument.

Back in the 1993 season, Smith held out for the first two games trying to force the Cowboys to give him a new deal. The team lost both games and Owner Jerry Jones was forced to make a deal happen for him. The Cowboys went on and repeated as Super Bowl champions later that season. Smith, who was a part of the so-called family that Irvin talked about, put business over his team that year. He may have loved Irvin and Aikman, but he wanted his money.

Today, Murray’s former teammates also made some “business decisions” as well. I didn’t see Tony Romo restructuring his mega-contract to help fit Murray in.  Dez Bryant didn’t like what the Cowboys offered him so he has a franchise tag on him that costs the Cowboys with a huge cap-hit. I am not blaming these players, but pointing out that the NFL is a business first and winning and teamwork comes second in this league.

Irvin still is worried about these Cowboys and said that the team could “explode” without Murray. 

With all due respect, I am sure the Cowboys will be fine without Murray. With how good the offensive-line is, the Cowboys won’t miss a beat with the running game. I think Irvin forgets that it was our defense that let the team down the last time we played.

Let’s hope Irvin settles down sometime soon or we might have another Cowboy “hater’ on NFL Network next season.

The Curious Case of Greg Hardy?

As free agency is nears, the Dallas Cowboys have one major need that has to be addressed before the NFL draft. The pass-rush is considered to be the biggest weakness on this team and we saw how it bit the team in the ass in the playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Since the draft isn’t a reliable or immediate fix to that problem, free agency is where they need to strike. There is one name out there that could be very appealing, but his legal issues might make it a major obstacle. Here is the curious case of Greg Hardy.

Hardy is one of the best defensive ends in the league. In 2012 and 2013, Hardy has put up 26 sacks. Just last year, the Cowboys only had five sacks. The problem is that Hardy is still in hot water with the league. Though he was cleared of charges of domestic abuse, the league still has him on the commissioner’s exempt list.  He could get a suspension of up to six games and signing him could be a controversial move. So do the Cowboys sign him? Should they?

Let’s pretend that the Cowboys can convince Hardy to come here and for a good price. If it comes to that point, we need to sign him and ignore the calls for morality. This is the NFL and it is naïve to believe all players are morally sound. There is another world that the fans don’t see and we aren’t meant to see. The point of the game is to win and that is all that matters. Even if Hardy is suspended six games, he would still be a huge benefit to the Cowboys.

This team has only two years left with quarterback Tony Romo playing at a high level and we are at win-now mode. It is no time for being cautious or being thrifty, it is time to win. Hardy helps this defense get to another level. If he isn’t coming because he wants a lot of money, I understand. But, if there is a chance to bring him here, you sign him and try to compete for a Super Bowl. 

Rondo+Mavs=Dynasty? Or Short Marriage

When the trade for point guard Rajon Rondo happened, I’ve got to admit I was stoked. I mean it was pure genius how Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson re-tolled the roster and brought it back into title contention in just a few short years. Now the Mavs have an All-Star point guard that can help guard the elite point guards in the West and help cement another title for Dirk Nowitzki.

That dream didn’t last long.

Now that the NBA season is winding down and the march to the playoffs is starting, the Mavs are struggling to co-exist in the Rondo-era. Even with the addition of Amar’e Stoudemire, the team is still trying to find its identity. Though the defensive numbers have improved dramatically since adding Rondo, the offensive end is still a mess. You would think adding one of the elite point guards in the game would elevate it, but sometimes you can’t force certain players with certain teams.

The Mavs run a flow offense, which generally means that there are no set or called plays. It is about playing the pick-and-roll and creating spacing all across the court. Rondo, however, is a much different point guard. He prefers to have the ball completely in his hands and to use most of the shot clock. This is not what the Mavs are comfortable with, especially when you have a ball-dominant shooting guard in Monta Ellis. Ellis needs the ball in hands to create shots and drive to the basket.

That brings us to another problem with Rondo and that is he sucks on the offensive-side of the ball.  He currently is shooting .408 percent from the floor and a dreadful .382 percent from beyond the arc. Even his free-throw percentage is at a career low .280 percent. These numbers aren’t what the Mavs need in their point guard.

Add in the fact that Rondo and head coach Rick Carlisle are fighting on-court over play calling, you got yourself a very volatile situation. If the Mavs don’t have a long playoff run, they will have to make some tough decisions this off-season with their All-Star point guard.

Dallas Cowboys:

Yesterday I mentioned that I figured it would be time for Cowboys fans to get used to the fact that Demarco Murray won’t be returning. I bet a lot of them are wondering then, who will replace him next season? That is going to be a tough question to answer, but of course there are some interesting candidates. We all know of Adrian Peterson, but I figured that will be a pipe-dream because of the mess he has up there in Minnesota. We could name draft prospects and I am sure Melvin Gordon or even Todd Gurley would be a great addition.

The name I am focusing on is free agent running back Mark Ingram. The former Heisman trophy winner hasn’t made a huge impact in the NFL, but in the right situation he could flourish. The Cowboys don’t need a home-run hitter or a workhorse like Murray, but behind this offensive line Ingram and other backs can contribute big time. Ingram, at the right place, would be an incredible fit for this team.

Texas Rangers:

If the Rangers are going to do anything this year, they really need Yu Darvish to make a huge impact. I know he is coming off injury, but he has to make an impact and be one of the top pitchers in the league this season. If he isn’t in the conversation for the Cy Young award, don’t be surprised if the Rangers aren’t in the conversation for making the playoffs.

Quote of the Day:

“It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up.”

— Vince Lombardi

EA gets Mike Florio's job!

In less than three months, I will be graduating with a degree in Journalism and I am confident in getting a job very quickly. It won’t be at some small-town newspaper, but I am gunning to be running NBC’s Pro Football Talk. After what Mike Florio pulled these last two weeks over the Dez Bryant situation, I am supremely confident I could do a better job without any experience necessary. Florio started this insane witch-hunt over a mysterious video tape that allegedly shows Bryant doing something criminal. Here he talks to Shan and RJ on 105.3 The FAN about the tape for the first time and created a media fire storm.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/02/20/mike-florio-on-rumors-holding-up-dezs-contract-talks/

Luckily, the firestorm has died down as facts have replaces speculation and there doesn’t seem to be any evidence of any videotape. As I am writing this, so far all the incidents that Bryant has been involved in have been known to the Dallas Cowboys. My point in all of this is to implore all reporters to replace rumors and speculation with cold, hard facts. Now, let’s get back to talking about real sports.

Dallas Cowboys:

The Cowboys are gearing up now in free-agency as we now know what they plan to do and it is what we all expected they would do. According to Mark Lane of Fox Sports Southwest, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said they plan to put the franchise tag on Bryant by the deadline tomorrow. The tag will pay Bryant roughly $13 million in 2015. The Cowboys believe this will only be a placeholder and allow the team to continue to have more time to work out a long-term deal with Bryant.

"We just don't want to lose his rights," Jones said. "We think Dez is a, you know, unique player and certainly a big part of what we do in terms of what we've done, our success, and certainly going forward."

I am not surprised by the move, because why would the Cowboys want to let go their second-most important player. The franchise tag just prevents Dez from getting interest from other teams and allows the both sides to talk over a long-term deal until July 15^th. In my opinion, this will get done by the Summer time and at the latest by the deadline. The Jones family is known to get stuff done around deadlines.

Yet, the pessimistic fans out there are worried and yelling about why haven’t the Cowboys backed up the money truck to Dez’s front door. There are two answers and they are quite simple to understand. 

First off, the Cowboys aren’t in the business of paying big-time contracts to players anymore. Their sins of the past have come back to haunt them and that is why they have been in terrible cap situations over the years.  With Stephen Jones running the show now, there has been a change in philosophy. They don’t want to pay the big bucks until they know for sure they can trust the player and it will pay off in the end. That leads me to my second point on the hesitation of the Cowboys to pay the “big bucks”.

It has nothing to do with off-the-field issues; it has to do with health. I am thinking the team is worried about the amount of back issues that have crept up over the past few years. While it hasn’t affected Bryant in terms of missing games, it has concerns. If these back issues keep coming up, why pay big money for a player that could miss games.

Regardless, according to Mike Fisher of CowboysHQ.com, the Cowboys were close to deal with Bryant in October, but he switched agents. That pushed back negotiations back to square one. The Cowboys and Bryant’s new agent, Tom Condon, finally talked on the phone and it seems like negotiations will start soon. Like I said before, I believe they will get Bryant locked up and he will be a Cowboy-for-life.

Another All-Pro Cowboy won’t be returning to join Bryant next season, in my personal opinion. Mark Lane also reported that Stephen Jones said it is likely running back Demarco Murray will test free agency.

"[Murray] is probably going to, you know, get some peace and see what's out in the market and then we'll talk and see. I do believe deep down he'd love to stay in Dallas."

Murray, who had a MVP-caliber season last season, knows this will be his last chance for a big contract. Running backs these days only get one chance at the big one and after that it is chump change. That is just how running backs are valued these days in the NFL. So what would make sense for Murray in the long run? Take less money and stay on a good team and compete for a title or go to another team simply for the money?

What I think will happen is that he will leave to the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have a lot of cap-room, they desperately need a running back, and they are poised to get to the Super Bowl, especially if they add a player like Murray.

So Cowboy fans, start trying to imagine life without Murray and let us start trying to piece together the search for his replacement.

Tomorrow’s preview:

We are going to talk about the Rondo problem with the Mavs, Texas Rangers talk, and we look into the multiple options for Demarco Murray’s replacement.

Great inspirational Sports Quote of the Day:

“I always felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability, it was my mental ability.”

– Bruce Jenner

The Return of EA SPORTS DFW!

After a long delay, the EA Sports DFW blog is back to a triumphant return. A lot has happened to the DFW sports scene since we last talked and we have a lot to cover.

Dallas Mavericks:

A lot to digest with this team and I still can’t come up with a definite feeling towards this squad. They are talented, but too many times this team has come up short in trying to live up to our expectations. They started out the year having one of the more efficient offenses in NBA history but had one of the more dreaded defenses in the league. The trade for Rondo started with so much hype and now has many fans questioning the move. Now, new forward Amare Stoudemire is the new hope for this Mavs team that is still trying to put all the pieces together. In his Dallas debut against the Charlotte Hornets, Stoudemire had an impressive outing off the bench with 14 points and three rebounds in just 11 minutes of playing time. His offensive game and rebounding skills look to help this Mavs squad this is struggling to find bench help. If Amare can follow up with even more impressive outings down the stretch, then fans can have some optimism going into the playoffs this year.

Dallas Cowboys:

There isn’t any down time for America’s Team and the drama is building up as Free-Agency nears. According to Mike Florio of Pro-Football Talk, apparently there is a video of Cowboys All-Pro receiver Dez Bryant doing “Ray Rice type things”. My take on this is that it is complete b.s.  First off, if this was something to deal with any law being broken, wouldn’t we hear something from law enforcement trying to see this tape? Also, I am sure this would be a huge story that nay reporter would want to break. Yet, we still have multiple reporters including Mike Fisher of 105.3 the Fan has no clue of. The Cowboys have also expressed puzzlement over the existence of this video. The video doesn’t exist, trust me Cowboys fans. It doesn’t seem plausible.

Yet, there is something to be concerned about with Dez Bryant. The contract negotiations aren’t going well and it does seem that a franchise tag might be coming. According to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, Stephen Jones said the Cowboys are “leaning” towards applying the franchise tag on Dez.  

Jerry Jones even said that they haven’t really talked to Dez’s new agent since the change was made mid-season. So what is the hold up? I am thinking that there is still no trust between the front-office and Bryant and they aren’t comfortable with guaranteeing big money towards him. The only other plausible reason this isn’t happening is maybe Dez and his agents want a ridiculous contract.

Regardless, this is a bad situation because franchising him will not only take up significant cap space, but it will piss him off. Dez did say not to test his loyalty. Jerry is sure testing it right now.

Texas Rangers:

As pitchers and catchers are reporting in Arizona for spring training, there is a bit of excitement for the Rangers from myself. Yes, they were unbearable to watch last season as injuries derailed this team but I think there is room for optimism. Yes, we don’t have Ron Washington here anymore bringing his leadership to this franchise, but Jeff Banister is just as capable of bringing that same intensity. Also, this team is finally HEALTHY! We can finally see what this team was meant to be last year, with some minor additions. While I don’t think this team will compete for a title, they are surely in the race for the division title. So let’s relax and just be happy baseball is back!

Dallas Stars:

Do I really have too? No? Thanks..

Follow me at @easportsdfw for more updates and my thoughts on sports.