Cowboys Get a Free Pass on Free Agency, 'Skins Don't

Prior to the start of free agency, Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys would aggressivley pursue free agents this offseason. And sure enough, they have. The Cowboys signed Drew Bledsoe, age 33, to a four year $14 million deal with a $2 million signing bonus. The team also added Jason Ferguson, who will be 31 in November, to a 5 year, $22 million deal with a $9 million signing bonus. Their third big free agent acquisition is Anthony Henry, who will be 29 in November, to a 5 year, $25 million deal with a $10 million signing bonus. Finally, the Cowboys have reportedly inked former Packer guard Marco Rivera, who is 33, to a long-term deal.

Does it strike anyone else as odd that the Cowboys have invested over $20 million in signing bonuses and about $70 million in salary payments to four guys who are past their primes and average 31.5 years of age?

Apparently, the Redskins get nailed when we sign anyone to any sort of deal, but the Cowboys get a free pass for free agent spending sprees on aging players.

I'm glad Snyder, Gibbs & Company decided not to overspend on free agents whose prices are inflated because the free agent market is so piss poor. I'm also glad that the Cowboys have done a "mini-2000 Redskins'" spending binge on AARP members.

The Cowboys splurge appears to be Jerry Jones attempting to keep Bill Parcells happy - not necessarily help his franchise. Rivera is a good example. He is a talented lineman who doesn't make mistakes, exactly what Parcells wants. However, he will now affect the future cap of the Cowboys and retard the growth of future players. Parcells is happy (for this year) but the team (which will likely be without Parcells in a few years) will be hampered later.

Bledsoe signed for how much? Brunell has to restructure. :oink:

The Cowboys splurge appears to be Jerry Jones attempting to keep Bill Parcells happy - not necessarily help his franchise. Rivera is a good example. He is a talented lineman who doesn't make mistakes, exactly what Parcells wants. However, he will now affect the future cap of the Cowboys and retard the growth of future players. Parcells is happy (for this year) but the team (which will likely be without Parcells in a few years) will be hampered later.

Agree...and any post that has "Cowboys" and "retard" in the same sentence is a winner in my book

I wonder what all those Cowboy fans who laughed at our signings are saying now that they're doing the exact same thing.

I wonder what all those Cowboy fans who laughed at our signings are saying now that they're doing the exact same thing.
"It's not the same" is what they'll say...but they'll know the truth even if they can't admit it.

As for the Cowboys getting a "free pass", I think once the some time goes by and people (i.e. the "experts") start evaluating how each team did in FA, they'll give them their due for signing all the old guys.

It looks as if they missed all of our misstakes and are now doing the same thing. I hope they have the same results.

I wonder what all those Cowboy fans who laughed at our signings (of previous years) are saying now that they're doing the exact same thing.

I'm loving it. This year could be ugly for DAL. Now we have to do our part ...on the field. :oink:

If the trends keep up Dallas will get at least two wins this year. =(

I still can't believe we lost that second game.

we were just about eliminated due to other scores and i exepted it at the end but in the middle of saying that this season was a success due to us beating the cowboys and then THAT happened i jinxed it and take full fault. one play it was like we were destined to lose
:(