Comment From corey ... I read on another website that Jones failed to pull the trigger on a deal that would have sent Newman to Arizona in exchange for Cardinals stud rookie Patrick Peterson. Please tell me isn't true.
David Moore: I don't know what web site you were reading, but I have never, ever heard that. If it is true - and again, I don't see how it can be - then the Arizona front office should be fired for even suggesting such a thing.
Comment From t filippone ... why does Jerry stick up and make excuses for head coaches that fail like Campo, Wade and Garrett saying he has complete confidence with these guys and it's the hardest thing to let these guys go? Yet he has no problem letting Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells leave.
David Moore: Johnson and Parcells were both ready to go. Jones has always been publicly supportive of those other coaches up until a change needed to be made. The one exception was Chan Gailey, and he admits that was one of the biggest mistakes he's made as owner. As we all know - and as Jones is the first to point out - that covers a lot of ground.
Comment From ralph elkins ... jerry and garrett both new that we had a problem at cornerback last year, i really didn't see that they made a big push to get some help there. What is your thought?
David Moore: They made a push to acquire the top free agent cornerback on the market, Nnamdi Asomugha, and fell short. When that fell through, there was no where else to turn that made sense, or cents.
Comment From Ed (VA Beach, VA) ... I have not heard the expected bag-full of excuses from Ryan. Is he in hiding? Have any reporters been able to talk to him?
David Moore: I don't know if I would say he's hiding. Besides, it doesn't matter what he says to the media. He's accountable to Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett. He can't hide from them. But I will say this. Jones has said philosophically he likes what Ryan brings to the table and Garrett has also been complimentary.
Comment From chris ... David: will the Cowboys have any money (cap room) to make some of the improvements for next season, good DB's are quite expensive, as we all know.
David Moore: The Cowboys will have the cap room to make some improvements this off-season but not enough to go crazy. Next off-season is when room will open up if they feel the need to make a big splash. That doesn't mean they can't get better this off-season. Free agency isn't simply about the money you have to spend. It's about making judicious decisions. I believe the team has actually done a pretty good job in that department in recent years finding solid veterans to contribute. They did it this season with Laurent Robinson, Tony Fiammetta, Abe Elam and others.
Comment From MikeM ... Isn't it realistic to say the defense is the problem here? Just one 3rd down stop (on many occasions) would have given a victory and the division title.
David Moore: I believe the offensive line need to be upgraded, especially the interior. But I do agree that the defensive side of the ball needs the most attention this off-season.
Comment From Perry Hagen ... With all the Cowboys shortcomings do you think they can replace enough of their subpar players in one off season (free agency and draft) to be super competitive next season. Or do you think it'll take a couple of years?
David Moore: I believe they will be competitive next season. You'd have to say they were competitive this season since they had a chance to win the NFC East on the final night of the regular season. But super competitive? That means Super Bowl, and I don't know they will be able to improve enough over the next few months to make that a reality for the 2012 season.
Comment From David ... I am not sure why Jerry wanted to lock up players like Sensabaugh and Scandrick during the season. Why couldn't he just wait until the end of season to decide on personnel moves? I do not think Sensabaugh and Scandrick are good players to begin with and the Cowboys may be better off spending the money somewhere else. Whose decision was to do this in your mind? I think Jerry just could not stand pat and had to do some stupid things again.
David Moore: Jones wouldn't have extended those contracts unless it was the input of his defensive coaching staff, and agreed to by Jason Garrett, that signing those players to extensions was worthwhile. To me, this is an area where Jones is criticized, but it's not like he just comes into the office one day and says he wants to spend his money on these players. He doesn't it based on the input of his coaching staff and personnel department.
Comment From Manny ... Was the 2011 team significantly better than 2010? Two more wins, but a softer schedule...
David Moore: I don't believe this team was significantly better than last season. How could it be? There were signficant personnel upgrades. But I do believe it made incremental improvement and put a culture in place that has the chance to pay dividends down the road.
Comment From Chazz ... If the Packers, Pats or Saints go on to win the Super Bowl this year, the decades-old dogma that "defense wins championships" will have been made myth. As the 'Boys look to re-tool this year, they may be better off further strengthening the offense (better lineman, a bookend tight end for Whiten, another stud running back, resiging Laurent Robinson) and use the tail-end of the draft, cheap free agents and unrestricted free agents to shore up the defense. Between league rules and flag-happy refs, you can't play defense in the NFL any more. What are your thoughts?
David Moore: Good job on your assesment. When I talk about the need to get younger, faster and more athletic on defense, that isn't at the expense of the offense. I'd still argue if the Cowboys don't have interior lineman at the top of their draft needs, it needs to be 1A. Re-signing Robinson is essential and will be hard to do since they can't offer him a contract until the new league year begins. A tight end that can complement Witten in the receiving game is also something that will be needed since it's unlikely Martellus Bennett will return.
Comment From Manny ... What's up with Bruce Carter? Since he didn't play much at ALL at the end of the year on defense - does that mean that the team has lost confidence in him?
David Moore: Not at all. It means he came back as quickly as possible from major knee surgery and wasn't counted on to make an impact this season. This off-season will be huge for him. The ideal scenario is that he shows enough that the team is comfortable going into next season with him as the starter next to Sean Lee.
David Moore: I don't know what web site you were reading, but I have never, ever heard that. If it is true - and again, I don't see how it can be - then the Arizona front office should be fired for even suggesting such a thing.
Comment From t filippone ... why does Jerry stick up and make excuses for head coaches that fail like Campo, Wade and Garrett saying he has complete confidence with these guys and it's the hardest thing to let these guys go? Yet he has no problem letting Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells leave.
David Moore: Johnson and Parcells were both ready to go. Jones has always been publicly supportive of those other coaches up until a change needed to be made. The one exception was Chan Gailey, and he admits that was one of the biggest mistakes he's made as owner. As we all know - and as Jones is the first to point out - that covers a lot of ground.
Comment From ralph elkins ... jerry and garrett both new that we had a problem at cornerback last year, i really didn't see that they made a big push to get some help there. What is your thought?
David Moore: They made a push to acquire the top free agent cornerback on the market, Nnamdi Asomugha, and fell short. When that fell through, there was no where else to turn that made sense, or cents.
Comment From Ed (VA Beach, VA) ... I have not heard the expected bag-full of excuses from Ryan. Is he in hiding? Have any reporters been able to talk to him?
David Moore: I don't know if I would say he's hiding. Besides, it doesn't matter what he says to the media. He's accountable to Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett. He can't hide from them. But I will say this. Jones has said philosophically he likes what Ryan brings to the table and Garrett has also been complimentary.
Comment From chris ... David: will the Cowboys have any money (cap room) to make some of the improvements for next season, good DB's are quite expensive, as we all know.
David Moore: The Cowboys will have the cap room to make some improvements this off-season but not enough to go crazy. Next off-season is when room will open up if they feel the need to make a big splash. That doesn't mean they can't get better this off-season. Free agency isn't simply about the money you have to spend. It's about making judicious decisions. I believe the team has actually done a pretty good job in that department in recent years finding solid veterans to contribute. They did it this season with Laurent Robinson, Tony Fiammetta, Abe Elam and others.
Comment From MikeM ... Isn't it realistic to say the defense is the problem here? Just one 3rd down stop (on many occasions) would have given a victory and the division title.
David Moore: I believe the offensive line need to be upgraded, especially the interior. But I do agree that the defensive side of the ball needs the most attention this off-season.
Comment From Perry Hagen ... With all the Cowboys shortcomings do you think they can replace enough of their subpar players in one off season (free agency and draft) to be super competitive next season. Or do you think it'll take a couple of years?
David Moore: I believe they will be competitive next season. You'd have to say they were competitive this season since they had a chance to win the NFC East on the final night of the regular season. But super competitive? That means Super Bowl, and I don't know they will be able to improve enough over the next few months to make that a reality for the 2012 season.
Comment From David ... I am not sure why Jerry wanted to lock up players like Sensabaugh and Scandrick during the season. Why couldn't he just wait until the end of season to decide on personnel moves? I do not think Sensabaugh and Scandrick are good players to begin with and the Cowboys may be better off spending the money somewhere else. Whose decision was to do this in your mind? I think Jerry just could not stand pat and had to do some stupid things again.
David Moore: Jones wouldn't have extended those contracts unless it was the input of his defensive coaching staff, and agreed to by Jason Garrett, that signing those players to extensions was worthwhile. To me, this is an area where Jones is criticized, but it's not like he just comes into the office one day and says he wants to spend his money on these players. He doesn't it based on the input of his coaching staff and personnel department.
Comment From Manny ... Was the 2011 team significantly better than 2010? Two more wins, but a softer schedule...
David Moore: I don't believe this team was significantly better than last season. How could it be? There were signficant personnel upgrades. But I do believe it made incremental improvement and put a culture in place that has the chance to pay dividends down the road.
Comment From Chazz ... If the Packers, Pats or Saints go on to win the Super Bowl this year, the decades-old dogma that "defense wins championships" will have been made myth. As the 'Boys look to re-tool this year, they may be better off further strengthening the offense (better lineman, a bookend tight end for Whiten, another stud running back, resiging Laurent Robinson) and use the tail-end of the draft, cheap free agents and unrestricted free agents to shore up the defense. Between league rules and flag-happy refs, you can't play defense in the NFL any more. What are your thoughts?
David Moore: Good job on your assesment. When I talk about the need to get younger, faster and more athletic on defense, that isn't at the expense of the offense. I'd still argue if the Cowboys don't have interior lineman at the top of their draft needs, it needs to be 1A. Re-signing Robinson is essential and will be hard to do since they can't offer him a contract until the new league year begins. A tight end that can complement Witten in the receiving game is also something that will be needed since it's unlikely Martellus Bennett will return.
Comment From Manny ... What's up with Bruce Carter? Since he didn't play much at ALL at the end of the year on defense - does that mean that the team has lost confidence in him?
David Moore: Not at all. It means he came back as quickly as possible from major knee surgery and wasn't counted on to make an impact this season. This off-season will be huge for him. The ideal scenario is that he shows enough that the team is comfortable going into next season with him as the starter next to Sean Lee.
