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One Argument for Cowboys Patience: Eric Weddle
Posted by Rafael at Saturday, March 05, 2011
Today is day one of the NFL's hiring freeze. A consequence of the week-long extension to CBA talks, no player transaction can go on until the new talks conclude.
This leaves organizations in limbo, and produces evidence of why Dallas has resisted making any cuts and pursuing any short-term free agents like Bob Sanders or O.J. Atogwe.
Behold the San Diego Chargers, who sit in limbo with respect to possible free agent free safety Eric Weddle. The 26 year old just finished his fourth season in a Chargers uniform, his third as a starter. If the old free agent standards are reinstated in the new CBA, a condition many expect, Weddle's experience would make him an unrestricted free agent. Since San Diego did not exercise its franchise tag, a tool which may or may not survive the negotiations, Weddle's odds of hitting the market are even greater.
Here's Chargers GM A.J. Smith on the team's stance regarding Weddle:
“First, we don’t know Eric’s status yet,” Smith said, referring to the fact the NFL considers Weddle a restricted free agent under the current CBA... Eric is a great kid and an outstanding player,” Smith said. “He is exactly the type of player we want to be a part of the Chargers organization. If we should offer a contract, we would present a contract to his agent, both in years and money. Our hope then would obviously be he likes it and accepts. If not, as Eric said, he will be moving on in a heartbeat, as will we.”
The same uncertainty applies to every GM in the league. Who's going to be unrestricted? Restricted? Consequently, how many unrestricted free agents could be available for recruiting and signing?
Who looks like a better bet for a long-term, big money deal, the 30 year old Atogwe, or the 26 year old Weddle? And if players of Weddle's caliber look to hit the market en masse, players we have not seen in any numbers in recent years, given the teams' increased skill at staggering free agents, pre-emptive long-term deals and use of the franchise tags, how many other players at Cowboys positions of need will join him?
The Cowboys actions say they expect those numbers to be significant.
Posted by Rafael at Saturday, March 05, 2011
Today is day one of the NFL's hiring freeze. A consequence of the week-long extension to CBA talks, no player transaction can go on until the new talks conclude.
This leaves organizations in limbo, and produces evidence of why Dallas has resisted making any cuts and pursuing any short-term free agents like Bob Sanders or O.J. Atogwe.
Behold the San Diego Chargers, who sit in limbo with respect to possible free agent free safety Eric Weddle. The 26 year old just finished his fourth season in a Chargers uniform, his third as a starter. If the old free agent standards are reinstated in the new CBA, a condition many expect, Weddle's experience would make him an unrestricted free agent. Since San Diego did not exercise its franchise tag, a tool which may or may not survive the negotiations, Weddle's odds of hitting the market are even greater.
Here's Chargers GM A.J. Smith on the team's stance regarding Weddle:
“First, we don’t know Eric’s status yet,” Smith said, referring to the fact the NFL considers Weddle a restricted free agent under the current CBA... Eric is a great kid and an outstanding player,” Smith said. “He is exactly the type of player we want to be a part of the Chargers organization. If we should offer a contract, we would present a contract to his agent, both in years and money. Our hope then would obviously be he likes it and accepts. If not, as Eric said, he will be moving on in a heartbeat, as will we.”
The same uncertainty applies to every GM in the league. Who's going to be unrestricted? Restricted? Consequently, how many unrestricted free agents could be available for recruiting and signing?
Who looks like a better bet for a long-term, big money deal, the 30 year old Atogwe, or the 26 year old Weddle? And if players of Weddle's caliber look to hit the market en masse, players we have not seen in any numbers in recent years, given the teams' increased skill at staggering free agents, pre-emptive long-term deals and use of the franchise tags, how many other players at Cowboys positions of need will join him?
The Cowboys actions say they expect those numbers to be significant.
