NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?!! - Week 16

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, I believe the Falcons can't do anything because Arkansas isn't subect to NFL tampering. And it's illegal, just like another office trying to recruit you for a job isn't illegal... it's just internal regs to prevent acrimony amonst the teams.

[Lord Avalon]

If Jones was involved, seems like tampering to me.

[SlowwHand]

Yeah. Jones biggest concern is screwing over the Falcons.

[-Jrabbit]

No doubt Jones was just being true to his school. (Yes, I'm serious.)

1. There's nothing in the story I read connecting Jones to the actual transaction.
2. There's nothing in NFL tampering rules about college gigs.

There may be a little smoke, but there doesn't seem to be any fire.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well no doubt the NFL won't go after Jones, but you can bet that other owners/GMs are going to remember this and have no problems getting Cowboys' coaches or assistant coaches jobs at their alma mater.

[-Jrabbit]

After Spurrier, Petrino and Saban, I think it's fair to say that college coaches are not going to be seeing as many NFL opportunities in the near future.

BTW, Herm Edwards confirmed that he has been contacted by UCLA. (Chiefs fans may be saddened to learn he's not interested.) The Bruins have reportedly also spoken with Lane Kiffin -- who may be.

This may be the start of a trend. And why not? Why struggle to make the playoffs in the NFL? Instead, you can take over an established program, get out of the pressure cooker, have the recruiting advantage of pro criedibility/connections, and make at least as much money while being treated with kid gloves.

Granted, it didn't work for Callahan. But it worked a treat for Pete Carroll.

[Lord Avalon]

I think it worked for Callahan's bank account.

[-Jrabbit]

Bingo. And it's perceived as a low-risk move for a college AD.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News twice now has suggested, in print and in a pregame discussion at Gillette Stadium last Sunday afternoon, that Jerry Jones might be interested in cutting a deal in the 2008 draft to land Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden, who is expected to forego his remaining college eligibility and enter next April's lottery.

Hey, I know a team that might be in range for McFadden and would probably be willing to take Jerry's two first rounders off his hands...

Wonder if he'd be willing to throw in Barber too...

[SlowwHand]

Screw that. If Jones makes that deal, he can kiss my ass.

[snoopy369]

Why exactly do the 'Boys need a high draft pick? The money they would spend to get him - not to mention the draft picks lost - would be rather a lot... unless they have another high draft pick and wouldn't be costing that much more, but ... he's going to be the highest paid RB on a team that has one perfectly good and one acceptable RB already...

[Jaguar]

The plan would theoretically be to entice another team to give them a high draft pick for Barber (a restricted free agent) and draft McFadden.

This is stupid. Not because they wouldn't be getting a superstar RB in McFadden - but because they already have one. I think it's painfully obvious to everyone outside of the Dallas Cowboys organization that Barber should make the Pro Bowl as one of the top three tailbacks in the NFC, and it's absurd that he's being forced to be the "backup" to a player who isn't even in his league. I really think the lack of confidence they're showing him is reprehensible.

If they made remotely sensible decisions with respect to their running backs, they'd have locked down Barber at the beginning of this year and made him the starter.

Actual positions of need for the Cowboys:
G (I'd get someone to replace Kyle Kosier)
LT (If Flozell Adams is let go)
WR (If Patrick Crayton is let go. Obviously, that would be a very bad idea.)
FS (If Ken Hamlin is let go)
RB (To serve as Barber's backup. This should be a cheap rookie, not a veteran.)

The Cowboys should lock down Barber and Crayton. I don't know their cap situation too well, but they have enough room to do that. Keeping Flozell Adams might be very costly, and it looks like they probably intend to let him go. They seem to have this genius plan to move Leonard Davis back to LT, which is a terrible idea.

The Cowboys have made a lot of good decisions to get themselves to this point, but I'm very wary of their plans for the offseason. If they move Davis to tackle, let go of Crayton, let go of Barber, and trade up to draft McFadden, they could dismantle a great team in an instant.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Why exactly do the 'Boys need a high draft pick? The money they would spend to get him - not to mention the draft picks lost - would be rather a lot... unless they have another high draft pick and wouldn't be costing that much more, but ... he's going to be the highest paid RB on a team that has one perfectly good and one acceptable RB already...

That's exactly what I'm saying. I'm a Barber, and Julius Jones, fan. Barber rocks, to me. I love the guy. Forget that trading up crap. We have 2 first rounders, use them.

[SlowwHand]

And Flozell Adams spends half his time jumping off sides. I'd cut his dumb ass.

[-Jrabbit]

I agree: Barber III is a stone stud. Plays the game right -- and great. Awesome motor on the kid, just no quit. Julius continues to be mildly disappointing though, IMHO. That's who they'd throw in to the alleged deal.

McFadden and Barber... now that could be interesting.