Jeff Zelevansky - Getty Images
Laurent Robinson might want to stay in Dallas regardless of money, but his agent thinks that some team is going to knock him off his feet.
It's the final week of the 2011-12 NFL season, mercifully. These past two weeks of Super Bowl build up have done a great job of tugging a Cowboys fans emotions between disdain and disappointment. Obviously, we know that this version of the Dallas Cowboys wasn't good enough to make it to this level. However, this Dallas team was "almost" good enough, and you know the reasons why. That's not to say that Dallas is a player or two away, just that they were almost good enough. The reasons why remain open for speculation all offseason long.
In the news this week:
FRIDAY
Only 246 fans displaced at 2011 Super Bowl took seats for XLVI | NFL.com
Remember that whole seating fiasco that took place at last year's SB at Cowboys Stadium? It appears "we got you next year" didn't float for most affected.
Mocking The NFC East | Dan Graziano, ESPN NFC East Blog
And with the 14th pick, the Cowboys select CB Janoris Jenkins.
Jason Witten's expectations are high | ESPN (video)
The Senator sits down with ESPN and talks Cowboys and his competition for best TE in the game.
Murray Ahead Of Schedule In Rehab | NBC-DFW
Good news, Murray told NBC 5's Matt Barrie that he is ahead of the pace set for his return.
The Official Training Partner Of The Dallas Cowboys | Tom Ryle, BTB
Awesome look at the Michael Johnson Performance Center and some of the ways it assists Cowboys and other athletes get their sport on.
More...
THURSDAY
Top 20 Rookies of 2011 | Mel Kiper, ESPN Insider
Behind a pay wall, Kiper lists Tyron Smith (12th) and DeMarco Murray (15th). Other interesting names are JJ Watt at #6 and C Steven Wisniewski one spot ahead of Smith. The Raiders center wasn't drafted until the 48th overall selection.
Lissemore Stood Out Despite Limited Snaps | DC.com
BTB favorite from way back, due to one of our resident small school expert eyes, Lisssssy is getting his props.
WEDNESDAY
A look at Cowboys' decision on DeCamillis | ESPN Dallas
The Cowboys denied the Oakland Raiders permission to talk with ST coach DeCamillis for what would be a lateral move to the same position with the addition of the title 'Assistant Head Coach'. DeCamillis wants to be a head coach somewhere, someday. Things could get a bit testy at those Valley Ranch meetings.
Romo 10th Most Marketable Player in NFL | NBC DFW
The top three spots are all held by quarterbacks, and Romo is tied with Raven's surefire hall of fame linebacker Ray Lewis. Insert Cabo-"cleared-of-all-charges" comparisons here.
Looking Forward By Looking Back, PFF Style | rabblerousr, BTB
Rabble extended the look at the Cowboys roster churn I started by examining if Dallas was moving on from below average players or getting them to improve. Scary thought, our expected top two corners for 2012 appear on the below average for the season list multiple times.
TUESDAY
Laurent Robinson's Agent Expects Plenty Of Interest | NBC-DFW
Yeah, for all those loving Robinson's statement's that money doesn't matter, please remember the man has an agent who's motto is probably "money's all that matters".
MONDAY
McBriar Hopes To Stay In Dallas After Surgery | DC.com
I'm sure the Cowboys would love to have a healthy Mat McBriar booting the ball for them. The free agent's surgery is set for Februrary 7th at the Mayo Clinic.
SUNDAY
Results Of Prospect Interviews Could Play A Key Role In Cowboys Draft Picks | OneCoolCustomer, BTB
OCC takes a look at the list of top draft candidates that have some splainin' to do, for one reason or another.
0 recs | 49 comments
If Someone Wants to Pay Laurent Robinson, Let Them
Robinson is a huge injury risk having only appeared in 9 games in 2008-2009 combined. He’s also never produced on another team. With Sam Bradford last year he only gained 344 total yards.
I could see Robinson having a career trajectory like Sidney Rice.
2007-2008 – does nothing
2009 – has a great season when playing with a great QB
2010 – barely plays due to injury
2011 – 32 receptions for 484 yards
That’s the cautionary tale for Laurent Robinson. After that one breakout season everyone thinks that’s just the normal for that player. But with an injury-prone player it’s no surprise he ends up on PUP lists and IR in the following season and reverts back to 400-ish yards of offense.
I like Laurent Robinson for the Cowboys. If he can be signed at a home-team-discount I’d love to have him. But if someone else wants to pay him #2 money to play for their club, I’m going to thank him for a great year of service and wish him well at his next stop.
Blue Eyed Devil - February 4, 2012
You're completely NUTS if you let this guy go
LR and Romo have rapport with each other. When Romo scrambles, LR makes sure he keeps eye contact with him. This guy is a PLAYMAKER. He had more playing time than the much more injury prone Miles Austin. Austin contributed very little this year and if not for LR, this team wouldn’t have had the 8 wins it ended up with. This guy is a GAME CHANGER. He’s a GREAT receiver with GREAT hands and way too valuable to let go or trade. He WANTS to win. HE wants to be here. JJ needs to pay this guy NOW!
Cowboy88 - February 4, 2012
Why could this great receiver not even get 350 yards in St.Louis?
Why is it he has never played a full 16-game season in his NFL career?
I like Laurent Robinson, but only at a reasonable contract. Anything more than $2.5 million a year and you let him walk.
Blue Eyed Devil - February 4, 2012
Larry Fitzgerald camp
I was told by a co-worker Robinson went to the aformentioned this past nearly non-existant off-season. I could name a few reasons why his efforts didn’t produce as nearly as good results in St. Louis as they were in Dallas;
1: That unexplainable QB→receiver telepathy/connection
2: If you think our O-Line was bad, look at St. Louis.
3. Bradford had nearly no time to learn a new system, especially one of McDaniel’s.
4. It’s St. Louis, for Christ’s sake.
gunblazer - February 4, 2012
Danny Ammendola caught 85 passes for 689 yards on that same team
All I’m advocating is sobriety. This insane thinking that we have to pay big money to any player who has 1 good season on the team is why the Cowboys were bad this year. All their 2011 salary cap was spent paying off the contracts of guys not on the team like Marion Barber.
Stop paying big money for 1 good year. Start working out shrewd contracts.
Blue Eyed Devil - February 4, 2012
He is a good 3rd WR, but he doesn't have great hands.
However he is good for this team and hopefully we can keep him at a reasonable price. I don’t see why we can’t seeing as how he has flamed out for several other teams. Plus there are a lot of high quality WR’s in FA this off season.
Rena - February 5, 2012
I'm with you Rena
I can’t see many other teams wanting a very injury prone WR that has been cut from 3 other teams. Especially in this free agent pool that has Dwayne Bowe, Jermichael Finley, Vincent Jackson, Marques Colston, Wes Welker, DeSean Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, Stevie Johnson, and Reggie Wayne.
I think he’ll re-sign with Dallas. My hope is the Jerry displays the patience he did with the Spears and Kosier contracts and not the wild-eyed stupidity he did with the Jay Ratliff contract.
Blue Eyed Devil - February 5, 2012
Whatever Crayton was getting should be about right...
…adjusting for inflation. 2.5 mill is too low. Double that, with an 8 mill signing bonus, maybe over 3-4 years is more than fair. But it won’t shock me if the Bucs, Chiefs, or some other team with money to burn comes along an woos him away. Dallas will be fine, though. I’m hoping Radway gets some playing time next season.
revellyre - February 5, 2012
WHY ?
Joe D sucks. His special teams have been anything but. He has the same head coaching potential as I do.
Robinson is gone imo. He isn’t a 5 mil a year wr unless Dallas trades Austin.
football mensa - February 4, 2012
I brought it up on my radio show the other day
nice guy, has that fire, but his ST unit haven’t been good
Archie Barberio - February 4, 2012
Finally some intelligence
I was saying this even when he was injured during that fiasco. In a way, it pretty much ensured he wouldn’t be fired anytime soon.
But, the ST unit is often plagued w/ several mental mistakes to include 10 or 12 men on the field, 2 blocked punts, missed key field goals (Joe D was the guy asking JG to call the timeout at the end of the game) and Dez, Tree or Harris all seem confused about who is supposed to be the punt returner.
Tyrone Jenkins - February 4, 2012
I'm beginning to think this is the case
That scout that got paralyzed will have a job for life and DeCamillis might be un-fire-able until the statue of limitations on a lawsuit runs out.
Blue Eyed Devil - February 4, 2012
Decamillis got a 5 mil settlement. Nothing he can do now legally. It's over.
Jerry should have offered his private jet to Joe and let him walk.
football mensa - February 4, 2012
you mean fly, why walk with a private jet?! haha
thebigham - February 4, 2012
Actually it was Chris Bonio(sp) that told Joe D who then told JG for the TO haha
thebigham - February 4, 2012
I disagree on Robinson. He's worth the money for a NUMBER ONE WR
I argue he’s the best WR on the club. Dez and Austin are too injury prone to rely one each season. This guys shows up and makes plays. Pay him the money he deserves and get his butt on the field and let Romo chunk it to him as much as possible.
Cowboy88 - February 4, 2012
I would trade Austin a blink for a fair deal.
football mensa - February 4, 2012
What is a fair deal...
for a pro-bowl receiver who runs great routes and can create separation?
BVandy - February 4, 2012
And timely drops and injuries. Mid second rounder....
or use him to move back into the first round
football mensa - February 5, 2012
I don't think thats a fair deal.
BrickTop - February 5, 2012 via mobile
For which side? Pro Bowl WRs aren't valued that highly in trades anymore.
revellyre - February 5, 2012
Broncos got two 2nd-rounders for Marshall in 2010.
Nassau Cowboy - February 6, 2012
Aren't field goals ST play? Didn't we pull Sean Lee from ST?
Also, he called the blocked punt by Bruce Carter didn’t he? We gave up some big returns but didn’t Dez have some big returns in 2010? Our big returns were limited this year so I agree there’s improvement to be made. The Giants might not be in the playoffs without some big ST turnovers.
scraig - February 4, 2012
I want Robinson back
I just think he is a really talented guy who finally put it all together in the right system
losing him hurts because we would have to either A. Sign a WR in free agency or B. Draft a WR in the draft, that would suck
Archie Barberio - February 4, 2012
4 yrs / $10 million
and NO MORE!
Tyrone Jenkins - February 4, 2012
I like that
I don’t want to pay over $2.5 million for him either.
I still view Sensabaugh’s $4 million contract as absolute stupidity and I fear that’s where Jerry is going to go with this one.
We’re going to end up paying $8 million for a bad safety and a 3rd WR. And then people are going to ask why the Cowboys have another cheap over-matched UDFA playing center in 2012 that gets Romo killed. Because we spend our salary cap on receivers and bad players instead of linemen.
Blue Eyed Devil - February 4, 2012
yeah maybe 12, a contract with a lot of incentives would work as well
but 5 million per year not even joking
ratware - February 4, 2012
Yep, structure a solid, fair contract laced with incentive
Like all should be. Treat ’em fair but keep ’em hungry. Top to bottom.
tanstaafl - February 4, 2012
Then others say all contracts should be guaranteed.
Most players only have one big payday, if they’re lucky. Knowing how tough the game can be on a body, I don’t begrudge them the money they make.
revellyre - February 5, 2012
To me it looks like Cowboys are already preparing themselves to loose him in Free Agency
They showed interest in Joe Adams during Senior Bowl week for a reason. Plus, he was outstanding in that game
LilZtretch - February 4, 2012
Joe Adams and Laurent Robinson are completely different receivers...
They were looking at Adams to replace Holley/Ogletree. He is a punt returner and a 3rd/4th receiver. Playing receiver at an NFL level is significantly different from playing receiver at the NFL level.
BVandy - February 4, 2012
quote of the year.....
football mensa - February 5, 2012
or even the collegiate level
BVandy - February 5, 2012
robinson is a crucial member of this offense
like Lance Moore of the Saints
Rohpuri - February 4, 2012 via mobile
100% agree on that.
I just think another team will throw in a big deal for him, and keeping him at an expensive price isn’t the smartest idea, as much as I love him on this offense
LilZtretch - February 4, 2012
+81
Cowboy88 - February 4, 2012
Good and bad with Joe D
Good: Finally settled on a kicker who got the job done, and proved that kickoffs into the end zone are nice, but not critical if you have good coverage. Cowboys were among the best on kickoff coverage.
Bad: Returns on punts and kick offs were a problem all year as team was reluctant to use Jones/Bryant, who were clearly the best return men, blocked punt vs. Jets and blocked FG vs. Giants were killers.
I’d love to have Robinson back as he showed skill and and connection with Romo, but it has to be a reasonable 3Rd receiver money. If someone wants to go Alvin Harper on him, then we have to say good bye.
Elkmgr - February 4, 2012
I would be upset if Robinson wasn't back next year
But if somebody offers him crazy money, I’d rather we spent it somewhere else.
me gusta - February 4, 2012 via mobile
I agree
as much as I loved his play, paying too much (again) for a WR would tell me that they are still hanging on to vestiges of the old way of doing business – investing in “skill positions” and paying for it by short-sheeting the foundational ones.
dunkman - February 4, 2012
Wi-Wis-Wisnew...Wahhh
Please O
mercifulmerciless football gods, let Carter bring thy faithful servant forgetfulness…tanstaafl - February 4, 2012
LR sould know that...
chemistry between a QB and WR is not always a sure thing, he’s not Larry Fitz, he should know that and he should stay with Romo
Ed-G - February 4, 2012
No....he ain't LF but all he does is make plays and scored 11 TD's this year.
Romo like him, has a rapport and is probably the BEST WR on this club.
Cowboy88 - February 4, 2012
what i meant by him not being LF
is that Fitz can play good with whoever they put at QB, he is a future HOF for sure, LR needs to have chemistry with a QB, he found it with Romo, so getting payed by another team doesn’t guarantee he will have the same season again
Ed-G - February 4, 2012
I think Laurent feels that way.
I don’t think his agent is on board, however.
Tom Ryle - February 4, 2012
His agent knows Jerry is a patsy
We’re talking about a guy that gave one of the largest WR contracts in history to Roy Williams, is paying Orlando Scandrick $7 million next year, just extended Jay Ratliff into his age-38 season.
He’ll get Jerry to pay double what a smart team like the Patriots would for Laurent Robinson.
Blue Eyed Devil - February 4, 2012
It is all part of the game...
LR’s agent has an obligation to get him the best deal. He can’t do that if he says LR wants to play in Dallas and won’t consider other offers.
BVandy - February 4, 2012
Exactly
dunkman - February 5, 2012
His agent is smart enough to know that he got dumped from several other teams.
If you can’t even make the club at your first several stops, there is a reason.
Rena - February 5, 2012
Enough w/ non-starters ....
There are enough REAL concerns w/ this Team than a 3rd WR … Remember we have potential Radway & Holmes. We have REAL holes in OG (Kosier, Dockery, Holland should all be gone), ILB (James & Brooking must go), CB & safety talent, possible upgrades over Spencer/Bennett, NT to move Rat to DE, another QB, etc, so Robinson, a feel good for injuries to Austin, aren’t worth the contract … stop paying $ to WR unless u keep Romo healthy
ImAPokesFan - February 5, 2012
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