Why did Commissioner Goodell give Pacman Jones an “indefinite suspension”? Jones had clearly frustrated the Commissioner yet again. When he was reinstated to play for the Cowboys – something that was presumed when the Cowboys signed him while under suspension – he was held to certain standards that required zero tolerance for continued bad behavior. When Jones violated those standards – did anyone really think he would not? – the Commissioner and the league had to act even if the Cowboys would not. Pacman has become the poster boy for the Personal Conduct Policy in the worst possible way.
Why can the Commissioner discipline Pacman – and other players – without any legal or criminal disposition of their cases?
This is a change from the previous regime under Commissioner Tagliabue, where the NFL typically waited until a criminal charge had wended its way through the judicial process prior to discipline. No longer. Commissioner Goodell has implemented the Personal Conduct Policy and will mete out discipline prior to and sometimes immediately after the conduct occurs. This was the case for Koren Robinson when I was with the Packers. It was the case for Tank Johnson, yet another Cowboy with issues, and it is once again the case for Pacman after his most recent “alcohol-related incident.”
Why can’t Pacman stay out of trouble?
People like him do not change. Shame on anyone (Cowboys) who thought he would.
Why do the Titans now get a fifth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft from the Cowboys?
This was part of the trade agreement last year. The Titans received a fourth in the 2008 NFL draft, which they already obviously used. However, if Pacman were to be suspended during the 2008 season – which just occurred – the Titans had to give a fifth back to the Cowboys. The Cowboys would have looked quite foolish if language such as this was not included.
Why would the Cowboys give up so much – a first, third and sixth round picks – for Roy Williams from the Lions?
On paper, this looks like a win for the Lions, gaining some valuable currency in the form of draft picks for a player that seemed talented but underachieving. However, upon closer inspection, this may truly be one of those “change-of-scenery” deals. Williams had previous stardom at University of Texas and perhaps it is unfair to judge a player in the abyss that has been the Lions lately. I know that having played against him for many years, he was a player we feared at the Packers. But overall this is a good trade for the Lions, who get a bounty of picks for a player that was probably leaving in a couple of months unless franchised. Obviously there was competition for Williams, which created leverage for the Lions.
Why would the Cowboys trade so much for Williams when he is a free agent after this year?
That is about to change. Negotiations have begun between Jerry Jones and Ben Dogra of CAA, Williams’ agent, towards a long-term extension. With the leverage of the trade and his free agent year, Dogra should be able to negotiate a deal average just under the 10M a year standard set by Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, and yes, Williams’ new teammate, one Terrell Owens earlier this offseason.
Why did the Cowboys do a new contract earlier this offseason for Patrick Crayton?
Most teams would not acquire another wide receiver with a new contract to average more than 9M a year after paying 10M a year to one receiver and just re-signing another. Crayton’s deal – four-year, 14M with 6M guaranteed – is more than some teams’ #1 receivers make, but for the Cowboys makes him a distant third on the wide receiver money chart. Crayton is lucky to have that deal and may be the highest paid backup receiver in the NFL.
Why are all these questions about the Cowboys?
Just the way Jerry Jones likes it…but I’ll make one not about them.
Why didn’t the Chiefs trade Tony Gonzalez?
The Chiefs and general manager Carl Peterson were intent on getting a second round pick rather than getting the best deal they could. With the Giants earlier getting a #2 and a #5 for Jeremy Shockey, Peterson was steadfast on wanting similar compensation. Nothing similar was forthcoming, and Gonzalez remains a Chief.
I forget where I read it now, but it made the most sense to me re: Gonzales - that contending teams saw him as a "luxury." A 2nd round pick is a high price to pay. That pick should equal a good starting player for more years than remain in Gonzo's career. There are no teams I look at and think that he would "put them over the top."
Which I would also say of Roy to Dallas. This looks like a last gasp of (false) confidence for a team that saw its season go into the toilet. Of course we will have to listen to Cowboys fans talking about how they're going to the Super Bowl again next year... yawn.
DL:
I would agree that a second round pick should equal a good starting player in today's "win now" NFL.
Which brings to mind a huge mistake made by Packer GM Ted Thompson last year, who traded nose tackle Corey Williams to the Browns for a second round pick. He then used the pick in this year's draft on QB Brian Brohm, who does not even suit up for games.
Second point: Note that Jerry Jones and the Cowboys shrugged off the latest
PacMan incident as no big deal and did not discipline or fine PacMan. The commissioner's treatment of the incident stands in stark contrast, and is a thinly-veiled rebuke of Jerry Jones' rationalizations in this case.
When with the Packers did you consider the "lack" of places to get in trouble around GB and Appleton (hometown alert!) when evaluating someone of questionable character? Barnett excluded, it would seem much tougher to find yourself in really bad situations.
The Cowboys are taking over the sports media in similar fashion that Favre did this summer. It's getting hard to tune into anything after work, the first 20 minutes of SC are devoted to the Cowboys everyday and it continues with probably 30 minutes out of 60. It's just week 7, and the baseball World Series is about to begin and it seems we all just can't get enough of the 4-2 Cowboys. They haven't won a playoff game since 1996 people!!!!!!
I feel like Dallas should be punished for taking on Pacman. They shouldn't get a pick back from Tenn. after Pacman played a down for them this year. That stinks for Tennessee....
BigJohn, take a look at Corey Williams's stats for this year, as well as the money he is making. I don't know if any other team than Cleveland thought he was worth a 2nd. And as far as Brohm, while is not a starter, in a year or two he will (hopefully) be a guy to step in when needed who is not a 35+ year-old retread a la Brad Johnson etc.
Injuries are making the Corey Williams trade look bad to some people, which I can understand, but I still think GB got the best of that deal.
The Journal-Sentinal is reporting that the Packers had a 3rd on the table right up until the deadline and the Chiefs didn't take it. One thing that is funny about that is that they should have known that TT would never trade a 2nd - he loves them. I assume they thought another team would jump in with the 2nd at the deadline, but this is going to look bad for the Chiefs if they cannot get what they were looking for in the offseason.
Another thing to consider is that there are still some players who do not want to go to Green Bay, point blank. It is the smallest NFL market and not the greatest place to live if you're young and rich. Even though the team has been good for a long time, as a fan I realize that big-name free agents do not necessarily get super excited about playing in northern Wisconsin. I've read that Tony didn't want to play there, or in Buffalo.
So BigJohn, if it was a mistake to use a 2nd round pick on Brohm because he "doesn't suit up" on Sundays, then I guess you would have to say the same thing about using a first round pick on Rodgers with him sitting on the bench for three years, or using a first on Brady Quinn and having him sit for two years.
I guess I just disagree with you big time on this one. Using a second round pick on a quarterback who should prove to be a solid backup and possible starter is an investment, not a dumb pick.
And say what you want about Corey Williams, if our d-line was healty right now we probably wouln't be having this converstation. Obviously the teams saw somthing in him, or lack of somthing. He's not exactly lighting it up in Cleveland.
DL - that contradicts Bob McGinn's reporting from this morning, which said Gonzalez had indicated he would play for Green Bay and would commit to playing for three years.
Does anyone really care if Pacman Jones ever plays again in the NFL? Other than his agent and his hangers on, I doubt it. He is the first piece of trash that should be banished from the league.
How do you determine and better yet who should determine which players fall into the " people like him " category ?
Koren Robinson has kept his nose clean but a lot of people in Green Bay didn't think he would. That was a hot topic on Packer message boards for months.
As far as I know Tank Johnson has also stayed out of trouble.
I applaud the commish for taking a stance even if he makes a mistake or two.
Hey Aaron, didn't see that story earlier. I am a daily reader of your blog, however.
If the GB market/location was not an issue in this case, that's good. I'm sure most players respect the success of the team. But there will always be some guys who won't want to play there. I wonder what Javon Walker thinks of that decision now.
Why would TT trade a 2nd round pick?? Heck he could somehow get 4 6th round picks for that 2nd rounder knowing him.
Funny thing is he will probably get a second rounder from the Jets so its almost a wash....
Man, if you're Pacman, how do you look at yourself in the mirror? Blowing all that money because you can't hold your temper...
Where's Jack Nicholson when you need him?
"I feel pretty! So pretty!"
RyanB--
Re: using a second round pick on Brohm as comparable to a first round pick on Rodgers.
In the first place, Thompson did not even intend to draft Rodgers; he just fell in his lap. Also, if you are going to trade a player you tagged with the franchise label (Williams) for a second rounder, and you already have commited to a long term starting QB (Rodgers), why pick Brohm? It makes no sense; you don't intend to use him for years probably. And, as it turns out, he appears to suck anyway.
Also consider Bob McGinn's statment in the 9-28-08 MJS:
"If Thompson had passed on the injury-prone Harrell with the 16th pick and taken the Browns' offer [GB #1 in '07 for Cleveland #1 in '08], he probably still would have had Corey Williams in the middle of his defensive line and running back Felix Jones of Arkansas might well have been wearing the uniform of the Green Bay Packers."
Andrew - care to comment on Jim Zorn bringing 3 former Seahawks to the Redskins yesterday, including former MVP Shaun Alexander? Does Alexander have anything left in his tank?
"What if" the Packers would've took Barry Sanders instead of Tony M?
"What if" John Elway would still be playing with the Broncos... and they wouldn't have drafted Culter, who would now be a Giant, which means they could've traded Eli to the Cowboys for three first rounders, who then Dallas could have drafted AJ Hawk, Reggie Bush, and Vince Young!
"What if" Najeh never took a dump in that hamper (sorry Andrew)... then he'd still be a backup RB in GB and they wouldn't have spent a 2nd on Jackson, in which case they'd have traded for four 5th rounders and now have 13 WRs on thier roster!
I mean really...
Personally, I don't consider the 2nd rounder from Cleveland as a straight up "Williams for Brohm". The Packers might've ended up with Brohm in any case as they needed to fill two QB roster spots. You never know how it would've worked out... You should consider it drafting strategy and lump the whole class in together as successful or not.
Bob M-
My sense is that Alexander is a short-term insurance policy for the Ladell Betts injury. The fact that Zorn knew him helped, but the Redskins have two quality backs that are signed long-term. Alexander doesn't play special teams so his time will be limited there.
Andrew
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Oct 15, 2008
10:47 AM
Why are teams down on Gonzalez? Do you think he was worth a 2nd rd pick? If not, what was a fair price? I'm surprised he's still in KC with all the needs they have.