Guess I owe the D an apology. I don't recall the last Cowboys team to swarm the ball as quick as this one. Seriously, anyone remember? Been ages.

Do hope the redzone % improves. Still some spots we gotta get 6. But overall it sure looks like the Cowboys division to lose now.

Most happy I've been about the Cowboys playoff stock in awhile.

lol Skins/Eagles/Giants.

Nice to see Murray with some running room. #vision

^ Hopefully we don't have to wait an entire year for his next 100-yard game. #consistency

Any ideas on what's up with Miles? I thought he was healthy, sort of figured he'd have a nice year. If Williams isn't, I totally expected Miles would.

All I heard was hamstring and immediately stopped listening. If he can be productive enough with it bothering him, as was the case last year, then great. If not, oh well. Worrying about Miles' hamstring issues is like worrying about the tide coming in.

If he's out for a while they'll probably just give more snaps to Williams, Escobar, Harris, Hanna, and Beasley. Maybe give some thought to trading him in the offseason.

Remember when the Cowboys were going to draft Michael Brockers without the Claiborne trade up? Nary a peep was heard today.

Blowing out the Rams and everyone else in the BEAST laying an egg could be the peak of our season so Im'a enjoy it.

It was nice to win a game without having to sweat it. It's amazing what a running game can do

hey guys, we did it!

Owner Jerry Jones said LE Anthony Spencer (knee) could be out for the rest of the season.
Jones suggested that Spencer might need microfracture surgery, an extremely serious procedure that is often more difficult to recover from than an ACL tear. It's awful timing for the 29-year-old Spencer, who was playing on a one-year franchise tender. He was coming off a career-year in 2012, racking up 95 tackles, 11 sacks, three batted passes and two forced fumbles. The Cowboys will be forced to continue to use George Selvie for heavy snaps at left end.

Fun facts about the Rams game:

The Cowboys scored a TD on their first drive of every quarter. They also scored on their first 3 drives.
The Rams didn't get a first down until ~9:30 in the 3rd quarter. Turned into the only scoring drive for them.
Murray played a large part in the first 3 scoring drives, totalling just under 100 rushing yards en route to DAL's first 17 points. He also kicked off the 3rd quarter right with another 50 yards on DAL's 3rd touchdown drive.

Got my Drake Nevis jersey on order!

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...n-drake-nevis/

The team announced that they have signed defensive tackle Drake Nevis, who worked out for the team last week. They made room on the roster by releasing defensive lineman Jerome Long.

Nevis was a third-round pick of the Colts in 2011 and played 14 games over his first two season, both of which ended early when Nevis was placed on injured reserve. He was cut by Indy when they dropped to 53 players and was claimed off waivers by the Chargers before being released a short time later.

It was going to be Brockers and Wagner without the trade up. Which to this point makes the Cowboys trade up look not just bad, but horrendous. And it's more than just the players but the other implications:

a) Sean Lee gets moved out of his MLB spot, doesn't get extended and just plays out the year, saving ~$7m a year for three years and likely adding a 3rd round compensatory pick in '15
b) Alternatively, Lee could have been traded for a very good pick this year, or maybe even moved outside for the league's absolutely sickest LB group
c) Jay Ratliff is much more likely to get an injury settlement and become a distant memory
d) The cost differential with Claiborne's contract vs both players is another $1m/year saved

Not that this kind of draft second-guessing is a good way to look at things, but if we're going to be results-oriented knowing the players you might as well look at the hidden costs too. But even that is more than you need, because I'm pretty sure Seattle would hang up the phone if MC was offered for Wagner straight-up.

You would rather save $7mil per year than have Lee?

Whens the last time Jerry traded/let go a young Pro Bowl type with no off the field problems? Sounds like sports radio fan type fantasy.

Ratliff and Spencer both should have been gone anyways imo. Don't put that on the trade.

Apparently Detroit is showing interest in Miles but jerry won't trade him

lol Jerry

The point is with Wagner you wouldn't be forced to pay Lee if you felt a bigger need elsewhere, and still get trade value for him. Or you could pay Lee and use them both along with Carter. It's not fantasy that Wagner was better in his rookie year than Lee in his best and only healthy season, or that he was their pick had they not traded it off.

Maybe Jones would pay Lee anyway, but you're still a linebacker ahead.

If you had a player that was very arguably an upgrade at MLB, who is also younger, healthier, and saved you a ton of cap space, why not? Now you don't have to pay $7m to have a good MLB. You're going to get at least a 2nd for Lee in trade and save $7, which would be a good veteran FA & another high draft prospect to add to your team.

I really wish SJ hadn't said it was Wagner in the 2nd. It sucks knowing.

One problem is that they'd need to come up with another $7m in cap space (beyond his current cap charge) in order to trade him, after restructuring him this year. They've only got $4m. It's still pretty dicey after the season as his salary vs. dead money is about equal in 2014.

Gonna need one of those beyond elite 19-sack Picasso seasons from Dware.

Selvie and Hayden have been decent surprises at least. And Ware and Hatcher look as good as ever. Marinelli seems to be doing a great job, considering.

Now if they can just get a little something out of Wilber, David Carter, and Ratliff (if he comes back)...

Miles being Miles again. I think this has to be the last year with him. Time to move on. Good soldier, but just can't be counted on.

Hard to figure out what to do with Miles as he's still somewhat productive. Put yourself in the GM's shoes with him and consider these options:

Keep him in 2014, but release in 2015.

Cap charge 2014: $8.25m
Cap charge on release after 2014 season: $5.1m (+ replacement player cost)

Trade/release him outright after this season:

Cap charge: Immediate $7.85m, or split as $2.75m (2014 cap) and $5.1m (2015 cap). (+ Replacement player cost).

Keep him two more seasons, then release.

2014: $8.25m
2015: $9.64m
2016: [eat $2.6m, + replacement cost]

***

I think the correct play is option #2, because they desperately need to reduce their cap obligations in 2014. Miles would save about $5m next year if gone as a June 1 cut. You'd still have the bulk of dead money waiting for you in 2015, but by then hopefully they'd be in a better position to address it.

Or, they could restructure him, but at this point of the contract that won't do anything but trim $3m off until the following year.

One thing to keep in mind is that you can only designate two players as June 1 cuts to split up the dead money. I'd assume that Miles and Ratliff would be the two, but you can't rule out an unexpected injury or retirement. Or Scandrick since his cap figure is high. Or a big trade.

But meh, you know they're just gonna restructure everybody and go even cheaper on free agents. At least $15m over the cap next year with 43 players. Spencer, Hatcher, Selvie, kicker and punter among them, with rookies to sign. Free and some minor contributors will have to go also. But I can't see any way they can open up the $25m minimum they'll need to get under the cap without restructures and two big cuts or trades.

Only hope Miles would be cut is if he's out most of this year again.

If he stays healthy, Jerry keeps him. Just his style.

Gonzo will you apply to the Cowboys front office please