By David Moore , Staff Writer Contact David Moore on Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Stephen Jones wants to talk you off the ledge.
If you're a Cowboys fan concerned by the sheer volume of losses on the defensive side of the ball, if you fret that the smattering of free agent signings and upcoming draft isn't enough to address these obvious shortcomings, the club's executive vice president offers this message:
"There is a little bit of method to the madness here.''
The strategy: think long and hard about signing a good player to a generous third contract, restraint the club exercised when it came to safety Barry Church and cornerback Brandon Carr. Offset key losses with "efficient signings'' -- corner Nolan Carroll and a safety Jones indicates will be added to the mix down the free agent road -- and dive deep into a draft that has the potential to shore up the Cowboys weaknesses.
"Right now, going into the draft, we feel really good about our numbers,'' Jones said Sunday a few hours before the NFL's annual meeting got underway. "But at the same time we feel this is going to be a great opportunity for us to improve on the defensive side of the ball.
"It just so happens we feel the draft is inordinately strong on the defensive side of the ball.''
The Cowboys have lost 10 players in the opening weeks of free agency. Seven of those defections have come on the defensive side of the ball. Five of those players started seven or more games for the team last season.
Jones respects those players and the contributions they made to a 13-3 record. He would have preferred to keep several of them. If the club had a little more cap room, the losses would probably have been reduced.
But if you were expecting an emotional farewell or internal doubts about whether the team has employed the proper strategy, you'll be disappointed.
"Players we want to keep, we keep them,'' Jones declared. "Most of these players, I'm not going to single out guys, but most of them we were ready to let move on.
"Now, there were a few if they would have been for the right price, we would have done it. But we certainly didn't want to get into overpaying for anybody.''
Church received a 4-year, $26 million deal from Jacksonville that guarantees him $12 million. Carr got a 4-year, $23 million deal from Baltimore that pays him $6 million this upcoming season.
Morris Claiborne got a 1-year deal for $5 million from the New York Jets.
"At the end of the day, we value our players,'' Jones said. "At certain numbers, it's efficient for us to sign them. At other numbers, it's not.''
Jones doesn't believe the secondary is compromised by losing four of its top six players. In his mind, the addition of Carroll leaves the group with three good corners and the chance to add another quality player or two in the draft. He likes how rookie Kavon Frazier progressed in his rookie season and is high on Jeff Heath, who at the moment will take Church's spot in the starting lineup.
"I think if you turn on the tape and watch that (Green Bay game), there are a lot of people who wonder why isn't that guy starting, you know, in terms of making plays on the ball and that type of thing?'' Jones said.
"Obviously we feel good about what Jeff can do.''
Jones concedes that signing players to a third contract, no matter how solid they've been in the case of Church and Carr, gives him pause. He called those tough decisions.
But he doesn't want this team to form an unhealthy dependence on free agency. The draft is the best way to infuse a team with young talent and keep costs down.
The emphasis now is the draft.
"There's no question,'' Jones said. "We think some of the best depth in the draft is the defensive line and the secondary in our view.
"Now let me be real clear. If a great offensive player shows up that's of great value to us, that doesn't mean we aren't going to pick an offensive player.
"But our focus is on defense.''
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Stephen Jones wants to talk you off the ledge.
If you're a Cowboys fan concerned by the sheer volume of losses on the defensive side of the ball, if you fret that the smattering of free agent signings and upcoming draft isn't enough to address these obvious shortcomings, the club's executive vice president offers this message:
"There is a little bit of method to the madness here.''
The strategy: think long and hard about signing a good player to a generous third contract, restraint the club exercised when it came to safety Barry Church and cornerback Brandon Carr. Offset key losses with "efficient signings'' -- corner Nolan Carroll and a safety Jones indicates will be added to the mix down the free agent road -- and dive deep into a draft that has the potential to shore up the Cowboys weaknesses.
"Right now, going into the draft, we feel really good about our numbers,'' Jones said Sunday a few hours before the NFL's annual meeting got underway. "But at the same time we feel this is going to be a great opportunity for us to improve on the defensive side of the ball.
"It just so happens we feel the draft is inordinately strong on the defensive side of the ball.''
The Cowboys have lost 10 players in the opening weeks of free agency. Seven of those defections have come on the defensive side of the ball. Five of those players started seven or more games for the team last season.
Jones respects those players and the contributions they made to a 13-3 record. He would have preferred to keep several of them. If the club had a little more cap room, the losses would probably have been reduced.
But if you were expecting an emotional farewell or internal doubts about whether the team has employed the proper strategy, you'll be disappointed.
"Players we want to keep, we keep them,'' Jones declared. "Most of these players, I'm not going to single out guys, but most of them we were ready to let move on.
"Now, there were a few if they would have been for the right price, we would have done it. But we certainly didn't want to get into overpaying for anybody.''
Church received a 4-year, $26 million deal from Jacksonville that guarantees him $12 million. Carr got a 4-year, $23 million deal from Baltimore that pays him $6 million this upcoming season.
Morris Claiborne got a 1-year deal for $5 million from the New York Jets.
"At the end of the day, we value our players,'' Jones said. "At certain numbers, it's efficient for us to sign them. At other numbers, it's not.''
Jones doesn't believe the secondary is compromised by losing four of its top six players. In his mind, the addition of Carroll leaves the group with three good corners and the chance to add another quality player or two in the draft. He likes how rookie Kavon Frazier progressed in his rookie season and is high on Jeff Heath, who at the moment will take Church's spot in the starting lineup.
"I think if you turn on the tape and watch that (Green Bay game), there are a lot of people who wonder why isn't that guy starting, you know, in terms of making plays on the ball and that type of thing?'' Jones said.
"Obviously we feel good about what Jeff can do.''
Jones concedes that signing players to a third contract, no matter how solid they've been in the case of Church and Carr, gives him pause. He called those tough decisions.
But he doesn't want this team to form an unhealthy dependence on free agency. The draft is the best way to infuse a team with young talent and keep costs down.
The emphasis now is the draft.
"There's no question,'' Jones said. "We think some of the best depth in the draft is the defensive line and the secondary in our view.
"Now let me be real clear. If a great offensive player shows up that's of great value to us, that doesn't mean we aren't going to pick an offensive player.
"But our focus is on defense.''
