Watkins: Sources: Nothing new with Doug Free

[Cowboysrule122]

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com


The Cowboys have some interest in free-agent tackles Eric Winston and Tyson Clabo but haven't entered into any contract talks or planned any visits to Valley Ranch.

But in our what seems like a daily update of the Cowboys' desire to find a new right tackle, there's a report in the Baltimore Sun saying the Cowboys made an inquiry regarding Bryant McKinnie.

A source told ESPNDallas.com the team doesn't have interest in McKinnie at this time. He played 16 games in the 2012 regular season but didn't register any starts. McKinnie, however, started at left tackle in the postseason.

UPDATE: The Baltimore Ravens announced Thursday they have reached an agreement in principle with left tackle Bryant McKinnie on a two-year contract.

The Cowboys' current right tackle, Doug Free, is still on the roster and multiple sources indicate nothing new has occurred with his status. The Cowboys would like Free to take a pay cut or he could be released. If Free is cut, the Cowboys would save $7 million, but they wouldn't have that money available until after June 1.

During the NFL draft weekend, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys want to keep Free.


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In other words we're not signing shit. It's Free or Parnell at RT.

 

[Jon88]

It would be great if we knew more about Parnell, but they chose not to play him much at all. And it's not like he could have done worse than Free. This team makes no sense.

Same thing with Ogletree. Cole Beasley ( or Danny Coale) was becoming an excellent slot receiver towards the end of the year. They would take him out and put in Ogletree, who never bothered learning the playbook in four years, never did a fucking thing, and wasn't going to be on the team next year.

 

[Midswat]

Well, good thing we drafted a tackle who might serve as a fall back plan should Free or Parnell not work out.

 

[Mr.Po]

http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/story/Source-Free-doesnt-think-hell-stay-with-?blockID=898701&feedID=4680


Free doesn't think he'll stay with Cowboys

MIKE FISHER | Published: Thursday, May 02, 2013


IRVING, Texas – It is a gigantic game of Chicken. It is also a gigantic game of Musical Chairs.

And the two games involve gigantic sums of money and, because it's all about offensive tackles, it involves gigantic men, too.

And beleaguered Dallas Cowboys tackle Doug Free is now a player in the game of Musical-Chair Chicken.

A source close to Free tells me the veteran "anticipates not being with the Cowboys" as of June 1 – an indication he is presently unwilling to accept Dallas' proposal that would substantially reduce his $7 million salary and allow him to likely retain his job starting at right tackle.

June 1 is the day Dallas can release Free and suffer the least amount of cap damage, as his $10-million impact will be allowed to be spread over two seasons. It is clear Dallas prefers to retain Free (but at its desired price). That's not just a matter of correcting an overpayment on him; it's also a matter of freeing up cap space that can be used, for instance, to lock up linebacker Sean Lee with a rich extension.

We think that (Jermey) Parnell and Free ... put us in great shape at our tackles," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said this week, noting the two players who rotated at right tackle at the end of last season. "We have a way here that Doug could flourish …"

That "way" is to cease overpaying him.

If Free will not budge?

That's why this is a game of Musical-Chair Chicken.

The Cowboys' top-rated free-agent tackle is, by far, ex-Falcons stalwart Tyson Clabo. One source maybe optimistically says Clabo might settle for a one-year deal worth around $4 million. But his leverage in this situation figures to earn him more – somewhere.

Other veteran tackles on the market include Eric Winston (who is on-record as saying he'd sign for one year and $3 mil), Winston Justice and, for a moment there, Bryant McKinnie (who today re-upped with Baltimore). For weeks there have been errant reports regarding Dallas "offering" these players. Truth is, there has been "touching-base" contact in large part because, the Cowboys personnel department tells me, none of those guys are major upgrades over Free.

The cogs are about to turn. Dallas is trying to play hardball with Free. And Free's attitude suggests he's responding in kind.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are working to out-wait, if not out-bid, the competition. The competition – led by the Dolphins -- is doing the same with Dallas. There are only so many tackle jobs and there are only so many tackles. (In theory: Free doesn't budge. The Dolphins win Clabo. The Cowboys then act Winston. Free is left out in the cold.)

Cowboys officials say on the record that they don't want to create an artificial deadline here for Free. But chairs are about to be occupied, and it's been suggested to me that Free will be made to know that Dallas wants a response before Monday.

"We want him back," Dallas exec Stephen Jones said of Free. "We'd love to have him here. I think he'd love to be here. Now the question is, it's got to work for him and it's got to work for us. I have all the respect in the world for Doug. He works his ass off."

And right now, he's trying to work the game of Musical-Chair Chicken.

 

[dbair1967]

Free wont accept pay cut, per Fisher. Will be released after 6-1

 

[Jon88]

If he thinks he deserves $7 million this season he's fucking crazy.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

Can't blame him. Fuck Jerry. He signed the contract, take his money.

 

[Irving Cowboy]

Movement In Cowboys' Doug Free Situation
By Mike Fisher
Posted May 5, 2013

One of the moving pieces in the Cowboys’ right tackle equation is moving. Does it mean another piece is staying? Tyson Clabo, Dallas’ top-ranked free agent tackle and an upgrade over incumbent Doug Free, is signing with Miami, according to his agent. Meanwhile, what is Free up to? Here's the latest:

One of the moving pieces in the Dallas Cowboys' right tackle equation is moving.

Does it mean another piece is staying?

Tyson Clabo, Dallas’ top-ranked free agent tackle and an upgrade over incumbent Doug Free, is signing with Miami, according to his agent. That transaction removes some of the leverage the Cowboys may have had over Free, who as of a few days ago “anticipates not being with the Cowboys’’ as of June 1, a source close to Free told me.

But here’s another puzzle piece: The Cowboys are involved in a charity effort this upcoming Wednesday. Among those scheduled to attend on behalf of the club?

Doug Free.

Free is trying to play hardball with the Cowboys by suggesting an unwillingness to accept Dallas’ proposal that would substantially reduce his $7 million salary but allow him to likely retain his job starting at right tackle.

June 1 is the day Dallas can release Free and suffer the least amount of cap damage, as his $10-million impact will be allowed to be spread over two seasons. It is clear Dallas prefers to retain Free (but at its desired price). That’s not just a matter of correcting an overpayment on him; it’s also a matter of freeing up cap space that can be used, for instance, to lock up linebacker Sean Lee with a rich extension.

"We think that (Jermey) Parnell and Free ... put us in great shape at our tackles,’’ Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said last week, citing the two players who rotated at right tackle at the end of last season. “We have a way here that Doug could flourish …"

That “way’’ is to cease overpaying him.

The Cowboys still have leverage in the form of at least two other veteran tackles on the market. They include Texas native Eric Winston (who is on-record as saying he’d sign for one year and $3 mil) and Winston Justice. The Cowboys personnel department tells me neither of them represent true upgrades over Free.

Additionally, there are people at Valley Ranch who believe Parnell is ready to make the leap.

It’s been suggested to me that Free will be made to know that Dallas wants a response before Monday.

“We want him back,’’ Dallas exec Stephen Jones said of Free. “We’d love to have him here. I think he’d love to be here.’’

 

[Cowboysrule122]

^^^^^ So, we're in great shape at the tackle position with Free and Parnell.

 

[bbgun]

our opponents can hardly wait

 

[Midswat]

Thats why Romo sucks. He plays with his eyes closed.

 

[Jon88]

Nothing new on the clusterfuck front.