WoodysGirl
03-09-2012, 10:40 AM
Mar 9
8:54
AM CT
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Comments (http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4690597/nfc-east-free-agency-primer#comment)2 (http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4690597/nfc-east-free-agency-primer#comment)By Dan Graziano
Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/dal/dallas-cowboys)
http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/dal.gif (http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/dal.gif)Key free agents: WR Laurent Robinson (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10519/laurent-robinson), S Abram Elam (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10174/abram-elam), LB Keith Brooking (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/1448/keith-brooking), LB Anthony Spencer (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10470/anthony-spencer) (franchise)
Where they stand: Dallas needs serious help in the secondary and will have to decide whether it wants Elam back at safety while it pursues at least one cornerback. The Cowboys are expected to release Terence Newman (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/4463/terence-newman), and they could look to add depth at that position and a new starter. Franchising Spencer indicates that while they would like to improve their pass rush, they won't be players in the Mario Williams (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/9587/mario-williams) market. Expect their free-agent focus to be on defensive backs and possibly some upgrades on the interior of the offensive line. They would like Robinson back as their No. 3 receiver, but if he's going to get No. 2 receiver-type offers, they'll likely let him walk.
What to expect: The top two cornerback targets are likely Kansas City's Brandon Carr (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11363/brandon-carr) and Tennessee's Cortland Finnegan (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/9801/cortland-finnegan). You can't rule out Dallas making a play for Saints guard Carl Nicks (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11398/carl-nicks), who'd be a huge help to their offensive line. But someone like Baltimore's Ben Grubbs (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10473/ben-grubbs) is likely to be more attainable financially. What the Cowboys really need on the line is a center, but it's not a great market for those unless they can get their hands on Houston's Chris Myers (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/8614/chris-myers). The Cowboys likely will hunt for some second-tier safeties and inside linebackers to add depth, then target defensive back again early in the draft.
Read the rest of NFCE primers: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4690597/nfc-east-free-agency-primer
8:54
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Print (http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/print?id=4690597)
Comments (http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4690597/nfc-east-free-agency-primer#comment)2 (http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4690597/nfc-east-free-agency-primer#comment)By Dan Graziano
Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/dal/dallas-cowboys)
http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/dal.gif (http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/dal.gif)Key free agents: WR Laurent Robinson (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10519/laurent-robinson), S Abram Elam (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10174/abram-elam), LB Keith Brooking (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/1448/keith-brooking), LB Anthony Spencer (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10470/anthony-spencer) (franchise)
Where they stand: Dallas needs serious help in the secondary and will have to decide whether it wants Elam back at safety while it pursues at least one cornerback. The Cowboys are expected to release Terence Newman (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/4463/terence-newman), and they could look to add depth at that position and a new starter. Franchising Spencer indicates that while they would like to improve their pass rush, they won't be players in the Mario Williams (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/9587/mario-williams) market. Expect their free-agent focus to be on defensive backs and possibly some upgrades on the interior of the offensive line. They would like Robinson back as their No. 3 receiver, but if he's going to get No. 2 receiver-type offers, they'll likely let him walk.
What to expect: The top two cornerback targets are likely Kansas City's Brandon Carr (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11363/brandon-carr) and Tennessee's Cortland Finnegan (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/9801/cortland-finnegan). You can't rule out Dallas making a play for Saints guard Carl Nicks (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11398/carl-nicks), who'd be a huge help to their offensive line. But someone like Baltimore's Ben Grubbs (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10473/ben-grubbs) is likely to be more attainable financially. What the Cowboys really need on the line is a center, but it's not a great market for those unless they can get their hands on Houston's Chris Myers (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/8614/chris-myers). The Cowboys likely will hunt for some second-tier safeties and inside linebackers to add depth, then target defensive back again early in the draft.
Read the rest of NFCE primers: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4690597/nfc-east-free-agency-primer