DMN Moore Chat: Free is overpriced, but here’s why he does have value for the Dallas

WoodysGirl

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Dallas Cowboys beat writer David Moore answered reader questions during a live chat on Tuesday. Here are some highlights:

Why are we still holding on to Doug B. Free, all the other teams already have let their RT go, Winston, Smith and now Clabo? Free is not a guard so stop hoping
David Moore: There is no financial benefit to cutting Free now. You don't see any relief on the cap until June. And while Free is overpriced compared to his production, remember this: he is also the backup left tackle if anything happens to Tyron Smith. He does have value.

Why haven't the Cowboys made any move on the free agent offensive linemen that are available?
David Moore: The Cowboys have spent lavishly on free agent offensive linemen in the past, which in part has put them in this cap bind. Under Garrett, this team would prefer to build a young offensive line through the draft which also has the benefit of being more cost effective under the cap.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL CHAT.
 

Little Jr

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Sometimes I wonder about dallas writers. They make me want to apply for a job
 

CoCo

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CowboysYanksLakers;5045538 said:
Oddly enough Free plays better on the left side...

It was just a year ago when we were all espousing just the opposite.
 

RastaRocket

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I can't find the full chat when I click the link. I am probably in the minority though in believing that Free still does have value. Who else are we honestly going to sign with the cleared cap room if we cut him? Will they actually be an upgrade?

Moore also brings up a valid point with him being the backup left tackle. I thought Free improved when the competition with Parnell started. He could have also improved in the offseason, it happens all the time. I would definitely approve of the pay cut (obviously), and I want to see him in camp. If he gets axed in camp, then fine, but we should at least evaluate him.
 

RastaRocket

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CoCo;5045575 said:
It was just a year ago when we were all espousing just the opposite.

That was mainly due to Tyron being a freak at RT for a 20 year old.
 

CoCo

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CoCo;5045575 said:
It was just a year ago when we were all espousing just the opposite.

RastaRocket;5045580 said:
That was mainly due to Tyron being a freak at RT for a 20 year old.

It has nothing to do with Tyron. Free was really bad at LT in 2011. So much so that people were wondering if he was hiding an injury of some sort. Optimism abounded when the decision was made to move Tyron to LT because we'd now have a phenom at LT and all those warm memories of Free succeeding Columbo at RT came flowing back.

Now after last years disaster at RT some are forgetting his struggles at LT.

For some reason Free's play has fallen off period for two straight years and there doesn't seem to be a better spot for him anymore.

I loved it when we kept him in free agency because he looked very solid for all of 2010 and during his fill-in assignment for Columbo in 2009. I'm shocked at what has happened to him since and am very skeptical that he can reverse it. The only hope would be if getting better at guard helps him - but honestly I think that's a bit of grasping at straws.
 

RastaRocket

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I think I am two years off; I keep confusing Free's 2010 with 2011. I'm still all for him going to camp though.
 

Bware_Dware

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Free/his agent/the whole darn football world know that he is not going to play anywhere for 7 mil/yr. Especially considering a top 5 RT will play for roughly half of that.

Here is what I think is going on. They are just waiting to see how the draft plays out. If they land a T early they inform free he will be making 1-2 mil or play elsewhere...

If they don't land a T on day 1-2 Winston is signed and free is informed of the same situation.
 

WoodysGirl

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RastaRocket;5045579 said:
I can't find the full chat when I click the link. I am probably in the minority though in believing that Free still does have value. Who else are we honestly going to sign with the cleared cap room if we cut him? Will they actually be an upgrade?

Moore also brings up a valid point with him being the backup left tackle. I thought Free improved when the competition with Parnell started. He could have also improved in the offseason, it happens all the time. I would definitely approve of the pay cut (obviously), and I want to see him in camp. If he gets axed in camp, then fine, but we should at least evaluate him.
It's one of those embedded coveritlive chats. So maybe you have to wait for a script to come up.

The chat is embedded in one of their regular web pages so that's why it might be a bit confusing.
 

TwoCentPlain

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I don't know about Free's value to the Cowboys but his true market value is capped at $2M/yr right now. No team would pay him more than $2M for this season.

I don't think Jerry Jones is in the mood to overpay for Free's under-performance.

If I were GM, I'd offer Free $2m for 2013. Take it or leave it.
 

Future

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CowboysYanksLakers;5045538 said:
Oddly enough Free plays better on the left side...
No he doesn't...any success he had on the left side was VASTLY overrated.
 

Yakuza Rich

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Little Jr;5045486 said:
Sometimes I wonder about dallas writers. They make me want to apply for a job

I tend to believe that you get what you pay for in life. So, they must work awful cheap.







YR
 

CATCH17

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CoCo;5045575 said:
It was just a year ago when we were all espousing just the opposite.

Exactly.

Also I honestly think the guy was on something. He never used to just get straight up bullied.
 

xwalker

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Little Jr;5045486 said:
Sometimes I wonder about dallas writers. They make me want to apply for a job

Yes, he appears to be clueless about the draft in that chat.

Don't apply at DMN because they will probably be out of business soon.:dance:
 

xwalker

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CowboysYanksLakers;5045538 said:
Oddly enough Free plays better on the left side...
That's like saying that Rosanne Barr looks better when viewed from the left side.
 

Idgit

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CoCo;5045575 said:
It was just a year ago when we were all espousing just the opposite.

That's because 'better' is a relative term, and he played worse at RT last year than he did at LT the season before.

I supported Free for a long time, but the guy's expensive, and trending down. The team seems to think he'd make a serviceable swing guy, but I'm not sure what they're seeing.
 
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