Doug Free or Ronald Leary?

[JoeyBoy718]

Leary looked like our best O-lineman earlier in the season. He started getting exposed later in the season. Maybe it's his knee. Who knows. But he's showed glimpses of being an elite OG. I'd keep him around on the cheap until his knee completely blows and he becomes a liability.

 

[xwalker]

i know its probably bone on bone by now in his knees.....however he is 25. i put my dollar there.

Are you referring to Leary?

He has a condition called Osteochondritis Dissecans in 1 knee. His knee could pop at any time at which point he would either be done or would require micro-fracture surgery like what Spencer had. If it does not pop, then he could be fine indefinitely. LB Jonathan was diagnosed with the condition in high school. He played 10 years in the NFL and it didn't pop.

 

[sbark]

Leary looked like our best O-lineman earlier in the season. He started getting exposed later in the season. Maybe it's his knee. Who knows. But he's showed glimpses of being an elite OG. I'd keep him around on the cheap until his knee completely blows and he becomes a liability.

Yup, he stonewalled JJ Watt so well they moved him out on Tron, that is where he came from on the famous Romo'dini gif..........Watt wanted nothing to do with Leary.......gotta be some upside there.

 

[Wood]

there is alot of conflicting reports on Free contract status. One website had him as $11 million cap hit in 2015. Another website has dead money hit in 2015 if released. I thought he redid his contract in 2013 that was only a 2 year deal thus he should be UFA with no dead money hit if unsigned?

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Yup, he stonewalled JJ Watt so well they moved him out on Tron, that is where he came from on the famous Romo'dini gif..........Watt wanted nothing to do with Leary.......gotta be some upside there.

Yep. I like Leary. I also like having a guy like Bernadeau backing up the interior guys in case one of them went down. As good as our starters were this year, I thought our depth was our biggest strength. You can plug in Parnell and Bernadeau and barely lose a beat.

 

[dragon_mikal]

When are people going to realize that young doesn't mean better?

It was obvious that Free was missed over the last part of the season. He's a good RT and from what's been pointed out on this board the leader of the line. If they go younger they need to do better than what they have at that position.

 

[speedkilz88]

there is alot of conflicting reports on Free contract status. One website had him as $11 million cap hit in 2015. Another website has dead money hit in 2015 if released. I thought he redid his contract in 2013 that was only a 2 year deal thus he should be UFA with no dead money hit if unsigned?

He has voidable years on the contract.

 

[Nightman]

there is alot of conflicting reports on Free contract status. One website had him as $11 million cap hit in 2015. Another website has dead money hit in 2015 if released. I thought he redid his contract in 2013 that was only a 2 year deal thus he should be UFA with no dead money hit if unsigned?

From what I understand the 2 voidable years at 8m each for 2015 and 2016 expired. He still has 3.9m in dead money left on his deal that would count as his cap hit for 2015, even if they don't re-sign him. If they sign him to a new deal only 3m of that dead money would count in 2015.

 

[RS12]

Leary. Free is too up and down. While Leary isnt a great pass blocker, he is a beast in the running game.

 

[Derinyar]

If a team gets into a situation where they can't afford two middle level pay days as a FA, or lower in the case of Leary, then the cap hell that people have been predicting for years. These two combined will be less then what Dez gets paid as the yearly salary for next year. Don't like this hypothetical, doesn't really make sense to me.

 

[MWH1967]

Are you referring to Leary?

He has a condition called Osteochondritis Dissecans in 1 knee. His knee could pop at any time at which point he would either be done or would require micro-fracture surgery like what Spencer had. If it does not pop, then he could be fine indefinitely. LB Jonathan was diagnosed with the condition in high school. He played 10 years in the NFL and it didn't pop.

thanks for that.

 

[Nightman]

If a team gets into a situation where they can't afford two middle level pay days as a FA, or lower in the case of Leary, then the cap hell that people have been predicting for years. These two combined will be less then what Dez gets paid as the yearly salary for next year. Don't like this hypothetical, doesn't really make sense to me.

It would make more sense as Free vs Parnell

In that case I would take whichever was cheaper or both if they wanted less than 3m

 

[Bluefin]

Leary is a restricted free agent. He's going nowhere.

From what I've seen Leary is an exclusive rights free agent. If that is correct all they have to do is tender him.

Ronald Leary is scheduled to be an exclusive rights free agent this off-season.

Leary was only on the 53 man roster for the final two weeks of the 2012 season, players need a minimum of 6 weeks at full pay in order to accrue a season of service towards free agency.

All Dallas has to do is tender Leary the 2015 second year minimum salary, $585K, and he is their exclusive property. Leary can't talk to any other club.

Darrion Weems is also an exclusive rights free agent.

If Leary meets the 6 week criteria next season to accrue a season of service, he will be scheduled to become a restricted free agent in 2016.

A 2016 second round tender will be around $2.6M.

Leary can't reach unrestricted free agency until 2017.

 

[Chuck 54]

Offer a moderate starting RT contract to both Free and Parnell. Whoever signs first, the other walks and you look for a backup.

 

[Redball Express]

Leary, obviously, he's 25 years old.

Free has been the last vestige of the old OL.

They have reduced his deal before so I wouldn't expect them to increase anything..

especially after he missed so many games with injury.

I think they still like him and he has shown a tremendous amount of leadship on the OL..

so I would try to keep him if only as much needed depth and let him still compete as a starter.

Romo can redo his deal to make that work

Might be in his best interest to do so.