ESPN: Jerry Jones on Doug Free: "A lot of moving parts with Doug"

[jobberone]

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

The Cowboys have said they want to keep starting right tackle Doug Free.

However, if Free doesn't take a pay cut, there are a few options for the Cowboys:

1. They release Free and he becomes a post-June 1 cut and saves the team $7 million against the salary cap.

2. Free remains with the team at a reduced salary and competes with Jermey Parnell for the starting right tackle spot.

3. If the Cowboys cut Free the starting right tackle might not be on the roster. Yes, the team likes Free but there is interest in Eric Winston and Tyson Clabo. But even those two players might not be around if and when the Cowboys get around to making a decision on Free.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowb...-on-doug-free-a-lot-of-moving-parts-with-doug

 

[Stash]

But even those two players might not be around if and when the Cowboys get around to making a decision on Free.

This is what scares me.

Get this done while you still can.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

This is what scares me.

Get this done while you still can.

There is $5M in cap space to get this done so I don't understand why June 1 seem to be on the critical path to suring up the OL with this missing piece.

Unless there's concern with Winston and Clabo, why not pull the trigger and make the Free situation irrelevant.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

There is $5M in cap space to get this done so I don't understand why June 1 seem to be on the critical path to suring up the OL with this missing piece.

Unless there's concern with Winston and Clabo, why not pull the trigger and make the Free situation irrelevant.

5 Million in Cap Space is not much for a starting OT in the NFL. In addition to that, there is 5 Million this year. Next year, there may not be 5 million so what you have to consider is what you can pay a starting OT in years 2 and 3 and so on. What quality Starting OT is going to sign a 1 year deal for 5 million?

 

[theogt]

5 Million in Cap Space is not much for a starting OT in the NFL. In addition to that, there is 5 Million this year. Next year, there may not be 5 million so what you have to consider is what you can pay a starting OT in years 2 and 3 and so on. What quality Starting OT is going to sign a 1 year deal for 5 million?

You can make a $50 million contract have a $5 million cap hit in year 1.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

You can make a $50 million contract have a $5 million cap hit in year 1.

Yeah, but if you can't afford to pay the other 45 Million out in years 2 through 5, what difference does it make?

 

[erod]

The problem is, Clabo is a nice upgrade from Free, but Winston isn't. Winston and Free are virtually the same player.

It's going to be a bidding war between the Dolphins and Cowboys for Clabo.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The problem is, Clabo is a nice upgrade from Free, but Winston isn't. Winston and Free are virtually the same player.

It's going to be a bidding war between the Dolphins and Cowboys for Clabo.

I don't think Winston and Free are the same player.

 

[Idgit]

I don't think Winston and Free are the same player.

Both are effectively backup/swing players at this point. That's all that really matters.

I think the team wants to see what it's got in Parnell, and to be covered in case it's not enough or somebody gets hurt. If Free won't take a cut, that gets a lot harder to find.

Clabo would be a clear upgrade, but at a premium. Tough call right now, and a lot of moving parts here.

 

[AbeBeta]

I love that he says "a lot of moving parts" -- he got that from Parcells who used to say it all the time

 

[Lifetimeboyzfan]

Free is horrible. Worst extension we have given out in a long time, possibly ever...

 

[jjktkk]

I love that he says "a lot of moving parts" -- he got that from Parcells who used to say it all the time

Well, you can't say Jerry never learns something then.

 

[erod]

Free is horrible. Worst extension we have given out in a long time, possibly ever...

Free was good against Pittsburgh and Washington late in the season. He wasn't a complete disaster. But I don't trust going into a season with him.

I think Winston is about the same. I'd rather play Parnell.

 

[theogt]

Yeah, but if you can't afford to pay the other 45 Million out in years 2 through 5, what difference does it make?

Surely not having Doug Free's $8 million salaries in 2014, 2015 and 2016, plus is proration of guaranteed amounts would make that doable.

 

[Idgit]

Free is horrible. Worst extension we have given out in a long time, possibly ever...

He played poorly. I'd say horrible is an overstatement. It was an awful miss on his extension, though. Ratliff's most recent extension and Marion Barber's were both pretty bad, though, too, relative to their positions and the team's bargaining position for each.

 

[Nation]

I actually don't think it was a horrible contract, just because the actual extension was an issue of several cycling problems, namely the failure to find any offensive linemen in 2008 and 2009. The fact that the team was forced to sign a 4th round draft pick who had played one season of average left tackle to a big contract because the alternatives were that bad is a bigger problem than the logic of the actual contract. More of a big picture philosophy issue than an individual contract issue.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Surely not having Doug Free's $8 million salaries in 2014, 2015 and 2016, plus is proration of guaranteed amounts would make that doable.

We are on the hook for him at 6 Million regardless of his presence on the team or not and that can only be spread out over 2 years if he is a June 1st cut. Otherwise, it's all 6 accelerated and we can't take that hit no matter what the course of action is. That's why Jerry is so gun ho to keep Free on the team. He knows he can't afford to sustain that dead cap space and sign a decent replacement.

 

[Hoofbite]

Can't be that many. Couple of hinges. That's what most other swinging gates have.

 

[Beast_from_East]

The rumor going around the internet is that the Cowboys have given Free until Monday to decide. Either take the pay cut or be released and designated a June 1 cut. His base salary this year would be reduced from $7 million to $2 million, thus saving the Cowboys $5 million on the cap.

Like I said, this is a rumor going around so it is not verified so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Galian Beast]

The echo chamber on Winston is hilarious. Not sure when he became the same player as Free. Early reports suggested that he was the best tackle available in free agency.