Twitter: Free Retiring***Merged***

[Animosity]

lets be real, he was the weakest link on the ol.

 

[waldoputty]

Yep. I think Collins will be better than Leary in the long run and probably just as good this season. The issue is there's a big question mark at RT, but let's not pretend it wasn't already a weak link. Maybe Free's retirement will be a blessing in disguise. I really hope Chaz Green wasn't a wasted pick.

unfortunately, someone from the board also showed he was only available 1/4 of 2016.

 

[SportsGuru80]

A turnstile was better than Free these past two years. This really isn't a big deal IMO.

 

[Carson]

lets be real, he was the weakest link on the ol.

True.

But is he weak because we are that dominant on the line ... or just weak?

 

[Chuck 54]

It's a big deal because we were hoping to go one more year of his contract with Free, Green, and Cleary. Now, we have to hope Green can stay healthy, that Cleary can back up both sides, and we still need to find another OT with little available in FA and a weak draft for OT, according to experts. On top of that, Smith seems to be breaking down a bit for a young guy....we need a full season out of him while we piece things together to get a season at RT.

 

[Chuck 54]

We won't find anyone of value to sign, not as a starter. It's Green's job to lose or miss due to injury now. We have to draft a RT for depth/development in mid-rounds............unless someone on our practice squad showed something. The other option is that after the draft and rookie signings, there will be some OT's released who were on active rosters last season.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

lets be real, he was the weakest link on the ol.

Nah, that's not real enough.

 

[big dog cowboy]

But is he weak because we are that dominant on the line ... or just weak?

Free is the weak link because of his play compared to the rest of the ROT's in the league.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

Did Free actually submit retirement papers? Or is this just a negotiating ploy so he does not have to reduce his salary? Just curious

 

[waldoputty]

We won't find anyone of value to sign, not as a starter. It's Green's job to lose or miss due to injury now. We have to draft a RT for depth/development in mid-rounds............unless someone on our practice squad showed something. The other option is that after the draft and rookie signings, there will be some OT's released who were on active rosters last season.

green was not available 3/4 of the games last year.
the best he can be is a backup swing OT.
cleary is the likely starter currently if nothing else because of availability.

 

[waldoputty]

Did Free actually submit retirement papers? Or is this just a negotiating ploy so he does not have to reduce his salary? Just curious

if free was trying to negotiate, he would not have told them before free agency started.
by doing so, the team could have signed his replacement.

 

[conner01]

lets be real, he was the weakest link on the ol.

Someone will always be the weakest link no matter how good you are

 

[conner01]

green was not available 3/4 of the games last year.
the best he can be is a backup swing OT.
cleary is the likely starter currently if nothing else because of availability.

Hopefully green can stay healthy. He is talented but often injured

 

[waldoputty]

Hopefully green can stay healthy. He is talented but often injured

you can hope.
but what responsible FO will plan on Green being healthy given his track record
he was out for 3/4 of games last year and all the games the year before.
the reasonable thing to do is have him as the backup swing so it minimizes the chance he gets injured.
lets hope cleary is decent like he showed in the last game - but no idea how much protection was set up to protect him.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Current FA tackles:

• Ryan Clady
• Sebastian Vollmer (may retire)
• Austin Pasztor
• King Dunlap
• Andre Smith
• Gosder Cherilus (may retire)
• Will Beatty
• Breno Giacomini
• Bradley Sowell
• Mike Adams
• Tony Hills
• Jake Long