Honestly, I think Jerry is just ready to bite the bullet and let these young kids develop. Veteran FAs are just progress stoppers at this point. Jerry and Stephen have realized how old this O-line got and how quickly it happened. To boot, it's not cheap to upgrade through FA. The Cowboys are starting a youth movement from the outside in on the O-line.
I can't say that I blame them. One of the reasons we are so inexperienced in so many areas is due to the reluctance of the two former regimes to play younger guys, opting for vets that may or may not have been a better option than a youngster sitting on the bench, in the long run.We'll never have any "quality depth" if we don't give some of these guys some experience. Had we known about Free a year before we actually HAD to use him, we could have saved ourselves MILLIONS of dollars by extending his contract before he hit the FA market. I say we find out about the Costas and Arkins on the team and put a full press on their development if they look like players that can turn the corner.
I think the lack of having our two safeties signed to begin camp was a blessing in disguise because it forced the team to take a hard look at both Church and AOA. Will they eventually be the guys? Who knows, but I know we're a heck of a lot closer to having an idea than we would have been had Sensy and Elam been signed, sealed and delivered at the start of camp. Same deal with the release of Roy Williams for the WR corp.
Many other teams in the NFL seem to do this with some measure of success. The Green Bay Packers come to mind right off the bat. As Cowboys fans (especially those of us that have actually been around long enough to EXPECT greatness because of past successes) want it all and we want it now. Don't get me wrong, I want to "win it all" every year, too. It's gotten to the point that the mediocrity has put me in a place that I just want us to finally be a solid football team. If it means we take some lumps for a season or so, then so be it. Let's just build a solid football team rather than a splash and dash, here today gone tomorrow team of poor trades and foolish FA signings. If that's re-building, then oh well. Built teams are better than bought teams every single year. I've yet to see a "bought team" win the Super Bowl since the 49ers signed Deion Sanders. Every other team that has tried that strategy has failed to win the big one.
We all sling crap around about the Commanders, but they are the perfect example. Every year (except for last year), they have tried to buy a title and have failed miserably. MISERABLY! Heck, look at the last 10 Super Bowl winners. Not one of those teams brought in the "missing piece" via FA. Even Drew Brees in NO was there for a couple of years to help BUILD that team before they won it all. And, with the exception of Brees, there wasn't a single "superstar" on that team (and no Reggie Bush doesn't count. I don't consider an all-hype player to be a superstar).
Build. Not buy.
On the nosey.
