Jerry Jones optimistic things will work out with Doug Free

[Califan007]

If he can't play OT the way things are..move him inside and pay him what a good G gets..?

I definitely think you guys should move Free all over the offensive line in attempts to find a place where he doesn't suck eggs.

 

[CaptainMorgan]

ust cut him and move on sounds good on the internet. but in the real world thats a very expensive option. even if you cut him to clabo money you save 3.5 mil this year and 4.5 next. if you cut him you lose 7 mil next year plus the salary of the guy you sign to replace him. we are already over the cap for next year so adding more money is not an option we can really afford. if he won't take a cut then you may have no option but sure worth trying to save money as opposed to spending it when you have to sign lee. those dollars could go along ways to being able to sign lee and down the road carter and dez

It was a horrible contract to begin with, like so many Jerry seems to hand out.

With what Free showed last year I dont see how a vet minimum player couldnt at least match his quality of play.

At some point, salary cap or not these players need to be held accountable. It starts but cutting colossal underachievers! I dont even understand this negotiating tactic. It should have been a simple take it or leave it deal on the Cowboys part not all this Jerry blowing smoke and sunshine.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Sign him up forever with a big contract...

I feel like, he will start the season but will be replaced at some point early on.

 

[Zekeats]

Why don't they print the same way that Jerry says the statement???????

In fact, Jones said today that he likes Free and is optimistic about his future in Dallas.

“I’d like umm to keep him,” Jones said. “We umm think that Doug Free umm can be an important umm part of the team. He’s been here. Umm, umm, umm. We know him. We think umm, that with what we’re doing umm, umm in other parts of our offense, certainly umm in the offensive line, that this will bode well for him. So we think umm, he can really be umm, umm an asset to us.”

Of course, thinking Free can be an asset and thinking Free is worth the $7 million base salary he’s owed this year are two different things. Jones did acknowledge that the $7 million number needs to come down.

“It’s no secret umm that we’re trying to umm renegotiate the contract,” Jones said. “But I think it’s a wrong umm, umm assessment to say that umm anybody’s saying umm ‘take it or leave it’ or we’re at our umm wit’s end or those kinds of things. That’s just not the way I see it going.”

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Why don't they print the same way that Jerry says the statement???????

In fact, Jones said today that he likes Free and is optimistic about his future in Dallas.

“I’d like umm to keep him,” Jones said. “We umm think that Doug Free umm can be an important umm part of the team. He’s been here. Umm, umm, umm. We know him. We think umm, that with what we’re doing umm, umm in other parts of our offense, certainly umm in the offensive line, that this will bode well for him. So we think umm, he can really be umm, umm an asset to us.”

Of course, thinking Free can be an asset and thinking Free is worth the $7 million base salary he’s owed this year are two different things. Jones did acknowledge that the $7 million number needs to come down.

“It’s no secret umm that we’re trying to umm renegotiate the contract,” Jones said. “But I think it’s a wrong umm, umm assessment to say that umm anybody’s saying umm ‘take it or leave it’ or we’re at our umm wit’s end or those kinds of things. That’s just not the way I see it going.”

All those "umms" and not one "uh?" Amazing

 

[TheCount]

I'm still wondering at what price point does Free magically become a better OT.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Sorry, but I think Winston is worlds better than Free in multiple categories.

The scouts don't concurr, which would exain why Winston is still unsigned even after Clabo set the market price way down.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Again, I can understand the desire to see the Cowboys be rid of Free.

I get that.

But what I think needs mentioning is what the Cowboys still see in Free and why they would like to keep him at a reduced salary.

Looking at Free's weekly rating (per PFF) paints a picture of early failure and then some measure of rebound at the end of the season:

Week 1 -3.6
Week 2 -0.2
Week 3 -2.8
Week 4 -3.6
Week 6 +0.2
Week 7 +0.1
Week 8 -0.6
Week 9 +1.2
Week 10 -0.5
Week 11 -1.1
Week 12 +1.2
Week 13 -6.8
Week 14 -1.9
Week 15 +4.1
Week 16 +1.4
Week 17 +2.8

What does this tell us?

Very bad early.

His play improved during the middle of the season... starting with the Cowboys' 5th game of the season (their week 6).

Horrible vs. the Eagles in week 13.

Bad vs. the Bengals in week 14.

Then with Parnell getting some of the snaps during weeks 15, 16 and 17, Free puts together his first positive 3-game stretch since 2010.

OK, some thoughts...

Some have posted the legitimate question, "OK if Parnell was that good why didn't the Cowboys replace Free earlier in the season?"

I think the answer is two-fold...

First was the fact that Free was playing a new position and I think the Cowboys were giving him the benefit of the doubt. Keep in mind the other tackle, Smith was also having a bad start to the season and the Cowboys were giving both guys a chance to work out their problems... And both did improve after a rocky start.

Second was Parnell having so little experience, they weren't going switch Free out for Parnell during the first few games of the season.

From week six until week 13, Free holding his own at RT. Not great but not awful either. Free didn't give the team a reason to split snaps with Parnell.

It was only after the meltdown vs. Philly that the Cowboys thought about him splitting snaps with Parnell... And rightfully so.

One final point...

For week 15, Doug Free was the top rated OT in the NFL per PFF.

For week 16, Doug Free was the 24th rated OT.

For week 17, Doug Free was the 10th rated OT.

And it's the improvement Free showed during those 3 weeks that has encouraged the Cowboys to retain him– at a lower salary of course.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

For week 15, Doug Free was the top rated OT in the NFL per PFF.

For week 16, Doug Free was the 24th rated OT.

For week 17, Doug Free was the 10th rated OT.

And it's the improvement Free showed during those 3 weeks that has encouraged the Cowboys to retain him– at a lower salary of course.

And its that kind of stuff that gets you back to back 8-8 seasons.

 

[TheCount]

For week 15, Doug Free was the top rated OT in the NFL per PFF.

For week 16, Doug Free was the 24th rated OT.

For week 17, Doug Free was the 10th rated OT.

And it's the improvement Free showed during those 3 weeks that has encouraged the Cowboys to retain him– at a lower salary of course.

The guy is a 7 year vet. 3 games aren't any reason to cut or keep him. We've seen enough of Free to determine if he's a quality NFL RT or not. If he's not, then cut him. If he is, then pay him the money you agreed to and let him start.

It's not that complicated. Few teams other than our Dallas Cowboys would approach this situation thinking that at a certain price point, it becomes acceptable to then pay a 2nd RT to rotate with Free indefinitely and call that a job well done.

 

[Stash]

The scouts don't concurr, which would exain why Winston is still unsigned even after Clabo set the market price way down.

That's fine. They didn't agree about Brian Waters either.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Waters should have been signed, Winston...no so much.

 

[wileedog]

Jerry Jones optimistic things will work out with {fill in the blank}

Pretty much the story of our futility for 17 years.

 

[lcharles]

So if I get this right, Jerry wants to keep Free, who was horrendous last year, if he agrees to a bargain basement salary? oh yeah, that should fix the line.

:laugh2:






Jerry blew it on Frees contract. Now he is stuck with him.



I still have high hopes for the team in general but the o-line still causes me to be less optimistic. :crossed:

 

[ragman]

It's just the Cowboys being the Cowboys. They have a fear of the unknown. They'd rather stick with a player they know, even though he stinks, than with a player they don't know.