Keeping Parnell over Free

[gimmesix]

I keep reading that Dallas might want to keep Martin at guard and extend Free after this season, which might not be a terrible plan if Free plays well. Free's a young 30, considering he didn't play much right away.

However, Jermey Parnell is even younger (turns 28 in July), has even less wear and tear and might come cheaper. He was set to challenge Free for the starting job last year before that competition ended because injury allowed Free to lock down the job before Parnell got going. I don't think that means Dallas doesn't see Parnell as being just as good.

I like Free better than many on here, but I think long term that Parnell might be the better option. It's good to have a younger man waiting in the wings, but it's only good if you eventually turn to that younger player to replace the older, more expensive one.

 

[RS12]

I dont think Free is in their long term plans. If they had made the Trai Turner trade he would likely have ended up at RG and Martin RT and Free out the door. I think that likely was the plan.

 

[Cowboy06]

I would play Free now and hope to draft another OT highly. I don't care for Parnell and Free seems light in his pants. Just not a good base and gets blown back too often. Sometimes you have to move on from what's being offered. It won't happen this year, but I can hope it happens before long. I for one am tired of the projects in key positions such as the offensive and defensive line.

 

[Idgit]

I keep reading that Dallas might want to keep Martin at guard and extend Free after this season, which might not be a terrible plan if Free plays well. Free's a young 30, considering he didn't play much right away.

However, Jermey Parnell is even younger (turns 28 in July), has even less wear and tear and might come cheaper. He was set to challenge Free for the starting job last year before that competition ended because injury allowed Free to lock down the job before Parnell got going. I don't think that means Dallas doesn't see Parnell as being just as good.

I like Free better than many on here, but I think long term that Parnell might be the better option. It's good to have a younger man waiting in the wings, but it's only good if you eventually turn to that younger player to replace the older, more expensive one.

I was thinking something similar. If we like Parnell, and I think we do, we ought to offer him a 2-3 year extension now as a backup. That let's us offer a fair contract to Free if we want to keep him, or we can let him walk and let Parnell compete for the starting job next offseason. Really, once we get him under contract, we can let him compete for it in earnest this season. We've got some leverage there now, as he's a backup. If he can play comparably to Free, is younger, and will sign a value deal now, that's a win in my book. Especially if we actually do like Weems, behind him. Broaddus seems to think we do, though I'm not so sure.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I would assume that Doug Frees time with the Dallas Cowboys is coming to a close. I think most are very iffy on Free to begin with. Add to that that he's now going into 30+ years of age, and its just not a good mix for a team that need to be careful with its money going forward. If he has a so so year we probably are searching for his replacement next offseason. If he has a great season then his price tag goes through the roof.
As far as Parnell goes I think its tough for fans to make a decision on him as of yet. We really haven't seen enough of him.

 

[jaybird]

I was thinking something similar. If we like Parnell, and I think we do, we ought to offer him a 2-3 year extension now as a backup. That let's us offer a fair contract to Free if we want to keep him, or we can let him walk and let Parnell compete for the starting job next offseason. Really, once we get him under contract, we can let him compete for it in earnest this season. We've got some leverage there now, as he's a backup. If he can play comparably to Free, is younger, and will sign a value deal now, that's a win in my book. Especially if we actually do like Weems, behind him. Broaddus seems to think we do, though I'm not so sure.

i believe Jerry sort of promised Free another contract, becaues he came back for much less. Provided he's still playing well. If Free has a good season he'll be back.

 

[Hoofbite]

Parnell just wasn't that great.

If free plays like last year, I think it's hard to go with "not that great" when you have a player already at that position who is better.

 

[jazzcat22]

Free and Parnell will battle in TC once again. I believe Free will win. I never seen anything from Parnell to show me he can be a top OT. Free hasn't either, but he has the experience.
Weems is another guy they like too. But I don't pay that much attention to any film as much as others, it is just my opinion.
However, if any of these 3 doesn't just have a blow up year, and even if they do, I still think they pick an OT in the 1st 3 rounds next year.
also depends on Martin, if he shows he can handle the OT position, then they still get an OG next year.

 

[jobberone]

They like Free but he can be upgraded and they will if they get a chance. They also like Weems and Parnell and I think they all will get a chance to compete at tackle. If Parnell beats Free out Free will likely stay as the swing tackle. If Weems pushes them both then they may try to trade someone although I doubt it. Parnell, Free, Smith and Weems may be a pretty good set of players. After this year I don't know what happens with Free.

 

[RS12]

49ers not likely to re-up Iupati. Know the Cowboys loved him. Good chance they would spend the money on Iupati move Martin to RT and reshuffle the guards IMO and not spend the money on Free.

 

[JBS]

There are people that want parnell to start at RT? Hahahaha, have we already forgotten what its like when we throw in scrubs to start on the OL?

 

[daveferr33]

Makes no sense to spend first round currency on an average RT, which is how Martin projects.

I hope this team chose him to be a perennial pro-bowl guard, which is how Martin projects.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I dont think Free is in their long term plans. If they had made the Trai Turner trade he would likely have ended up at RG and Martin RT and Free out the door. I think that likely was the plan.

There are two guards on the field and I could see them wanting both replaced after watching the interior line fail to protect Romo at any point last year even at the end when everyone said they played 'well.'

 

[perrykemp]

The NFL offseason is the favorite season of Parnell fans. Every offseason for maybe the last 3 years the chatter rises about Parnell and how he should either be the RT or is going to make a run at RT.

Parnell will be 28 going into this season and has started a grand total of 2 out of a possible 64 games in his career.

I think it's time to accept facts -- he isn't a NFL starter and to project him as a starter is unrealistic.

For as long as he sticks with the team (and that may not be much longer) he'll always be player 50 or 51 on the roster.

 

[OhSnap]

Parnell coulda had the job by now but he just isn't better than Free and with Free playing for his Job and playing the same position back to back years for the first time in his career it's probably gonna take an injury for Parnell to get in as a starter. Free has the ability to be a lockdown tackle for long stretches at times something thats hard to beat out.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Free can easily be upgraded, but not from what is already on the team...... Until that upgrade shows up, we shouldn't be trying to run Free out of town.

 

[SacramentoKing]

There's no such thing as a young 30 lol

 

[gimmesix]

I dont think Free is in their long term plans. If they had made the Trai Turner trade he would likely have ended up at RG and Martin RT and Free out the door. I think that likely was the plan.

Not sure if that was the plan (based on how you can never tell how a third-rounder will turn out). But it would have certainly given Dallas an option to do that next year.

 

[gimmesix]

Parnell just wasn't that great.

If free plays like last year, I think it's hard to go with "not that great" when you have a player already at that position who is better.

I don't think Parnell replaces Free this year. I think Dallas takes a long look at him in camp and eyes him as Free's replacement next year.

I believe Parnell has showed a lot of promise, but wasn't really given a shot this past offseason because he was slowed by injury and Free absolutely seized the opportunity. Nothing wrong with that, but it does possibly leave Dallas in good position for next season to either get Free back cheaper or go with a younger, promising player.

 

[gimmesix]

The NFL offseason is the favorite season of Parnell fans. Every offseason for maybe the last 3 years the chatter rises about Parnell and how he should either be the RT or is going to make a run at RT.

Parnell will be 28 going into this season and has started a grand total of 2 out of a possible 64 games in his career.

I think it's time to accept facts -- he isn't a NFL starter and to project him as a starter is unrealistic.

For as long as he sticks with the team (and that may not be much longer) he'll always be player 50 or 51 on the roster.

There are reasons why a younger player doesn't supplant an older one and sometimes they have little to do with the skill of the younger one. If Free had not started off playing at a high level last year, I have no doubt that Parnell would have been the starter. But give credit to Free for upping his game and grabbing the position before Parnell could even get started.