Twitter: Lael Collins will be designated IR return

[NorthwestDallas40]

per Rappaport, so take FWIW

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Nothing set in stone though, more like an educated guess. If Tapper looks ready to roll and the pass rush continues to struggle, they could opt for him. But if Green can't stay healthy and they need good depth options, then definitely bring Collins into the fold.

 

[Idgit]

Makes sense.

 

[Cowboys22]

Leary should remain the starter. He has earned it. Collins could rotate in for a few series but he should not get the starting spot back.

 

[Idgit]

Nothing set in stone though, more like an educated guess. If Tapper looks ready to roll and the pass rush continues to struggle, they could opt for him. But if Green can't stay healthy and they need good depth options, then definitely bring Collins into the fold.

I get that we're starved for pass rush help, but Tapper's got a congenitive issue, missed most of camp, and hasn't started in a single game for us. Not sure he gives us anything that Mayowa or Irving or any of the PS guys could give us this late in the season and coming off of IR.

Collins, on the other hand, is a legit quality starter who we know can play in the one position group we really can't do without. I don't think there's any doubt which guy we ought to be activating of Collins is ready and able to play.

 

[Idgit]

Leary should remain the starter. He has earned it. Collins could rotate in for a few series but he should not get the starting spot back.

Collins really ought to do a press conference or something.

 

[MRV52]

Leary has to be signed period!!!!

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Leary has to be signed period!!!!

while I agree that Leary should remain the starter, it's just not a good allocation of cap dollars to resign Leary. To be honest, it's probably not a good idea to resign La'el in 2.5 years or so either, but to draft a guard in round 2 or 3 or so that we can turn to when he hits free agency.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Leary has to be signed period!!!!

I keep thinking this, but he's probably played himself into a contract we can't afford. With Martin still to be signed, and eventually Collins, we can't allot that much cap space to one group. Eventually we'll have to pay other weaker parts or our roster to get them up to snuff. It's tough. Leary deserves to be paid a great contract, but I hoooope he can take a hometown discount...or if maybe teams are still scared off by his knee.

 

[Nova]

Collins really ought to do a press conference or something.

You know what? He should.

Best press conference by an offensive lineman ever when he was a rook.

 

[Idgit]

You know what? He should.

Best press conference by an offensive lineman ever when he was a rook.

Yeah, he was really great that day.

Obviously, I'm kidding on the PC thing, but if Tony loses his job due to the quality of play of his replacement, Collins does, too. Leary's been a straight-up upgrade.

 

[Carson]

Maybe he replaces Jumbo Joe?

 

[kiheikiwi]

Nothing new, but we are going to lose Leary this off-season. We cannot afford to keep him, and he has been a good team player and has earned his chance to get a big payday - which he will. It just wont be here in Dallas. Good luck to him this off-season, yes, he remains the starter the rest of this year. The bigger his contract next year the better the compensatory pick for us. We have his replacement in Collins, and with the off-season he slots into left guard.
Thanks Ron. see you when we play your new team.

 

[reddyuta]

i would rather have Collins back than a rookie with a broken back.

 

[xwalker]

while I agree that Leary should remain the starter, it's just not a good allocation of cap dollars to resign Leary. To be honest, it's probably not a good idea to resign La'el in 2.5 years or so either, but to draft a guard in round 2 or 3 or so that we can turn to when he hits free agency.

Guards cost a lot less than some other positions. The Cowboys have made the OL the center of their identity. Spending 6M per on Leary would not be a bad investment.

If Collins could play RT, then it would be a terrific investment to cut Free and save 5M, then sign Leary for 6M per. Collins may or may not be an ideal RT candidate but I feel certain that he would be as good as Free.

 

[links18]

Can he rush the passer? Or maybe cover a receiver?

 

[Hawkeye19]

Nothing new, but we are going to lose Leary this off-season. We cannot afford to keep him, and he has been a good team player and has earned his chance to get a big payday - which he will. It just wont be here in Dallas. Good luck to him this off-season, yes, he remains the starter the rest of this year. The bigger his contract next year the better the compensatory pick for us. We have his replacement in Collins, and with the off-season he slots into left guard.
Thanks Ron. see you when we play your new team.

I tend to agree-- that is the most likely outcome.

However-- there is a small chance that they could sign Leary and replace Free with Collins at RT. With Romo's salary coming off the cap in next 2 years, and cutting/restructuring other players, there is a way that they could sign Leary and keep Collins as a starter.

Our starting 5 next year could be: Smith, Leary, Frederick, Martin, Collins with Chaz and Looney as the key backups. Dak and Zeke's rookie contracts are easy on the books for the next 2 years at least-- which creates a lot of flexibility when it comes to how you want to structure your team. BUT-- that is a LOT of resources tied up in the OL obviously.

 

[BlueStar22]

Leary should remain the starter. He has earned it. Collins could rotate in for a few series but he should not get the starting spot back.

rotate for what? Leary has been better than Collins ever was this year.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Guards cost a lot less than some other positions. The Cowboys have made the OL the center of their identity. Spending 6M per on Leary would not be a bad investment.

IMO, spending 6 million on Leary when we'll be spending about 13 million, would be a bad investment. Also not a given that he signs for 6 million. Given our success it could be more.

If Collins could play RT, then it would be a terrific investment to cut Free and save 5M, then sign Leary for 6M per. Collins may or may not be an ideal RT candidate but I feel certain that he would be as good as Free.

If Collins could play RT, there would certainly be a stronger case for it, but I don't think the coaching staff view him as a RT, because despite having a good player in Leary, they have never tried it. They didn't even attempt to make him the swing tackle, just so we could activate him on game days.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

while I agree that Leary should remain the starter, it's just not a good allocation of cap dollars to resign Leary. To be honest, it's probably not a good idea to resign La'el in 2.5 years or so either, but to draft a guard in round 2 or 3 or so that we can turn to when he hits free agency.

ID much rather MUCH RATHER sign Collins than use a premium draft pick on offense.

My God.