Should we lock up Free now?

[Eskimo]

As it stands with the current CBA Free is a RFA but that may not stand once a new deal is reached. I think we should take the opportunity to sign him to a reasonable deal that will ensure his financial security. I'm thinking 5 years $30-35 million would be fair to all sides with about $10-12 million guaranteed.

 

[dariet22]

As it stands with the current CBA Free is a RFA but that may not stand once a new deal is reached. I think we should take the opportunity to sign him to a reasonable deal that will ensure his financial security. I'm thinking 5 years $30-35 million would be fair to all sides with about $10-12 million guaranteed.

Why? So he can under achieve in 2011 like the others?

 

[daschoo]

Why? So he can under achieve in 2011 like the others?

pretty much what kills threads like this, not meaning to pick on you mate just yours is the only response. half say yes, get him long term and then moan if he's not as good as hoped, the others moan that he needs to continue to earn it give him a short incentive based contract then jump on the teams backs if he signs long term elsewhere and plays well.
just for the record i'd be looking long term

 

[SDCowboy]

He needs to show a lot more. I have no doubt he has a future with this team but I still can't get the play out of my mind when he didn't even know the play was happening and got Tony killed. He just stood there frozen. Seriously, how can you space out that badly?

 

[AdamJT13]

I still can't get the play out of my mind when he didn't even know the play was happening and got Tony killed. He just stood there frozen. Seriously, how can you space out that badly?

When was that? Are you sure you're not thinking of Cory Procter?

 

[SDCowboy]

When was that? Are you sure you're not thinking of Cory Procter?

I'm pretty sure it was free. If it wasn't I take it back. It was when the ball snapped, he just stood there frozen in his stance.

 

[gimmesix]

As it stands with the current CBA Free is a RFA but that may not stand once a new deal is reached. I think we should take the opportunity to sign him to a reasonable deal that will ensure his financial security. I'm thinking 5 years $30-35 million would be fair to all sides with about $10-12 million guaranteed.

I don't think Dallas will do anything until the new deal is reached. I'm not against locking up Free, but I think Jerry wants to see how things shake out with the CBA before making any more contract decisions.

However things shape up, I could go either way with signing Free, either getting a long-term deal or wrapping him up with the top tender as an RFA, giving Dallas another year to evaluate him as a starter before making the long-term move.

 

[cboyd]

I'm pretty sure it was free. If it wasn't I take it back. It was when the ball snapped, he just stood there frozen in his stance.

Yeah, it was Doug Free, it was a weird thing that is for sure, it was like he didn't know anyone else around him was moving

 

[Eskimo]

When was that? Are you sure you're not thinking of Cory Procter?

There was a play against Minnesota where Free didn't know the snap count. Allen got a run at Romo who threw an INT.

 

[Eskimo]

I don't think Dallas will do anything until the new deal is reached. I'm not against locking up Free, but I think Jerry wants to see how things shake out with the CBA before making any more contract decisions.

However things shape up, I could go either way with signing Free, either getting a long-term deal or wrapping him up with the top tender as an RFA, giving Dallas another year to evaluate him as a starter before making the long-term move.

I don't know how much more we need to see. He has gotten progressively better and has been the starter for about 1.5 years now.

 

[SDCowboy]

There was a play against Minnesota where Free didn't know the snap count. Allen got a run at Romo who threw an INT.

But even when the play was going he just kept frozen like a statue. In my 20 years of watching football I've never seen that before.

 

[Eskimo]

But even when the play was going he just kept frozen like a statue. In my 20 years of watching football I've never seen that before.

Cory Proctor did it even worse against the Giants in 2008.

Anyhow, I wouldn't determine a player's worth on the basis of one snap.

 

[gimmesix]

I don't know how much more we need to see. He has gotten progressively better and has been the starter for about 1.5 years now.

The other side of the argument would be why get tied up in a player when you don't have to yet. What happens if his play slips next year, or if he suffers a long-term injury? Dallas doesn't have to guarantee him much of anything yet, so why should it?

Like I said, I could live with either decision, but when you are dealing with multimillions, I can see why Dallas would be tempted to wait and see for another year. And the Cowboys can match any offer he'd receive as a tendered RFA.

 

[AdamJT13]

But even when the play was going he just kept frozen like a statue. In my 20 years of watching football I've never seen that before.

On the play you're thinking of, Free was looking in, and when the ball was snapped he kind of hesitated, threw an elbow at the defensive tackle and never looked outside. He might have forgotten the snap count and blown his assignment, but he didn't just stand there frozen for more than a split second, like anyone would do if they forgot the count.

Last year or two years ago (whenever it was) against the Giants, Procter stayed in his stance for basically the entire play, which is why I thought that's what you were thinking of.

Here's the play against the Vikings --

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81b651c2/Henderson-intercepts-tipped-pass

 

[Eskimo]

The other side of the argument would be why get tied up in a player when you don't have to yet. What happens if his play slips next year, or if he suffers a long-term injury? Dallas doesn't have to guarantee him much of anything yet, so why should it?

Like I said, I could live with either decision, but when you are dealing with multimillions, I can see why Dallas would be tempted to wait and see for another year. And the Cowboys can match any offer he'd receive as a tendered RFA.

I guess I would be fine with tendering him if we knew we would be able to tender him for sure without exposing him to the open market. The CBA ends this year and under previous terms he would have been a UFA after 4 years and not 6 years. I doubt the players would agree to a new deal that put off FA for that long.

The other issue is that we have so many holes on OL that we can't risk losing Free. He will have an incentive to get some money now before a possible lockout and we may be able to sign him to below a free market deal at this stage.

In terms of play slippage, that is a risk with every player but Free is young, healthy and improving. He also seems to have a good attitude and is a high effort player so I'm not too worried about him.

 

[gimmesix]

I guess I would be fine with tendering him if we knew we would be able to tender him for sure without exposing him to the open market. The CBA ends this year and under previous terms he would have been a UFA after 4 years and not 6 years. I doubt the players would agree to a new deal that put off FA for that long.

I think this is the reason Dallas doesn't make any move until a new deal is reached. CBA issues have to be resolved so the Cowboys can see what moves are available, such as what kind of cap they are going to be dealing with.

 

[Eskimo]

I think this is the reason Dallas doesn't make any move until a new deal is reached. CBA issues have to be resolved so the Cowboys can see what moves are available, such as what kind of cap they are going to be dealing with.

I doubt it will change that dramatically in terms of the cap and we will still need to secure Free. There is plenty of fat elsewhere that can be trimmed - Colombo, Bigg, RW11, MB3.

 

[jblaze2004]

I doubt it will change that dramatically in terms of the cap and we will still need to secure Free. There is plenty of fat elsewhere that can be trimmed - Colombo, Bigg, RW11, MB3.

yes but i think we have less than 2 hrs to cut them bums but it will not happen.

 

[Eskimo]

yes but i think we have less than 2 hrs to cut them bums but it will not happen.

Their contracts are not guaranteed so they can be cut at anytime before the start of the 2011 season (unless they have upcoming roster bonuses).

 

[jblaze2004]

Their contracts are not guaranteed so they can be cut at anytime before the start of the 2011 season (unless they have upcoming roster bonuses).

Oh yeah but the thing is after sunday's game our 2011 season officially start I think is what i heard on this board. And if they do have a roster bonus they will count against the cap next year which is why Jerry might wait on cutting players like Roy (or we might try to trade Roy next year for atleast a 3rd)...lol...hopefully a team is needy.