News: ST: Leary looking forward to free agency after showing he can still play

[negativecreep]

Romo will clear about five million this year. Carr doesn't clear anything as his deal is expired. We could spread Tony's 20 mill in dead cap over two years but there isn't much benefit there. The dead cap is already less than the cost to keep him.

The real reason we can't spend on Leary is that we've got a guy on the other side who is going to become the highest paid guard in the league this offseason. (And please no one start telling me we can wait - we did big deals after year 3 for Smith and Fred)

Thank you.

 

[negativecreep]

And I am sick of fans not getting the fact that there is a thing called the salary cap and that we can't pay every player along the OL top 5 money at their position. Also sick of fans demanding immediate returns on player development. Parcells gave players 3 years to develop-- but of course, you know better amiright!?. Apparently b/c Collins isn't immediately in a pro bowl you think he sux. Brilliant.

You are replacing Leary with a guy who is a blue chip talent and would have been a top 10 pick on draft day had it not been for some strange circumstances. What more do you want? lol

We signed an UDFA made him out to be the next L.A. To replace a proven player, it pisses me off that JJ gets so cute, I wish we wouldn't have pissed off Ron so much, and I get the salary cap, we have a proven guard making what 2 mill? And a complete question mark making a guaranteed 8,500. Letting Leary go is a huge roll of the dice, and btw who will be our RT next year?

 

[negativecreep]

BTW, don't ever tell me what I know.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

He is much better than collins who is vastly overrated due to the draft hype

I think Collins is a better run blocker already than Leary, but he's not as good a pass protector.

Collins has made some plays in the run game downfield that showed why he was so hyped.

 

[Hawkeye19]

We signed an UDFA made him out to be the next L.A. To replace a proven player, it pisses me off that JJ gets so cute, I wish we wouldn't have pissed off Ron so much, and I get the salary cap, we have a proven guard making what 2 mill? And a complete question mark making a guaranteed 8,500. Letting Leary go is a huge roll of the dice, and btw who will be our RT next year?

Collins should not be defined as an UDFA... he was only available due to legal issues. He would have normally been a top 10 pick.

And yes, he very well could turn out to be the next LA. As for RT-- I would go with Chaz and draft a guy that can compete with him. Either cut Free or have him take a paycut and stay on a swing tackle since he can also play LT and he knows the system

 

[kiheikiwi]

Collins will be our LG next year, Cooper may or may not re-sign here - but he is a RG/Center, not LG. I would like to see him re-sign, but will defer to the front office on this one.
Look, I get all the angst about losing Leary. But this decision was made last off-season, he wanted to be traded and held out. Now, he was a true professional and came in, did his job and ended up starting again, for the bare minimum - good for him, he has made himself a lot of money coming up this free agent period. But we will not match the offer he is bound to get, AND Collins is a more than adequate replacement. I expect the transition to be seamless, and the added bonus for both sides is that Leary will get his future taken care of after playing these last 4 years relatively cheaply. And Dallas will get a comp. pick for 2018 dependent on how big a contract he signs.
It really is a win/win for both sides.
Thanks for the professional you were Ron, and good-luck with your future. I wish you nothing but good luck moving forward and thank-you for what you did while you were here.

 

[khiladi]

He was a beast for us.. if sign him and move Collins to RT..

 

[EPL0c0]

Well, we know who won't be returning next year..

He's earned a payday. I can't blame him for looking for bigger $ if it's not in Dallas.

 

[Tenkamenin]

Why did we draft Collins to replace Leary? What happened the year prior with Leary?

 

[AbeBeta]

Collins should not be defined as an UDFA... he was only available due to legal issues. He would have normally been a top 10 pick.

And yes, he very well could turn out to be the next LA. As for RT-- I would go with Chaz and draft a guy that can compete with him. Either cut Free or have him take a paycut and stay on a swing tackle since he can also play LT and he knows the system

I think we go into camp with Free unless we end up drafting someone on the top three rounds. Had Green stayed healthy all year, I'd think he could take the job. Without a healthy replacement in the wings, we really have little leverage to ask for a paycut as 5 mill isn't a huge salary for a veteran RT.

 

[AbeBeta]

Why did we draft Collins to replace Leary? What happened the year prior with Leary?

Because you are always trying to improve your team?

 

[negativecreep]

Collins should not be defined as an UDFA... he was only available due to legal issues. He would have normally been a top 10 pick.

And yes, he very well could turn out to be the next LA. As for RT-- I would go with Chaz and draft a guy that can compete with him. Either cut Free or have him take a paycut and stay on a swing tackle since he can also play LT and he knows the system

I see what your saying, and it's hard to disagree, I want Collins to tear it up, but he still hasn't proven he can, I will say he's shown flashes of why teams wanted him top ten, he hasn't proven himself like Leary yet. Trust me when I say I want him to be a hall of fame type lineman, and he has the tools. I just don't feel comfortable about losing our starting left guard and right tackle all at once.

 

[negativecreep]

IMO keeping Free should be a priority.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Why did we draft Collins to replace Leary? What happened the year prior with Leary?

They didn't draft Collins.

 

[Proximo]

Sad to see him go.

Dude is an underrated beast and I've always liked the way that he carries himself.

Wish we could keep him, but it just doesn't seem like it's going to happen. He's going to get paid good money to play guard somewhere, and he's earned it.

 

[remdak]

Why did we draft Collins to replace Leary? What happened the year prior with Leary?

They didn't draft Collins. He was an undrafted free agent. Jerry took the opportunity to use his people skills to convince an OL with top 15 skills that year to come play for the Cowboys for virtually no money in football terms. You don't pass on that opportunity.

 

[Hawkeye19]

I see what your saying, and it's hard to disagree, I want Collins to tear it up, but he still hasn't proven he can, I will say he's shown flashes of why teams wanted him top ten, he hasn't proven himself like Leary yet. Trust me when I say I want him to be a hall of fame type lineman, and he has the tools. I just don't feel comfortable about losing our starting left guard and right tackle all at once.

I hear you... but the salary cap forces decisions like this every year. There are a lot worse options than replacing Leary with a blue chip prospect.

 

[negativecreep]

I hear you... but the salary cap forces decisions like this every year. There are a lot worse options than replacing Leary with a blue chip prospect.

Agreed.

 

[negativecreep]

I just want to hold on to Free, if we can. Ron is as good as gone.

 

[negativecreep]

Good linemen are so hard to find.