The Doug Free Dilemma

[TheSport78]

This is just my opinion, but Doug Free has seemed to regress ever since he signed his 4 year contract extension.

Hopefully Adam can help me out with this, but Free has a base salary of $1.2 million in 2012, and this number jumps to $7 million in 2013.

With Free somewhat regressing, and Parnell progressing, how would you feel with Parnell as the starting RT in 2013? Just a thought.

 

[Lonestar94]

Absurd. Free will be the RT for years to come.

 

[TheSport78]

Absurd. Free will be the RT for years to come.

How is it absurd? He was pretty terrible last year and he's supposed to be in the prime of his career right now. He supposedly isn't having a great camp either.

 

[Lonestar94]

How is it absurd? He was pretty terrible last year and he's supposed to be in the prime of his career right now. He supposedly isn't having a great camp either.

He wasn't as bad as people think last year and he's being moved back to his natural position (which he has to get used to again) He'll be fine.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Really? Jeremy freaking Parnell?

The last time Free played RT, he was really good. And he wasn't "terrible" last year at LT, either.

 

[a_minimalist]

:laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[Eskimo]

I think people are really over-reacting to Free having some trouble in December single blocking Trent Cole and JPP - two of the best pass rushing DEs in the league. He is a good player coming off a down year. You can't fluke your way through a whole year and he was good in 2010 at LT so I have no reason to believe he'll be anything but a good RT.

Now if Parnell gets on the field and proves he can play with the 1's then you can entertain offers for Free in a trade next year.

 

[TheSport78]

Really? Jeremy freaking Parnell?

The last time Free played RT, he was really good. And he wasn't "terrible" last year at LT, either.

He allowed 9.5 sacks and committed a team-high 10 penalties.

 

[TheSport78]

I think people are really over-reacting to Free having some trouble in December single blocking Trent Cole and JPP - two of the best pass rushing DEs in the league. He is a good player coming off a down year. You can't fluke your way through a whole year and he was good in 2010 at LT so I have no reason to believe he'll be anything but a good RT.

Now if Parnell gets on the field and proves he can play with the 1's then you can entertain offers for Free in a trade next year.

When you're getting paid like an elite tackle, you need to be better than average. He was below average last year. Keepin' it honest.

 

[DallasEast]

With Free somewhat regressing, and Parnell progressing, how would you feel with Parnell as the starting RT in 2013?

Waitasec. I'm... trying to get... better reception on my crystal ball... I was tuning it to the Jermey Parnell as Right Tackle forecast for 2013 when this started to happened...

There! It has cleared up completely. Hold up. My bad. It went opaque.

Just kidding I do not believe there is a chance in heck of that happening. Just my two cents.

 

[RS12]

I think Free has alot to prove this year. He lost too many hand battles last year and the division is loaded with strong side pass rushers.

 

[TheSport78]

Yeah, Parnell has no chance of starting at RT in the future, just like Barry Church won't become a starting safety on this team, or Romo is a career backup, or Austin won't develop into a #1 WR because he went to Monmouth.

Catch my drift? Players regress and progress.

 

[Idgit]

I still think Free had an undisclosed injury last year. He looked a lot less athletic out there than he had previously.

If he underperforms again this year and has a salary bump in his contract, we'll probably make a switch at RT next season. It won't be elevating Parnell, probably, though. I'd expect we'd bring in a capable vet and let him compete, at the least.

 

[DallasEast]

Yeah, Parnell has no chance of starting at RT in the future, just like Barry Church won't become a starting safety on this team, or Romo is a career backup, or Austin won't develop into a #1 WR because he went to Monmouth.

Catch my drift? Players regress and progress.

The gap between Doug Free's debatable regression and Jermey Parnell's assumed progression is much wider than that which Barry Church, Miles Austin and especially Tony Romo were forced to overcome.

 

[supercowboy8]

If we cut Free after this year he will be a 8.35 million cap hit then you ave to have someone replace him. If we keep him he will be a 11.75 million cap hit. I think he stays if he plays well.

 

[Ren]

If Free has another bad year then it's time to think about replacing him, but he's already had a couple of good once 09 at RT and 2010 at LT, he has shown he can do it so i'm leaning towards him just having a bad year last year. He's playing the other side now anyways and he was pretty damn good at RT in 09 filling inn for Colombo. I'm more excited about moving him back to RT then worried at this point

 

[TheSport78]

The gap between Doug Free's debatable regression and Jermey Parnell's assumed progression is much wider than that which Barry Church, Miles Austin and especially Tony Romo were forced to overcome.

A huge gap with Barry Church, really? I gotta disagree.

 

[DallasEast]

A huge gap with Barry Church, really? I gotta disagree.

Exactly how wide was the gap between Church and the player blocking his path to the starting role?

 

[TheSport78]

Exactly how wide was the gap between Church and the player blocking his path to the starting role?

I'm speaking in terms of talent, draft status, etc. There's a reason why Dallas signed Parnell to a 3 year extension. Jerry even mentioned Parnell's name during the scrimmage yesterday. I have to believe that the team has higher hopes for him other than just being the swing tackle.

 

[CCBoy]

I think people are really over-reacting to Free having some trouble in December single blocking Trent Cole and JPP - two of the best pass rushing DEs in the league. He is a good player coming off a down year. You can't fluke your way through a whole year and he was good in 2010 at LT so I have no reason to believe he'll be anything but a good RT.

Now if Parnell gets on the field and proves he can play with the 1's then you can entertain offers for Free in a trade next year.

(chuckling to self) Like the strongside gets a lot easier in the NFC East.