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By Todd Archer


IRVING, Texas -- With it appearing as if the old free-agency formula will return whenever a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, teams are hoping they can have a second bite at the apple, so to speak, when it comes to keeping their own players, according to this report.

Players with four or more years of experience would be unrestricted free agents after that limit was raised to six years in 2010. Teams are hoping to have three right-of-first-refusal options, which would be tremendous news for the Cowboys.

We have been through the Doug Free talk since the news broke earlier in the week, but who else would the Cowboys possibly put the de-facto transition tag on?

In addition to Free, Alex Barron, Stephen Bowen, Chris Greisen, Jason Hatcher, Sam Hurd, Kyle Kosier, Gerald Sensabaugh, Marcus Spears and Leon Williams would be unrestricted free agents. Barron, Greisen and Williams will not be back. Hurd is looking for a chance to play a bigger role on an offense, so his return would be unlikely.

Free, Bowen and Sensabaugh would make the most sense for the Cowboys to keep the right of first refusal. The Cowboys want to re-sign Kosier and could be able to work out a deal without having to use one of these quasi-tags. They might be able to do the same with Spears, too.

For obvious reasons, Free is the most important part of the equation. He is the Cowboys’ top priority to re-sign and this would give them a chance to buy some time in getting a new deal done. By not putting the franchise tag on Free before the lockout, the Cowboys took a chance on him becoming a free agency. They would get a do over if this happens.

Bowen has showed every year he can handle more and more playing time and despite the numbers did well in replacing Spears as a starter. Of the three defensive ends, he is the most valuable because of his pass-rush ability.

Without Sensabaugh the Cowboys would have to sign two safeties in free agency, but if any player is opposed to this possible options for team it would be him. He has played on one-year deals for the last two years and would seem to be in position to cash in after a decent close to the 2010 season. As an aside, I wonder if he regrets not taking the long-term offers from Detroit or Miami before coming to the Cowboys in 2009.

I believe the Cowboys are a litle reluctant to pay big money to a safety after it didn’t pan out with Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin. I think they would go to a certain point to keep Sensabaugh but nothing too extravagant.

This remains just a concept – and one I think the NFL Players Association would fight vigorously – but it would be one the Cowboys would love.
 
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Cr122

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It's going to be interesting now that its back to 4 years for unrestricted free agents. Teams like the Giants could lose players like Smith, Bradshaw, Boss and Uminyora.
 
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