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Vinnie Iyer
Sporting News
The Denver Broncos decided Thursday not to tender a contract to running back Laurence Maroney, making him an unrestricted free agent. His former college running mate, Marion Barber, might join him on the open market soon.
Both Barber and Maroney came out of the same backfield at University of Minnesota with great promise, Barber in 2005 and Maroney in 2006. Barber had some good years in Dallas but has struggled with injuries recently. Maroney, a first-round pick by New England in 2006, was traded to Denver in September and rushed for only 74 yards last season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said last week the team wouldn't release any players before Thursday, but considering Barber is due a $500,000 bonus on June 4, look for the move to come sometime in the next three months, depending on what happens with the CBA.
Barber, a fourth-round steal of Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, exploded for 33 total touchdowns in his first three seasons, despite starting only three games. With his no-nonsense bowling-ball style, he was the ideal power back at 5-11, 218 pounds.
But he's been bothered by quad and knee injuries the past two years, and averaged just 3.3 per yards carry over 10 starts in 2010 while scoring only four times. He's still only 27, but he doesn't quite mesh with the current Jason Garrett-led coaching staff. He just made $7.8 million for a disappointing season and is due $4.25 million more in '11.
With Felix Jones and Tashard Choice not consistently doing the job, there's a chance Dallas could blow up its backfield and go for a new star in the draft—such as Alabama's Mark Ingram, whom many scouts compare to Cowboys great Emmitt Smith.
Maroney, drafted 21st overall by the Patriots in '06, was supposed to be a home-run threat, but he frustrated coaches with too much dancing and indecisiveness. He also was slowed down by shoulder, rib and groin injuries.
The Patriots finally gave up on him last season, trading him to Denver, where he was reunited with former Patriots coordinator Josh McDaniels. But Maroney fizzled, and his fate in Denver was sealed when he was arrested on weapons and drug allegations in January.
Barber and Maroney looked like they would be stars for a long time on two of the league's most prominent franchises. Barber has a better chance of sticking elsewhere, but he must prove he's healthy and take quite a pay cut.
Sporting News
The Denver Broncos decided Thursday not to tender a contract to running back Laurence Maroney, making him an unrestricted free agent. His former college running mate, Marion Barber, might join him on the open market soon.
Both Barber and Maroney came out of the same backfield at University of Minnesota with great promise, Barber in 2005 and Maroney in 2006. Barber had some good years in Dallas but has struggled with injuries recently. Maroney, a first-round pick by New England in 2006, was traded to Denver in September and rushed for only 74 yards last season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said last week the team wouldn't release any players before Thursday, but considering Barber is due a $500,000 bonus on June 4, look for the move to come sometime in the next three months, depending on what happens with the CBA.
Barber, a fourth-round steal of Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, exploded for 33 total touchdowns in his first three seasons, despite starting only three games. With his no-nonsense bowling-ball style, he was the ideal power back at 5-11, 218 pounds.
But he's been bothered by quad and knee injuries the past two years, and averaged just 3.3 per yards carry over 10 starts in 2010 while scoring only four times. He's still only 27, but he doesn't quite mesh with the current Jason Garrett-led coaching staff. He just made $7.8 million for a disappointing season and is due $4.25 million more in '11.
With Felix Jones and Tashard Choice not consistently doing the job, there's a chance Dallas could blow up its backfield and go for a new star in the draft—such as Alabama's Mark Ingram, whom many scouts compare to Cowboys great Emmitt Smith.
Maroney, drafted 21st overall by the Patriots in '06, was supposed to be a home-run threat, but he frustrated coaches with too much dancing and indecisiveness. He also was slowed down by shoulder, rib and groin injuries.
The Patriots finally gave up on him last season, trading him to Denver, where he was reunited with former Patriots coordinator Josh McDaniels. But Maroney fizzled, and his fate in Denver was sealed when he was arrested on weapons and drug allegations in January.
Barber and Maroney looked like they would be stars for a long time on two of the league's most prominent franchises. Barber has a better chance of sticking elsewhere, but he must prove he's healthy and take quite a pay cut.
