sbk92
2
- Messages
- 12,134
- Reaction score
- 6
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Dallas Cowboys spent the weekend at the NFL Scouting combine analyzing prospects for the upcoming draft but they also spent time making decisions on some of their own veterans free agents.
The Cowboys plan to tender restricted free agent contracts as early as today to tackle Doug Free, defensive ends Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen, linebacker Leon Williams and receiver Sam Hurd. The moves are administrative in nature, considering the current labor impasse and the possibility of a lockout on Friday.
The Cowboys don’t know if Free, Bowen, Ball, Hatcher, Hurd or Williams will be restricted or unrestricted free agents if and when a new deal is struck.
Under the old rules, they would be unrestricted so the Cowboys are covering themselves against them possibly hitting the free agent market without possible compensation.
The decisions are contrary to the stance the Cowboys are taking with veteran free agents Marcus Spears and safety Gerald Sensabaugh. Both are unrestricted free agents and the Cowboys will make no attempt to re-sign them before Friday and essentially letting them test the waters in the open market.
There is a chance both could come back, but nothing is guaranteed now.
For Spears, it means the possible end of a much maligned six-year career with the Cowboys. Though a solid player, Spears never lived up to his status of being a first-round pick in 2005. He has just eight career sacks.
Spears was paid less than backups Hatcher and Ball last season and then missed the last two months of the season with a torn calf muscle.
Spears announced the news on his twitter account: "Testing the market folks! Thank you all in Dallas for the support it’s still possible I could be back, but it’s shaky."
The Cowboys have been shopping for Spears’ replacement at the combine and could take a defensive end with the ninth overall pick.
It’s also a disappointing turn for Sensabaugh, who had hoped to sign a long-term deal with the Cowboys before the season. The Cowboys said last year that they considered Sensabaugh a big part of their future, but never secured him to a deal like they did with receiver Miles Austin.
Now after Sensabaugh was part of poor-performing secondary in 2010, he is facing an uncertain future. His agent, Kevin Conner, said Sensabaugh would like to remain with the Cowboys and they will continue to try to make that happen as well as test the market.
"My main goal and objective is to secure a long-term deal for Gerald," Conner said. "I am strategically planning for that opportunity with Dallas or the free-agent market. Gerald fully understands both scenarios at this point and the nature of the business."
The Cowboys will look at safeties in the draft and free agency. Oakland Raiders safety and former Texas Longhorn Michael Huff and St. Louis Rams free agent O.J. Atogwe are considered possibilities.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Dallas Cowboys spent the weekend at the NFL Scouting combine analyzing prospects for the upcoming draft but they also spent time making decisions on some of their own veterans free agents.
The Cowboys plan to tender restricted free agent contracts as early as today to tackle Doug Free, defensive ends Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen, linebacker Leon Williams and receiver Sam Hurd. The moves are administrative in nature, considering the current labor impasse and the possibility of a lockout on Friday.
The Cowboys don’t know if Free, Bowen, Ball, Hatcher, Hurd or Williams will be restricted or unrestricted free agents if and when a new deal is struck.
Under the old rules, they would be unrestricted so the Cowboys are covering themselves against them possibly hitting the free agent market without possible compensation.
The decisions are contrary to the stance the Cowboys are taking with veteran free agents Marcus Spears and safety Gerald Sensabaugh. Both are unrestricted free agents and the Cowboys will make no attempt to re-sign them before Friday and essentially letting them test the waters in the open market.
There is a chance both could come back, but nothing is guaranteed now.
For Spears, it means the possible end of a much maligned six-year career with the Cowboys. Though a solid player, Spears never lived up to his status of being a first-round pick in 2005. He has just eight career sacks.
Spears was paid less than backups Hatcher and Ball last season and then missed the last two months of the season with a torn calf muscle.
Spears announced the news on his twitter account: "Testing the market folks! Thank you all in Dallas for the support it’s still possible I could be back, but it’s shaky."
The Cowboys have been shopping for Spears’ replacement at the combine and could take a defensive end with the ninth overall pick.
It’s also a disappointing turn for Sensabaugh, who had hoped to sign a long-term deal with the Cowboys before the season. The Cowboys said last year that they considered Sensabaugh a big part of their future, but never secured him to a deal like they did with receiver Miles Austin.
Now after Sensabaugh was part of poor-performing secondary in 2010, he is facing an uncertain future. His agent, Kevin Conner, said Sensabaugh would like to remain with the Cowboys and they will continue to try to make that happen as well as test the market.
"My main goal and objective is to secure a long-term deal for Gerald," Conner said. "I am strategically planning for that opportunity with Dallas or the free-agent market. Gerald fully understands both scenarios at this point and the nature of the business."
The Cowboys will look at safeties in the draft and free agency. Oakland Raiders safety and former Texas Longhorn Michael Huff and St. Louis Rams free agent O.J. Atogwe are considered possibilities.
