ESPN: Free will cost the Cowboys

[sbk92]

"Tag Thursday" didn't catch on -- no NFL player was given the franchise tag on the opening day of tagging season -- that doesn't mean that the action won't pick up through the remainder of the franchise tagging window. One player who has been included amongst the players on whom a tag could be placed is Dallas Cowboys left tackle Doug Free.

Free struggled a bit early on, but was more reliable down the stretch, surrendering just five sacks and no quarterback hits in the final eight games, according to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.

Watkins notes that the team has not indicated publicly, or to Free's agent, what they intend to do. The tag value for an offensive lineman has been projected by Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog to be $10.51 million. The other option is a long-term contract extension. Complicating matters is Free's service time. Under the old CBA, he'd be an unrestricted free agent; under the one-year exception terms observed during last offseason, he'd be a restricted free agent, which would give the Cowboys the third -- and much less pricey -- option of putting a restricted tender on him.

- Tim Kavanagh

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Calvin Watkins
This could affect draft strategy

"The Cowboys are a team coming off a 6-10 season and that would mean they have some holes to fill. One would think left tackle isn't a problem, as long as Free remains with the team in 2011, but there are some quality tackles coming out that might generate a move by Dallas. Say you have a chance to get a quality left tackle? Do you draft him and move Free back to the right side? Or do you move the rookie to the right side and cut Marc Colombo? When the new collective bargaining agreement and the draft is completed we might get some answers."

 

[Plymkr]

No way. No tag for Free. If he gets an offer someplace. Good on him

There isn't a single player right now that I can see them putting a tag on.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You have to keep Free.

Having to replace him along with at least 2 others would be extremely difficult.

Plus statistically Free was one of the best LT in the NFL. :Moss

 

[Plymkr]

Sure, keep him. But, not tag him. I don't see him as being that sought after.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Sure, keep him. But, not tag him. I don't see him as being that sought after.

Hmm.

You don't see Free garnering too much interest as a free agent...

Interesting.

 

[Sheik]

Hmm.

You don't see Free garnering too much interest as a free agent...

Interesting.

lol

 

[sbk92]

I'd rather tag him and completely over pay him next year rather than give him a long term extension like he's a franchise LT.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

I agree with SBK. I'd rather spend the $ for one year and see what he can do in his second season as a starter than give him a 7 year deal.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Just think what would Philly or New England do? Are we that confident that we can find and field his replacement? Really?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Just think what would Philly or New England do? Are we that confident that we can find and field his replacement? Really?

If they could, they would sign him to a long term contract.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

If they could, they would sign him to a long term contract.

I believe they would. He's young and the upside is there. This isn't like an old Tra Thomas or Flozell Adams nearing the end of their contracts.

 

[sbk92]

If Free goes into free agency, neither the Eagles or Patriots would try to sign him.

They don't pay out big money to a guy who had one year of being okay.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

If Free goes into free agency, neither the Eagles or Patriots would try to sign him.

They don't pay out big money to a guy who had one year of being okay.

They do extend their young players.

 

[sbk92]

They do extend their young players.

Everybody extends young players. Those two teams don't pay big FA dollars on guys who have had one decent year.

Maybe if he's still there months down the road and his asking price has dipped significantly. But no way would they target Free early in free agency. It goes against their philosophy.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Everybody extends young players. Those two teams don't pay big FA dollars on guys who have had one decent year.

Maybe if he's still there months down the road and his asking price has dipped significantly. But no way would they target Free early in free agency. It goes against their philosophy.

I'm not talking about their approach to signing free agents on the market, just their approach to their own young players. Again, we've gone over this before, there isn't a set system to handing out contracts. Only a general guideline and the one that they follow is they only hand out contracts to young players that they have already developed. They hardly ever re-sign proven vets.

 

[sbk92]

I'm not talking about their approach to signing free agents on the market, just their approach to their own young players. Again, we've gone over this before, there isn't a set system to handing out contracts. Only a general guideline and the one that they follow is they only hand out contracts to young players that they have already developed. They hardly ever re-sign proven vets.

I'd say they probably would tag the player and make him play another year. Depends on his asking price.

They don't contend every year because they hand out big FA deals to a player like Doug Free.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'd say they probably would tag the player and make him play another year.

They don't contend every year because they hand out big FA deals to a player like Doug Free.

Really? They don't extend young, home grown talent? Let's not act like Doug Free hasn't played a down yet. Hell, we only gave Romo a year and a half as the starter before we gave him a huge contract. Free has had a year and a half to show what he's worth. The way only points up for him, not down.

Let us just say that we don't extend Free. Are you really confident that we can replace him just like that? And with whom?

 

[sbk92]

Really? They don't extend young, home grown talent? Let's not act like Doug Free hasn't played a down yet. Hell, we only gave Romo a year and a half as the starter before we gave him a huge contract.

What we did is irrelevant. We're run by an oil selling con man. I'm talking about well run teams who contend on a yearly basis.

No. They wouldn't pay top dollar for a guy with one year. Nobody in their right mind would. If Doug Free wants to be paid like he's a franchise LT, the Eagles and Patriots would have no interest.

It depends on what Free thinks of himself. Good luck to the team who pays him like he's got franchise ability.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

What we did is irrelevant. We're run by an oil selling con man. I'm talking about well run teams who contend on a yearly basis.

No. They wouldn't pay top dollar for a guy with one year. Nobody in their right mind would. If Doug Free wants to be paid like he's a franchise LT, the Eagles and Patriots would have no interest.

It depends on what Free thinks of himself. Good luck to the team who pays him like he's got franchise ability.

So how many years does it take then?

And don't pretend to speak for anyone else, as you have a hard time just doing that for yourself. lol

 

[sbk92]

So how many years does it take then?

And don't pretend to speak for anyone else, as you have a hard time just doing that for yourself.

More than one year.

I'm not speaking for the teams, I'm telling you what they'd do based on what they've always done in the past.

The Eagles are one of the cheapest organizations in all of football. They only way they sign a young guy early is if they give the team a serious discount. Hence the upcoming DeSean Jackson confrontation. There's a guy who's been a stud for several years and they still don't want to pay him like a top wideout.

They certainly wouldn't break from that for a guy like Doug Free.