Running back Julius Jones can be an unrestricted free agent after next season
Can Cowboys keep their own?
Key players due to be free agents in 2008
03:29 PM CST on Thursday, March 8, 2007
Todd Archer
IRVING – Looking back, the Cowboys wisely signed their free agents to be, like Jason Witten, Roy Williams, Bradie James and Tony Romo last summer, and Andre Gurode a few days before free agency began last week.
Had they not, they could have guaranteed one would come back thanks to the franchise tag, probably Romo considering the importance of the quarterback position. That would have put Witten, Williams and James on the open market – with the very real chance of losing all three.
To keep them off the market, they gave Witten $12 million guaranteed, Williams $11.1 million to sign and James $8 million. Immediately after the season, there was a thought that Williams and James would not have received such deals based on how they finished the 2006 season.
With the way teams have thrown around bonuses and guaranteed money so far, they most likely would have gotten more.
We're only a week into the 2007 free-agency period, but it's never too early to look ahead.
Romo, Flozell Adams, Patrick Crayton (provided he doesn't get a new deal), Keith Davis, Aaron Glenn and Julius Jones are among the top players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents after next season.
What to do?
The Cowboys will take their time in talks with Romo. There is no need to rush the talks of a quarterback with only 11 games under his belt. See how he performs and then lock him up. If you can't come to a deal, there's always the franchise tag.
Adams' age and the signing of Leonard Davis make it possible for the Cowboys to take their time with Adams, who was added to the Pro Bowl team last season after missing 10 games in 2005 with a serious knee injury, as well. Davis spent the last three years in Arizona playing left tackle, so he could slide there if needed in 2008. And remember they really like the potential of Pat McQuistan, a seventh-round pick a year ago.
Crayton was given a $1.3 million tender offer as a restricted free agent because the club thought somebody (New Orleans?) would make a run at him with the low tender. With thirty-something receivers Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn, they should look at Crayton for a longer-term deal.
Jones offers the most unique case. Is he a franchise back? He ran 1,084 yards in 2006 and played in every game for the first time in his career. He has the ability to break the long run. He showed toughness last year. But Marion Barber was the team's closer on the goal line. Bill Parcells obviously did not believe Jones was a 25-carry-a-game guy, and a two-back system is a growing trend. Barber, who will be a restricted free agent after 2007, is a more powerful runner, but can his style last for 16, 32 or 48 games at 20-plus carries a game?
Aaron Glenn's age probably makes this his last year in Dallas, although he is an effective third corner. Keith Davis is the team's best special teamer. At the right price, bring back both.
Now let's look beyond 2007. Terence Newman's contract is up following the '08 season. San Francisco just guaranteed Nate Clements $22 million and he has yet to play in a Pro Bowl.
Here are their career numbers:
Newman: 12 interceptions, 53 pass deflections in 64 games.
Clements: 23 interceptions, 61 pass deflections in 96 games.
By the time Newman gets ready for free agency, the Cowboys could be looking at $28 million guaranteed.
The Cowboys might want to call his agent, too.
Key players due to be free agents in 2008
03:29 PM CST on Thursday, March 8, 2007
Todd Archer
IRVING – Looking back, the Cowboys wisely signed their free agents to be, like Jason Witten, Roy Williams, Bradie James and Tony Romo last summer, and Andre Gurode a few days before free agency began last week.
Had they not, they could have guaranteed one would come back thanks to the franchise tag, probably Romo considering the importance of the quarterback position. That would have put Witten, Williams and James on the open market – with the very real chance of losing all three.
To keep them off the market, they gave Witten $12 million guaranteed, Williams $11.1 million to sign and James $8 million. Immediately after the season, there was a thought that Williams and James would not have received such deals based on how they finished the 2006 season.
With the way teams have thrown around bonuses and guaranteed money so far, they most likely would have gotten more.
We're only a week into the 2007 free-agency period, but it's never too early to look ahead.
Romo, Flozell Adams, Patrick Crayton (provided he doesn't get a new deal), Keith Davis, Aaron Glenn and Julius Jones are among the top players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents after next season.
What to do?
The Cowboys will take their time in talks with Romo. There is no need to rush the talks of a quarterback with only 11 games under his belt. See how he performs and then lock him up. If you can't come to a deal, there's always the franchise tag.
Adams' age and the signing of Leonard Davis make it possible for the Cowboys to take their time with Adams, who was added to the Pro Bowl team last season after missing 10 games in 2005 with a serious knee injury, as well. Davis spent the last three years in Arizona playing left tackle, so he could slide there if needed in 2008. And remember they really like the potential of Pat McQuistan, a seventh-round pick a year ago.
Crayton was given a $1.3 million tender offer as a restricted free agent because the club thought somebody (New Orleans?) would make a run at him with the low tender. With thirty-something receivers Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn, they should look at Crayton for a longer-term deal.
Jones offers the most unique case. Is he a franchise back? He ran 1,084 yards in 2006 and played in every game for the first time in his career. He has the ability to break the long run. He showed toughness last year. But Marion Barber was the team's closer on the goal line. Bill Parcells obviously did not believe Jones was a 25-carry-a-game guy, and a two-back system is a growing trend. Barber, who will be a restricted free agent after 2007, is a more powerful runner, but can his style last for 16, 32 or 48 games at 20-plus carries a game?
Aaron Glenn's age probably makes this his last year in Dallas, although he is an effective third corner. Keith Davis is the team's best special teamer. At the right price, bring back both.
Now let's look beyond 2007. Terence Newman's contract is up following the '08 season. San Francisco just guaranteed Nate Clements $22 million and he has yet to play in a Pro Bowl.
Here are their career numbers:
Newman: 12 interceptions, 53 pass deflections in 64 games.
Clements: 23 interceptions, 61 pass deflections in 96 games.
By the time Newman gets ready for free agency, the Cowboys could be looking at $28 million guaranteed.
The Cowboys might want to call his agent, too.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:49 PM
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