The Dallas Cowboys voided the contract of Doug Free
After having a successful season in 2014, the Dallas Cowboys have to make a ton of decisions over the offseason. Obviously, the big decisions are whether the Cowboys should re-sign both Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray. Both of those players were studs for the Cowboys in 2014 and they were vital towards their success. However, the Cowboys also had to make a decision on another offensive stud over this offseason.
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Right tackle Doug Free, who has turned his play around in the past two years after a debacle-type season in 2012, is a officially an unrestricted free agent. On Monday, the Cowboys voided Free’s contract, which made him an unrestricted free agent. CBSSports.com‘s Joel Corry was the first to report the news. When the 2015 NFL season begins on March 10th, Free will officially be an unrestricted free agent. By voiding his contract, the Cowboys will have a $3.98 million salary cap charge.
In 2014, Free started off the season strong, as he was playing with the best offensive line in all of football. However, after just 11 games, Free’s season was cut short because of injury. Free would go on to have surgery on his ankle, an injury which has been a problem for him over the course of his career.
Despite the voiding of the contract, the Cowboys can still re-sign the 31-year-old. If the Cowboys didn’t void Free, they would be forced to owe him $16 million for the 2015 and 2016 season. To re-sign Murray, Bryant, and even Rolando McClain, they will need all the money possible. Considering how good the Cowboys were on the offensive line in 2014 and how good they can be going forward, they can afford to go with a cheaper alternative at the right tackle position.
Backup Jermey Parnell is an option, but he has struggled in the past to hold down the front when Free was on the shelf. If the Cowboys look to free agency to bring in a right tackle, one guy that makes sense is Michael Oher. If they instead look at the draft for the replacement, a middle-round option could be Donovan Smith. However, whoever plays this position in 2015 will be working with the best offensive line in all of football. That will make things easier for this certain player next season.
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