The Dallas Cowboys have punted on signing Earl Thomas in free agency.
Earl Thomas may have wanted to play for the Dallas Cowboys, but now that’s not happening.
According to Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network, “While the Cowboys made some inquiries, they are not expected to be among the teams vying for Thomas’ services. . .So the Dallas/Thomas love affair ends here.” Thomas has long wanted to play for the Cowboys and starred collegiately for the Texas Longhorns. The Orange, Texas native will now have to find work somewhere else then.
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Are the Dallas Cowboys smart to pass up signing Earl Thomas this summer?
Had Thomas been released by his former employer in the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the offseason, this may have helped get him to The Star in Frisco to make him a Cowboy, baby. However, Dallas has every reason to be skeptical about signing Thomas in late August. Keep in mind this team wasn’t even able to get its starting quarterback Dak Prescott on a long-term deal.
Another interesting wrinkle in all this is what ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted out on Tuesday morning. “Browns lost rookie safety Grant Delpit to a season-ending torn Achilles, Ravens cut safety Earl Thomas, and the free-agent safety that teams are now reaching out to is former Ravens safety Tony Jefferson, who’s just about fully recovered from last season’s knee injury.”
Jefferson played his college ball for the nearby Oklahoma Sooners. Though a California native, he could be a welcomed addition to the Dallas secondary that missed out on trading for Jamal Adams, let Byron Jones walk and has now punted on the idea of bringing in Thomas. Jefferson is about back to 100 percent after his injury and could challenge Xavier Woods for some playing time.
Are the Cowboys wise to not sign Thomas? It remains to be seen. If he has become this summer’s Antonio Brown train wreck, then good job by “America’s Team” by not taking the bait in an attempt to win yet another press conference. Owner Jerry Jones may be undefeated at the podium, but how many current Cowboys players have any memories of Dallas’ latest Super Bowl victory?
However, Dallas has a great opportunity to win the NFC East with the New York Giants expected to be nothing short of pitiful and the Washington Football Team has bigger fish than trying to win ball games. That’s not to say adding a 30-something safety with off-the-field issues and personality concerns can’t be Dallas’ panacea, but Jones isn’t getting any younger. He wants to win so badly.
Dallas wasn’t winning because of its secondary, so not signing Thomas doesn’t change a thing.