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Free Agency begins today, but before the frenzy begins, we check in on a Cowboy for life.
Tony Romo was cut today! On his collarbone, that is.
Cowboys announce Romo had surgery, 6-8 weeks recovery - Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk
He finally did it. The surgery is over and now it's just a waiting game.
The Cowboys announced this evening that Romo underwent surgery on his left clavicle and will need a recovery period of six to eight weeks before he can begin football activities. That would suggest Romo should be ready to go for minicamp.
Tony Romo underwent successful surgery on his collarbone and should be on track to return for the offseason program.https://t.co/lkOSD6Qw5C
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 9, 2016
Tony Romo's collarbone surgery was a success - Dan Graf, FOX Sports
Romo should enter the 2016 season with a healthy collarbone. Before last year, Romo only missed two games in the previous four seasons. But staying healthy last year was a huge problem for him.
Romo broke his clavicle in a Week 2 win against the Eagles and didn't return until Nov. 22, when the Cowboys snapped a seven-game losing streak in his absence. The following game, Romo reinjured the collarbone against the Panthers and was finished for the season. The Cowboys finished 4-12 after going 12-4 the previous year, and the loss of Romo was the main reason.
Tony Romo has surgery on troublesome left collarbone - Dan Hanzus, NFL.com
If your collarbone is bothering you so bad, just shave it off.
Romo had initially leaned toward having a metal plate inserted to help supported the weakened clavicle. Ultimately, the decision was made to undergo Mumford surgery, a procedure in which a portion of Romo's collarbone is shaved down to help alleviate stress and irritation.
While a healthy Romo is what we are all hoping for, the team must square up their contingency plan.
Here's the Answer to the Cowboys Backup QB Woes - Brandon Orange
When you lose your starting quarterback for most of the season and only win one game with your backup, it definitely calls for some serious off-season makeover to remedy to the problem. Brandon Orange provides a simple two-step plan to fixing the backup QB situation.
Step One: Sign Colt McCoy McCoy had a passer rating of 99.4 in his two seasons in Washington, and with the team committing a large total to Kirk Cousins, they will likely try to cheap out on the backup position, and that could open the door for the Cowboys to swoop in. McCoy is good enough to win a couple games should Romo go down, and an entire offseason to learn the offense would be a luxury that Cassel and Moore were not afforded.
Free Agency begins today, but things seem rather calm with the Cowboys. But that hasn't been the case with their divisional foes.
NFC East Free Agency Update - RJ Ochoa, Inside The Star
The cannon continues to go off for Chip Kelly's brilliant acquisitions in Philly, but there are plenty of other NFC East stuff going on as well.
JPP’s re-signing is an interesting one as he was a potential bridge option for the Cowboys at the pass rusher position. Oh well. Let’s all give the Giants a hand on this one.
The Cowboys Were Interested In DeMarco Murray, But Not Really - DannyPhantom, BTB
The Cowboys would have liked to keep Murray last off-season, but money talked and he walked. Since the Eagles are in such a hurry to get rid of all Chip's players, would Dallas make another play for DeMarco?
There is no secret that Murray wanted out of Philadelphia. And just like that, he's out. Before the Titans closed the deal, there were other teams also interested in Murray's services and the Cowboys were reportedly one of them. But just how serious could the Cowboys be?
DeMarco Murray’s new deal has $25.5 million base, $33 million maximum value - Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk
If anyone is interested in the details of the new Murray deal (in case you want to compare it to the $6 million that the Cowboys offered him last year), here they are:
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the revised four-year deal has a base value of $25.5 million, with $12.5 million guaranteed. Of that amount, $6 million is fully guaranteed in 2016, and $3 million is fully guaranteed in 2017. The remaining $3.25 million is guaranteed money is guaranteed for injury only at signing, and it converts to a full guarantee on the fifth day of the 2017 league year.
Cowboys: What We Know and What We Don't - Daniel Ruppert, Fansided
If it's Millertime in Dallas, the team will be banking on much more production than what he's done in Miami.
At running back, Lamar Miller, is still somewhat early into his career. He has only been in the league four years, and has only had one season in which he ran for over 1000 yards. His career average is 4.6 yards, however, this is behind a Dolphins offensive line that is no where near what the Cowboys have. Miller has the vision and skills to be an effective running back on the Cowboys.
Cowboys 2016 Free Agent Rumors: Dallas A Possibility For Lamar Miller? - Ryan Ratty, BTB
While Murray is now an afterthought, another RB could be in the forecast.
The perks of Miller are simple. There isn't much wear-and-tear on his body. He'll be 25 entering the regular season. He's an excellent receiving option out of the backfield and he isn't that bad of a blocker for his size. Also, he fits the zone scheme extremely well, something the Cowboys would like out of their running backs going forward. Another thing is that signing Miller means the Cowboys can use their picks on other positions of need.
Look at those shifty moves from Lamar.
And look, he's already used to roasting the Giants. pic.twitter.com/uInEcvnMYe
— ✭ DCBlueStar ✭ (@DCBlueStar) March 7, 2016
Another free agent running back might have a better shot at signing with Dallas, but he's not getting as much attention.
Free Agent Series: Dunbar’s Knee Injury Might Cloud Market Value - Staff, The Mothership
The Dallas Cowboys writers discuss the likeliness of Lance Dunbar returning to Dallas. Dunbar was off to a great start last season before getting hurt.
David: It’s hard to imagine much of a market for a running back who is currently recovering from a major injury – especially considering Lance Dunbar has a long history of coping with injuries during his career. That’s exactly why I think it’s realistic to think the Cowboys want him back. Simply put, there’s not going to be a whole lot of competition for him. I think it’s reasonable to think the Cowboys bring him back on an inexpensive, one-year prove-it deal – give him an opportunity to re-establish his value. If you’ll remember, Dunbar was on his way to a breakout season when he tore his ACL and MCL in New Orleans last year. He was on pace for 84 catches and 860 yards as the Cowboys’ third down back/utility guy. There’s value in that, which is why I think it’d be smart for Dallas to bring him back. Of course, I wouldn’t say I’d count on him. It remains to be seen when he’ll be available to play again, so the Cowboys need to make sure they address the running back spot in other ways. But I still think Dunbar deserves a chance to get his groove back, assuming the price is right – which I’m confident it will be.
Should Dallas keep Dunbar? What about their other free agents?
In offensive 'keep 'em or leave 'em,' 94 percent of Cowboys fans want QB Matt Cassel gone - Staff, SportsDay
So many fans were excited when Matt Cassel took over for Brandon Weeden in week seven against the New York Giants. Of course, that excitement was short-lived when he through three interceptions in his season debut. Nobody likes him now.
He received the most leave 'em votes by a huge margin. Of the 11,348 votes cast by SportsDay's readers, 10,695 were in favor to leave 'em. The 94-6 percent split was also the biggest margin of any offensive or defensive player.
In defensive 'keep 'em or leave 'em,' fans nearly split 50-50 on whether to retain DE Greg Hardy - Staff, SportsDay
Although many fans have an opinion on Cowboys defensive end, Greg Hardy, collectively - they are divided on whether he should stick around.
Who would have thought that Hardy would draw the most votes? The controversial defensive end received the most votes of any Dallas Cowboy on either offense or defense with 18,904 total votes. Out of all of his votes.... ...he received the most leave 'em votes of any Cowboy. The only Dallas player he lost to was Matt Cassel (the quarterback received 10,695 compared to Hardy's 9,832). The difference in the percentage of votes to keep or leave Hardy was just four percent.
Cowboys 1st & 10: Evaluating Tony Romo, Brandon Carr, Ro McClain + NFL Draft Nuggets - Matthew Postins, Scout
Matthew Postins from Cowboys HQ weighs in on ten hot issues facing the Cowboys this off-season.
5. The top end of this free-agent class doesn't exactly make me weak in the knees. Many of the top free agents at key positions are at a certain age where you start to have concerns — DE Mario Williams (31), DE Chris Long (30), FS Eric Weddle (31), CB Leon Hall (31), RB Matt Forte (30), DT Haloti Ngata (32) and TE Antonio Gates (35). Set aside production for a moment, and all of these guys have been productive in the NFL, some at an elite level. They're looking for four- or five-year deals, as they know this might be their last contract. Do you want to give premium money to a player that, odds are, won't make it the life of the contract? It's getting harder and harder to catch ascending players.
Is Oregon DL DeForest Buckner a possibility for Cowboys at No. 4? - Jon Machota, SportsDay
If the Cowboys are able to draft the most talented pass rusher in the draft, most fans are going to be pleased. But the questions begs, who is that player? In Mel Kiper's latest mock, he talks about who he thinks the Cowboys could end up taking.
"Bosa probably fits [the Cowboys] a little better, but if you don't think Buckner can play in a 4-3 I think you're mistaken," he said. "Buckner is a heck of a player. There's no way. I can't see Buckner being there [at No. 6]. I really can't. He's just too good. Bosa has been moving down a little bit because when you talk to people in the league, they're not as enamored with Bosa as they are with Buckner. That's just reality now. Buckner is red hot."