Gerald McCoy agrees to terms with Cowboys - @toddarcher

It was late on Tuesday night when the biggest news broke for the Cowboys, as they agreed to terms of a three-year deal with defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. It’s pending a physical, but it looks like McCoy will be the newest Cowboy.

Sean Lee Agrees to Contract to Return to Cowboys; Reported 1-Year, $4.5M Deal - Scott Polacek, Bleacher Report

The Cowboys have their top two linebackers already in Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch, but they further bolstered the linebacking corps on Tuesday by re-signing Sean Lee to a relatively cheap one-year deal.

Last year was the first time since the Cowboys drafted him in the second round in 2010 that he appeared in all 16 games, which was surely a welcome development for the team when it was deciding on his future.

Lee will be 34 years old in July but was solid in 2019 with 86 tackles, one sack and one interception.

He wasn’t the same player who topped 100 tackles and made two Pro Bowls during a three-season span from 2015 through 2017 but he proved capable of helping stop the run and dropping back into coverage when needed.

Cowboys Rumors: Jadeveon Clowney Hasn’t Received Interest from Dallas in FA - Timothy Rapp, Bleacher Report

Rumors popped up on Tuesday morning that the Cowboys were interested in signing Jadeveon Clowney, but it turns out that these were just rumors and that the team has no actual interest - or ability - in making that a reality.

Jadeveon Clowney will have his fair share of suitors in free agency, but the Dallas Cowboys reportedly aren’t among them. According to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram, the Cowboys “have not expressed interest” in the defensive end.

It’s hard to imagine the Cowboys will get into negotiations for Clowney if his contract expectations don’t lessen, however, even after they lost key defensive contributors like Quinn and cornerback Byron Jones.

The team already agreed to shell out a five-year, $100 million contract to keep wideout Amari Cooper, and quarterback Dak Prescott will get a lucrative contract at some point this offseason after being franchise-tagged.

The Cowboys don’t have a lot of financial wiggle room, in other words. It’s hard to envision a scenario where Clowney fits into that math.

Longtime Cowboys tight end Jason Witten agrees to terms with Raiders, per report - Patrik Walker, CBS Sports

Jason Witten will some day be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Cowboy, but it’s now official that he won’t finish his career as having only ever been a Cowboy. The tight end has a deal in place to join the Raiders in Las Vegas.

Jason Witten has made a decision on his NFL future. The future Hall of Fame tight end didn’t consider hanging up his cleats for the second time in three years following another disappointing finish by the Dallas Cowboys, instead opting to mull his decisions as new head coach Mike McCarthy began his regime.

What was to be a “quick decision” became anything but, and Witten made it clear he was prepared to play elsewhere. He’s now made good on that promise by reportedly agreeing to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year deal worth $4.25 million, per Todd Archer of ESPN.

Witten also considered reuniting with former head coach Jason Garrett as a member of the New York Giants, but the organizational interest wasn’t mutual. The decision to suit up for another team for the first time in his illustrious career marks a departure in tone from 2018, when a frustrated Witten opted to take his talents to the broadcast booth as an analyst for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” in what ultimately became a decision he said “sucked” — due to the mountain of criticism he received in his inaugural season as a color commentator.

REPORT: Raiders agree to deal with free-agent DT Maliek Collins - Marcus Mosher, Raiders Wire

Jason Witten wasn’t the only Cowboy to leave for Sin City on Tuesday. Maliek Collins joined him after finishing up a fairly impressive career in Dallas, and he reunites with his former Dallas position coach, Rod Marinelli.

Collins is just 24-years old and has proven to be one of the better pass-rushers at the position. Given the history with new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, it’s not surprising at all that Collins would up in Las Vegas.

Look for Collins to compete with Maurice Hurst for the team’s under-tackle spot and to play significant snaps for the Raiders in 2020. However, this move could signal some trouble for P.J. Hall as he is likely to tumble down the depth chart with Collins now in the fold. It will be fascinating to see how the Raiders’ defensive line rotation now sorts itself out in Las Vegas.

Raiders, Jeff Heath agree to terms - Josh Alper, NBC Sports

They say all things come in three’s, and that was true on Sunday as the Raiders nabbed a third former Cowboy in Jeff Heath. The former undrafted free agent safety has long been a staple of the team, whether it be on defense, special teams, or as a team captain.

After agreeing to terms on deals with tight end Jason Witten and defensive tackle Maliek Collins, they have also come to an agreement with safety Jeff Heath. According to multiple reports, it is a two-year deal worth up to $8 million.

Heath made the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and played 106 games for them over the last seven seasons. He was a reserve for most of the first four years, but started all 44 games he played the last three seasons.

Heath had 63 tackles last season and picked off eight passes over the course of his time in Dallas.

Cowboys decline Cameron Fleming’s option - Charean Williams, NBC Sports

In other news on Tuesday, the Cowboys decided to decline the option on swing tackle Cameron Fleming’s contract. It seems that the team may be in the market for a backup tackle now.

The Cowboys have declined the $4 million option on the swing tackle’s contract, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Fleming, 27, spent two seasons in Dallas. He played 28 games and made six starts after signing as a free agent.

Fleming spent his first four seasons with the Patriots after they made him a fourth-round pick in 2014. He appeared in 47 games with 20 starts in New England.

Report: S Darian Thompson to Re-Sign With Cowboys - Matthew Lenix, Inside the Star

While the Cowboys lost Jeff Heath, they made up for it by getting a two-year deal in place for Darian Thompson, who played a little bit on defense and special teams the last two years. He’ll have a shot at replacing Heath’s various roles.

These are happening fast with the tampering window now open and free agency set to officially begin tomorrow. The Dallas Cowboys lost their top corner Byron Jones to free agency, however, another defensive back is staying put.

According to USA Today’s Jori Epstein, veteran Safety Darian Thompson has agreed to a two-year, 2.8 million dollar deal with the Cowboys.

Thompson has been on the Cowboys roster for the last two seasons. In 2019, he registered 45 tackles (three for loss), three passes breakups, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in four starts. He also had 223 snaps on special teams.

Cowboys keeping L.P. Ladouceur on one-year deal - Charean Williams, Yahoo Sports

Also on Tuesday night, the Cowboys reached a one-year extension for longtime long snapper LP Ladouceur. In addition to a rather stellar career in Dallas, Ladouceur now has a shot at setting a franchise record.

Witten has played the most games in Cowboys’ history at 255, but he’s leaving for the Raiders. Ladouceur agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys that guarantees him nearly $900,000, Todd Archer of ESPN reports.

That means the long snapper can get within two games of Witten’s team record this season with a chance to break it, if he returns to the Cowboys for a 17th season, in 2021.

Ladouceur, 39, has played 237 games since joining the Cowboys in 2005.

BTB Podcast

Jason Witten is headed to the Raiders and that feels very strange. We discuss on the latest episode of The Ocho.

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