Doug Free will be a hot commodity
AP Photo/Sharon EllmanIf the Cowboys can't re-sign Doug Free, the team might have to call on rookie Tyron Smith to protect Tony Romo's blindside.ESPN's John Clayton is reporting the players and the owners have agreed not to place first-right-of-refusal clauses on 2011 free agents.
This means the Cowboys' tender offer of $3.5 million is null and void and they won't receive any compensation if Free signs with another team. The Cowboys also didn't place the franchise tag on Free, which might have cost about $10.1 million.
Update: But under the proposed new CBA, the Cowboys might still be able to place a franchise tag on him.
With Free becoming an unrestricted free agent, it puts the Cowboys in an interesting situation. He was always the Cowboys' No. 1 target in terms of signing long-term, but now more teams have the ability to grab him.
If the Cowboys fail to reach an agreement with Free, and there's no guarantee they will especially with the team nearly $18 million over the salary cap, it could force them to place first-round pick Tyron Smith at left tackle and keep Marc Colombo on the right side.
But Free isn't the only Cowboys' player who becomes unrestricted, defensive ends Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen join the market place as free men.
Whenever the lockout ends, the Cowboys have to make some serious decisions regarding their roster and Free is most likely the first priority.
Calvin Watkins
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Calvin Watkins
Calvin Watkins joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He's covered the Cowboys since 2006 and also has covered colleges, boxing and high school sports. A native New Yorker, Watkins lives in the Dallas area with his wife and two children.
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Todd Archer joined ESPNDallas.com in November 2010. He's covered the NFL since 1997 and the Cowboys since 2003. He covered the Bengals and Dolphins before arriving in Dallas. A Massachusetts native, Archer lives in the Dallas area with his wife and two children.
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