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Dan Connor: Back with his best friend Sean LeeCertainly, I very much doubt the Cowboys are finished in free agency. Nothing significant, but if these early signings are any indication, there are quite a few guys not returning to the Cowboys.
A glaring omission from early signings is the offensive line, aside from one minor free agent. The expensive Carl Nicks and Ben Grubbs went elsewhere. This might be a sign that switching Tyron Smith and Doug Free will be the highlight of the off-season unless the Cowboys select a guard in the draft.
An interesting note to the Cowboys' free agents: Six free agents in six different positions. Three on offense and three on defense. Although, a fullback and back-up quarterback is spiking no one's blood pressure.
Brandon Carr
Cornerback - 5 years/$50.1 million
This includes a $10 million signing bonus and $26.5 million guaranteed. A rather oddly structured deal: $1.2 million due in 2012, $14.3 million in 2013 and then it dives back down to $7.5 million in 2014. Carr was the best cornerback on the market and the Cowboys overpaid to get him. It happens, I guess.
Kyle Orton
Quarterback - 3 years/$10.5 million
Orton is fine. He is one of those guys that bad teams, we think, should snatch up, but when he gets there he's perpetually on the hot seat to make a bad team good. He can't do that. The real story here is Stephen McGee, who still can't work himself up the ladder. At this point, the Cowboys have clearly seen what McGee is about and if, by now, he can't work as the back-up, he probably never will. Honestly, I think he's fine there. Orton's not going to take this team to a Super Bowl should Tony Romo fall.
This is Jerry Jones' ego and folly coming into play. McGee is the logical pick for back-up only because it would free up much-needed cash to be used elsewhere on the team. Jones thinks he can win now with this team. If Romo goes down, he has to have a veteran in place to lead them. Truth is, the Cowboys are a long, long way from the Super Bowl. It's foolish to spend money on a back-up quarterback.
Dan Connor
Linebacker - 2 years/Unknown
Considered by some as one of the more savvy signings. Connor signals another theme in the Cowboys' free agent movement: Youth. Carr is 25. Connor is 26. He's coming off his best season with the Carolina Panthers. Like his former Penn State teammate Sean Lee, Connor was hampered with injuries upon entering the league. Connor will either battle for a starting spot with Bruce Carter or wind up on sub packages. Either way, no more Keith Brooking and Bradie James.
Brodney Pool
Safety - 1 year/$1.2 million
Another look at a younger player (turning 28 in May) replacing an older player (Abram Elam). Pool's played under both Ryan brothers (Rex in New York, Rob in Cleveland). Thought to have a higher upside than Elam with the propensity for making more plays whilst the latter was a zero-sum player.
Mackenzy Bernadeau
Guard - 4 years/$11 million
Another minor theme to the Cowboys' free agents is the number of small-college kids. Carr went to Grand Valley State. Bernadeau -- the consolation prize for no Grubbs or Nicks -- went to Bentley. I think there's a good reason. The Cowboys are locking down "hungry" players -- guys that weren't coddled by the big colleges and weren't getting big money in the draft. Also, several of these guys have struggled with injuries. Nothing's come easy for them. Bernadeau started just one game in 2011 and 12 in 2010. Simply depth.
Lawrence Vickers
Fullback - 2 years/$2.4 million
Think the Cowboys are thinking about money? Tony Fiammetta -- the guy that apparently cemented the Cowboys' run game in 2011 -- is walking over a raise. Vickers blocked for Ben Tate and Arian Foster last year. Before, he was in Cleveland.
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