Negotiations continue as the Cowboys and Doug Free try to arrive at a figure both sides find acceptable. When asked if a resolution is close, Jerry Jones had this response: “It takes two,†the Cowboys owner said. “I can’t gauge closeness. I know we’re still talking and hopefully trying to get something done.†Free is slotted for a base salary of $7 million in 2013, making him the league’s highest paid right tackle. The Cowboys want a dramatic reduction given Free’s performance over the last two seasons. “I’d like to keep him,†Jones said. “We think that Doug Free can be an important part of the team. We think he can really be an asset for us.†At the right price, but the two sides have yet to find that price. “It’s no secret that we’re trying to renegotiate the contract,†Jones said. “But I think it’s a wrong assessment to say that anybody is saying take it or leave it or we’re at our wit’s end. “That would imply frustration. That would imply that the train’s got to move on. That’s not the atmosphere around this negotiation.†Source: The Redzone
This just shows the Cowboys continuing fear of the unknown. They'd rather stick with a player they know, even though he sucks, than a player they don't know.
No lie man. The only hope I think we have is if they somehow get Free to rework his contract on incentives or just an outright pay cut. Either way, Jerry just makes it tougher and tougher to stay optimistic.
