There was a point in my life where Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” played on my iPhone 30 times a day. I’ve moved on since then and am proud to say that I only rock out to it 16 times per 24 hours now, thank you very much.
The Dallas Cowboys just moved into The Star, but they didn’t unpack a whole lot because they’re Oxnard bound in just a few short days! While they get packed up they need to take a page out of my book and listen to “Call Me Maybe” and take the words pretty seriously.
How’s that, you ask? It’s no secret that in the NFL injuries happen. We saw that Junior Galette tear his ACL on Monday, and the nature of the business is that he won’t be the last this Training Camp season across the league.
Even if, God willing, the Cowboys make it through the dog days of summer unscathed, they’re pretty limited in certain areas of their team (cough defensive line, cough middle linebacker, cough backup quarterback). It makes sense for them to have some high-quality Veteran Free Agent phone numbers on speed dial.
Dwight Freeney
Word has trickled out through the Twitterverse that the Cowboys have no interest in the spin move master… that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be ready to have interest. Freeney, 36, was able to piece together eight sacks in 11 games for the Cardinals last season. I’m not sure if you heard, but the current Cowboys pass rush is really bad in need of help. He has some serious versatility as he can play both Defensive End and Outside Linebacker, plus he’s a very strong leader of men.
Dwight Freeney is number one on ever Dallas Cowboys fan’s wish list, so he needed to make this list. Just as much we all need to make our peace with the notion that it’s unlikely. Sad face.
Mike Neal
Similar to Dwight Freeney, Mike Neal is a versatile defensive player who can primarily be categorized not as a linebacker or defensive end, but just as someone who will get after the quarterback.
Neal hasn’t missed a game in the last three seasons while playing all over… DE, LOLB, and ROLB. In that stretch of time he has 13.5 sacks which is about 392,021 more than the 2016 Cowboys Rushmen.
Considering the suspensions to Randy Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Rolando McClain to start the season, the Cowboys are in need of someone who can play some end and linebacker. Here are two guys. You’re welcome, Cowboys.
Leon Hall
A precarious point of depth on the 2016 Dallas Cowboys lies in the secondary. Sophomore standout Byron Jones and the returning Orlando Scandrick lead the hype while 2012 stars Morris Claiborne (re-signed to a one-year deal) and Brandon Carr (who took a pay cut) are still there hanging out. Don’t forget JJ Wilcox out there thinking flat lines are filled with angles.
Whether due to an unforeseen injury or the realization that what they have isn’t the greatest thing since sliced bread, in the heat of Oxnard the Cowboys may remember a March visit that they had with Leon Hall. The former Bengal has experience playing all over the secondary and has hauled in 26 interceptions since entering the league in 2007. Just to put that in perspective consider that Claiborne, Carr, Scandrick, and Byron all have a combined 16 in their Cowboys careers. Yea… yuck.
John Kuhn
“Kuuuuuuuuuuuhn!” You can hear it echoing in AT&T Stadium, can’t you?
I know, I know. We’re talking about a Fullback here. Just relax, ok?
The Cowboys are currently exploring what a Smith (Rod or Keith) can bring to the primary blocker for Ezekiel Elliott. Coach Garrett tends to like a Fullback on his roster, and one of the best in the business over the last few years is out there looking for work.
John Kuhn is the classic Jason Garrett guy. He works hard, flies under the radar in his own way, and he’s an overall great dude. He’s the exact kind of veteran leader you want your rookie Running Back learning from. In the event that a Smith doesn’t work out and the Cowboys work out the roster math at tight end, Kuhn could be a Cowboy.
What Veteran Free Agents do you want to see the Dallas Cowboys call up? Let us know! Comment below, Email me at RJ@RJOchoaShow.com, or Tweet to me at @rjochoa!
