Snooze Button vs. Panic Button: Cowboys 'All Out' Early in Free Agency
FRIECO - Because Jerry Jones hit the snooze button, Dallas Cowboys Nation is deservedly smacking its panic button.
While their NFC East foes all added key players in Monday's first day of free agency, the Cowboys were the only team in the NFL not to make a single transaction. In fact, their scorecard was an ugly minus-3, with no one arriving and running back Tony Pollard, center Tyler Biadasz and defensive end Dorance Armstrong all departing.
Beneath signing quarterback Dak Prescott to a new contract, the Cowboys are now desperate for a running back, left tackle, center and upgraded size in the back of a defense which was exploited in the upset playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.
While the Cowboys slumbered, the Philadelphia Eagles hit the ground running by adding running back Saquon Barkley and Pro Bowl pass-rusher Bryce Huff. The New York Giants traded for elite edge-rusher Brian Burns. And the Washington Commanders and new head coach Dan Quinn raided the Cowboys (nabbing Biadasz and Armstrong) and signed five more players, including starting running back Austin Ekeler.
The Cowboys reportedly tried to re-sign Pollard, but he was too pricey. Same for running back Zack Moss, who left the Indianapolis Colts to sign a two-year, $8 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.
According to one report, Moss' deal "extended past their comfort."
We've written about about the Cowboys' disciplined philosophy of improving "within our means." That's all well and good, but ...
When your competition is clearly improving and you're not seemingly lifting a pinkie, it's alarming.
Right, Micah Parsons?
Right, Dez Bryant?
Right, Tad Prescott?
Right, Marcus Spears?
All four - directly or indirectly - harshly criticized Cowboys' management and their inaction in free agency.
Added ESPN's Dan Orlovsky Tuesday morning, "The Cowboys standing pat is a shocker. The Eagles definitely jumped them as far as winning the NFC East this season."
To be fair, it wasn't until the second week of the new league season last year - after the dust from the initial cloud of big-name signings had settled - that Jones engineered shrewd trades for receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
But in January, Jerry promised this year to be "all in." So far, it's hard to not feel like he's already folded.
