Rumor: Dallas Cowboys Have Shaq Leonard 'Leaning' Toward Signing Over Philadelphia Eagles
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys' flirtation with Shaq Leonard during a brief free agency tour that also saw him visit the Philadelphia Eagles is a serious one.
And, according to one plugged-in NFL guy, maybe a winning one.
“I hear he’s leaning toward the Cowboys,” NFL analyst Baldinger said this week in an interview on 105.3 The Fan.'' “I’m hearing he’s favoring the Cowboys at this point.''
We can tell you the Cowboys' thinking here, on two fronts ...
One, they do not view Leonard as representative of some glaring need that will be cured; this isn't, to cite a player who some in Cowboys Nation have actually mentioned, "like trading for Charles Haley in 1992.'') A report that claims Dallas "views Leonard as a 'difference-maker' is not really accurate at all.)
Leonard, after multiple back surgeries, has faded greatly from his days as a Pro Bowler. But at 28, he can be an effective run-stopper here. The Cowboys can find that player - who in Leonard's case also happens to be a classy locker-room leader - "useful.'' (That's the word one source is using with us: "Useful.'')
Two, proof of that view will be where Leonard's new contract lands. ESPN reported this week that there will be a "bidding war'' between Dallas and Philly for Shaq's services.
We can tell you ESPN did not get that information from here inside The Star. Nor, frankly, do we believe they got it from anybody inside Eagles HQ, either.
But in fact, while Dallas has lost Leighton Vander Esch to injury for the season, the Eagles probably "need him more,'' as thin as they are overall at linebacker.'' As Baldinger said, “I know players on the Eagles that are heavily trying to recruit him. They need him. ... They’ve been losing linebackers all year.''
Leonard has friends and connections on both teams, including with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, who used to work in Indianapolis.
Said Sirianni: “I was close with him when we were in Indy. ... It was good to be able to catch up with him, and relive some memories. But also just talk a little bit about what this building is like.”
Leonard, recently cut by the Colts, is scheduled to make a decision maybe late Sunday, after the Eagles play the 49ers.
Said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: "They said they’re going to get back with us this weekend, probably after Philadelphia plays, is my guess. We had a great visit, and that’s pretty much the way we left it."
CowboysSI.com has been told the decision will come down to "attractiveness.'' ... with two factors to be gauged: Where can he get snaps? And where - with 9-3 Dallas or with 10-1 Philly - is he more likely to win a Super Bowl ring?
Said Baldinger: "He’s a little measured about this thing. (He) wants to make the right decision.”
