Cowboys Should 'Unite' & Sign Saquon Barkley? RGIII's Right Idea But Wrong Reason
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys' search for their next starting running back, sources have indicated to CowboysSI.com, quite likely will focus more on the NFL Draft than on a big-money free agent, with that latter process beginning on March 11 with the opening of the league's "legal tampering period.''
But that fact hasn't stopped the speculation that along with the obvious decision to avoid using the franchise tag on Tony Pollard, Dallas might go "all in'' with a big-name signing.
And so, as we discuss in the Fish Podcast and the Fish Report, along comes another attempt to connect Saquon Barkley to Dallas.
“The Cowboys should raid their rival’s closet and sign Saquon Barkley,” Robert Griffin III posted on X, nothing that Barkley is a "three-down back who brings both flash and SUBSTANCE. ... still one of the most dynamic players in the NFL with the ball in his hands in the open field.
"Time for these stars to unite.”
This thought follows up the goofy ESPN notion offered up from former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who is calling Barkley “a perfect fit” for the Dallas backfield.
Our thoughts? Nothing wrong with the player; we think when healthy (and maybe when actually performing for a consistently winning team) Barkley might be the NFL's best back. (We say all of that while acknowledging that he totaled just 3.9 yards per carry last year and that he's 27.)
So what is "wrong'' with the idea? Two things ...
One: There is no "perfect fit'' - ever. But there is especially no perfect fit if analysts like Griffin continue to ignore salary-cap realities. (We're not shocked that RGIII misses this; we're disturbed that a former GM does.)
Barkley at the right price would be a terrific "fit'' for every team. But what is that price? We can't make a match until we know the answer.
Two: "Time for these stars to unite'' is no way to build a roster. What Griffin is saying here is that owner Jerry Jones' team should bow to Barkley's "flash'' ... his "level of celebrity.'' The truth here inside The Star, as we discuss it? Dallas employs plenty of "celebrities.'' The coming moves need to have absolutely nothing to do with the marking and branding of "America's Team.''
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