INDIANAPOLIS – This is the time of year to consider all options when it comes to personnel.
And while Doug Free has been mentioned as a possible cap casualty, the Cowboys apparently are looking at other possibilities within the team.
Stephen Jones said the Cowboys are considering moving Free from right tackle to guard.
"I'd never rule out anything," Jones said on Monday. "We're looking at it. We're going to un-turn every stone to get better. But I wouldn't rule him out of tackle either. He's pretty versatile. He's smart."
If the Cowboys cut Free right now as a straight release, he would not count anything against the cap either way, as a complete wash. But to save some money, the Cowboys could designate him a June 1 release and save $7 million off this year's cap. Then next year, Free would count $7 million as dead money in 2014.
Last season, Free struggled at right tackle and was eventually forced to rotate with Jermey Parnell toward the end of the season. But Jones said what the Cowboys saw in those final games out of Free was impressive. [embedded_ad]
"That was a huge plus," Jones said. "He could've folded up and said 'enough,' but he didn't. It made him play better. He played his best ball of the year."
Jones said having Free and Parnell rotate again next year isn't ideal, but not out of the question.
"No one has ever done it, but it doesn't mean you can't," Jones said. "I think at some point someone would win the job."
