The Cowboys’ unexpected 2016 season, which was filled with so much promise, ultimately ended in heartbreak. However, with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott leading the charge for the foreseeable future, there is every reason to think their championship window is wide open, and they may look to supplement their current roster with a couple of big name veterans.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason, is “leaving the door open” to return to Dallas, where his prolific career began in 2005. Ware, of course, has spent the last three seasons in Denver, capturing a Super Bowl ring in the process. His 2016 season was cut short due to a back injury, and though that injury threatened to end his playing career, he underwent successful back surgery and announced in December that he planned to return for the 2017 season. Recently, he told ESPN’s Hannah Storm (article via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com) that he felt like a “a new man,” and he confirmed his intention to play next year. The surefire Hall-of-Famer has been honored with four first-team All-Pro selections and has racked up 138.5 sacks in his career.
Running back Adrian Peterson has been connected to the Cowboys in the past, but that was before the team drafted Elliott, who took the league by storm in his rookie campaign. Peterson is still under Vikings control through 2017, but his cap hit next season will be an unpalatable $18MM, so if the two sides cannot agree on a restructured deal, Peterson could become available.
The 31-year-old has been named to seven Pro Bowls and was the league MVP in 2012, but while his 2016 was cut short due to injury, he did not look like his old self even before the injury, and perhaps he is at the point where he would welcome a role as a complementary back as opposed to the workhorse that he has always been. That still seems like a bit of a stretch at this point, and it’s not as if the Cowboys have enough cap room to overpay a backup running back, but the possibility is apparently there. Indeed, as Schefter notes, Peterson recently named the Texans, Buccaneers, and Giants as teams he would consider joining if he did not finish his career in Minnesota, but here is a belief in league circles that Dallas would definitely be in play as well.
Not true. Demarcus can go back to dallas and be hurt all season. I want AP to my Broncos
We let him go graciously to pursue a ring. He’s accomplished that, time to come home.
Why would the Cowboys want AP? He is a great player when healthy, but he would be behind Elliott on the depth chart. If Elliott is suspended for domestic violence then AP would make a ton of sense. But if that doesn’t happen I don’t see the Cowboys wasting valuable cap space on AP.
Is this actual news? AD isn’t going to be a back up in Dallas and Ware is a free agent who can go anywhere.
The cowboys wont do as good as they did last year they were not as good as their record.
They might not be as good next season but that has more to do with like half the team being free agents and being strapped for cap space. They were very good this season.
We aren’t strapped with cap space. Done well with our Cap. Not buying team anymore, draft and develope. Bring our Ware back for leadership and skills. He a Dallas Cowboy, period.
You’d like to believe that.
Just a ridiculous headline to generate clicks. He even quotes the reasons it makes no sense, but tries to justify it by the vague “league sources” statement. Just pathetic journalism by Rory Parks
Not only did you click on it, but you commented on it. That’s two wins for Rory. Who is really the pathetic one?
Breaking News – the Cowboys will not win a playoff game next year.
Says a raven fan
So? Win something without Jimmy Johnson lol
The cowboys got a good backup running back Darren McFadden
People may not want to believe this, but Father Time will even defeat Adrian Peterson. I’m a Giants fan and he would be a definite upgrade for us. However, I don’t want the G-MEN to pay the salary he will demand.
Yawl need a RB and especially a TE. Don’t know why yawl let Marty B get away when he truly loved New York. God knew better, he has a SB ring now like his brother.