Travis Frederick - Pro Football Rumors

Cowboys Place Travis Frederick On Reserve/Retired List

June 4th, 2020 at 1:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys created some cap space Thursday by placing Travis Frederick on the reserve/retired list, Todd Archer of ESPN.com notes. The former All-Pro center retired in March.

Frederick landing on the list will free up $7MM in cap room for Dallas. By adding Frederick to the reserve/retired list after June 1, the Cowboys will spread his cap hit across two years.

This contract will still comprise $4.975MM of Dallas’ 2020 cap and count more than $6MM against the team’s 2021 payroll, per the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken (on Twitter). The deal was set to count more than $11MM on this year’s payroll. Frederick had signed a lucrative extension in 2016 and restructured his deal multiple times.

The 2020 season would have been the decorated blocker’s age-29 campaign. But Frederick’s battle with Gullain-Barre syndrome forced him to call it quits. He had previously missed the entire 2018 season because of the malady, but the five-time Pro Bowler returned in 2019. During the seasons he played, Frederick never missed a game in his career.

Dallas will likely move forward with the recently re-signed Joe Looney — who took over for Frederick at center in 2018 — succeeding Frederick, with fourth-round pick Tyler Biadasz developing behind him. Connor McGovern 2.0 also looms as an option in the Cowboys’ post-Frederick era.

Cowboys’ Travis Frederick Announces Retirement

March 23rd, 2020 at 5:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Cowboys center Travis Frederick, who missed the entire 2018 season while dealing with Guillain–Barré syndrome before returning for the 2019 campaign, has announced his retirement from the NFL.

“[2019] was a difficult year for me,” Frederick said in a statement released on Twitter. “Each day I faced a struggle: I could no longer perform at my highest level. Playing “well” is not what I expect of myself and is not what my teammates deserve.”

Selected by the Cowboys with the 31st overall pick in the 2013 draft, Frederick is arguably the greatest center of his generation. In his six healthy NFL seasons, Frederick started all 96 possible games, and routinely graded at the top of Pro Football Focus’ center rankings.

Still only 29 years old, Frederick was a key cog in a Dallas offensive line that was the NFL’s best for most of the 2010s. A five-time Pro Bowler (including in 2019), Frederick also earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2016 and second-team berths in 2014 and 2015.

The loss of Frederick creates a massive hole in the middle of the Cowboys’ front five. Veteran Joe Looney, re-signed to a new contract last week, could take over at the pivot, as could 2019 third-rounder Connor McGovern. Alternatively, Dallas could look to the free agent market (where the options are slim), explore a trade for a center, or spend another draft pick on the position.

Clearly, Frederick’s long-term health is the most important factor in his hanging up his cleats, but his retirement will have an effect on the Cowboys’ salary cap. Dallas will incur a dead money charge of $11.04MM in 2020 due to Frederick’s retirement, while the move opens up just $935K in cap space.

Cowboys’ Frederick To Be Ready For Camp

July 23rd, 2019 at 12:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys All-Pro center Travis Frederick, who dealt with Guillain-Barré syndrome last year, is expected to be active for the start of training camp, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. With that, he’ll avoid the NFI list and will be ready to go for team activities.

Frederick missed the entire 2018 season as he battled his condition, but all signs have been pointing to a full return in 2019. Before the illness, Frederick started 80 straight games for the Cowboys.

Frederick had another productive season in 2017, as Pro Football Focus ranked him third among eligible centers. With his limp gone and his overall condition vastly improved, he should be on track for a strong season in ’19.

Cowboys Notes: Elliott, Frederick, Prescott

May 20th, 2019 at 8:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Travis Frederick is tentatively on track to return to the Cowboys’ starting lineup after missing the 2018 season due to an illness discovered late last summer. The perennial Pro Bowl center has been present for Cowboys workouts thus far this offseason, but Guillain-Barré Syndrome and offseason shoulder surgery were not the only medical issues the seventh-year veteran has dealt with recently. He also had a procedure done to address a hernia issue, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic notes (subscription required). This was not as serious as a sports hernia, though, so it should not be too much of an impediment to a Frederick return. While Frederick has returned to partial work with his teammates this year, Watkins notes the Cowboys do not expect him to participate fully until training camp. In the event Frederick cannot recover in time, 2018 starter Joe Looney remains an insurance policy. Third-round rookie Connor McGovern has also received center time.

Here is the latest out of Dallas:

Ezekiel Elliott was involved in an incident with a security guard in Las Vegas over the weekend. Las Vegas police officers observed the Cowboys running back push a security staffer to the ground at approximately 3 a.m. Sunday, Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Officers then placed Elliott in handcuffs, but the victim did not press charges, Hairopoulos adds (via Twitter). Elliott was released without being arrested. The incident will not play into the Cowboys’ extension discussions, whenever they begin, executive VP Stephen Jones said (via Todd Archer of ESPN.com, on Twitter). The team is gathering information.
Despite Jaylon Smith being mentioned as a player the Cowboys would like to lock up long-term, no extension discussions between the Cowboys and the fourth-year linebacker have begun, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets. Unlike Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and Byron Jones, Smith can be controlled via RFA tender in 2020. The Cowboys would be expected to place a second-round tender on the linebacker, Hill adds. Smith’s stay on the NFI list as a rookie created this path to restricted free agency, rather than unrestricted free agency, after four seasons.
Stephen Jones brought up the prospect of some of his team’s extension candidates taking less money because of the endorsement opportunities that come with playing for the Cowboys. But Watkins adds Prescott is not expected to do a team-friendly deal. “It’s not their job to manage the cap; I understand that,” Jones said. “But it is my job and Jerry’s job, so they will understand why we’re negotiating hard to make the very best deal we can, because the money, if we can talk them into not maxing out – doing well, but not maxed – then that allows us to have other good football players around them.” Watkins estimates Prescott soon signing the richest contract in Cowboys history, projecting a deal worth between $120-$130MM — which would make it a likely four-year pact — containing north of $70MM in guarantees. This jibes with what we’ve heard about Prescott’s potential price.

Latest On Cowboys’ Travis Frederick

April 16th, 2019 at 10:09am CST by Zachary Links

Travis Frederick was on hand for the start of the Cowboys’ offseason program this week, a major step forward for the All-Pro center. Frederick missed the entire 2018 season as he battled Guillain-Barré Syndrome, but he appears to be on track to play in 2019.

“It’s just great to have him working out again. Last year, I think it was well-documented, he did a great job of being kind of another coach,” said teammate Zack Martin. “But to see him back out there working out, you can definitely see a little bounce in his step.”

The voluntary April program focuses on conditioning, which should give the 28-year-old an opportunity to get back into shape. Then, in May, he’ll partake in on-field work during OTAs.

Before the illness, Frederick started 80 straight games for the Cowboys. He had another productive season in 2017, as Pro Football Focus ranked him third among eligible centers. Should he suffer another setback, the Cowboys could once again call on Joe Looney, who is set to earn a base salary of just $1MM in 2019.

Travis Frederick Expected To Participate In Cowboys’ Offseason Program

February 14th, 2019 at 6:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

After losing one of his prime years to a battle with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Travis Frederick may be close to returning.

The Cowboys’ All-Pro center is expected to participate in at least some of the team’s offseason program, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports.

“Now it’s just about working in the weight room to try to continue to increase my strength and work with the team in the offseason as far as conditioning and getting myself ready come March and April,” Frederick said, via Moore.

Although Frederick has done light running, he has not been cleared to sprint yet, Moore notes. While tabbing his upper-body strength at 90 to 95 percent of what it once was, Frederick also is not sporting the limp he did during last season.

“Once you get to a certain point then you’re regaining your strength that you lost vs. the electrical connection that you lost,’’ Frederick said. “I certainly hit that point in my upper body, which is actually a good thing when you hit that point where you slow down because that means the electrical connection is there and now it’s just building back any strength that you’ve lost. We’re at a point that’s very passable and very usable.

“As far as lower [body] goes, I’m at the point [where] I was missing a little bit of explosion but that’s the last part of it. The connection is there, now we’re just speeding up the connection. That’s the last part of the healing process.”

This auto immune disorder has sidelined the 27-year-old snapper since August. In the event Frederick’s recovery hits a snag this offseason, the Cowboys still have Joe Looney under contract at a $1MM 2019 base salary.

Cowboys Notes: Frederick, Colombo, Colman

January 17th, 2019 at 8:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Cowboys center Travis Frederick underwent shoulder surgery last week to repair a labrum issue, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Head coach Jason Garrett received the news of Frederick’s operation as a positive, an indication that Frederick is preparing for the 2019 campaign after missing the entirety of last season while battling Guillain-Barre syndrome. Frederick, an All-Pro caliber pivot when healthy, regained feeling in his hands in November, and hasn’t dealt with any recent numbness, per Archer. In December, Frederick expressed optimism that he’ll be ready for next season.

Here’s more from Dallas:

Offensive line coach Marc Colombo will return to the Cowboys in 2019 after agreeing to a new contract, reports Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Colombo, 40, played for Dallas from 2005-10, then joined the club’s staff as assistant offensive line coach prior to the 2016 season. He interviewed for the Cowboys’ tight ends coach job last January, and was “in the mix” to take over Dallas’ front five after the team fired Frank Pollack following the 2017 season. Instead, that job went to Paul Alexander, whom Colombo ended up replacing midway through the 2018 campaign.
Cowboys defensive Antwaun Woods tore his labrum in the second quarter of Dallas’ Divisional Round loss to the Rams, and in an impressive show of will, played the rest of the game, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Woods underwent surgery to correct the issue today. A 2016 undrafted free agent who spent his first two NFL seasons on the Titans’ practice squad, Woods played the most snaps of any Cowboys defensive tackle last seaaon. He’s under contract at the league minimum in 2019, and will be a restricted free agent the following offesason.
The Cowboys have fired assistant special teams coach Doug Colman, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. At this point, that’s the only known change to the Dallas coaching staff. Colman, 45, previously served as a linebacker/special teams assistant with the Texans before joining the Cowboys last offseason. Dallas ranked 23rd in Football Outsiders’ special teams metrics in 2018.

Cowboys’ Frederick Hopes To Play In 2019

December 5th, 2018 at 9:32am CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys center Travis Frederick says that he is unlikely to return to the field this season. However, he feels “very good” about his outlook for the 2019 season.

“I have certainly made progress, but at this point in the season, having not been able to do my football movements. … Even if I was 100 percent strength wise to be able to come back and play. … I’m still six or eight weeks out from that,” Frederick told 105.3 The Fan.

Frederick was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome before the start of the season, which caused numbness in both of his arms and a host of other symptoms. The four-time Pro Bowler recently regained feeling in his hands and technically can return from IR to play this year, but he’ll need additional time to get his medical situation straightened out and get back into playing shape. Frederick didn’t completely rule out the possibility of rejoining the team for the playoffs, but he characterized the odds as as “long shot.”

Before the illness, the 27-year-old started 80 straight games for the Cowboys. He had another productive season in 2017, as Pro Football Focus ranked him third among eligible centers. In his stead, the Cowboys have been relying on Joe Looney, who currently ranks 20th among centers according to PFF’s metrics.

The Cowboys have Frederick under contract through 2023 thanks to the six-year, $56.4MM extension he signed back in 2016. The offensive line has done an adequate job this year, and should be strengthened by the impending return of left tackle Tyron Smith, but it won’t be at its absolute best until Frederick is back in the lineup.

Extra Points: Bell, Raiders, Cowboys, Ravens

November 15th, 2018 at 9:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Steelers franchise-tagged running back Le’Veon Bell didn’t report earlier this week, meaning he won’t play in 2018 and will likely leave Pittsburgh next spring (the Steelers could still use the transition tender, but that wouldn’t bind Bell to Pittsburgh). Given that Bell will hit the open market, Mike Sando of ESPN.com (ESPN+ subscription required) asked NFL executives where Bell will play in 2019, and for how much. The Jets and Buccaneers are seemingly viewed as the favorites to land Bell, while clubs like the Packers and Redskins are viewed as under-the-radar candidates to add the former All-Pro. As far as price tag, execs believe Bell could ask for $16-17MM annually, but will ultimately fall in the $15MM/year range. Sando’s entire piece is well-worth a full read.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

Veteran edge defender Tank Carradine worked out for the Cowboys today, but Dallas doesn’t have any plans to sign the free agent, reports Todd Archer of ESPN.com. The Cowboys currently have five defensive linemen on their injury report, so they could be shorthanded when they face the Falcons on Sunday. Carradine, for his part, signed with the Raiders in the spring but was cut in early October after playing limited snaps. He’s worked out for four clubs since, but the 28-year-old — who appeared in 44 games with the 49ers from 2014-17 — has yet to find a new home.
Cowboys center Travis Frederick hasn’t played this season after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome near the end of training camp, but he recently regained feeling in his hands, as David Moore of the Dallas Morning News writes. Frederick still doesn’t have any feeling in his feet, and it doesn’t sound as though he’s particularly close to returning to the field, but the news is certainly noteworthy nonetheless. “I mean the fact there is some light at the end of the tunnel is definitely a positive,” said Frederick. Without Frederick available, Joe Looney has taken over at the pivot for Dallas.
Thing aren’t going well in Oakland, where the Raiders have posted a 1-8 record under head coach Jon Gruden, and the stress of a dismal 2018 campaign seemed to boil over following Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. “I gotta get the (expletive) outta here,” one anonymous veteran said in full view of reporters, per Matt Schneidman of the Mercury News. Per Football Outsiders, the Raiders have a 54.5% chance of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft and a 95% chance of receiving a top-five selection.
Ravens cornerback Jaylen Hill has been on the physically unable to perform list all season after tearing his ACL last December, but the second-year defensive back returned to practice today, the club announced. Hill, who joins Maurice Canady as the second Baltimore cornerback to come back to practice this week, played in six games for the Ravens in 2017 after going undrafted out of Jacksonville State. Baltimore now opens a three-week window during which it must either activate Hill or leave him on PUP for the remainder of the year.

Cowboys To Place C Travis Frederick On IR

October 6th, 2018 at 11:34am CST by Ben Levine

Travis Frederick is indeed heading to the IR to make room for defensive lineman David Irving. David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports (via Twitter) that the team is placing their center on the injured reserve. The team will activate Irving to take the open roster spot. We heard yesterday that this was the expected move, although a final decision hadn’t been made at that point.

Frederick was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome before the start of the season, and we heard about a month ago that the offensive lineman was still experiencing numbness in both of his arms. The team didn’t immediately place Frederick on the injured reserve with the hope that he’d return before Week 8. Now, the lineman will be eligible to return for the final three games of the regular season, although he’d have to be cleared by a doctor.

The 27-year-old had started 80 straight games for the Cowboys heading into the season. He had another productive season in 2017, as Pro Football Focus ranked him third among eligible centers. The four-time Pro Bowler inked a six-year, $56.4MM extension with the organization back in 2016. Joe Looney will continue to get reps at center for the time being.

Irving was suspended four games by the NFL for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The defensive tackle ended up skipping training camp as he dealt with personal issues, and he participated in his first padded practice in almost a year on Wednesday. The former undrafted free agent out of Iowa State was excused from practice on Thursday, although owner/general manager Jerry Jones said he expects Irving to play this weekend.

The defensive tackle’s talent is undeniable, as he compiled seven sacks in eight games last season. However, considering how long he’s been out of the lineup, it’s unlikely he immediately replaces Antwaun Woods or Tyrone Crawford in the starting lineup.