3 Important Insurance-Policy Players on the Dallas Cowboys
By Reid Hanson
The Dallas Cowboys have a few key players that serve as important insurance policies should things go wrong.
The plan is always, “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” It doesn’t matter if it’s our own personal budgets, the US government’s natural disaster plan, or the Dallas Cowboys roster building. Preparing for the worst is a responsible course of action.
This season, the Dallas Cowboys have opted to take a few big swings in the “hoping for the best” department. Guys like Aldon Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Randy Gregory, and Leighton Vander Esch all offer high ceilings in their play but they also have major concerns that make their floor in 2020 quite low. That’s why the reliable veterans alongside them are such important players heading into training camp. They are insurance policies should the “hope” not work out.
Dallas Cowboys Insurance Policy No. 1: Joe Looney
The Dallas Cowboys retained Joe Looney on sweetheart deal this offseason. Using the newly minted Veteran Salary Benefit, Looney’s price does not count against the cap and allows the Cowboys to save their only proven center should unproven options not work out.
The unproven options of Connor McGovern and Tyler Biadasz offer extremely high ceilings and they could eventually be Pro Bowlers on this Dallas line. The only problem is neither has taken a meaningful snap in the NFL and as such, both are 100% projection.
The Dallas Cowboys are hoping second year interior lineman McGovern can show something in camp. They’re hoping the rookie Tyler Biadasz shows up healthy and strong in his first camp. They “hope” one of the two can seize the starting job at center. But they also have to prepare for the worst.
Joe Looney ain’t pretty but he’s fairly reliable. The 2018 16-game starter has some skins on the wall and while he’s a below average starter, he’s not bad for an insurance policy.
If Biadasz, McGovern, and Adam Redmond (another fringe G/C lineman) all turn out aces in camp, then maybe the Cowboys don’t need Looney (but I’d still never cut him). But that would be best case scenario x3 and that’s not a likely outcome. Let’s just appreciate what Looney brings and consider ourselves lucky to have such an insurance policy at such a critical position.