Dallas Cowboys: With Earl Thomas at the table, here's the next step for the Dallas Cowboys

The long, slow dance between the Cowboys and Earl Thomas is over.

The only player who could make the club free from his miserly manners in freedom, security at the Pro Bowl with an eye on the star, talent and charisma to open the club's control book, went elsewhere .

Thomas will play for Baltimore. The $ 55 million four-year, $ 32 million Ravens bid was too rich for the Cowboys' responsible blood.

Surveillance of free agents is complete. Of course, the Cowboys will pick one or two or three players in the coming days and weeks, but the goal, as in the last six years, will be to sign theirs. The spotlight shines brightly – if ever, on the need to reach an agreement with DeMarcus Lawrence.

More on that in a bit.

The chances of Thomas and the Cowboys coming together were a devastating blow six months ago when the player broke his leg. No trade with Seattle, and a subsequent agreement that would be related to the deal, put it on the open market.

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After signing a $ 50.1 million deal in 2012 with the Brandon Carr cornerback, the Cowboys have shown dislike for big free agency contracts, convinced that teams are almost always paying inflated prices for the best. talents.

This position convinced some that Thomas would never land in Dallas. But Thomas was a special case. The Cowboys were willing to make an exception to their recent approach to the independent agent to pursue it, but up to a certain point.

Baltimore was forced to go beyond this point after seeing what his rival, Cleveland, had done.

Can the Cowboys still improve the position? Sure. George Iloka and Adrian Phillips are names to keep in mind.

But the interest for Thomas was not just about finding security. It was to acquire the best player in the league at his post. If the club does not have a great interest for the remaining candidates, it will discuss the position in the project.

When Thomas is away, removing Lawrence's franchise tag and reaching a long-term deal with the Pro Bowl defenseman takes precedence.

US defense Trey Flowers Wednesday signed a $ 90 million five-year contract with Detroit, with $ 56 million worth of collateral. Consider that the word is Lawrence. Khalil Mack's $ 141 million, six-year, $ 90 million guarantee is the cap.

Sean Lee was willing to accept a pay cut earlier this week as he knew it would be a reinforcement in the future. He also did it to create more breakout space for the Cowboys to sign Lawrence and keep that defense together.

No direct line is drawn from the savings of about $ 4 million from Lee's restructured contract on Lawrence's impending deal. The veteran linebacker did not promise that the money would be spent on signing the defender.

But Lee understands the economic aspects of the business. He knows the magnitude of the investment needed to keep Lawrence and wants to do everything in his power to make that happen.

"It's such an amazing player and a guy we all eat," said Lee, "It's extremely important for the defense, from one side to the other.

"It goes beyond his quick pass abilities, that's what he's doing against the race, that's how he's going to crush the screens when the game is between 20 and 30 meters."

"We all understand how important it is, to have it, it's huge for us."

Lee, who has been working recently with a core of The Star players, intends to call Lawrence in the coming weeks to check on how he is doing. He will come back for a 10^th season because of his belief in what this team can accomplish.

"I think it's one of the most exciting aspects of this comeback," said Lee, who has reduced his base salary from $ 7 million to $ 2 million with a $ 50,000 program. encouragement that can make up this final figure. "In recent years, we have wanted to play at a level where we wanted to play consistently, and as some young people progress steadily, we will continue to improve.

"I know that the type of team we have and the opportunity to be part of it is something special, something that interests me and that I want to be part of."

The Cowboys must ensure that Lawrence will be part of this defense as soon as possible.

The same can not be said of Count Thomas.

Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN

Losing proposal

The Cowboys usually lose more players than they connect in free mode, ending up in a negative total five years out of the previous six. Dallas had a similar start in 2019, after losing Cole Beasley and Damien Wilson, but failed to add a player to another team at the opening day of the game. ;agency.

Season	The players signed	Lost players
2019	0	2
2018	4	6
2017	5	11
2016	4	3
2015	4	8
2014	2	3
2013	2	5
Total	21	38

* Holding your own free agents is not on this list.