NFL.com's Ian Rapoport believes Cowboys RT Doug Free's release isn't a foregone conclusion. DallasCowboys.com does, calling Free a "sunk cost" earlier this month. A disaster all season, Free began splitting snaps with Jermey Parnell in Week 14. We suppose Free could remain via a drastic pay-cut, but there's a zero percent chance he's back at his currently scheduled $7 million.

DallasCowboys.com's Bryan Broaddus says there's a "good possibility" the team releases RT Doug Free. The team's official website called Free a "sunk cost" after the season ended, and CBS' Jason La Canfora recently said "it looks like the end" for Free in Dallas. Free is due a $7 million base salary in 2013, and he's set to count $11.2 million against the cap. Free and Jeremy Parnell rotated at right tackle down the stretch.

CBS' Jason La Canfora says it "looks like the end" for OT Doug Free with the Cowboys. Free is set to earn a $7 million base salary in 2013, and will count $11.2 million against the cap. Free started all 16 games in 2012, but he and Jeremy Parnell rotated down the stretch. Free graded out near the bottom of Pro Football Focus' final 2012 offensive tackle rankings.

DallasCowboys.com believes the Cowboys should release RT Doug Free and RG Mackenzy Bernadeau. In discussing the Cowboys' "five worst cap-based values," Jerry Jones' team website considers Free a "sunk cost" and Bernadeau likely "(not) worth the roster spot." Set to earn $7 million and count $11.2 million against the cap, Free graded out as a bottom-10 tackle in Pro Football Focus' ratings. Bernadeau is due a less prohibitive $1.8 million, but was similarly ineffective.

Cowboys RT Doug Free rotated with Jeremy Parnell during Sunday's win over the Bengals.

Coach Jason Garrett said he never considered benching RT Doug Free during Sunday night's win over the Eagles. Free's miserable season continued as he got eaten up by Eagles DE Brandon Graham, especially in the first half. He's been among the league's worst offensive tackles over the last two seasons and leads the league in penalties this year, but the Cowboys can't give up on a guy they gave a four-year, $32 million contract to before the 2011 campaign. Free's backup is Jeremy Parnell.

OT Doug Free has tepidly endorsed the Cowboys' decision to shift him to right tackle. 2011 first-round pick Tyron Smith is expected to man the blindside after Free's play regressed last season. "It's not particularly my best spot maybe," Free said. "Well, it might be, I don't know. I've played primarily left in my career, but whatever. It's just switching over to the other side. I've done it before, and I'm ready to do it again." Barring an unexpectedly rough camp from Smith, Free should be ready to get comfortable on the right side.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he was "not at all dismayed" by OT Doug Free's play in 2011. Free was among the worst left tackles in the league after signing a four-year, $32 million contract in July. Coach Jason Garrett recently confirmed 2011 first-round pick Tyron Smith will begin offseason workouts as the Cowboys' blindside protector, with Free shifting to right tackle. An above-average tackle in 2009-10, Free's position switch help him bounce-back in 2012.

Coach Jason Garrett acknowledged the Cowboys are considering moving LT Doug Free back to the right side. Free's play fell off in 2011, allowing 10 sacks and 33 quarterback pressures along with 10 penalties. He's more naturally suited to the right side while athletic 2011 first-rounder Tyron Smith has the nimble feet to nail down Tony Romo's blindside. Smith graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 4 tackle as a rookie.

According to NFL Network's Michael Lombardi, the Eagles were Dallas' chief competition for Doug Free in free agency. Despite one report to the contrary, Lombardi says the Bucs were never in the Free sweepstakes. The Eagles saw a chance to weaken a division rival and wanted Free "badly" to play right tackle in Philly.