Dallas Cowboys conducting due diligence on Daryl Washington
With the Dallas Cowboys doing their due diligence on free agent Pro Bowl linebacker Daryl Washington, could a signing soon follow?
The Dallas Cowboys need a premier pass rusher in Dallas. The Cowboys could also use a veteran linebacker with the recent surgery news of Mark Nzeocha and all the mystery still surrounding the future of 2016 second round selection Jaylon Smith.
So, signing a free agent like former Pro Bowl linebacker Daryl Washington as insurance makes a lot of sense. But as we all know, sometimes the choices made by the Cowboys front office don’t always make sense to fans. It’s just one of the reasons why America’s Team hasn’t been to a Super Bowl in over twenty years.
Still, according to a report by Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams, the Cowboys are currently doing their due diligence on Washington, not doubt researching whether his troubles of the past are truly behind him.
"“The Cowboys are conducting their due diligence on Washington, who was released by the Cardinals after the league reinstated him in April,” wrote Williams on Wednesday. “The former TCU star has yet to get a workout with the Cowboys, but he spends his time working out at local gyms and high school tracks, readying for the chance."
Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweeted that the Cowboys were doing homework on Washington late last month. But with Dallas receiving a $14 million bump in their salary cap last week due to the release of quarterback Tony Romo back in early April, the Cowboys brass now has the financial wiggle room to justify taking a chance on the 2012 Pro Bowler.
Washington was a second round selection out of TCU back in 2010 by the Arizona Cardinals. In 2012, his lone Pro Bowl season, the now 30-year old posted an impressive 134 total tackles, 9.0 sacks, one interception and forced two fumbles.
The talented linebacker has been on suspension for the past three years for multiple violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. And he also has a domestic violence incident on his record. But Washington claims he’s a different person now and has learned from his mistakes.
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A Dallas native, Washington reportedly lives just four miles from AT&T Stadium. But with a possible PED suspension looming over defensive end David Irving and the team’s drug related troubles with fellow lineman Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys may simply decide they have too many at-risk players on their roster as it is.
But just like the controversial Greg Hardy signing of a couple seasons ago, the Dallas Cowboys like to make these kinds of decisions on a case-by-case basis. If Daryl Washington gets an opportunity to plead his case to the Dallas decision-makers, the Cowboys may take that chance.