Safety Eric Berry can boost the Dallas Cowboys in 2019

The Dallas Cowboys have been light in the free agency market in 2019. Safety Eric Berry visits Tuesday. Should the ‘Boys keep him in Big D until he signs?

In a lot of ways, the ghost of Brandon Carr still haunts the Dallas Cowboys. In 2012, Big D thought they landed a top-flight cornerback, signing Carr to a $50 million contract on a five-year deal, with $26 million guaranteed. $10 million was the signing bonus.

Of course, Carr is gone. But his ghost still lingers at AT&T Stadium in 2019. The Cowboys are so shy about landing another Brandon Carr that they won’t take a chance on signing a Deion Sanders if one were even out there.

But the point is the Cowboys are so aware of the big signing in 2012 that every transaction is carefully mutilated and dissected that in the end, no money at the bank level occurs.

Gone is safety Earl Thomas. Cowboys Nation is watching, it seems like, all other 31 teams buying groceries while Big D hangs back.

Is all that bad? Time, of course, will tell. Maybe the Dallas Cowboys dodged one on Thomas. But then again, the Baltimore Ravens had to be sure about something if they were ready to dish out a four-year, $55 million contract.

The Cowboys, obviously, need that dough to spend on the players on the roster now. This all brings us back to Eric Berry. Can the former Kansas City Chiefs star be what the Dallas Cowboys need? I think so, and more.

First off, Berry won’t cost the Cowboys $55 million. The ghost of Brandon Carr in this scenario can stay put. Hopefully, by signing a proven veteran at the safety spot, the Cowboys can add a leader in the backfield, boost the roster defensively while saving cash to spread to other areas of need.

Berry, the fifth overall pick in 2010, is entering his 10th season. The six-foot, 30-year-old, earned five Pro Bowl nods. He was First-Team All-Pro in 2013, 2015 and 2016. In 2015, he earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

But the safety hasn’t played much ball over the last two years. Berry, who has 440 career tackles, 5.5 sacks, 50 pass deflections, 14 interceptions, and five defensive touchdowns, played in only three games in the past two seasons.

So, the math means he played in three games in 32 possible regular-season matches over the course of two years. I know what you’re thinking. By bringing in Eric Berry today, are the Cowboys somehow bringing back the ghost of Brandon Carr?

It’s possible. But, at the same time, the Dallas Cowboys can’t rid of any old cobwebs if they aren’t willing to dine and sign. Eric Berry could be the start that clears away some of the old, but Cowboys have to be willing to pay, which in this case, shouldn’t be too much.