Cowboys News: Former Dallas starter in danger of being cut, Terence Steele's new diet
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys have made some home run decisions over the years as they've constructed their offensive line
While Connor Williams has developed into a high-level starter with the Dolphins, are any Cowboys fans losing sleep because Williams is no longer manning left guard? The team drafted a superior LG in Tyler Smith last year and he just so happens to be the future at left tackle.
Swapping La'el Collins for Terence Steele at right tackle is perhaps Dallas' greatest success story. Much to the chagrin of fans, the Cowboys cut Collins last offseason to save $10 million against the cap. It followed the widely panned decision to trade Amari Cooper, so fans weren't in a good headspace.
Whereas Steele has morphed into one of the NFL's most underrated right tackles, Collins has struggled with injuries and performance in his short time with the Bengals.
The former UDFA underwent ACL surgery late last season and his status for Week 1 is currently up in the air. While Collins is feeling great post-surgery, that might not be enough to save his bacon
In a recent article, former Vikings general manager Jeff Diamond, now with The 33rd Team, listed the 26-year-old linemen as one of seven "notable veterans who should be cut" before next season.
Former Cowboys RT La'el Collins could get cut by the Bengals
Diamond brings up a great point about the Bengals signing Orlando Brown Jr. to protect Joe Burrow's blindside. Former LT Jonah Williams demanded a trade leading up to the draft but he'll seemingly now convert to right tackle after Cincinnati decided to keep him.
The Bengals could simply move Collins inside, where he excelled in Dallas, but they have to decide whether they want to pay his $4.5 million base salary and $2.4 million in active roster bonuses as a first-string guard and second-string tackle.
Whatever the case, Collins' starting job is up for grabs, and that could see him end up on the chopping block now that June has arrived. The Bengals could save $7.6 million on the cap by cutting Collins after June 1.
In other Cowboys news, much has been made about the team's purported plans to move a rehabbing Terence Steele to guard. While rehabbing his knee, Steele made substantive changes to his diet, including cutting out bread, pizza and drinking on weekends.
“I found out a lot of the foods that I eat cause inflammation,” Steele said, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “I’m eating super clean, so none of the foods I eat give me inflammation. I even cut out drinking on the weekend. All of that.”
The new diet has helped Steele lose more than 10 pounds.
All we can do is hope the Cowboys do right by Steele and let him continue to grow at right tackle, where he's become incredibly valuable.