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2019-2020 Offseason: The Line King No Longer Doing
His Thing
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March 27, 2020 At
9:35 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- “America’s Team” – seemingly by
historical design – is often in the news as a or the “center” of
attention (in a near-25-year pursuit of postseason redemption). It
would not be normal if the Dallas Cowboys were not discovered
maneuvering around some kind of drama or fending off some level of
trauma.
And – without further ado – Pro Bowl center Travis “Fredbeard”
Frederick has made the unexpected decision to conclude his playing
career just shy of his eighth year. Yes, unfortunately, it is true.
The Line King is no longer doing his thing.
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- Dallas chose Frederick with the 31st pick in the first round of the
2013 NFL draft (following a trade down deal with the San Francisco
49ers to forfeit the 18th spot in exchange for an extra selection).
Many fans (and a number of well-known prognosticators) thought GM
Jerry was daft (for skipping on other splashier, more talented
players through which better results he could craft) and
demonstratively conveyed full-on rejection.
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- Fredbeard quickly proved the naysayers all wrong through that
well-rounded combination and developed a faithful throng in Cowboys
Nation.
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- He spent all but one season of his (relatively short)
seven-year Cowboys career anchoring what has routinely been one of
the best offensive lines in pro football (pass-protecting like a
bunch of night club bouncers for Tony Romo and Dak Prescott, as well
as clearing the road for the likes of DeMarco Murray and Ezekiel
Elliott to collectively amass a significant ground game haul).
One And Only
Frederick, in fact, (eventually) became the ONLY gem of 2013, and
that is not being mean. All but one of the other picks - by
comparison - could only bring to bear mentally or physically limited
tricks. The seemingly uncommon driver? Being a SURVIVOR.
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- Tight end Gavin Escobar had the (inconsistent) hands and the height,
but not a lick of line-blocking might. Like Martellus Bennett before
him, he may have suffered from equally-inconsistent playing time due
to the presence of one Jason Witten but – for the opportunities he
did receive – on all cylinders he was only infrequently hittin’. The
Cowboys – unlike with Martellus – were not entirely wrong . .
. as Escobar’s other NFL stops have, indeed, been “Not For Long.”
Wide receiver Terrance “The Body (Catcher)” Williams began as a
solid number three who (sometimes) performed like a two, but (Lemony
Snicket's?) "A Series Of Unfortunate Events" eventually exposed a
disturbing off-the-field stew. Following a non-football injury
to his foot and "odd" run-ins with law enforcement, Williams' time
with Dallas was through.
Safety J.J. Wilcox loved hitting – check that – sledgehammering
first (without consistently wrapping up) and asking questions later,
but when he whiffed on shifty receivers (which was somewhat often) .
. . the result would leave fans miffed (and the Cowboys’ defense in
a field-position or scoring-deficit coffin). Dallas had little
choice after four years but to accelerate away from an American
muscle car with handling that too often went kaput when responding
to “driver input.”
Cornerback B.W. Webb was a reserve role player and special teamer.
Since his single, low-impact season in Dallas, he has gone year to
year with other organizations as a determined journeyman dreamer.
Running back Joseph Randle had shown real potential on several a
game day but self-destructive, off-the-field legal problems ensured
he was his own career vandal in the very worst way. Nowadays – from
his prison perch – he may dream of the moment when thieved underwear
and cologne might have been the biggest things for which he needed
to atone.
Linebacker DeVonte Holloman (segued from safety) was a promising
player who caught everyone's attention in the Hall of Fame game. One
might say he was a hopeful reversal on Darren Woodson (who was
converted from linebacker to safety on his way towards solid play).
Sadly, a neck injury ensured – by the halfway point of his rookie
season – that Holloman was permanently out of frame.
Central Nervous System
Beyond a first-team All-Pro honor and five Pro Bowls in seven
seasons, Frederick will also be remembeard, err,
remembered for the most key of reasons. He is the newest entrant
into an exclusive club of Cowboys who were able to consistently
withstand wave after wave of punishment and answer the critical
responsibility-assigning calls required of their center position. He
joins Tom Rafferty, Mark Stepnoski, (an honorably-mentioned) Ray
Donaldson, and Andre “High Snap” Gurode as
THE “central nervous system” of many an offensive line that had to
survive often-miserable attrition.
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- "I made my return to the field, played well overall, and was
selected to the Pro Bowl, but it was a difficult year for me. Each
day I faced a struggle: I could no longer perform at my highest
level. Playing 'well' is not what I expect of myself and is not what
my teammates deserve. Because of this, I know my days as a football
player are done. I am proud of what I have accomplished in my
career, and I walk away with my head held high." – Travis Frederick
(acknowledging that conditions were not sufficiently “shiny and
chrome” in his successful 2019 return from his one-year battle with
Guillain-Barré syndrome).
No matter how good Frederick (outwardly) looked in returning to Pro
Bowl form, knowing that his manageable-yet-incurable disorder can be
triggered by a viral infection (like COVID-19) is a particularly
horrifying new norm. It is perchance cruel irony that a player so
heavily-counted on to be his position-group’s central nervous system
would have to engage in a deadly off-the-field “game” to protect his
own internal structure of the very same name. Whether or not he
ultimately confirms the specter of another, potentially-fatal GBS
attack was at the core of his sudden retirement, he has
more-than-earned the right to enjoy his family and the rest of his
life in a different environment.
Like other members of Cowboys Nation, “The Tortured Cowboys Fan”
looks forward to learning of Fredbeard’s chosen new station . . .
whether that is broadcasting, assistant coaching (for the Cowboys?),
an entirely new vocation, or (until the current crisis is abated) a
nice, long staycation.
Will They Or Won’t They?
While no team can dismiss a(n unplanned) hole at – perhaps – the
single most important position on the offensive line (with a knowing
nod towards the blind side) . . . there is some post-Fredbeard,
surviving talent on the roster that may give Dallas a temporary (or
longer-term?) room to slide.
Will the recently re-signed Joe Looney be called upon to work more
of his next man up magic to help the Cowboys avoid a problem that
could turn (exceptionally) tragic?
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- Will a possible (but necessarily probable) free agent return by
Ronald “Trick Knee” Leary provoke the Cowboys into giving
inconsistent third-year guard Connor Williams a shot in the middle .
. . or will (the now healthy?) second-year tweener Connor McGovern
be called upon to solve the riddle?
Will the Cowboys expand the center mission by drafting another
candidate for the competition?
We shall see. We always do.
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