The Dallas Cowboys extended tender offers to four players on Tuesday, including left tackle Doug Free, in hopes of safeguarding themselves somewhat as the uncertainty of the near future with respect to labor relations grows.
Free earned the first- and third-round tender, the highest available and the one given Miles Austin last season; if he accepts, he will be paid $3.5 million next season. If he departs for another team, of course, said team would owe the Cowboys a first- and third-round selection in the subsequent draft.
Defensive ends Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen received the second round tender, and will earn $1.934 million in 2011. Safety Alan Ball received the original draft round tender, meaning that if he departs in free agency, the team that picks him up will owe Dallas their seventh round pick--the round Ball was taken in in 2007.
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