FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys’ farewell to Tyron Smith a year ago was poignant. “America’s Team” was starting afresh, and Tyron’s new squad, the Jets, thought they were going someplace, led by four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. The feeling about Dallas was correct. The Cowboys finished 7-10 while attempting to rebuild their offensive line post-Tyron. The feeling about New York is incorrect. Rodgers was more of a distraction than a contribution for the Jets, who went 5–12. Rodgers has now been booted out of New York and is looking for bidders for another shot at it at the age of 41. (Buyer beware.)
And Tyron? The Jets are also bidding their goodbyes to him, prompting Dallas fans to express similar sentiments about the prospect of a reunion. Can he still play at age 34? Does he want to? What is his price tag? What about the retirement rumors? Smith completed 13 seasons with Dallas, earning eight Pro Bowl choices and five All-Pro accolades. He signed a one-year contract with the Jets worth up to $20 million, although Smith only played 10 games at left tackle for New York before being sidelined for the rest of the season due to a neck ailment.
So, certainly, injury troubles continue to bother him in the Big Apple, as they did in Dallas. On the one hand, Spotrac expects his next deal to be $7.7 million for a year, which is reasonable. On the other side, a source tells CowboysCountry.com that one NFL team entered free agency this year with 19 tackles higher than Smith. Tyron is heading to the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday… but maybe he still has gas in the tank for another year – someplace – at the age of 34. The Dallas offensive line hasn’t been replaced yet, and Tyron’s colleague Zack Martin is also retiring on his path to Canton.
Is Tyron better than Dallas’ young first-round left tackle, Tyler Guyton? Is Tyron better than Terence Steele, a struggling right tackle? Or perhaps Tyron is ready to return home to Dallas and pursue a profession. The Cowboys do not need to have these questions answered out of emotion or dedication. They must do so, however, because this O-line continues to require constructing components.
