The Dallas Cowboys should re-sign Laurent Robinson for the 2012 NFL season. For one thing, he provided the Cowboys with their best end zone target for 2011. For another, both Robinson and his wife said they want to stay in Dallas. His wife even said they would probably live in Dallas after Robinson retires.
The date that free agents can start to sign with other teams is March 13, 2012 but the Cowboys can negotiate with their own free agents and sign them anytime they want. If they want to lock someone up to make sure they don't bolt to another team, the sooner the better.
In 2011, Robinson caught 54 receptions for 858 yards and 11 touchdowns. The touchdowns led all Dallas' receivers for the season. As a part-time starter, and the fourth option when Miles Austin played, Robinson finished ranked 35th in receiving yards and tied for fourth in touchdown receptions in the NFL.
I would assume, after disappointing years with the Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Cardinals, Robinson might find himself with a number of suitors in 2012.
So, what happens if Dallas lets Robinson get away?
Laurent Robinson has been as injury prone through his career as Austin. He finished both 2008 and 2009 on the IR and missed two games in 2010 as well with an injury. 2011 was a nice change of pace but he is no sure thing to last a full season.
So, if Robinson leaves the Cowboys, the team will have to find someone to step into the third receiver's shoes. There are two men on the Cowboys team that might deserve the chance. Former reality show winner Jesse Holley did well in limited opportunities in 2011. In Week 2, it was Holley who was the hero as Dallas beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime. Dwayne Harris is a fan favorite but he did nothing but return kicks in his rookie year and hasn't proved to be a legitimate NFL receiver yet.
The next option is to look at other cheap free agents. Surely, Dallas would rather re-sign Robinson than take a chance on another team's cast offs, though. Since we are looking at players fitting into the third spot on the depth chart, eliminate all the marquee name free agents such as Dwayne Bowe and Marques Colston. That leaves players like Robert Meachem, Roscoe Parish, Legadu Naanee, Eddie Royal and Anthony Gonzalez to name a few. I'd take Robinson over them all.
The final place to look is the 2012 NFL Draft. Dallas needs so much help on defense and the offensive line, they would have to wait until the fourth or fifth round to find someone. At that level there is little in the way of a sure thing but I like Eric Page from Toledo, who caught 125 receptions for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.
We'll know in the next month whether Dallas is serious about hanging onto Robinson or not heading into the 2012 NFL season.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and has been a Dallas Cowboys' fan since he was a child. His favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s and he enjoys talking about all Cowboys' related news, good or bad
