Dallas Cowboys Likely Moving On From Bradie James & Keith Brooking

With free agency rapidly approaching, it appears that the Dallas Cowboys will be getting a lot younger at the linebacker position. Veteran inside linebackers Bradie James and Keith Brooking are both scheduled to become free agents and it seems almost certain that the team will be moving on without the two players.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones had this to say about James and Brooking:

“Bradie and Brooking are two of the best leaders, personalities I have ever had the pleasure of being around. They’re great guys. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. That’s what we’ve got to decide. But no one respects those guys more than we do, our family does, than the Cowboys do. Obviously when you make a decision to continue or discontinue, it is a big one.”

It really comes as no surprise. Sean Lee had a breakout year last season, while leading the team in tackles and interceptions. The team also drafted Bruce Carter out of North Carolina in the second-round of last year’s draft. The young talent is there and it is time for Dallas to move on.

With James and Brooking being veterans of the game, they understand this is a business move and both guys seem to have expected the move.

“The writing is on the wall,” James said last season.”I’m a big boy, a grown man with a family. I know what time it is. I’ve been around.”

As for Brooking, he said after the team’s final game of the season, “I was not thinking I would be having this conversation tonight, but my contract is up here.”

Not only is his contract up, but it will not be renewed either. Dallas is making the decision to go young and it would be shocking if they did not use that strategy in over positions on the roster.

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