Cowboys go from 5-time Pro Bowler to Free on left

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Tony Romo no longer has a five-time Pro Bowl

left tackle protecting his blindside for the Dallas Cowboys.

Yet, going into a season with Super Bowl expectations, the

Cowboys don't seem too concerned that unproven Doug Free is

replacing Flozell Adams in that vital role. Free has started only

seven NFL games, and those were on the other side of the offensive

line as an injury replacement last year.

"The tenacity he plays with, I think that stuff's contagious

for your team. He's always trying to pick up an extra block and do

those things downfield," Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten said.

"He knows what the challenges are playing left tackle in this

league but he's definitely up for the challenge."

The Cowboys this offseason released expensive 12-year veteran

Adams, the 35-year-old who had started 178 games and still had four

seasons left on his contract. His replacement is the former

fourth-round pick who played only one quarter his first two seasons

before filling in for injured right tackle Marc Colombo late and

appearing in every game last year.

With his long arms and quick feet, the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Free

has exhibited his strength and mobility during the first week of

training camp.

On one passing play, Free clogged defensive end Stephen Bowen at

the line then stepped back to shove rushing linebacker Bradie James

away just in time for Romo to throw. Free later had to block Pro

Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware and end Igor Olshansky on the same

play. There was then a running play where he pulled to the opposite

side of the field.

"He's really quick against the run. Man, he's strong," Ware

said. "I've seen Igor over there talking to him like 'Man, you're

a strong guy.' When that comes from Igor, it's a big compliment."

Only after practice is Free evasive and avoiding contact,

constantly turning down interviews and doing his best to ignore

television cameras.

After signing several autographs near one of the tunnels to the

Cowboys' locker room near midfield at the Alamodome, Free realized

that several cameras were ahead of him. So after handing a signed

item back to a fan, Free headed the opposite way toward an

unobstructed tunnel in the end zone.

"I'm just playing football, that's what I want to do right

now," Free said, without stopping or even looking at the inquiring

reporter on his way off the field.

"He is a very low-key guy, very calm, very humble," center

Andre Gurode said. "He is a guy who loves to work, so we love that

about Doug."

The Cowboys in May acquired tackle Alex Barron from St. Louis

for linebacker Bobby Carpenter in a swap of underachieving former

first-round picks. Barron has started 74 of his 76 career games,

including all 16 at left tackle for the Rams last season, but the

Cowboys have pegged Free as the starter.

Free is certainly familiar with Romo and Jason Garrett's

offensive system that was first implemented his rookie season, as

the Cowboys are with the 26-year-old lineman.

Coach Wade Phillips is encouraged by the confidence Free showed

throughout offseason workouts and now in camp.

"He's really taken the bull by the horns. He seems confident in

everything he's doing, and he's doing a good job," Phillips said.

"And you know he's a great hustler. He'll get down the field and

make blocks down the field that other guys won't. That's what we

liked about him in the first place."

That was never more evident than on Felix Jones' 49-yard

touchdown run during the Cowboys' regular season-ending 24-0

victory over Philadelphia that clinched the NFC East title. Free

was out front and pushed an Eagles defensive back about 20 yards

down the field to clear a lane to the end zone for Jones.

Though Free has only been an NFL starting left tackle in

preseason games so far, he was primarily a left tackle while

starting all 49 of his college games at Northern Illinois.

"Doug has played. He's not just getting thrown out there and

has never been in a game," said Romo, who played at Eastern

Illinois. "It's just a matter of him doing the things he needs to

do to help this team win."

By STEPHEN HAWKINS-AP Sports Writer

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)