The lockout has created many unintended consequences, including the fact that some players keeping some players on a roster longer than they might be otherwise.
Bob Sturm of the Dallas Morning News believes Marion Barber is one of those players. Or at least he believes Barber will be gone by the start of the season.
“I don’t see any way Barber is back. I just can’t see any upside. He has no special teams possibilities. He is slowing down. There is no point carrying on any longer,” Sturm writes.
Barber’s biggest problem beyond his declining production is his salary. He was due a $500,000 roster bonus in June, which will be delayed if the lockout is still happening. He’s due a $4.25 million base salary.
Even the Cowboys’ official website had this to say back in March: “It’s starting to look more and more like Barber won’t really fit into the Cowboys’ plans for 2011 and beyond.”
Barber only turns 28 this year, has made the Pro Bowl, and owns a multifaceted skill set. He’d be an interesting pickup for someone at a lower price that is determined to make him a role player, but his time in Dallas appears to be up.