This is a guest post from Jason Troxell
Depending on who you ask, March 11 arrived as a bummer for some Dallas Cowboy fans. On that day, it was reported that longtime wide receiver Miles Austin will be cut post-June 1, which is when he’ll enter a very crowded free agent pool. Or will he?
The latest news out of the swirling tide of NFL rumors is that Austin will indeed leave Dallas in his rearview. On the Cowboys’ official website, two writers answered a slew of questions surrounding the team. And of course, leading the way was one about whether or not Austin will return to the Lone Star State. If we’re to believe what these guys are saying, it’s not looking good:
“That’s always a possibility, but I’d be surprised to see that happen. I think more so than the money, the Cowboys were ready to move on to a new player at the position. It wouldn’t hurt to have him, but his hamstrings got to the point where he seemed like a ticking time bomb before the next injury. He’s one of the best receivers remaining in free agency, but it’s hard to count on that.”
It’s a fair point.
In the 2013 season, Austin failed to meet expectations as his team struggled to finish with a measly .500 record (second in the NFC East). The under-performing WR only appeared in 11 of the season’s 16 games, netting 244 receiving yards off 24 receptions. Yeah, it wasn’t exactly a banner year for Austin, who turned heads five years ago with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2009 and 2010. But as Cowboy fans know full well, he was simply unable to overcome the hamstring injury he suffered in last year. Could this mean that, as the Cowboy writer noted, he simply doesn’t have a place there anymore? Probably, especially given how rookie Terrance Williams performed in his place.
As of late, the only other news surrounding Austin’s career has been related to his time off the field. It turns out that the 29-year-old has decided to expand his résumé to another professional world: poker. He most recently took part in the WPT World Championship at the Borgata in Atlantic City, N.J., which would indicate he’s been spending some time in his stomping grounds.
For those unaware, Austin is a proud Jersey native, meaning his presence in Atlantic City isn’t that surprising. But could this mean he’s looking to spend even more time in the Garden State—do you catch my drift? If not, perhaps you should read this blog post indicating that the Jets are indeed interested in bringing Austin to their squad. Hmm, that would seem more likely than a return to the ‘Boys. The Jets really do need another WR, after all, though that could spell trouble for our beloved Bills in the 2014 season.
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