Doug Free is an American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...

 of the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

. He played college football

College football

College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

 at Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...

 and high school for Lincoln High School

Lincoln High School (Manitowoc)

Lincoln High School is a public high schools that serves the city of Manitowoc and its immediate suburbs. The school serves students in grades 10 through 12, with an enrollment of about 1,600. Constructed in 1923, Lincoln High School was designed by Jens Jensen. It is located on Roeff's Hill, along...

 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Professional career

Doug Free played his first NFL game late into the 2007 season against the Washington Redskins, in which he gave up one sack in the 27 - 6 loss.

Doug Free didn't play in the 2008 season, due to a hurt back.

On November 15, 2009, Marc Colombo

Marc Colombo

Marc Edward Colombo is an American football offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was originally selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He played college football for Boston College...

 suffered a possible season ending injury, a broken fibula on the second drive against the Green Bay Packers. Doug Free filled in the void and did not give up a sack in the 17 - 7 loss. Wade Phillips said on his press conference the next day that Doug Free "played just fine." Then stated that Free will finish out the season starting at RT.

After the April 1, 2010 release of starting left tackle Flozell Adams

Flozell Adams

Flozell "The Hotel" Adams is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State....

, Free was penciled in as the starting left tackle for the 2010 season

2010 NFL season

The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...

.

During the 2010 season Doug Free exceeded most, if not all, expectations. In the first few weeks, he played very well against some of the league's best pass rushers, including Mario Williams

Mario Williams

Mario Jerrel Williams is an American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was selected first overall by the Texans in the 2006 NFL Draft...

 and Julius Peppers

Julius Peppers

Julius Frazier Peppers is an American football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Nicknamed The Freak of Nature, he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...

. He ended the season regarded by most in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as the team's best, most consistent offensive lineman.

In the 2010-2011 offseason, Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones

Jerry Jones

Jerral "Jerry" Wayne Jones is the owner and general manager of the NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.-Early life:Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas when he was an infant. Jones was a star running back at North Little Rock High School...

 and Executive Vice President Stephen Jones

Stephen Jones

Stephen Jones may refer to:In the arts:*Stephen Jones , English magazine editor*Stephen Jones , Australian music and video artist*Stephen Jones , British editor and author...

 have expressed a desire to agree on a new contract for Free, whose contract expired last season. With first round draft pick Tyron Smith now on the roster, it is possible that Marc Colombo will be released, with Free moving back to the right side and Smith taking over at left.

On July 26, 2011, the Cowboys and Free agreed to a four-year, $32 million contract, with $17 million guaranteed.

External links

• Dallas Cowboys bio