Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Antonio Cromartie claims he's Cowboys missing piece

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have some cornerback needs after not tendering Sterling Moore, knowing Morris Claiborne will not be available until training camp and uncertain as to whether Brandon Carr will accept a pay cut.

Antonio Cromartie has raised his hand in showing his desire in joining the Cowboys.

"They're only missing one key piece and that's the piece in the secondary," Cromartie said on ESPN's "First Take," and "I feel like I can be that piece to help and go in and win a championship and get the Dallas Cowboys back where they're supposed to be."

Cromartie might be a Cowboys fan but he needs to brush up on their history. He referenced the Cowboys of the 1990s didn't win Super Bowls until Deion Sanders arrived. They actually won two before Sanders signed as a free agent with defensive end Charles Haley being the missing piece.

Sanders signed in 1995 and the Cowboys won Super Bowl XXX.

The Cowboys have an interest in Cromartie, but, like with every free agent, it will be at their price. The Cowboys have expressed interest in Patrick Robinson, a former first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, and saw another possibility, Davon House, agree to a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cromartie is older, turning 31 in April, but he has played in the last three Pro Bowls. He had three interceptions and 10 pass breakups last year for the Arizona Cardinals.

Interestingly, Cromartie is represented by Ben Dogra, who also represents Carr.

Carr is scheduled to make $8 million and count $12.7 million against the salary cap, but the Cowboys would like to shave those numbers considerably.

The plan now is to slow play the Carr talks the way they did the Doug Free negotiations two years ago. The Cowboys reached a deal with Free in May 2013 after the tackle market had dried up and Free's pay went from $7 million to $3.5 million.

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