Marion, Smith stay unrestricted free agents

By Associated Press
April 17, 1996

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Dallas Cowboys safety Brock Marion and linebacker Darrin Smith will wear silver and blue another season.

The exclusive negotiating rights to the two defensive starters returned to the Cowboys after the league deadline to sign offer sheets as restricted free agents lapsed at midnight Monday. The players' agents expected that neither would receive an acceptable offer.

"Darrin will come back to the Cowboys for one year, and then he'll probably play for another team because they'll never pay Darrin the numbers he wants for a long-term deal," said Smith's representative, Brian Ransom.

Last year, a contract dispute resulted in Smith missing the first seven weeks of the season before finally signing. He will consider missing the first part of this season unless the team meets his demand of $1.3 million for another season, Ransom said.

The Cowboys offered Smith a $765,000 one-year contract.

Dallas has exclusive rights to the two players through June 15 and can keep those rights by offering 110 percent of what the players made last season.

The team's offer to Marion was $365,000.

"Our thoughts have been that we would not sign with another club unless it was a very good deal," Marion's agent, Jordan Woy, said. "We decided we'll play this year with the Cowboys on a one-year basis."

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