With just about every offseason move the Cowboys have made here in the last week, there has been both a reason and recourse.
Cutting Marc Colombo was for money and to allow Tyron Smith to play. Letting go of Marion Barber will save cash and create opportunities for Felix Jones and now DeMarco Murray.
But when the Cowboys cut veteran guard Leonard Davis, clearly the club saved about $6 million on this year's cap. But for now, there hasn't been a definitive answer as to who will replace Davis on the right side.
For now, Montrae Holland has assumed that role and the eight-year veteran has no intentions of giving it up without a fight. But just don't expect him to voice that opinion too loudly.
"I've always been the quite type to try and lead by an example," Holland said after Sunday's practice. "I have to have good communication with the guys around me, but I'm not really a rah-rah guy. I'll just let my play speak for itself."
Holland has 50 career starts in his career, including two last year while filling in for an injured Kyle Kosier at left guard. Holland also replaced Davis in the middle of the Tennessee game in Week Five and there were many people within the organization that wanted to see Holland take over full-time.
Now, he might just get that chance.
Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones said Holland has made the most of every opportunity he's received in his career.
"Every time Montrae has played, he's always played at a starting level," Jones said. "He hasn't played as much football as you might think for the number of years that he's been here. And the way our numbers were last year, he really got out of sight because we couldn't even dress him going to the game because we needed guard-center and he doesn't center, and then we needed a tackle flexibility. So he's intriguing relative to his experience. On the other hand, when we did count on him, when he got in there, he's earned his shot. I think he can play."
And that's always positive to hear from the boss. Although Holland said he won't stress over the fact the Cowboys could always add another interior linemen in free agency.
"I don't worry about that," he says. "If they want to sign another guard, they'll sign another guard. I'm not the GM. All I can do is come out every day and play my best. If they want to make a change, that's on them."
For now, what Holland will focus on is getting his body in football shape, something he says is always a battle this time of year.
"No matter how much you run and workout, it won't get you prepared for training camp and football conditioning because you're not playing football," Holland said. "That's what you have to do to get in shape. And I think it'll get there in time."
