The best news that happened to the Cowboys over the weekend took place some 900 miles away.
The Buccaneers broke off contract talks with running back Doug Martin, the No. 2 rusher in the NFL last season, who will now become a free agent, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
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The Cowboys attempted to use a three-headed monster to replace 2014 NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray, who signed with the Eagles last summer.
Lance Dunbar sustained a season-ending knee injury, and Joseph Randle's inability to follow the law led to his demise. Luckily for Dallas, injury-prone Darren McFadden stayed healthy all year and became a 1,000-yard rusher.
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The Cowboys, however, need the type of production Murray gave them in 2014, when he ran for more than 1,800 yards to lead the team to a 12-4 record.
Martin could give Dallas that kind of potential. In 2015, Martin recorded 1,402 rushing yards with a career-high 4.9-yard average per carry for the Buccaneers. He rebounded from injury-riddled years in 2013 and 2014, in which he played in only 17 games combined and had only 950 yards.
The 27-year-old out of Boise State, had a career-high 1,454 yards his rookie season in 2012.
"Tampa Bay can still negotiate with Martin after Monday, but at that point it risks losing him to another team and would have to consider other free agents to replace him such as the Dolphins' Lamar Miller or the Jets' Chris Ivory," The Times reported. "The Dolphins and Miller are reportedly working on a new deal."
The Jets, Packers and Broncos also are teams that could have an interest in Martin, but the Cowboys' dismal 2015 season in the wake of Tony Romo's shoulder injuries could elevate his value in their eyes.
Martin, who would've made $5.9 million with the Buccaneers in 2016, also figures to be in his prime at a time the Cowboys need to win now before the quarterback skills of the soon-to-be 36-year-old Romo start to decline.
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