IRVING, Texas - To say that Chris Canty has closed the door completely on returning to the Cowboys would not be accurate.
While the defensive end, who stands to be an unrestricted free agent when the NFL's signing period begins Thursday night at 11:01 (CST), might have left the door cracked for the Cowboys, he does seem to be standing on the corner looking for other possibilities.
In fact, Canty said Thursday in an exclusive interview with DallasCowboys.com that he would love to remain with the Cowboys if the situation was right, but he just doesn't anticipate it being so.
"I'll start by saying this … I would love to stay in Dallas," said Canty, a fourth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2005. "But I don't think that the Cowboys are going to afford me that opportunity. You have to be somewhat realistic when you're talking about the opportunity that free agency presents for a player financially. It's just one of those things - you have to capitalize on that when you have the leverage. Players really don't have leverage very often in the NFL, so when you do have that leverage, you have to capitalize on that."
Canty and his agent Bradley Bank have made it clear they are looking for a contract in the range of what Oakland paid Tommy Kelly last February. Kelly, who has not made the Pro Bowl in his five seasons with the Raiders, received a seven-year deal worth $50.5 million that included more than $18 million in guaranteed money.
It's unlikely the Cowboys could, or even would, offer Canty such a deal, especially considering their top priority is to re-sign outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who will probably become the NFL's highest-paid defensive player.
However, until he signs with another team, Canty refuses to close the door.
"All this being said, Dallas being able to re-sign me isn't outside the realm of possibility," Canty said. "If they make up in their mind they want Chris Canty to be on their football team, I'll be there. I think they've made decisions that they have deemed in the best interest of the team. I'll just have to cover myself accordingly."
Last year, when the Cowboys shelled out huge contracts to re-sign players such as Terence Newman, Terrell Owens, Marion Barber and Ken Hamlin, the club opted to sign Canty to just the one-year tender for a restricted free agent.
In four seasons, Canty has started 50 games, including all 16 in each of the last three years. In 2008, Canty was seventh on the defense with 64 tackles and ranked fifth in sacks with three, the most among team defensive ends.
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