Odd Prediction: Cowboys' Tyron Smith to Sign with Raiders?

Odd Prediction: Dallas Cowboys' Tyron Smith to Sign with Las Vegas Raiders in Free Agency?

FRISCO - We often make our rhythmic and snarky point that Dallas Cowboys fans are best-served getting their information from media outlets that actually have access to the team from here inside The Star.

"Get your info from Frisco, not from Bristol!'' is how we've phrased it.

See? It's snarky. And it rhymes!

And so we'll apply that here when it comes to a ... what? Rumor? Suggestion? Prediction? That Cowboys institution Tyron Smith will soon find himself exiting Dallas to move to the Las Vegas Raiders.

No, this one hasn't been cranked out of ESPN, but rather by the good folks at Bleacher Report, who have 13-year veteran Tyron Smith being dumped by Dallas and signing in Vegas.

And we're going to counter-suggest that the good folks at B/R are demonstrating an acute lack of understanding of the dynamics at play here.

We preface this by saying something else we're often obliged to point out: This is a "never-say-never'' business. So is it possible that the eight-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer dresses in silver and black? We suppose. But ... 

Smith, who just turned 33, has defeated Father Time a bit this year by finding a way to manage any health troubles six days a week ... and then going retro with left-tackle dominance on game day. (Tyron has a grade at Pro Football Focus of 84.0, which is second in the NFL among all tackles.) 

Injury concerns were on the table last spring when the Cowboys proposed that he remain with the team for a final contractual year at a paycut.

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And why Tyron said "yes'' is at the core of the real story.

The relationship between Tyron and the Jones is virtually familial. His bond is such that he accepted the financial sacrifice. His bond is also such that we've long believed that he harbors little interest in playing anywhere but in Dallas.

Smith will hit free agency this offseason. Will other teams covet him because of what he's put on film? Or shy away because of the age and the injury history?

And how will the Cowboys answer those same questions for themselves as they might find it temping to do this with Tyron for one more year?

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We don't know the answer to all of those questions. But our educated guess can extend this far: The idea of Tyron Smith signing in a new city with a non-contending Raiders team that has no stability at head coach or at quarterback ... doesn't fit what we know of his mindset.

So for now? We say enjoy the work of Tyron Smith ... and respect the mindset that has fueled his loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys.