The Dallas Cowboys officially placed RT Doug Free on the reserve/retired list Tuesday along with DE DeMarcus Ware, who signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the team on Monday.
These moves are just formalities, as they ensure that the Cowboys hold the rights to both players should they elect to return to the NFL at some point.
Free announced his retirement a few days into free agency.
Free, 33, is a former fourth-round pick of the Cowboys back in 2007. He was in the final year of his three-year, $15 million contract that includes $6 million guaranteed and was set to make a base salary of $5 million for the 2017 season.
In 2016, Free has appeared in all 16 games for the Cowboys and was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 40 offensive tackle out of 78 qualifying players.
Ware, 34, is a former first-round pick of the Cowboys back in 2005. He spent nine years in Dallas before signing on with the Broncos in 2014.
During last offseason, Ware agreed to a restructured contract with the Broncos included a $6.5 million base salary for the 2016 season to go along with a $2 million signing bonus and another $3.5 million that was available in incentives.
The Broncos placed Ware on season-ending injured reserve with a back injury towards the end of the season.
In 2016, Ware appeared in 10 games and recorded 15 tackles, four sacks and a pass defense for the Broncos.
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