Dallas Cowboys free agency news 2016: Joe Looney joins Cowboys via two-year pact

(REUTERS/Jeff Haynes)

The Dallas Cowboys are starting to address the woes that plagued them in the 2015 season and added another free agent in offensive guard and center Joe Looney, who received a two-year pact. 

Looney, who played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in college, entered the National Football League (NFL) as the fourth-round pick (117th overall) of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2012 draft. He spent his first three years in the league with the 49ers before being released last September. Playing in San Francisco, the 25-year-old saw action in a total of 19 games, having the starting job in four of those appearances. 

Following Looney's departure from the 49ers, he signed with the Tennessee Titans who he played for in the 2015 season. Suiting up for the Titans, he was used in eight games and he started in six of those. 

The recent free agent signing is timely since the Cowboys recently lost their backup guard and center, Mackenzy Bernadeau, who signed a two-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Now assuming the role as the backup of center Travis Frederick is Looney.

According to ESPN, if Dallas did not acquire Looney, the team would have had Zack Martin doing the backup chores at the position. 

Looney is now the fourth free agent signed by Dallas in its hopes of revamping its roster. Before him, the Cowboys already inked defensive tackle Cedric Thornton, running back Alfred Morris and defensive end Benson Mayowa, ESPN also reported. 

Last season was one to forget for the Cowboys who, after dominating the National Football Conference (NFC) East in the 2014 season, saw them finish last in the division and having a 4-12 record. 

Dallas faced major health setbacks to key players in the 2015 season which spoiled a good start and affected what could have been a great run. 

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