Potential 2013 Dallas Cowboys roster changes
The 2012 season is over for the Dallas Cowboys, and now we look onto the potential 2013 Dallas Cowboys roster changes. The Cowboys will potentially let 19 players to gallop to other teams, and that doesn’t even include cap causalities this offseason. The main issue that will drive the Cowboys decisions on the roster during the offseason is the salary cap.The Cowboys will be around 22 million dollars over the projected salary cap limit. One of the ways the Cowboys will try to fix that cap number is through Tony Romo’s extension.
I don’t believe Romo should continue with Jerry’s world anymore, but the Cowboys are the only team he has ever known. Any extension will do everything necessary to lower his cap hit in 2013, which is projected to be 17,228,000 dollars. If the Cowboys can lower it to seven million at the most or nine million at the highest, then the Cowboys will be in better shape to fix the cap issues. Assuming the Cowboys extend Romo and his cap hit to eight million dollars for 2013, then the Cowboys will have to trim 14 million more. The biggest cap hit in 2013 other than Romo is Brandon Carr, but he’s already signed on till 2017.
Re-signing DeMarcus Ware isn’t going to happen, but re-signing players won’t be enough to clear room for draft picks, and other free agents. The Cowboys are going to have to release some players. Miles Austin and Jay Ratliff seem to be the only answers. Each will have a cap hit of about 16 million combined. Releasing both of them would save the Cowboys about 12 million, and the Cowboys can make up the issues with the cap, through contract extensions after that point with maybe a few other player releases along the way. Can you imagine a team without Ratliff and Austin?
No, but they shouldn’t make up for the discrepancy with cutting a huge plethora of players. Cutting ties with 2-3 players is better than cutting ties with 8-10 who have been significant pieces to the Cowboys roster. Otherwise the Cowboys will be rebuilding, and I don’t believe Jerry Jones likes that word one bit. That includes the fans as well. Also keep in mind that a shocker this offseason could be the release of Jason Witten.
Witten has been a mainstay on this Cowboys team for over a decade, but his play has declined with injuries. It may not be time to put him out to pasture, but he’s starting to show decline. As far as re-signing goes with the Cowboys this offseason, there has only been one rumor of Anthony Spencer coming back. However since the Jones hired a defensive coordinator that doesn’t fit Spencer’s style. You can kiss Spencer goodbye completely for 2013. Bottom-line, the Cowboys have a lot of work to do improving from an 8-8 record, and they will have to do a little addition by subtraction this offseason.
James Cobern is a Featured Journalist for TPF and can be contacted at JCobern@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com.
Who writes this stuff, a ten year old? Half of what you write is suspect at best. I understand an opinionated story but putting in stuff that has the probability of 3% so the reader says “wow” is not good journalism. I love football and like some stories on here but most of them are simply just wildy written, not realistic. Sorry, just my opinion.
This writer has absolutely NO football intelligence……he doesn’t even know the difference between Ware and Spenser. And release a declining Written……he only set a NFL record for catches in a season for tight ends. Go back to your real job of flippin burgers and leave sports writing to the Pros….Moron!
I should have been more specific, that what I meant by re-signing, was getting Ware to sign an extension that lowers his cap hit for 2013 to clear room for free agents.
This is sadly written!
You are an absolute idiot and a disgrace to hoest hard working sports reporters. Will the ‘boys make cuts ya, will some be shocking, ofcourse. But before you talk you should really double check stats and production. Saying Witten has lost production due to injury is absurd. He set the all time catch record by a TE this year and has only missed 1 game ever. If this is your idea of loss of production Aaron Rogers is on the cutting block in GB.
Witten’s yards per catch were his lowest since 2003 when he entered this league. His touchdowns were his lowest since 2010. He is about to hit 30 years old, and set to hit the Cowboys cap with 8 million dollars in 2013 with the Cowboys who are already over the cap by 20 million dollars. Then you have to wonder how important is Witten to the success of the Cowboys making the Playoffs? Is Witten worth that much money, when you can get a player in the draft at TE who can be just as effective as Witten for less money due to te rookie contract caps. Witten is a great TE, but every player has a time to decline.
“Each will have a cap hit of about 16 million combined.” Doesn’t “each” indicate singularly &” combined” suggests together??? English Major???