MacMahon: Credit Cowboys for not committing to Anthony Spencer

Cotton

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Credit Cowboys for not committing to Anthony Spencer
June, 25, 2013

By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com

The Cowboys’ front office gets heavily criticized for the contracts that end up being bad values, so it’s only right to give credit for having the foresight to avoid making a long-term mistake with Anthony Spencer.

Listen The Cowboys were wise to back away from the negotiating table, ending talks with Spencer and agent Jordan Woy. It’s been a cordial dance over the last couple of years, but the gap didn’t close nearly enough between Spencer’s desire to be paid like a Pro Bowler and the Cowboys’ unwillingness to come close to committing to that kind of money over the long haul.

So the sides have agreed to just let Spencer play out the season for the one-year, franchise-tag deal again. After being franchise-tagged two straight years, Spencer will hit the open market with no restrictions in the offseason.

It’s been a costly waiting game for the Cowboys, who paid Spencer $8.8 million last season and owe him $10.6 million in 2013, but it worked out well a year ago. Spencer shattered his previous career high with 11 sacks while continuing to be an outstanding run defender.

That’s one reason that this would be a terrible time to make a major multi-year commitment to Spencer.

Let’s see Spencer, who never had more than six sacks during his first five NFL seasons, prove that his 11-sack production wasn’t an outlier.

Let’s see Spencer, who turns 30 in January, prove that he can succeed as a 4-3 defensive end in the NFL after being a 3-4 outside linebacker since the Cowboys picked him in the first round of the 2007 draft.

Even if Spencer produces in his new positions, the Cowboys are wise to wait and see how 2012 third-round pick Tyrone Crawford develops before deciding to commit to a huge contract to keep Spencer.

The Cowboys are enamored with the potential of Crawford, whose 6-foot-4, 285-pound frame is ideal for a 4-3 strongside defensive end. If they consider Crawford capable of being a starter, a strong case can be made for letting Spencer leave regardless of his 2012 performance.

It’s a matter of money. Why pay Spencer $8 million per year when Crawford can do his job while costing only $733,183 and $828,813 against the cap the next two seasons?

A franchise that is constantly fighting the salary cap needs all the quality six-figure starters it can get. Paying big money to hang on to veterans too long put the Cowboys in that fight in the first place.
 

Cotton

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No long-term deal for Spencer, agent Jordan Woy said "We tried hard but could not work out a deal"


Ever since the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on defensive end Anthony Spencer in March it was a long-shot that they would be able to sign him to a long-term deal.

The depressed free-agent market have driven the prices down and Spencer, though he wants to stay in Dallas, had no intention of taking a below market deal when he was already guaranteed $10.6 million this year with the franchise tag.

Not surprisingly the two sides decided to end the impasse and just concentrate on the 2013 season with no further talks.

"Both sides are happy with the one-year deal," Spencer's agent Jordan Woy said Tuesday. "We tried hard but could not work out a deal. We have a very positive relationship with the Cowboys. Anthony is happy and he will play to the best of his ability again this season"

The Cowboys had until July 15 to work out a long-term deal with Spencer, per league rules.

Woy said no one has broken off talks but he acknowledged that they aren't talking and will probably just concentrate on the season.

“Obviously we have to take a look at what people signed for and what they’ll make going forward,” Cowboys vice-president Stephen Jones said ominiously two weeks ago. “There’s some good football players that what they got paid might affect what we want to pay Anthony going forward.”

“There’s nothing here that’s not on the up and up and friendly,” Jones said. “If it works out, it works out. We’d love to have Spencer here, but we also understand it has got to work for him, too.”

Spencer will most certainly get a long-term deal next spring in Dallas or elsewhere as the Cowboys will not put a franchise tag on him for a third straight year, guaranteeing him roughly $15.2 million in 2014.

Clarence Hill

Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2013/06/no-long-term-deal-for-spencer-agent-jordan-woy-said-we-tried-hard-but-could-not-work-out-a-deal-.html#storylink=cpy


 

Smitty

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We just can't afford another mega contract to a non-elite player.

Smart of the team to back off on this one.
 

Clay_Allison

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As many mistakes as they've made with Spencer up until now, I'm glad they didn't follow it with another. He'll probably be amenable to signing a market value deal next year after he's pocketed his 10 mil for this year.
 

Plan9Misfit

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Yep...but hey like let's give Jerry and Goof Son "credit".
Yep, "credit" for being piss poor managers of the salary cap and balking at a long term overly bloated contract; not because they didn't want to give Spencer one, but because they're so poorly positioned financially that it's nearly impossible to do.

Hooray for incompetence.
 

boozeman

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Yep, "credit" for being piss poor managers of the salary cap and balking at a long term overly bloated contract; not because they didn't want to give Spencer one, but because they're so poorly positioned financially that it's nearly impossible to do.

Hooray for incompetence.
If he had the cap room, Spencer would have his career ending contract and Jones would have a grinning PC to announce it.
 

tnt

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Spencer will most certainly get a long-term deal next spring in Dallas or elsewhere as the Cowboys will not put a franchise tag on him for a third straight year, guaranteeing him roughly $15.2 million in 2014.
I thought 2 years was the max you could franchise a player?
 

Carp

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Cliff Avril's deal really changed things quite a bit for FA DEs.
 

ravidubey

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If he had the cap room, Spencer would have his career ending contract and Jones would have a grinning PC to announce it.
You could have taken that to the bank. Dallas has just lucked out, that's all.
 

Plan9Misfit

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If he had the cap room, Spencer would have his career ending contract and Jones would have a grinning PC to announce it.
You bet your ass he would. He'd have that shit stained car salesman wink and grin from ear to fucking ear.
 
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