The Dallas Cowboys are restructuring five contracts in order to create cap space to improve the team this season, including linebacker DeMarcus Ware, tight end Jason Witten, wide receiver Miles Austin, cornerback Brandon Carr and center Ryan Cook, according to reports. The Cowboys projected to exceed the cap by $20 million but the money saved from the restructuring will erase that.
They will be saving the most money on Carr's deal, which he signed last offseason. Over $14 million in salary owed to Carr is becoming a signing bonus, and Carr will now count as $3.5 million against the salary cap. Ware's salary has dropped to $1 million in 2013 with a $5 million signing bonus spread over the remainder of his contract. Austin, who was considered a potential cap casualty by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, converted his base salary into a signing bonus which shaved $4 million off his cap hit and Witten's contract re-write saves $3.6 million. These moves might help the Cowboys re-sign Anthony Spencer, who registered 11 sacks last season.
Austin, who was healthier than usual in 2012 despite injury concerns before the season started, caught 66 passes for 943 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 58.6 yards per game and would be near the top of a talent-laden wide receiver free agent pool. Dez Bryant emerged last season as a legitimate primary threat, making Austin more expendable. The restructuring will keep Austin in Dallas, however. Ware recorded just 33 tackles last year, the fewest in his eight-year career, but did have 11.5 sacks.
Carr, last offseason's biggest free agent pickup, played in all 16 games, recorded 11 pass defenses, picked off three balls and returned one to the house, in addition to making 48 tackles.
To create even more room, Dallas may give Tony Romo, whose contract is up at the end of the season, a new deal and cut right tackle Doug Free. If Free is cut by June 1st, the Cowboys can save $7 million.
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