Pressed against the salary cap, the Dallas Cowboys took the first step to clearing cap space by restructuring linebacker DeMarcus Ware's contract, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Cowboys restructure DeMarcus Ware’s contract, more to come?
In need of salary cap space, the Dallas Cowboys restructured DeMarcus Ware’s contract. Jason Witten and Brandon Carr could be the next to receive reworked deals.
Layne Murdoch
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According to Schefter’s report, $5 million of Ware’s 2013 base salary will be converted to a signing bonus which will create $4 million in cap space next season. That is a significant number for the Cowboys, who were an estimated $20 million over the salary cap before the deal.
Although the deal will help Dallas next season, it could have some serious ramifications in the future. Ware already had high salary cap numbers for the 2014 and 2015 seasons, and Wednesday’s deal could increase those. According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network, Ware could have cap numbers of around $17 million in 2014 and $18.5 million in 2015.
Wednesday's deal is likely just the first of many restructurings the Cowboys will complete between now and the start of free agency on March 12. According to Schefter, the Cowboys plan to restructure roughly a dozen more contracts. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport mentions Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Orlando Scandrick, Kyle Orton, Nate Livings, Brandon Carr and Doug Free as possible candidates for restructured deals.
The Cowboys could also clear cap space by signing quarterback Tony Romo to a contract extension.
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