Monday, January 13, 1997

Cowboys must work against salary cap

By Jean-Jacques Taylor / The Dallas Morning News (Jan. 13, 1997)

DALLAS (KRT) - The Cowboys, who just completed one of the most tumultuous seasons in their 36-year history, enter the off-season with a plethora of questions.

Is Emmitt Smith on the downside of his career? Can Troy Aikman bounce back from his worst season in six years? Will off-the-field distractions wreck the franchise? Will free agency continue to ravage this team? How will the Cowboys manage with the salary cap?

One week after the Cowboys' season ended with a 26-17 loss to Carolina, Dallas already has started focusing on next season and the free-agency period, which begins Feb. 15.

"I think you always have to look back and determine where you are as a football team," Aikman said. "If we remain the same, then we'll be on the decline because we are an aging football team.

"We're not a young football team that's going to get continually better. We have a lot of veteran players who are on the descent, and if we remain the same, then we're not going to be a good football team."

Vice president Stephen Jones has been one of the NFL's best at using creativity to manage the salary cap - and he must do so again.

The Cowboys have 44 players who are either under contract or have been tendered contracts worth about $41.7 million, approximately the amount of next season's salary cap.

But the Cowboys have yet to re-sign any of their own free agents, to sign any free agents from other teams, or sign any draft picks.

Here are some questions and answers concerning the Cowboys and the salary cap:

- What impact will Jay Novacek and Charles Haley have on the salary cap if they retire because of injuries?

The Cowboys would like to know as soon as possible if Haley or Novacek can play in 1997, so they can draft properly or sign free agents at those positions.

If they can't play, don't expect an official retirement until after June 1, because then only the 1997 portion of each player's pro-rated bonus will count against the Cowboys' salary cap.

That means Haley would count $900,000 and Novacek $866,700 against the cap. More important, it would free up $2 million if Haley doesn't play and $1.2 million if Novacek doesn't play.

The remaining portion of their respective signing bonuses ($1.5 million for Haley and $266,700 for Novacek) would count against the 1998 salary cap.

- What impact would it have on the salary cap if the Cowboys traded Michael Irvin or Erik Williams because of their off-the-field behavior?

Vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys have no intention of trading Irvin and Williams. Of course, they might not be able to trade Irvin or Williams even if they wanted.

If the Cowboys traded Irvin, the unpaid portion of his pro-rated signing bonus ($2.7 million) would count against the Cowboys' 1997 salary cap. For Williams, the unpaid portion would be $4.25 million.

In essence, Dallas is stuck with both players.

- Which players are the Cowboys most likely to contact about restructuring their contracts?

Troy Aikman ($5.2 million), Emmitt Smith ($1.5 million), Darren Woodson ($1 million), Erik Williams ($1.545) and Michael Irvin ($1.8 million) are likely targets because each has a long-term contract and each is scheduled to make a large salary in 1997.

- Can the Cowboys afford to re-sign starters like Daryl Johnston, Darrin Smith, Brock Marion and George Teague?

The Cowboys will be hard-pressed to sign any of those players if they receive substantial free-agent contracts.

Johnston, who has the support of Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, has hired Lee Steinberg as his agent. Steinberg has shown he can work with the Cowboys, increasing the likelihood of Johnston returning to Dallas.

Darrin Smith has had an acrimonious relationship with the front office the past two seasons. Marion and Teague probably will command too high a price, although the Cowboys would probably like to sign one or the other.

- Will the Cowboys try to get deals done with key performers like guard Larry Allen and defensive tackle Chad Hennings before their contracts expire at the end of the 1997 season?

Allen, scheduled to make $350,000 next year, is woefully underpaid by NFL standards. He has been named to his second Pro Bowl and is among the NFL's top offensive linemen. He is the Cowboys' youngest starting offensive lineman and their best draft pick in the past four years.

Hennings, the Cowboys' second-best defensive linemen, is an above-average player among a group full of question marks like whether Charles Haley will return, how long will Tony Tolbert's knees hold up, and whether Leon Lett will play again.

- How much of a rebate do the Cowboys get from Leon Lett's suspension and do they get it weekly or in one lump sum?

Lett was scheduled to make $1.75 million next year. Since he has been suspended for the first 13 games, Jones said the Cowboys already have received a lump sum rebate of $1.3 million.

- How much is the rookie salary pool this season and will the Cowboys remain in the first round for the first time since 1994?

The Cowboys should stay in the first round this season because they need to draft a player who can immediately contribute or start. Historically, though, the Cowboys prefer to pay proven free agents or sign their own marquee players to large contracts.

The rookie salary pool was $2.3 million last year, and Dallas spent $2 million. Jones said they will probably take the same approach this year.

- How much will the Cowboys be able to dabble in free agency?

Dallas signed nine free agents from other teams last year, but rarely spent more than the league minimum on the players.

They chose to spend their money or role players like Herschel Walker and Broderick Thomas. Middle linebacker Fred Strickland, who received a two-year, $1.15 contract, received the biggest contract.

Dallas might spend more than usual for a big receiver who can play flanker opposite Michael Irvin or a proven offensive lineman.

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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