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Wednesday, June 18, 1997

Seth Joyner wants Cowboys deal

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight-Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - Former Pro Bowl linebacker Seth Joyner wants to play for the Cowboys, but the question remains whether the Cowboys want or can afford to sign the 11-year veteran, whom the Arizona Cardinals released Monday in a cost-cutting move.

Joyner's agent, Jim Solano, said Tuesday that his client is only interested in joining playoff-caliber NFL teams and that the Cowboys are at the top his list.

"We think they've (the Cowboys) got the best chance to get to the Super Bowl," Solano said. "We just hope the Cowboys have as much interest as we do."

There would seem to be interest from the Cowboys, considering they lost weakside linebacker Darrin Smith to free agency and head to training camp with second-year player Alan Campos and untested rookie Dexter Coakley battling to replace Smith.

But Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said that even if the team is interested, a deal is a financial long shot.

"He's being evaulated by our coaches and scouts like all free agents that pop on the waiver wire," Jones said. "But even if we decide he could fit in (our scheme), money is a big factor. It just doesn't look like a doable deal because of the money."

With Joyner coming off his best season in three years, the price could be too high for the Cowboys. The 32-year-old linebacker, who played eight seasons with Philadelphia before joining the Cardinals in 1994, started 16 games, recording 124 tackles and five sacks.

The Cardinals, who cut Joyner because he was scheduled to earn $2.75 million this season, still want to re-sign him to a smaller contract and have a $1.5 million deal on the table.

Solano said Joyner is willing to take less money to play for the Cowboys, but plans to test his client's market value before a decision is made.

Jones said the Cowboys have never paid a linebacker more than the $750,000 Smith earned last season. Furthermore, because Jones said the salary-cap-strapped team "probably can't pay that much" this season, a deal doesn't seem feasible.

Joyner is also interested in talking to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins.

(c) 1997, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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