Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com

Cowboys owner considers payroll consequences with an uncertain future ahead

Jerry Jones said he’s on a budget.

It’s a budget during an uncapped year that makes things dangerous for men like Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner, who wants to win at all costs.

As the NFL enters the second week of free agency, the Cowboys haven’t signed or invited any players to Valley Ranch. Perhaps Jones is showing restraint because he has one of the highest payrolls in the NFL.

Before the start of free agency last week, the Cowboys had the highest payroll in the NFL for the 2010 season (at $124.3 million).

The Cowboys owe big money to some of their top players for 2010: Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is scheduled to make $7.8 million, quarterback Tony Romo will get a paycheck of $8.5 million, and cornerback Terence Newman will cash checks totaling $9 million.

Guard Leonard Davis is expected to get $5 million in base salary.

The costs of the Cowboys’ payroll could go higher once the team signs restricted free agents to tender contracts and draft picks from the 2010 class. Of the restricted free agents, Miles Austin, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season, could command a salary averaging $6 million a season.

It’s these salaries that probably give Jones pause.

“The real world is the Dallas Cowboys have a budget,” Jones said. “I’m not known for following budgets, but we do have a budget because I have to look at all kinds of consequences over the next several years. I have to look at that. And one of the things that I hope that we have over the next several years — and I’m going to do everything I can to have it — is another collective bargaining agreement.”

Jones said that Tuesday morning meetings solidified plans for the Cowboys to do something in free agency.

Signing free agents means bonuses and base salaries for an NFL future that is unknown. The current collective bargaining agreement is gone, meaning no salary cap for this season, and there is the possibility of a lockout.

How the current financial landscape will be determined — mainly through the salary-cap structure — raises questions for agents, players, owners and general managers.

What also complicates matters is that the Cowboys are one of the final eight teams from last year’s playoffs, meaning they can sign only one unrestricted free agent to a first-year salary of $5.81 million and an unlimited group at less than $3.86 million. When a player is released from another team, the final eight rules don’t apply.

Money is a concern for every NFL team, and Jones sees that he’s kicking out a combined $16 million in bonuses to wide receiver Roy Williams, left tackle Flozell Adams and running back Marion Barber.

Questions have been raised about the future of all three players, and it appears Williams and Barber will return in 2010. Adams, the starting left tackle, has a $2.5 million bonus due in June, and the team has already eyed Doug Free as Adams’ replacement.

Jones obviously wants what’s best for the Cowboys, and he’s made risky free-agency deals that have paid off in the past. Now, with a high payroll and an uncertain financial future of the CBA, Jones is faced with major issues.

“We have to do what makes sense short- and long-term,” Jones said. “We don’t have a cap, but things are relevant to what we’re doing to one player as to another.”

I’ve known Jason Ferguson since his first year with the Cowboys, and I don’t know what caused or led to this suspension other than what I’ve read or heard.

I believe in him as a person and as someone who has been to hell and back personally since mid-July, I wish him the best of luck.

I know he’s a good man, he’s a giving person, a great father and husband and I wish him the best of luck if he decides to play another season, or if someone signs him later in the year.

David Smoak

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Free agent Ferguson suspended 8 games for performance-enhancers

Free agent NT Jason Ferguson is suspended for the first eight games of ‘10

Ferguson was also suspended for violating the league’s drug policy in 1999

MIAMI (AP) — Free agent Jason Ferguson, a veteran nose tackle most recently with the Miami Dolphins, has been suspended for the first eight games of next season for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed on Sunday that the discipline was handed down late this week but could offer no further details. Ferguson was also suspended for violating NFL drug policy in 1999, sitting out four games after an anabolic steroid showed up during a urine test.

The player’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, did not return a call Sunday seeking comment.

Ferguson was sidelined with a season-ending quadriceps injury in November and underwent surgery a month later. The 35-year-old had been in on 23 tackles in nine games for the Dolphins last season. Coach Tony Sparano called him a “heck of a player” at the time of his injury.

A Dolphins spokesman, Harvey Greene, said Ferguson remained a free agent and had not signed a new contract.

“We won’t comment because he’s not officially on our roster,” Greene said. The team has not said whether they planned to re-sign Ferguson for next season.

Ferguson was drafted in 1997, playing eight seasons with the New York Jets and three with the Dallas Cowboys before joining Miami in 2008. He has 325 career tackles.

Ferguson tested positive for marijuana at the scouting combine in 1997.

During his 1999 suspension, he passionately denied taking steroids, saying he used a dietary supplement, which he would not identify, but that contained no banned substances.

“People are thinking I’m a drug addict or something like that, and that’s ridiculous,” Ferguson said at the time. “I read bottles and I know steroids. I didn’t take no damn steroids.”

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Josh Ellis’ Personal Cowboys Blog, dallascowboys.com
Cowboys Not Rushing In To Free Agency

Cowboys Not Rushing In To Free Agency

We’ve all heard about the agents and players who had their phones ringing at the stroke of midnight last night, but so far no players have been identified as possible targets of the Cowboys.

That doesn’t mean the team isn’t being active behind the scenes, but it wouldn’t be unlike the Cowboys to wait for the market to develop on some of the free agents who interest them. They didn’t jump headlong into the market last year, letting big deals for Albert Haynesworth and some others get done on the first day, but came back later in opening weekend to sign Keith Brooking and trade for Jon Kitna. They waited 11 days after the start of free agency to sign Gerald Sensabaugh to a bargain one-year contract.

In fact, some of the Cowboys’ shrewdest moves in free agency over the years have resulted from letting the market, and the players, come to them. Remember, almost two weeks passed before they signed La’Roi Glover in 2002, maybe their best open-market deal ever.

So don’t be surprised or disappointed the Cowboys haven’t already been linked to the biggest names out there. Jerry Jones has promised they’ll be as busy as ever.

Austin gets high tender as expected

Breakout receiver Miles Austin got the highest restricted free agent tender offer of $3.168 million. If he signs with another team and the Cowboys don’t match the contract, they would get a first and third round pick as compensation.

Of course, the Cowboys have no plans of letting Austin go anywhere. They would match any deal and they hope to sign him to a long term contract.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.
Star-Telegram

Jerry Jones: ‘I want our players nervous’
12:58 AM CST on Monday, March 1, 2010
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News

INDIANAPOLIS – This is what Jerry Jones wants you to know with only four days left until the start of free agency.

The Cowboys owner isn’t comfortable with his team. He doesn’t feel the team is almost there.

He feels a nucleus that avoided injury the way the Cowboys did in 2009 should have gone deeper in the playoffs. He feels nearly a fifth of the roster needs to be churned and views his role as an agent of change this off-season.

“One of the things I’m the most sensitive about, even with myself, is to think, ‘well, we’ve got something good going and let’s just ride this thing on into the season,’ ” Jones said. “It’s going to be just the opposite.

“I want some people nervous. I want our players nervous.”

Jones delivered his message from the Cowboys’ bus parked outside Lucas Oil Stadium, the site of the NFL combine. In a wide-ranging conversation with a small group of reporters that lasted more than 50 minutes, Jones made it clear the euphoric rush of the Cowboys’ first playoff victory in 12 seasons was trumped by a 34-3 loss to Minnesota in the divisional round.

Continuity was the buzz word Jones used to explain his decision to sign coach Wade Phillips to an extension. It’s not a word he intends to repeat this off-season.

Jones has asked Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to evaluate the team’s personnel and scheme and present proposals that will allow the club “to come up with ways that they can say the word change in a big way.”

The offensive line is a focal point. Jones spoke of the need for “obvious improvement” heading into next season. When asked about left tackle Flozell Adams, the Cowboys owner paused for 14 seconds before he formed an answer.

“If we could have a season like that out of him [again] this year, it would be great,” Jones said. “I was very pleased with his season.

“But certainly, that’s the question mark. That’s when you have decisions to make right there, can you get a year like that out of him.”

Adams turns 35 in May and is scheduled to make $7.5 million. Those factors, coupled with the emergence of Doug Free, spark an internal debate about Adams’ value to the club.

The same discussion is expected to take place with Ken Hamlin. The 29-year-old safety is due to make $5.59 million this season – only $1.1 million is guaranteed – but the team saw promise in Alan Ball when Hamlin was out with an injury.

Jones also cited a need to improve the Cowboys’ return game.

“After the Minnesota game, we weren’t close enough and good enough for anybody to get comfortable about where we are,” Jones said. “We’ve got to do something to change that. Again, we feel good about the system we’re in right now and have got some guys under contract. But it wouldn’t surprise me to have 10 or 11 new faces on our team.”

Jones isn’t talking about sweeping personnel changes or upheaval in the starting lineup. When he says 10 or 11 new faces, he means among the players who will contribute 30 to 40 snaps a game next season. Those faces will come from free agency, the draft and current players who made a minimal contribution in 2009.

Now, what about the Cowboys’ lightening rod?

When asked if the changes he mentioned could impact Roy Williams’ role as a starting wide receiver, Jones answered with, “a big no.”

Jones added: “I’m optimistic about Roy Williams. We’ve got to do some things to help Roy, to help his game. We’ve got to do some things with the way we get him the ball to enhance his game.

“We’re going to do that.”

Remember how the Cowboys were viewed in a harsh light when they ended the ‘08 season with a 44-6 loss to Philadelphia? Jones remembers.

“I want some of that right now,” he said.

“I know I’ve got more answers than we did this time last year. But we’ve got every bit as much, or more, work to do.”

Bills decline to offer Owens contract
Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Terrell Owens is on the market after the Buffalo Bills announced Saturday they do not plan to offer him a contract.

The Bills also declined to offer contracts to defensive end Ryan Denney and wide receiver Josh Reed, allowing them to become unrestricted free agents at midnight on March 5.

“We wanted to inform all three players ahead of the start of the free agency period so they could begin making their plans,” Bills general manager Buddy Nix said. “We just felt that was the right thing to do. All three have represented our organization with class and we thank them for their dedication and hard work.”

Owens, who will turn 37 in December, caught 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns in his only season in Buffalo. He also ran for a touchdown.

“I would like to thank the great fans in Buffalo, Ralph Wilson & the Bills organization for all their supports this past season,” Owens said on Twitter.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver caught his 1,000th pass in Week 16 at Atlanta to become the sixth player in league history to reach the milestone. Owens then moved into third place on the career list with 14,951 yards receiving in a 30-7 win over Indianapolis in Week 17.

Denney and Reed were both second-round picks in the 2002 draft.

Denney made 318 tackles and 23½ sacks in his career, while Reed is fifth on the club’s career receiving list with 311 catches for 3,575 yards.

How Important Is Miles Austin?

NFL Live crew breakdown the importance of Miles Austin to the Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys did not put a franchise tag on wide receiver Miles Austin by Thursday’s deadline.

NFL teams had until midday Thursday to designate their 2010 franchise and transition players.

Dallas has 14 free agents, including 13 restricted free agents. That includes Austin, who made his first visit to the Pro Bowl after leading the Cowboys with 81 receptions for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Recently, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he wants to keep Austin long-term. Stephen Jones, the executive vice president, told The Associated Press the team won’t franchise Austin.

If the Cowboys had placed a franchise tag on Austin, it would have cost the team $9.5 million.

The next option for the Cowboys is whether or not to place a tender offer on Austin. Dallas could place the highest tender offer — a first- and third-round tender — that would net Austin $3.168 million for the 2010 season.

Another team, however, could offer Austin a contract and give up two picks if the Cowboys decided not to match that offer.

The deadline for signing of offer sheets of restricted free agents is April 15. If the Cowboys want to exercise the right of first refusal to Austin, it has until April 21.

Austin could then sign a long-term contract with the Cowboys. Talks between the parties haven’t started.

The Cowboys are paying Roy E. Williams an average of $9 million a season, and he’s struggled in two seasons with the club. Austin, meanwhile has emerged as a deep threat and a trusted receiver for quarterback Tony Romo.

Austin had his breakout season in 2009. He replaced an injured Williams (ribs) against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 11 and set a franchise-record with 10 catches for 250 yards with two touchdowns, including the winner in overtime.

From that point, Austin took over the starting job from Patrick Crayton and produced four more 100-yard plus games. He also had seven catches for 82 yards and one touchdown as the Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild-Card Game for the team’s first playoff victory since 1996.

Austin said earlier this month he’s not worried about his contract and that his agent, David Dunn, would handle it. Dunn did not respond to an email seeking comment.

With Emmitt Smith being inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in early-August, the Cowboys asked for and were granted an extra preseason game, and will play the Bengals in Canton, Ohio.

David Smoak

San Antonio might share with Oxnard
By Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com

The Dallas Cowboys are exploring the possibility of splitting 2010 training camp between San Antonio and Oxnard, Calif., officials from both cities confirmed Thursday.

Cowboys officials, who declined comment, are waiting for the preseason schedule to be released before making any final decisions, according to a San Antonio official.

“Each year, whenever the Cowboys have had their camp, we discuss what is going on,” Michael Sawaya, San Antonio director of convention sports and entertainment, told ESPN Dallas. “It’s always a mutual discussion. I think they’re looking at their options, and … they might have a couple of games out on the West Coast, so that would make sense.”

If the Cowboys are selected for the preseason-opening Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 8, they would start training about two weeks earlier than most teams. If that happens, the Cowboys could open camp in San Antonio for 2-3 weeks then travel to Canton, Ohio, for the game. After that, they could potentially finish camp in Oxnard.

“We had a conversation with the Cowboys. Nothing is definite, but they were just exploring some options,” Oxnard City Manager Ed Sotelo told to the Ventura County (Calif.) Star. “There could be the possibility of them returning.”

Owner Jerry Jones has said he’d like the Cowboys to be part of the Hall of Fame game because Emmitt Smith is getting inducted that weekend.

The Cowboys have two years remaining on a five-year contract to train in San Antonio. In 2008, because of a scheduling conflict at the Alamodome, the Cowboys moved all of their camp to Oxnard. They also trained in Oxnard from 2004 to ‘06.

Ware wanted to wait until after Pro Bowl
By Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com

Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday to shave down a bone spur on his left foot.

Ware wanted to wait until after the Pro Bowl, which he played in earlier this month, before having the procedure.

Ware, who led the Cowboys with 11 sacks and led the NFL in quarterback pressures, battled through injuries for most of the year. He sustained a severely sprained neck against San Diego on Dec. 13 and was carted off the field on a gurney. Despite the belief that he would miss two games, returned to play the following week vs. New Orleans.

Ware also suffered from back stiffness, a chipped bone in his left wrist and a stress fracture in his left foot. However, he didn’t miss any games and finished the season with 57 tackles and five forced fumbles.