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.”

Jones confirms Phillips will return
By Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com

ARLINGTON, Texas — Not only is head coach Wade Phillips returning for the 2010 season, he might be with the Dallas Cowboys even longer.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones told ESPN that he’s working on a contract extension for Phillips. The team has already decided to pick up Phillips’ team-option for 2010, but Jones wants the coach back for 2011 as well.

“I’m certainly interested in Wade being back, and everything is a go,” Jones said Tuesday. “We had a long visit about that and all matters of our team [Monday]. We’ll have a couple more meetings before we meet with our media.”

Jones has been consistent in saying he values what Phillips has done for the team this season, especially the defense. Yet he didn’t make any announcements regarding a contract extension until Tuesday.

“We’ve got to work out the details of what we want to do besides the option, but I want him back,” Jones said on ESPNEWS. “I said that early in the season before we got on the run that we got on at the end.”

Phillips was unavailable for comment. His agent, Gary O’Hagan, declined comment when asked about his clients contract status.

The Cowboys’ official Web site had a story saying that Phillips would receive a three-year extension, but Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the story was incorrect, would be taken down and that nothing long term has been decided.

IRVING, Texas — Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones gave coach Wade Phillips more support for a return in the 2010 season Wednesday.

Phillips is in the last year of his contract, which includes a team option for next year that has yet to be picked up.

With the Cowboys having already clinched a playoff spot with last Sunday’s victory over Washington, there was thought Phillips might need to win in the postseason to get that extension.

“That’s too succinct,” Jones said before Wednesday’s practice at Valley Ranch. “Especially since the best thing to do for the future for us other than to get to the Super Bowl is not have any coaching changes. That’s the best thing to do.”

Phillips is 32-16 in three seasons with the Cowboys, but he’s failed to win a playoff game in his coaching career (0-4). In three head coaching jobs, Phillips has finished with at least a .500 record or better.

Phillips also has struggled in December/January (15-18), but has built a two-game winning streak this month with the Cowboys. The Cowboys play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday with the NFC East title on the line.

Phillips’ calm demeanor and one-game-at-a-time theme has rubbed off on the players and pushed this team into the playoffs for the second time in his three seasons.

“The way you minimize [a firing] to some degree: a result … a score,” Jones said. “It’s a broader picture for me than that, and I’m really proud of him.”

Another key for Jones is Phillips’ prowess with the defense.

Under Phillips, the Cowboys have seen improved development of young players such as outside linebacker Anthony Spencer, cornerback Mike Jenkins and nose tackle Jay Ratliff improve.

Ratliff was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl on Tuesday night. Jenkins leads the team with five interceptions, and Spencer has been a strong complement to outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Spencer has just four sacks, but is second on the team with 34 quarterback pressures.

Overall, the Cowboys have the No. 12 defense in the league and are fifth against the run.

“There is no question that if you had to pick the most valuable player on defense right now, it needs to be Wade Phillips,” Jones said. “There is no question about that. It’s a team thing over there. … He should be recognized and is being recognized for that, I think.”

Phillips has said in the past he can’t control his job status even if he wins because of previous firings in Buffalo and Denver, where he thought he did a good job.

“I think he’s as tough as a boot,” Jones said. “You see how he has handled his criticism. You see frankly that he’s never had a honeymoon since he’s been here, and he’s handled it well. The players see that. I see that.”

Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said if coach Wade Phillips can get his team through this difficult December stretch with a solid playoff seeding, it will enhance the likelihood of his return in 2010.

Phillips is in the final year of a three-year contract but the team has an option for next year.

“I don’t know that it’s anymore so for Wade than it is for anybody else on this team,” Jones said regarding pressure on his coach prior to Cowboys practice Wednesday. “… But what we do here and how we get into these playoffs … have a game [at home], get a bye. All of those are things that look good for Wade.”

The Cowboys (8-3) hold a one-game lead in the NFC East over Philadelphia heading into Sunday’s game at the New York Giants.

Should the Cowboys finish strong — the team hasn’t had a winning record in December or January since 1996 — Phillips’ job status would improve. Of course, a playoff win would also help Phillips’ cause.

Jones normally doesn’t speak about coaches’ contracts, but Wednesday was the first time he gave a firm answer as to what Phillips has to do to remain in his position.

In mid-November, on his twice-a-week radio show, Jones said he was pleased with how his coach was doing.

“Since there’s been absolutely nothing in my mind but the fact that I have an option for him next year, that’s as far as we need to go,” Jones said. “… It wouldn’t benefit our fans at all for me to discuss Wade Phillips’ status for next year.”

Calvin Watkins covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com.

I like this move by Jerry Jones, he knows the Cowboys December history as much as anyone and not a bad move to throw up a flare across the bow.

Jerry Jones Preaches Caution

David Smoak

Jones expects Barber to play
By Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas — Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said starting running back Marion Barber should play Sunday at Denver.

Barber missed last week’s game against Carolina with a strained left quad injury. Barber felt good enough to play last week against the Panthers, but the trainers elected to keep him out for at least one more week.

“[Barber] did more [Wednesday] than we thought and he will have expectations, I would like to reserve that to after practice, but I bet he’s pretty aggressive out here in practice, listening to how he responded [Wednesday] and listening to these trainers,” Jones said.

Jones said backup running back Felix Jones (knee) will miss Sunday’s game and will be evaluated next week. Felix Jones is less sore than he was on Wednesday and will miss practice today.

Also, starting left tackle Flozell Adams missed practice with a shoulder injury, though its not deemed serious.

Calvin Watkins covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com.

PFT: League won’t say whether Jones faces a fine for talking about CBA
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Posted by Mike Florio on September 10, 2009 9:43 AM ET

The Friday night comments from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones regarding the looming disappearance of NFL revenue sharing didn’t immediately make waves, probably because most of the folks who follow the league for a living actually took the weekend off, like normal people do.

But the issue landed in SportsBusiness Daily on Wednesday, and Liz Mullen reports in Thursday’s edition that the league won’t say whether it plans take a few bucks out of Jones’ football cathedral mortgage fund in response to his verbal indiscretion.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello also told Mullen that Jones wasn’t speaking for the league when he said that the rules regarding the sharing of money among the 32 franchises will change after the current labor deal expires.

“Clubs are advised not to talk about the CBA, but if you do, you are responsible for what you say,” Aiello said. He also told Mullen that, if an owner says something damaging to the league’s position, the owner “would be held accountable and could be fined.”

Reading between the lines, it appears that the league office wasn’t pleased with Jones’ remarks, which serve only to give the union ammunition for driving a wedge between owners. It also appears that any penalty would be administered privately, since a public censuring of Jones would serve only to highlight the fact that his comments were regarded as problematic for the league’s bargaining position.

FWST Galloway: Time to get serious for Cowboys, owner

WFAA Blog: Impromptu Jerry Jones media session

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/08/jerry-jones-our-team-is-one-that-has-as.html

Jerry Jones: ‘Our team is one that has as much talent as you can put on the football field’

If there was any confusion about Jerry Jones’ expectations for his team after the press conference that kicked off training camp — and there was — he set the record straight on the Alamodome turf after Saturday afternoon’s practice.

“Our team is one that has as much talent as you can put on the football field,” Jerry said while pontificating about how great it is for the fans to be able to watch the Cowboys’ practice.

Just to be clear, I asked Jerry to clarify his expectations for the 2009 Cowboys.

“I said my expectations were a team that can be where you or everybody else thought they could be last year,” Jerry said, setting the Super Bowl as the bar.

No pressure, Wade Phillips.

If you can’t get enough Jerry, check out his conversation with ESPN’s Chris Mortensen in which he discusses the new stadium lifting expectations.