Anthony Spencer has been one of the key players for the Dallas Cowboys over the past two seasons, but he is an unrestricted free agent, meaning the team can franchise him starting Monday and could do so to help figure out a deal for Tony Romo.
According to ESPN.com, the Cowboys have the right to franchise a player starting on Monday, but the move could be tough when it comes to working out an extension for Romo. The Cowboys will be looking to try and re-sign the outside linebacker, but if he asks for too much money, they may let him leave to a team like the New Orleans Saints, who recently hired Rob Ryan and their new defensive coordinator.
Spencer and Romo are the two main priorities for the Cowboys this offseason and so far talks with Romo's agent has not started on an extension. The quarterback is entering the final year of his deal and the team will be looking to try to lower his cap number, which is $16.8 million, the highest on the roster.
The Cowboys are in a tough situation cap-wise and are over $20 million above the salary cap number. The deadline to get under the cap is March 12, and based on the numbers, it is unlikely the team will franchise him.
Spencer is the first player the team will need to decide on, as they will need to know what they are working with when it comes to Romo, whose deal with have up to $8.1 million in dead money after the 213 season, meaning he could be cut later on if a deal is not worked out.
Spencer has been one of the most important and consistent players on the Cowboys defense, which has been slowly overhauled this offseason, starting with the firing of Ryan and the hiring of new coordinator Monte Kiffin. If Spencer stays, he will have flexible options in Kffin's defense, as he could be positioned as a defensive end or linebacker.
Spencer has missed just two games over the past four season and he played in at least 16 games in four of his years in the league. Last season he had his first double-digit sack number with 11 and made 55 tackles. Spencer made the Pro Bowl after being named as an injury addition and if he is released, the team could look towards Chris Canty, a former Cowboy who was recently released by the Giants.
Romo offers the biggest challenge for the Cowboys, as he has won just one playoff game in his Dallas career and has played poorly in some of the teams biggest games, including the last two seasons when the team had a chance to win the NFC East in the final game of the regular season. Romo will be 33 in April and his age could be a concern for Dallas if the team decides to work out an extension.
One of Romo's worst games came after his only playoff win, as he had three turnovers, including two fumbles and an interception in a blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Romo threw for 4,903 yards and 28 touchdowns this season, but the Cowboys finished with just an 8-8 record and out of the playoffs again.
"Anthony Spencer represents everything we want to be about," Cowboys' team executive vice president Stephen Jones said last week, according to ESPN.com. "He plays hard. His leadership is tremendous and then, on top of that, he's just a great football player. He obviously played in the Pro Bowl this year and it was well-deserved. I think he had his most productive year since he's been in the NFL and been a Cowboy. All that speaks well for Anthony."
