Dallas Cowboys fans have become accustomed to seeing DeMarcus Ware causing havoc on an opposing team's offense. He leads the Cowboys in sacks, registering 56 in 2012, and has been one of their most productive players throughout his career with the team. In an effort to stay with the team and relieve some of their salary cap pressure, Ware has restructured his contract.
The reworked deal converts $5 million of this season's base salary into a signing bonus. It saves the Dallas Cowboys $4 million against the cap. The Cowboys are still roughly $20 million over the NFL mandated salary cap and will need to rework more deals if they intend on getting under it in time for free agency on March 12. The Cowboys also added voidable years to Ware's contract to 2017 to low the cap numbers even more for 2013.
In an effort to get under the salary cap, the team will have to restructure over a dozen player's contracts. If they are unable to, players set to become free agents will be let go. The Cowboys have approached tackle Jay Ratliff and Orlando Scandrick about restructuring. Ratliff is counting $7 million towards the cap.
Linebacker Dan Connor was asked to take a paycut. He is scheduled to make $3 million in base salary and counts $4.3 million against the cap space. If Connor refuses the pay cut, he will be released, something the Cowboys really cannot afford. He has the ability to play in a 4-3 defensive scheme and would offer much experience to that alignment.
Other marquee players like Jason Witten, Miles Austin, and Brandon Carr are also expected to be asked to rework their current contracts. The only team in the NFL with a high payroll is the New York Jets who are currently $23.1 million over the salary cap.
The restructuring of Ware's contract could indicate that the Cowboys do not believe a deal with Tony Romo will get done. The team has been negotiating a contract extension and low his team-him $16.8 million salary cap figure by March 12. A reworked deal with Romo could save the team millions.
