Dallas 2014 Off-Season Outlook Off. Rank: 16th Def.

Rank: 32nd
Key Free Agents

2013 Record: 8-8

Projected Cap Space: $23 million over

Jason Hatcher, DT found an impactful home at DT in 4-3 defense. Recorded 11 sacks in 2013, and will test the market. $8M per year player. Anthony Spencer, DE a knee injury limited him to just one game in 2013. Might be available on a generous one-year deal for a team looking to take a shot at a former pro bowler. Dan Bailey, K - proven to be one of the best in the NFL. Dallas plans to try and hold with qualifying offer.

Another Season, Another Final Week Loss

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is a marketing genius. For fans who love the Dallas Cowboys, each year they are rewarded with eight wins. For NFL fans who hate the Cowboys, each year they are rewarded with eight losses. defense was forced to put 41 different players on the field. This was also a league high.

With the Cowboys cap issues, the team will have to find impact defensive lineman in the draft and hope for a return to health by playThe 2013 Cowboys finished up their season ers on their roster such as Tyrone Crawford. by losing another win-or-go-home game to Theres also the health issue of the franchise the division rival Eagles. That made for a third straight 8-8 season, and a perfect 136- quarterback Tony Romo, who required his 136 since 1997. Jones has mediocrity per- second back surgery in the past year. At 34 fected. It not only creates nationwide inter- years old, one must wonder if another 8-8 season seems destined for 2014. est but it also sells tickets. On the field, the Cowboys defense gave up a league high 6,645 yards along with allowing an average of 27 points per game. Much can be attributed to injury, where the But as Jerry Jones told reporters after the season ending loss, would you be embarrassed if you were standing in this stadium? Seriously. The answer is no. Not at all.

NFL Free Agents

Robert Ayers, DE Denver - former first rounder had his best season with 5.5 sacks. Denvers 16 free agents will be tough to re-sign. Josh Morgan, WR Washington - depending on status of Miles Austin, Dallas looks for extra vet on the cheap.

Targets for Release/Restructure

Brandon Carr, CB: An up and down season in 2013. Cowboys will restructure his deal from the $12.2M cap charge to help get under 2014 cap. Miles Austin, WR: If Austin hadnt had his deal restructured in the past, hed be easily cut. Missed six games in 2013 due to nagging hamstring injuries. Will likely be asked to take a pay cut or get cut. Savings if cut: $400,000. Kyle Orton, QB: One of the NFLs best backup quarterbacks. Romos back injury probably keeps him in Dallas, but hes expensive at $4.3M on cap. Savings if cut: $1M
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