Miles Austin understands his time in Dallas is winding down

When wide receiver Miles Austin burst onto the season he had brought some relief to a fan base looking for a viable pass option besides Jason Witten to emerge. As time moved forward, Miles Austin never was able to repeat that kind of success partially due to injury.

With the emergence of Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys drafting Baylor wide receiver Terrance Williams, Austin understands what could be coming.

“There’s new people coming into the league every year. People leaving the league every year. That’s just the way the system goes,” Austin said, via ESPN Dallas. “To be naive of the fact, you’re lying to yourself. At the end of the day, I will continue to work and continue to work. Our team goals are above my own.”

Austin is still a very serviceable player when he is on the field. Last season he caught 66 passes for 943 yards. He already restructured his contract which lowered his 2013 cap figure to $3.5 million. In 2014 he will make $5.5 million but that cap number rises to $8.2 million.

Austin is still a viable #3 option in the passing game but that cap figure might be too high, especially for an oft injured receiver.

“You want to be 100 percent all the time,” he said. “It is frustrating when you’re trying to play at a high level. You’re practicing at a high level and you’re trying to compete at a high level, working your butt off every day. There (are) certain small injuries here and there, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to keep working. And the biggest thing that’s frustrating is just the fact we didn’t make the playoffs the last couple of seasons. I think that’s more frustrating than my own personal (goals). I feel like the team goals are much higher than my own team goals.”