Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys used the franchise tag on outside linebacker Anthony Spencer, who was converting to defensive end as they switched from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base defense. He was injured in training camp and again early in the season and the Cowboys paid him a lot of money for very little playing time.

The Cowboys aren’t expected to use the franchise tag this time around.

Stephen Jones said he doesn't anticipate the franchise tag being used this year

— Rowan Kavner (@KavnerDC) January 22, 2014

It probably isn’t because of the experience with Spencer last season. It is more likely due to their salary cap situation. They’re already millions over the cap and need to do a lot of renegotiating and restructuring to try and get underneath the cap and paying a player a franchise tag salary would be unrealistic. Especially Spencer who is coming off microfracture surgery.