Jerry Jones admits Dallas Cowboys might not keep DeMarcus Ware
By Hayden Kane
The Dallas Cowboys face a challenging cap situation. Owner Jerry Jones has been reluctant to come out and say as much, but the team might face difficult decisions to make things work.
The most difficult decision of them all would have to be one that parts with super pass rusher DeMarcus Ware. But appearing on Sportscenter today, Jones admitted that Ware might be a cap casualty as the Cowbodys navigate things this off-season. From Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News:
"Ware is scheduled to count $16 million against the salary cap in 2014 and the Cowboys likely can’t afford him at that price. If Ware, 31, is going to remain in Dallas his contract will need to be restructured or the amount of money will need to be reduced.‘There’s no question when you are where we are on the cap, even though we’ve had some new cap space added, and you have a defensive player that’s your highest paid defensive player, and he hasn’t been on the field much the last two years, that has to be considered,’ Jones said on ESPN’s SportsCenter. ‘You can’t have it all.’"
In nine seasons with the Cowboys, Ware has 117 sacks. As for Jones’ assessment that Ware hasn’t been on the field much the last two years? That seems a bit off the mark: Ware played 16 games every season except last year. Even if he wasn’t 100% when he did play in 2013 (only six sacks) he still started and played 13 games.
The point about paying a defensive player that huge cap number is still well taken, but Jones probably could have made it without taking that odd pot shot at Ware’s durability.