The Cowboys met with the player rep for free agent linebacker Anthony Spencer at last week’s Scouting Combine, but no breakthrough occurred in contract talks. The sides plan to meet again soon.
Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas reports that the Cowboys have “tentative plans” to speak with Spencer’s agent by the end of this week. The Cowboys would rather sign Spencer to a multi-year deal than use the franchise tag before the March 5 deadline.
The linebacker tag is worth roughly $8.8 million.
The six-year, $44.5 million deal signed by 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks on Tuesday helped set the market for Spencer and his agent, Roosevelt Barnes. It’s hard to imagine Barnes and Spencer accepting any less than that. Brooks received a reported $17.5 million in guarantees.
Thus, Spencer will probably be tagged before next Monday.