The Cowboys want to sign defensive end Anthony Spencer to a long-term deal. But the Cowboys have given up. For now.
Agent Jordan Woy (Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy never knows how to pronounce his name) tells Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that the Cowboys have broken off talks. Per Woy, the move makes it “most likely that [Spencer will] play 2013 on the one-year deal.’’
Spencer signed a one-year, $10.6 million franchise tender earlier this year. The guaranteed, eight-figure payday for 2013 has complicated efforts to sign him for the long haul, given the dip in the veteran pass-rusher market.
Under the labor deal, if the Cowboys and Spencer fail to work out a long-term deal by July 15, they can’t agree to a new contract until after the 2013 regular season.
Even then, the Cowboys won’t have much leverage. If they use the franchise tender for a third straight year on Spencer, it’ll cost the greater of the quarterback number in 2014 or $15.264 million, a 44-percent raise over his 2013 compensation. So Spencer will hit the open market unless the Cowboys can get him to forget about the one-year franchise salary in 2014 and take a deal that reflects his market value.