Regardless of whether the Dallas Cowboys make the playoffs in 2013, they'll have their hands full this offseason as they prepare to pull themselves out of a problematic salary-cap situation.
According to ESPN
NFL insider
Adam Schefter, the Cowboys are projected to be roughly $31 million over the salary cap in 2014, which would be the most of any team in the league. An anonymous NFL executive describes the impending situation as "a train wreck," per Schefter.
The Cowboys have
invested long-term in key performers like Tony Romo and Miles Austin, but mammoth signings like those have only contributed to the salary-cap crisis.
The team's recent roster moves certainly haven't helped the cause. Dallas
released veteran defensive tackle Jay Ratliff earlier this week, which means the $7 million the Pro Bowler is owed in 2014 will count against next year's cap.
Dallas can improve its salary-cap outlook by making cuts and adjusting contracts, but those moves won't come without consequences, as they are sure to impact the product the Cowboys send out onto the field in 2014.