News: DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys headed for a split?

morasp · Mar 5, 2014

By Chris Wesseling

Around the League Writer

Published: March 4, 2014 at 06:17 p.m.

Updated: March 4, 2014 at 09:31 p.m.

As of last week, the Dallas Cowboys had not asked All-Pro pass rusher DeMarcus Ware to accept a pay cut.

That's no longer the case.

A person informed of the Cowboys' thinking has told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport that the team contacted Ware on Tuesday to pass along the message that they "definitely" want to keep him -- but not at his current salary of $13 million per year.

The sticking point is Ware's salary cap figure, which increases 98 percent from $8.1 million last season to $16 million this year.

The ball is now in Ware's court, armed with the knowledge that there will be no shortage of teams lining up to talk contract if the Cowboys call his bluff and cut him loose.

More:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...marcus-ware-dallas-cowboys-headed-for-a-split

OhSnap · Mar 5, 2014

16 million makes him the anchor of the D once again.

WPBCowboysFan · Mar 5, 2014

OhSnap said:
16 million makes him the anchor of the D once again.

AND yet some have labeled him as our best defensive player who we will lose due to cap mismanagement. We wont lose him due to his decline, but just because of the cap mismanagement.

theSHOW · Mar 5, 2014

This is Dallas s chance to turn about the ship. Let him walk. Declining seasons older player and injuries to boot. No way.

noshame · Mar 5, 2014

Cut him and sign Byrd

Alexander · Mar 5, 2014

WPBCowboysFan said:
AND yet some have labeled him as our best defensive player who we will lose due to cap mismanagement. We wont lose him due to his decline, but just because of the cap mismanagement.

If anyone posted that Ware was in the decline even during last training camp, they would have got a severe scolding.

But now, he is a declining player who is being asked to take a pay cut, why? Oh yes, due to cap mismanagement.

Dallas does not make it a habit of demanding pay cuts for underperformers. Numerous players have taken money from Jerry Jones with very little to no resistance.

But I just find it hilarious that it is better to suggest he is in decline than admit that yes, we need the dollars from his contract to do "whatever we want in free agency" just as much.

NJ22 · Mar 5, 2014

Alexander said:
If anyone posted that Ware was in the decline even during last training camp, they would have got a severe scolding.

But now, he is a declining player who is being asked to take a pay cut, why? Oh yes, due to cap mismanagement.

Dallas does not make it a habit of demanding pay cuts for underperformers. Numerous players have taken money from Jerry Jones with very little to no resistance.

But I just find it hilarious that it is better to suggest he is in decline than admit that yes, we need the dollars from his contract to do "whatever we want in free agency" just as much.

Suggest he is declining? Is that even debatable? I do think that Dallas makes bad cap decisions but I don't think signing ware long term was one of them. He just has declined a lot over the last 2 years unfortunately and I think it is reasonable to see if they can get him cheaper before letting him walk. If they get the results they got with free last year after he took a pay cut it would be a great move.

Smith22 · Mar 5, 2014

Alexander said:
If anyone posted that Ware was in the decline even during last training camp, they would have got a severe scolding.

But now, he is a declining player who is being asked to take a pay cut, why? Oh yes, due to cap mismanagement.

Dallas does not make it a habit of demanding pay cuts for underperformers. Numerous players have taken money from Jerry Jones with very little to no resistance.

But I just find it hilarious that it is better to suggest he is in decline than admit that yes, we need the dollars from his contract to do "whatever we want in free agency" just as much.

I agree the cap has been mismanaged. Bad contracts, bad signings, etc.

That being said, Ware has clearly been declining the past 2 seasons. He has been injured for the 2nd half of the season each of those years. His stats the last 2 years in the 1st half of the season are fine, but the 2nd half has been a joke. He is over 30 years old now and is constantly fighting off injury issues. Pay cut or let him go.

theSHOW · Mar 5, 2014

Alexander said:
If anyone posted that Ware was in the decline even during last training camp, they would have got a severe scolding.

But now, he is a declining player who is being asked to take a pay cut, why? Oh yes, due to cap mismanagement.

Dallas does not make it a habit of demanding pay cuts for underperformers. Numerous players have taken money from Jerry Jones with very little to no resistance.

But I just find it hilarious that it is better to suggest he is in decline than admit that yes, we need the dollars from his contract to do "whatever we want in free agency" just as much.

It doesn't matter what Jerry has done in the past. Overpaying declining players like DW is plain ignorant and puts the Cowboys in an immediate disadvantage versus the entire league by not being able to spend as much on players who can help the team. In this case it is part player decline, part cap mismanage. Jerry needs to take care of his Cowboys fans not the players that want to be paid for yesterday and have proved they are declining and have age working against them.

Alexander · Mar 5, 2014

NJ22 said:
Suggest he is declining? Is that even debatable? I do think that Dallas makes bad cap decisions but I don't think signing ware long term was one of them. He just has declined a lot over the last 2 years unfortunately and I think it is reasonable to see if they can get him cheaper before letting him walk. If they get the results they got with free last year after he took a pay cut it would be a great move.

Ware is just a symptom. Our cap mismanagement is the disease. I strongly doubt a team icon and future Ring of Honor/HOF would ever be asked to take a pay cut if his cap dollars were not something that was desperately needed. He would just get in line behind others that have been overpaid over the years.

It is not a question of whether or not Ware is declining. All players do as they age. But the ironic part about this is that virtually nobody was saying that during camp last year. All you heard was that he was dominating Tyron Smith. Now, oh, he's a declining player because it is convenient to say so in order to have hope about signing new talent. Some people, myself included, felt the 4-3 would accelerate the wear and tear and lo and behold it did.

NJ22 · Mar 5, 2014

If he was coming off an 18 sack season they would not be asking him to take a cut.

Smith22 · Mar 5, 2014

Alexander said:
Some people, myself included, felt the 4-3 would accelerate the wear and tear and lo and behold it did.

Agree 100%. He also seemed to play less snaps in the 4-3, even when healthy.

Alexander · Mar 5, 2014

NJ22 said:
If he was coming off an 18 sack season they would not be asking him to take a cut.

If Dallas did not want his dollars available right at the opening gun of free agency, the topic of a pay cut would not even be a topic.

Why hasn't Romo or Carr being asked to take a cut? Why has that never been approached?

They have been talking about this since the end of the season, first with Ware saying he might think about it, then recanting.

Ware's contract more than likely does not have the trick trapdoors that others have.

Sorry, this is not a change in philosophy where underperformers and declining players are being dealt with harshly.

It is a want situation from Dallas' perspective. He just does not appear to be cooperating.

Floatyworm · Mar 5, 2014

If this ends up being the end for Ware in Dallas....it's really because Ware is tired of the losing here. And I can't blame him. It should have never come to this...But when an owner continues to make blunder after blunder with personnel/cap management decisions.....who can blame him for wanting to get out and get to a Super Bowl before his career is over?

NJ22 · Mar 5, 2014

Romo throws 31tds and ware gets 6 sacks.

big dog cowboy · Mar 5, 2014

Floaty said:
If this ends up being the end for Ware in Dallas....it's really because Ware is tired of the losing here.

JMO but Ware was prepared to be a Cowboy for life. He's leaving is all about the pay cut until I hear otherwise from him.

RonSpringsdaman20 · Mar 5, 2014

Ware, Romo, Witten Era is coming to an end.

Future · Mar 5, 2014

WPBCowboysFan said:
AND yet some have labeled him as our best defensive player who we will lose due to cap mismanagement. We wont lose him due to his decline, but just because of the cap mismanagement.

Its not cap mismanagement if he's still getting 18 sacks a year.

morasp · Mar 5, 2014

RonSpringsdaman20 said:
Ware, Romo, Witten Era is coming to an end.

And Jerry shows no signs of bringing in another Parcells type.

theSHOW · Mar 5, 2014

NJ22 said:
Romo throws 31tds and ware gets 6 sacks.

and it is Romo's fault. Who could blame Ware for wanting to leave for a championship? silly.

News: DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys headed for a split?

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I'm not dead yet......

What's it going to be then, eh?

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What's it going to be then, eh?

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What's it going to be then, eh?

The Labeled One

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THE BIG DOG

Hold The Door!

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