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Jerry Jones is also talking draft and said moving
IRVING, Texas - The free-agent signing period is supposed to begin on Friday.
But it's safe to assume the NFL and the Cowboys are hoping it doesn't.
Because if the NFL owners and the players union can agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement before Friday, it will likely push back the start of free agency from March 3, which is also the beginning of the new league year.
If a new deal is reached, an occurrence that appeared likely on Monday but faded a bit on Tuesday, it would not only raise the salary cap from $90 million to possibly even at or above $100 million, but force teams and the league to re-evaluate its free-agent strategy.
However, a new deal would benefit the Cowboys, who have some tough decisions to make in regard to high-priced vets. But a new CBA would likely give the Cowboys another $10 million in cap space, from roughly $10 under the cap currently to about $20 million. That would allow them to not only pursue some of the top free-agents on the market, but also keep veterans such as La'Roi Glover and Larry Allen without thinking twice.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, who is a major figure in the meetings among the league owners, said Monday he was confident a new deal would be in place soon.
"I feel like we'll have a deal," Jones said. "We've got a pretty tight time frame here with the [league] year [starting Friday]. It will be firmed into a situation that will reasonably address the beginning of the league year.''
However, talks broke down as of Tuesday night. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has scheduled another meeting in New York on Thursday.
Without a new CBA deal, the league year will begin on Friday, meaning 2007 will be uncapped.
Current NFL rules prohibit teams from prorating signing bonuses more than two years of uncapped seasons. So nearly all contracts - both with free agents and rookies - will only be four-year deals.
But Jones and the Cowboys are certainly holding out hope for a new deal.
After being one of the most aggressive teams in free agency last year, signing three players - Marco Rivera, Anthony Henry and Jason Ferguson - on the first day, the Cowboys are looking to make a splash once again.
Trading Down?
When asked about the possibility of moving around in the upcoming draft, Jones said this week he could be on board with the scenario.
And that should come as no surprise, considering the wheeling and dealing the Cowboys have done since Jones brought the team in 1989.
Jones is no stranger to draft-day trades, especially moving down a few spots, in order to acquire more picks in later rounds.
"We haven't stayed here when we've been in this spot or lower in the draft . . . lover being 18,19, 20," Jones said this week at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. "I have no way of knowing what's going to happen. But I'm going to go on precedent. We've usually seen something that moved us."
In 2004, the Cowboys traded down from the 21st overall spot to pick up a first-round pick in 2005 and an additional second-round pick, which was used to draft running back Julius Jones.
Even in 2002, the Cowboys moved from sixth to eighth, getting another third-rounder along the way, and still took the player they wanted in safety Roy Williams.
Ellis Returning
While Greg Ellis' name has been included among Cowboys vets who might be released because of salary-cap implications, head coach Bill Parcells basically put that to rest this week.
Ellis, who tied rookie DeMarcus Ware for the team lead with eight sacks last season, is entering his ninth season in the league and is hoping for a bigger role next season.
Last year, with the Cowboys implementing the 3-4 scheme, Ellis' playing time decreased, even missing two starts when the club decided to go with a bigger lineup that included rookie Chris Canty.
After staying quiet all season, Ellis surprisingly spoke up following the season-finale loss to the Rams, when the defensive end boldly suggesting he would not return next season.
"It's not that I don't want to be here," Ellis said on Jan. 1. "I just don't think I fit into the plans."
But that doesn't seem to be the case, according to Parcells.
"He's coming back," Parcells said this week in Indy. "I would think so. He's under contract and we don't have any plans to trade him. I know we're trying to do a couple of things that involve Greg this year."
Glover, too?
While Parcells was adamant about keeping Ellis, he wasn't so definitive about La'Roi Glover, who is due a $1.5 million roster bonus on Thursday.
The problem is Glover's cap figure for next season, which is currently scheduled to be $7.2 million. If he is released before Thursday, the Cowboys would save $6 million, including his $4.5 million base salary.
"This is where I don't have much for you," Parcells said when asked about Glover's future with the Cowboys. "There's tremendous uncertainty going on (with the CBA)."
Glover, who did make the Pro Bowl for the sixth straight season, had a decreased role in 2005, splitting time with Jason Ferguson in the new 3-4 scheme.
No Signings
After signing punter Mat McBriar to a one-year deal, it seemed the ball would get rolling on the rest of the Cowboys' free-agent signings, especially the exclusive rights free agents. However, none of the remaining six have signed, nor have the three restricted free agents (Keith Davis, Torrin Tucker and Scott Shanle), who all received the one-year tender of $722,000. The Cowboys have met with agents for a few of their nine unrestricted free agents, including guard/center Andre Gurode, tight end Dan Campbell and linebacker Scott Fujita. Obviously, everyone seems to be waiting for the CBA deal to fall in place before signing on the dotted line.
IRVING, Texas - The free-agent signing period is supposed to begin on Friday.
But it's safe to assume the NFL and the Cowboys are hoping it doesn't.
Because if the NFL owners and the players union can agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement before Friday, it will likely push back the start of free agency from March 3, which is also the beginning of the new league year.
If a new deal is reached, an occurrence that appeared likely on Monday but faded a bit on Tuesday, it would not only raise the salary cap from $90 million to possibly even at or above $100 million, but force teams and the league to re-evaluate its free-agent strategy.
However, a new deal would benefit the Cowboys, who have some tough decisions to make in regard to high-priced vets. But a new CBA would likely give the Cowboys another $10 million in cap space, from roughly $10 under the cap currently to about $20 million. That would allow them to not only pursue some of the top free-agents on the market, but also keep veterans such as La'Roi Glover and Larry Allen without thinking twice.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, who is a major figure in the meetings among the league owners, said Monday he was confident a new deal would be in place soon.
"I feel like we'll have a deal," Jones said. "We've got a pretty tight time frame here with the [league] year [starting Friday]. It will be firmed into a situation that will reasonably address the beginning of the league year.''
However, talks broke down as of Tuesday night. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has scheduled another meeting in New York on Thursday.
Without a new CBA deal, the league year will begin on Friday, meaning 2007 will be uncapped.
Current NFL rules prohibit teams from prorating signing bonuses more than two years of uncapped seasons. So nearly all contracts - both with free agents and rookies - will only be four-year deals.
But Jones and the Cowboys are certainly holding out hope for a new deal.
After being one of the most aggressive teams in free agency last year, signing three players - Marco Rivera, Anthony Henry and Jason Ferguson - on the first day, the Cowboys are looking to make a splash once again.
Trading Down?
When asked about the possibility of moving around in the upcoming draft, Jones said this week he could be on board with the scenario.
And that should come as no surprise, considering the wheeling and dealing the Cowboys have done since Jones brought the team in 1989.
Jones is no stranger to draft-day trades, especially moving down a few spots, in order to acquire more picks in later rounds.
"We haven't stayed here when we've been in this spot or lower in the draft . . . lover being 18,19, 20," Jones said this week at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. "I have no way of knowing what's going to happen. But I'm going to go on precedent. We've usually seen something that moved us."
In 2004, the Cowboys traded down from the 21st overall spot to pick up a first-round pick in 2005 and an additional second-round pick, which was used to draft running back Julius Jones.
Even in 2002, the Cowboys moved from sixth to eighth, getting another third-rounder along the way, and still took the player they wanted in safety Roy Williams.
Ellis Returning
While Greg Ellis' name has been included among Cowboys vets who might be released because of salary-cap implications, head coach Bill Parcells basically put that to rest this week.
Ellis, who tied rookie DeMarcus Ware for the team lead with eight sacks last season, is entering his ninth season in the league and is hoping for a bigger role next season.
Last year, with the Cowboys implementing the 3-4 scheme, Ellis' playing time decreased, even missing two starts when the club decided to go with a bigger lineup that included rookie Chris Canty.
After staying quiet all season, Ellis surprisingly spoke up following the season-finale loss to the Rams, when the defensive end boldly suggesting he would not return next season.
"It's not that I don't want to be here," Ellis said on Jan. 1. "I just don't think I fit into the plans."
But that doesn't seem to be the case, according to Parcells.
"He's coming back," Parcells said this week in Indy. "I would think so. He's under contract and we don't have any plans to trade him. I know we're trying to do a couple of things that involve Greg this year."
Glover, too?
While Parcells was adamant about keeping Ellis, he wasn't so definitive about La'Roi Glover, who is due a $1.5 million roster bonus on Thursday.
The problem is Glover's cap figure for next season, which is currently scheduled to be $7.2 million. If he is released before Thursday, the Cowboys would save $6 million, including his $4.5 million base salary.
"This is where I don't have much for you," Parcells said when asked about Glover's future with the Cowboys. "There's tremendous uncertainty going on (with the CBA)."
Glover, who did make the Pro Bowl for the sixth straight season, had a decreased role in 2005, splitting time with Jason Ferguson in the new 3-4 scheme.
No Signings
After signing punter Mat McBriar to a one-year deal, it seemed the ball would get rolling on the rest of the Cowboys' free-agent signings, especially the exclusive rights free agents. However, none of the remaining six have signed, nor have the three restricted free agents (Keith Davis, Torrin Tucker and Scott Shanle), who all received the one-year tender of $722,000. The Cowboys have met with agents for a few of their nine unrestricted free agents, including guard/center Andre Gurode, tight end Dan Campbell and linebacker Scott Fujita. Obviously, everyone seems to be waiting for the CBA deal to fall in place before signing on the dotted line.