Come on guys. Enough of this love RW or hate RW. It doesn't matter what you or I think. Here's the REALITY:
8/2/2006: Signed a four-year, $30.1 million contract extension through 2010. The deal included an $11.1 million signing bonus. 2007: $595,000, 2008: $3.72 million, 2009: $4.4 million, 2010: $4.05 million, 2011: Free Agent.
Did you notice the $11.1M signing bonus given to him? Do you also see that starting in 2008 the cap hit on him escalates each year. If I'm figuring this right, if we cut/trade or RW decides to retire before the 2008, his entire signing bonus of $11.1M will immediately become due & force the Cowboys to take a full cap hit of $11.1M. After the 2008, it will be ($3.72M off the $11.1M) down to around $8M, etc. The earliest we can afford to get rid of him is probably after the 2009 season when the cap hit would be only $4.05M.
Stop and think what it would do to our hopes of re-signing those good players of ours (Ware/Barber/Newman, etc) that we wish to keep if we have to absorb RWs full cap hit in 2008. The Cowboys simply cannot do it without seriously jeopardizing the future.
All we can hope is that Wade Phillips can continue to use constructive ways to lessen RW's coverage responsibilities, etc. The only person who can deal with Williams is Jerry Jones and frankly I doubt he has much leeway depending on RWs ability/desire to continue to play football.
Maybe ADAM can weigh it with a lot more details re Roy's contract and cap hit problems.