IRVING, Texas - Last week on DallasCowboys.com, five players who could take on a larger role in 2012 were profiled. Those sorts of playing-time decisions don't usually occur in a vacuum, however.
Each year, teams around the league attempt to get younger and more athletic. In doing so, they choose to phase out some of the older, more proven veterans on the roster. That could mean allowing players to walk after their contract expires, or cutting short some of the long-term agreements that have been made.
Some years, the moves carry the tone of addition by subtraction, such as when the Cowboys released Terrell Owens in 2009, three months after he feuded with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten. Other times, a player's production simply doesn't measure up to his pay.
In 2011, the Cowboys let go of an unusually large chunk of their veteran core. Jettisoned were receiver Roy Williams, running back Marion Barber, center Andre Gurode, guard Leonard Davis, tackle Marc Colombo and defensive end Igor Olshansky. Those moves were made both to clear the way for younger players and create the salary cap room the team is prepared to spend this spring.
Once again, the Cowboys could give some of their younger talent a boost and save more money in 2012 and beyond by releasing a number of veterans still under contract. Here are the five leading candidates.
David Buehler – Though the team has had little reservations in keeping a kickoff specialist before, the odds of doing the same in 2012 seem slimmer. For one, it would seem Buehler has little to no chance to take field goal duties away from Dan Bailey. And since kickoffs were moved up five yards last year, the lesser-legged Bailey was still able to produce touchbacks on almost 36 percent of his kickoffs, a very reasonable clip. Though dogged by groin and hip injuries, Buehler still produced touchbacks on nine of his 18 kickoffs in four appearances last year. His recovery from injury could be a factor in the Cowboys' thought process moving forward, probably more so than the financial ramifications of keeping him around. Entering the last year of his rookie contract, he is due a base salary of $1.26 million, which the team could save by cutting him. The Cowboys do have another kicker on the roster, Kai Forbath, who spent all of last season on injured reserve.
Kenyon Coleman – Signed in large part because of his familiarity with Rob Ryan's defense in 2012, Coleman is not a huge financial burden, with only one year left on his modest deal. But the rest of the defensive line is now a year farther along in Ryan's system, and the Cowboys have some younger players they like in Sean Lissemore and Clifton Geathers, not to mention the possibility of moving Jay Ratliff to end or addressing the 3-4's front wall in the draft. Turning 33 in April, Coleman is the eldest of the Cowboys' defensive linemen, and the team could save $1.9 million for this season by releasing him.
Kyle Kosier – With the offensive line in rebuilding mode last year, it was still important to the Cowboys to keep the veteran guard for some measure of stability, so they re-signed him to a three-year contract that is set to expire after 2013. Releasing him would save $1.25 million in 2012 and $2.25 million in 2013, but the Cowboys will still be on the hook for the remaining $1.4 million in deferred signing bonus money. If the goal is to continue to get younger on the offensive line, the 33-year old guard is a bit out of place, and he has shown signs of wear and tear over the last few years, especially in his lower body. A broken foot caused him to miss 13 games in 2008. He then sat out three games in 2010 with knee and ankle injuries. He rested during Wednesday practices almost every week in 2011, nursing plantar fasciitis in his foot, and then tore his MCL in the season finale.
Terence Newman – Due base salaries of $6.02 million for 2012, $7.6 million in 2013 and $7.5 million in 2014, Newman is widely considered the Cowboys veteran most likely to be released from his current contract. While his play was steady in the first half of the year, having returned from a groin injury suffered in training camp, he faded badly down the stretch. The team re-signed Orlando Scandrick last summer, handing their 25-year-old No. 3 corner a deal commensurate with that of a starter, so he could be in line for a promotion. Still owed $6 million in deferred signing bonus money, Newman would be a strong candidate for a June 1 release, which would allow the Cowboys to absorb $2 million of that charge in 2012 and spread the remaining $4 million to 2013.
Marcus Spears – It would seem the Cowboys have a choice to make between Coleman and Spears, who is younger, 29 next month, but stands to cost the team more money in coming years. After he did not win a starting job last season, the value of his five-year, $19.2 million deal was put into question. If he stays, Spears will count $2.7 million against the cap this year. If he were waived before June 1, a cap charge of $2.8 million would be applied. His cap charge is slated for $2.7 million again in 2013, rising to $3.7 million in 2014 and $4.7 million in 2015.
Each year, teams around the league attempt to get younger and more athletic. In doing so, they choose to phase out some of the older, more proven veterans on the roster. That could mean allowing players to walk after their contract expires, or cutting short some of the long-term agreements that have been made.
Some years, the moves carry the tone of addition by subtraction, such as when the Cowboys released Terrell Owens in 2009, three months after he feuded with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten. Other times, a player's production simply doesn't measure up to his pay.
In 2011, the Cowboys let go of an unusually large chunk of their veteran core. Jettisoned were receiver Roy Williams, running back Marion Barber, center Andre Gurode, guard Leonard Davis, tackle Marc Colombo and defensive end Igor Olshansky. Those moves were made both to clear the way for younger players and create the salary cap room the team is prepared to spend this spring.
Once again, the Cowboys could give some of their younger talent a boost and save more money in 2012 and beyond by releasing a number of veterans still under contract. Here are the five leading candidates.
David Buehler – Though the team has had little reservations in keeping a kickoff specialist before, the odds of doing the same in 2012 seem slimmer. For one, it would seem Buehler has little to no chance to take field goal duties away from Dan Bailey. And since kickoffs were moved up five yards last year, the lesser-legged Bailey was still able to produce touchbacks on almost 36 percent of his kickoffs, a very reasonable clip. Though dogged by groin and hip injuries, Buehler still produced touchbacks on nine of his 18 kickoffs in four appearances last year. His recovery from injury could be a factor in the Cowboys' thought process moving forward, probably more so than the financial ramifications of keeping him around. Entering the last year of his rookie contract, he is due a base salary of $1.26 million, which the team could save by cutting him. The Cowboys do have another kicker on the roster, Kai Forbath, who spent all of last season on injured reserve.
Kenyon Coleman – Signed in large part because of his familiarity with Rob Ryan's defense in 2012, Coleman is not a huge financial burden, with only one year left on his modest deal. But the rest of the defensive line is now a year farther along in Ryan's system, and the Cowboys have some younger players they like in Sean Lissemore and Clifton Geathers, not to mention the possibility of moving Jay Ratliff to end or addressing the 3-4's front wall in the draft. Turning 33 in April, Coleman is the eldest of the Cowboys' defensive linemen, and the team could save $1.9 million for this season by releasing him.
Kyle Kosier – With the offensive line in rebuilding mode last year, it was still important to the Cowboys to keep the veteran guard for some measure of stability, so they re-signed him to a three-year contract that is set to expire after 2013. Releasing him would save $1.25 million in 2012 and $2.25 million in 2013, but the Cowboys will still be on the hook for the remaining $1.4 million in deferred signing bonus money. If the goal is to continue to get younger on the offensive line, the 33-year old guard is a bit out of place, and he has shown signs of wear and tear over the last few years, especially in his lower body. A broken foot caused him to miss 13 games in 2008. He then sat out three games in 2010 with knee and ankle injuries. He rested during Wednesday practices almost every week in 2011, nursing plantar fasciitis in his foot, and then tore his MCL in the season finale.
Terence Newman – Due base salaries of $6.02 million for 2012, $7.6 million in 2013 and $7.5 million in 2014, Newman is widely considered the Cowboys veteran most likely to be released from his current contract. While his play was steady in the first half of the year, having returned from a groin injury suffered in training camp, he faded badly down the stretch. The team re-signed Orlando Scandrick last summer, handing their 25-year-old No. 3 corner a deal commensurate with that of a starter, so he could be in line for a promotion. Still owed $6 million in deferred signing bonus money, Newman would be a strong candidate for a June 1 release, which would allow the Cowboys to absorb $2 million of that charge in 2012 and spread the remaining $4 million to 2013.
Marcus Spears – It would seem the Cowboys have a choice to make between Coleman and Spears, who is younger, 29 next month, but stands to cost the team more money in coming years. After he did not win a starting job last season, the value of his five-year, $19.2 million deal was put into question. If he stays, Spears will count $2.7 million against the cap this year. If he were waived before June 1, a cap charge of $2.8 million would be applied. His cap charge is slated for $2.7 million again in 2013, rising to $3.7 million in 2014 and $4.7 million in 2015.
