And most importantly he plays on the strong side.
We should be able to platoon that spot or find a mid level free agent for much cheaper.
giving weak side big time money to spencer is a terrible decision.
Let him go get overpaid somewhere else.
Our needs are OG > DT + S >>>>>>>> RB.
And I see Anthony Spencer as a must need. We have no depth behind Demarcus Ware and should he go down I would much prefer Spencer there. 2 years down the line when Ware's contract expires, I would like Anthony Spencer to be there. As it is, Brent is gone most likely, Ratliff cannot be counted on and I doubt that Coleman or Spears comes back. That leaves Lissemore and Bass.
SLB: Spencer, Albright, Wilber
SDE: Spencer, Crawford, Hatcher
NT: Lissemore, Ratliff
3T: Ratliff Hatcher Crawford
WDE: Ware, Spencer
Without him it looks like
SLB: Albright Wilber
SDE: Crawford Hatcher
NT: Lissemore Ratliff
3T: Ratliff Hatcher Crawford
WDE: Ware
With Spencer in the defensive front we have lots of depth across most positions. Without him it's sparse. As for free agents, Michael Johnson and Cliff Avril are not going to be any cheaper and more likely much more expensive. And the drop off from the is Unemyiora. As it is, I don't think it's that far fetched to say that Spencer is one of the 50 best defensive players in the league. Where do you put Umenyiora?
In the draft you MIGHT be able to get a someone like Ansah but we have already seen Jerry Jones chase the Shante Carver and Kavika Pittmans. You still have needs at OG DT S RB. Would you rather give your money to Levitre, Umenyiora or pay Goldson $9m. Pay a RB that has taken that many more NFL hits like Benson.
Cutting Conner, Spears, extending Romo, and restructuring Carr, Witten and Ware are all no brainers. Those will put us well under the cap and allow us to resign Spencer without having to backload the bejeesus out of it. We can do other stuff with guys with substantial SB prorations remaining like Smith and Claiborne or outright cut like Vickers to free up more millions more to go after a 'midgrade FA' if you want to.
Then that allows you to assign Free a June 1 and have your draft picks taken care of and have cash to work the tail end of FA and into the season.
All of those are sensible moves. Other than Ware I think you can be as certain as one can be that all of these guys will be here at least two more years or need to be cut no matter what.
Unless Spencer is looking for Julius Peppers type money I would like very much that we sign him.