IRVING, Texas - If a long-term extension for Anthony Spencer could get done in one afternoon, as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said last week, the decision to replace him could've happened overnight.
As another former first-round pick, cornerback Mike Jenkins, has learned, the Cowboys will not hesitate to improve at a position, if they can. The team drafted top-ranked cornerback Morris Claiborne on Thursday night, but had he not slipped to the No. 6 pick, the team very easily could have sat tight and chosen an outside linebacker with the 14th overall pick.
That's what prompted Spencer to finally sign the franchise tender a week ago, accepting a deal that had been on the table for more than a month.
"I didn't want to be in a situation where I didn't have any leverage at all," Spencer said. "If they drafted somebody, I could end up getting traded, getting paid less than what I was going to be getting paid and being somewhere I really don't want to be. It's more hassle than anything else. This is more money than I was making, so I'm happy with it. It's not so bad. I can play a year and see what happens."
By waiting until the fourth round to add depth at the position, drafting Wake Forest's Kyle Wilber with pick No. 113 overall, the Cowboys now appear more likely to explore a long-term deal with Spencer. Wilber will begin his career as a backup to Spencer, and even if he develops as the Cowboys hope, it might take a couple of years before he could be trusted with a starting job.
The Cowboys last used the franchise tag in 2008, later signing safety Ken Hamlin to a six-year, $39 million deal before training camp began.
At a press conference before the draft, Jones said Spencer's decision to sign his tender would not have an effect on the team's plans.
"We would have done the same thing if he would have signed his tender or not signed it because we expected him ultimately to sign," Jones said. "We were operating as though we hadn't signed him."
As it turned out, the Cowboys' original pick at No. 14 would've given them their choice of the top 3-4 outside linebackers, including West Virginia's Bruce Irvin, South Carolina's Melvin Ingram, Boise State's Shea McLellin, Illinois' Whitney Mercilus and USC's Nick Perry, all of whom were eventually selected in the first round.
Instead, the Cowboys chose Claiborne in an effort to upgrade the secondary, which could also help Spencer become a more effective pass-rusher.
"If you cover them better on the back end, maybe you give your pass rushers a better opportunity to get to the quarterback, affect the quarterback, sack the quarterback, make big plays that way," head coach Jason Garrett said. "And I think it works together. But covering them better, you're getting more pressure. ... No one appreciates the importance of pressure more than I do, understanding how difficult that is, but at the same time if you're covering them well, your pressure is going to get that much better and your defense is going to get better."
If Spencer is not given a contract extension, the upgrade at cornerback could eventually help boost his value next spring, when he'll be due for free agency again. More sacks should equal more money.
Spencer recently changed agents hoping to work out a long-term deal with the Cowboys. New representative Jordan Woy advised him that in addition to protecting himself in the event the Cowboys drafted an alternative at the position, signing the $8.8 million tender for 2012 would help expedite the process.
"I didn't want to put on the bravado that I don't really want to be here," Spencer said. "If I'm here, it's better, and they'll know I want to be here. ... I don't want to be out of shape and not around the team. It's unnecessary. Last year we had the short offseason, and then we were putting the defense in so quickly. So, having this extra time and being around the defense, I know we can have a really good defense. Just being around the guys and building that camaraderie and building the team, that helps out a lot."
Whether it's for another year or another five, Spencer has made it clear he wants to stay in Dallas. After the team passed over premium edge rushers in the draft, it appears more likely that Spencer will be around for the foreseeable future.
"It's always good to have a long-term deal, but I'm excited to be here," Spencer said. "I'm excited to be a Cowboy. I don't really want to be anywhere else. They want me here, I want to be here, so that's the end of the story."
As another former first-round pick, cornerback Mike Jenkins, has learned, the Cowboys will not hesitate to improve at a position, if they can. The team drafted top-ranked cornerback Morris Claiborne on Thursday night, but had he not slipped to the No. 6 pick, the team very easily could have sat tight and chosen an outside linebacker with the 14th overall pick.
That's what prompted Spencer to finally sign the franchise tender a week ago, accepting a deal that had been on the table for more than a month.
"I didn't want to be in a situation where I didn't have any leverage at all," Spencer said. "If they drafted somebody, I could end up getting traded, getting paid less than what I was going to be getting paid and being somewhere I really don't want to be. It's more hassle than anything else. This is more money than I was making, so I'm happy with it. It's not so bad. I can play a year and see what happens."
By waiting until the fourth round to add depth at the position, drafting Wake Forest's Kyle Wilber with pick No. 113 overall, the Cowboys now appear more likely to explore a long-term deal with Spencer. Wilber will begin his career as a backup to Spencer, and even if he develops as the Cowboys hope, it might take a couple of years before he could be trusted with a starting job.
The Cowboys last used the franchise tag in 2008, later signing safety Ken Hamlin to a six-year, $39 million deal before training camp began.
At a press conference before the draft, Jones said Spencer's decision to sign his tender would not have an effect on the team's plans.
"We would have done the same thing if he would have signed his tender or not signed it because we expected him ultimately to sign," Jones said. "We were operating as though we hadn't signed him."
As it turned out, the Cowboys' original pick at No. 14 would've given them their choice of the top 3-4 outside linebackers, including West Virginia's Bruce Irvin, South Carolina's Melvin Ingram, Boise State's Shea McLellin, Illinois' Whitney Mercilus and USC's Nick Perry, all of whom were eventually selected in the first round.
Instead, the Cowboys chose Claiborne in an effort to upgrade the secondary, which could also help Spencer become a more effective pass-rusher.
"If you cover them better on the back end, maybe you give your pass rushers a better opportunity to get to the quarterback, affect the quarterback, sack the quarterback, make big plays that way," head coach Jason Garrett said. "And I think it works together. But covering them better, you're getting more pressure. ... No one appreciates the importance of pressure more than I do, understanding how difficult that is, but at the same time if you're covering them well, your pressure is going to get that much better and your defense is going to get better."
If Spencer is not given a contract extension, the upgrade at cornerback could eventually help boost his value next spring, when he'll be due for free agency again. More sacks should equal more money.
Spencer recently changed agents hoping to work out a long-term deal with the Cowboys. New representative Jordan Woy advised him that in addition to protecting himself in the event the Cowboys drafted an alternative at the position, signing the $8.8 million tender for 2012 would help expedite the process.
"I didn't want to put on the bravado that I don't really want to be here," Spencer said. "If I'm here, it's better, and they'll know I want to be here. ... I don't want to be out of shape and not around the team. It's unnecessary. Last year we had the short offseason, and then we were putting the defense in so quickly. So, having this extra time and being around the defense, I know we can have a really good defense. Just being around the guys and building that camaraderie and building the team, that helps out a lot."
Whether it's for another year or another five, Spencer has made it clear he wants to stay in Dallas. After the team passed over premium edge rushers in the draft, it appears more likely that Spencer will be around for the foreseeable future.
"It's always good to have a long-term deal, but I'm excited to be here," Spencer said. "I'm excited to be a Cowboy. I don't really want to be anywhere else. They want me here, I want to be here, so that's the end of the story."
