IRVING, Texas -- In the NFL, how teams allocate their assets can go a long way in their success.
As the Dallas Cowboys ponder their major decisions, like Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray; not quite as large decisions, like Doug Free, Jermey Parnell and Rolando McClain; and small decisions, like whether to tender their restricted free agents, asset allocation is huge.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones mentioned it Saturday during a 90-minute discussion with reporters when discussing the Murray talks.
“The only reason to have any equivocation on [re-signing Murray] is that this is pro football and we have limitations on what you can allocate to any position or allocate to your football team, which side of the ball you want to allocate your dollars on,” Jones said. “It’s pretty obviously anybody can add up we got a lot of money allocated to our offense right now. Nothing wrong with that because we can win with a lot of money allocated to our offense, but we've got to be cognizant of the fact we want to improve our defense.”
How are those assets allocated at present?
According to ESPN Stats & Information’s most recent calculations, the Cowboys have 20 players signed on offense totaling $64,803,726 in cap space. Tony Romo accounts for $27.773 million, followed by Tyron Smith at $13.039 million and Jason Witten at $8.512 million.
Ryan Williams ($705,000) and Terrance Williams ($779,968) have the highest cap figures for running backs and wide receivers.
With the Cowboys likely to tag Bryant, add another $13 million cap figure. Murray would also come in at a significant cap figure.
On defense, the Cowboys have 30 players totaling $48,381,143. Brandon Carr carries the highest cap charge at $12.717 million, but he won’t remain at that figure with the Cowboys looking for him to take a pay cut. Sean Lee has a $5.45 million cap figure. Three of the four highest cap figures are on corners, with Morris Claiborne at $5.175 million and Orlando Scandrick at $4.351 million. On the defensive line, Jeremy Mincey ($1.75 million) and Terrell McClain ($1.1 million) carry the highest cap figures.
On special teams the Cowboys have two players -- Dan Bailey and L.P. Ladouceur -- totaling $3,620,000. They signed punter Tom Hornsey to a one-year deal, but his base salary will not count against the top 51 contracts.
The Cowboys have $12.836 million with the recent void of Doug Free's contract and the declining of Henry Melton's $9 million option.