Friday, February 20, 1998

Cowboys preach patience amid a flurry of signings

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING - One week into the NFL's free-agent signing period, the Cowboys seem stuck on the sidelines of what has been a game with a flurry of action.

Offensive and defensive linemen have signed lucrative contracts. The Cowboys are seeking upgrades at both positions in addition to wide receiver.

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said, however, that the team has not needed to be a player in the high-stakes game so far and dispelled the notion that the Cowboys' search for a coach and a training camp site put them behind in free-agent signing.

Jones said the hiring of Chan Gailey as coach is a plus because he gives the team input on free agents. The Cowboys, who are about $2 million under the salary cap even though it increased $11 million this season, have been inactive because of the big money being thrown around.

"As I said before it started, I never planned to sign free agents that were signing for significant amounts of money," Jones said. "We have quite a few of them already. Because of the salary cap, you have a restriction on how many superstars you can have. We are looking for quality guys to go with our nucleus."

The financially strapped Cowboys received relief when the NFL increased the salary cap from $41.45 million to $53.2 million because of the new television contract. But the team has 35 players signed for next season, has tendered contracts to seven others and is taking a $1.3 million cap hit through salary owed Charles Haley and Jay Novacek, who retired. That leaves about $2 million plus the $1 million from Troy Aikman's recent contract renegotiation.

Jones said the team can renegotiate other contracts to clear room to sign free agents and upcoming draft picks. He also said the Cowboys plan to bring in free-agent prospects to visit the Cowboys' facilities this weekend or early next week.

"We feel like we're going to accomplish what we need to accomplish to be a Super Bowl contender," Jones said.

Gailey said he believes that the Cowboys will have no problem filling their needs, though he admits that their goal of looking for second-tier guys who could blossom rather than proven stars makes the task more difficult.

"It takes a lot of talent and work to evaluate the guy that is going to step up and be a solid player for you for years to come," Gailey said. "Everybody knows who the so-called superstars are. We are trying to evaluate who the other guys are."

The Cowboys' financial plan is also the reason the team is unlikely to re-sign safety Brock Marion, considered one of the league's premier free-agent prospects. The only hope for the Cowboys, who are paying more than $2 million each for 1998 to cornerbacks Deion Sanders and Kevin Smith and safety Darren Woodson and don't want to pay that much to Marion, is if they can get Marion signed to a long-term deal backloaded to pay him more in future seasons.

However, Marion, who visited the Dolphins yesterday and is slated to visit the Cardinals today, is unlikely to have to compromise. Considering the money being offered other players, Marion could get $3 million annually with a large signing bonus.

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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