Cowboys Halt Talks With Spencer

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IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys and defensive end Anthony Spencer have broken off talks on a long-term contract extension, resigning themselves to Spencer playing for the $10.627 million franchise tag this season.

“Both sides are happy with the one-year deal,” Spencer’s agent, Jordan Woy, said Tuesday. “We tried hard but could not work out a deal. We have a very positive relationship with the Cowboys. Anthony is happy and he will play to the best of his ability again this season.”

The Cowboys had until July 15 to work out a long-term deal with Spencer, per league rules.

Spencer will most certainly get a long-term deal next spring in Dallas or elsewhere as the Cowboys will not put a franchise tag on him for a third straight year, guaranteeing him roughly $15.2 million in 2014.

Vice president Stephen Jones hinted at an impasse during minicamp when he talked about how the seemingly below-market deals during free agency had impacted talks with Spencer.

“Obviously, we have to take a look at what people signed for and what they’ll make going forward,” Jones said ominously two weeks ago. “There’s some good football players that what they got paid might affect what we want to pay Anthony going forward.

“There’s nothing here that’s not on the up and up and friendly. If it works out, it works out. We’d love to have Spencer here, but we also understand it has got to work for him, too.