Anthony Spencer is not going to fight with the Cowboys over having the franchise tag placed on him at linebacker rather than a defensive end, even though the designation costs him roughly $600,000 dollars.
The franchise tender for defensive ends is $11.75 million. He was guaranteed $10.6 million when the Cowboys placed the linebacker franchise tag on him Monday.
The situation is only an issue because Spencer played linebacker last year but will be moved to defensive end in 2014 when the Cowboys switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3.
NFL rules stipulate that the designation goes with the position the player played last season.
Jordan Woy, Spencer's agent, has no problem with that. But his goal is to not play under the franchise tag. He said he will negotiate a long-term deal with the Cowboys with defensive end numbers in mind.
"They have the right to franchise as a linebacker," Woy said. "But he will be a defensive end. It would be fair to look at contracts of players that play that position."
Woy said Spencer has not problem with the Cowboys tagging him and preventing him from hitting the free-agent market for the second straight year.
He said Spencer "wants to stay in Dallas but he also would like to have a long-term deal."
Woy said he doesn't believe the Cowboys tagged Spencer to keep their options open for a potential trade.
"I think they want to keep him," Woy said.
As far as contracts talks are concerned, the two sides have had limited negotiations but Woy said things should start to heat up now.
The Cowboys have until mid-July to sign him to a long-term deal.
What is certain is that they won't be tagging Spencer for a third straight year, as to do so in 2014 would cost roughly $15.2 million.
Clarence Hill
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