Cowboys want Romo deal before Spencer

March, 18, 2013
Mar 18
5:06
PM CT
PHOENIX -- Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday the team would like to get a new deal for quarterback Tony Romo in place before inking one for outside linebacker Anthony Spencer.

The Cowboys need to lower Romo's team-high $16.8 million cap number in order to sign second-tier free agents and draft picks. Jones said quarterbacks normally take up the bulk of the salary cap.

"Quarterbacks usually take precedent," Jones said during a break from the NFL owners meetings. "Not like I don't like Spencer. Quarterbacks usually come first and foremost. That's it. They take up a significant part of your cap. It obviously dictates a lot for us this year, when we're all said and done."

With Spencer signing his franchise tag, the Cowboys aren't in a rush to sign him long-term. Jones said the two sides haven't spoken yet this week.

Romo is the priority.

"There is never really a start and stop date with Tony," Jones said. "We’re always visiting with Tony about things, whether it’s his contract; he takes up obviously as big portion of our cap as it sits today, he’ll take up more in the future. We’ve just to figure out what that is."
Calvin Watkins joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He's covered the Cowboys since 2006 and also has covered colleges, boxing and high school sports.

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