I don't pretend to know NFL salary cap rules. But it does seem just a little bit curious that the NFL waited until the day before free agency before telling the Cowboys that they had violated the rules about a year and a half ago.

1. Why couldn't the NFL figure this out a LONG time ago. The Austin contract was signed in September 2010. Why not bring it up in October 2010? Or December of 2010? Or even two months ago? By telling the Cowboys right before free agency this year, the team is hamstrung, including taking any kind of legal action in time to bid on free agents.

2. If a court rules that the NFL acted illegally, what possible compensation is satisfactory? The Cowboys may very well lose players that they would have otherwise have kept or obtained. I had proposed that the Cowboys create lots of cap space and go all in. I thought that was wise because Ware and Romo aren't getting any younger. Now such a strategy is off the table, apparently.

I'm thinking that the NFL should give the Cowboys an extra first round draft choice for the next five years.