Last night Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple released the following statement on the $10 million cap hit imposed on the Cowboys by the NFL:
"The Dallas Cowboys were in compliance with all league salary cap rules during the uncapped year. We look forward to the start of the free agency period where our commitment to improving our team remains unchanged."
Redskins general manager Bruce Allen issued a similar statement.
"The Washington Redskins have received no written documentation from the NFL concerning adjustments to the team salary cap in 2012 as reported in various media outlets. Every contract entered into by the club during the applicable periods complied with the 2010 and 2011 collective bargaining agreements and, in fact, were approved by the NFL commissioner’s office.
"We look forward to free agency, the draft and the coming football season."
Both teams issued their statements within minutes of each other, but neither statement helps resolve the issue. Here's what we've got: Two team statements that flat out contradict the NFL. A league office that remains strangely quiet and so far has refused to answer any further inquiries. A union that was happy to pocket a little more salary cap money for most of its members. And an NFL Network that continues to pretend nothing happened.
This does not sound like an amicable resolution has been reached. And really, the only question is why haven't the Cowboys and Redskins raised a big stink yet?
Until we figure that one out, we'll proceed with business as usual, just like the Cowboys do. Over the course of the day we'll have the following stories for you on BTB:
- 10:00 am ET: Free Agency Roundtable part III with a look at the Cowboys free agency plan.
- 11:30 am ET: Dallas Cowboys Tidbits, including a new Youtube Video by our own KD Drummond
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1:00 pm ET: Archie Barberio wonders whether the third time's a charm for the Cowboys and recently released safety Oshiomogho Atogwe.
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2:00 pm ET: Free Agency Roundtable part IV takes a deep dive into the Cowboys' options in the secondary.
- Later in the day CotySaxman will offer a detailed look at how the 3-4 defense works.