The Dallas Cowboys have been through a number of changes this offseason on both sides of the ball and owner Jerry Jones said at the NFL Combine that the wide receiver position will likely remain intact with Miles Austin on the roster.
According to ESPN.com, Jones said that Austin will remain with the team in 2013 despite the franchise working on trying to lower its salary cap number for next year. Austin has been injured over the past couple years and despite being owed a decent amount of money on his contract, Jones said he will remain with the team.
The Cowboys likely will ask Austin to restructure his deal before the league year begins for the second time since the team is nearly $20 million over the salary cap. The team could add up to four million in space if they can lower Austin's contract number from $6.73 million base salary to $1.34 million in a signing bonus.
"When you look at the risk of him coming back and having a season that is less impaired by injury, that's much higher odds than us getting a free agent or drafting a rookie out there who can do what he can do," Jones said.
Austin has been one of the leading receiver for Tony Romo, but he has been injured frequently and the emergence of Dez Bryant has made him more expendable, although Jones has decided he wants to keep him.
According to ESPN.com, the Cowboys have scheduled meetings with recently released receiver Steve Breaston and they could meet with other wide receiver free agents including Greg Jennings.
Austin was healthy for most of 2012 and played in every game, but he had a hamstring injury and had to leave two games during the season. He also missed six games last year. In 2012 he made 66 catches for 962 yards and six touchdowns, finishing second to Bryant on the team.
"He's young," Jones said of Austin, who will turn 29 in June. "My point is, when I look at his ability to cope with any limitation, it's as good as going out and looking at other receivers that have got issues."
The Cowboys still have not made progress on Tony Romo's contract extension talks, although Jones has said he wants the quarterback to remain a Cowboy in the future.
"That would be the most positive result if we signed him, extended him and then we had him retire," Jones said. "That means we've had some success, and I would like for that to happen."
The two sides have general terms set, but there have been no substantial discussions yet.
"We aren't sitting down and working on the details of an agreement ... [but] I have a sense of what is doable," Jones said. "Tony has a long history in his career of working to make this thing fit for the team."
