NFL
Jerry Jones Received a $1.4 Million Gift From the Cowboys Players Opting Out
Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies. When Jack isn't writing about sports, he's watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He's also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.
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The uncertainty surrounding the 2020 NFL season has led to multiple players deciding to opt out for the year. Stars such as Damien Williams, Dont’a Hightower, and C.J. Mosley have announced their intentions to sit out.
The Dallas Cowboys have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, as three players have already opted out of the 2020 season. The opt outs aren’t strictly bad news, though. Thanks to those three players Jerry Jones receives an extra $1.4 million in cap space.
Three Cowboys players have opted out of the 2020 NFL season
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Players have opted out of the 2020 NFL season at a rapid pace in the past few weeks, and the Cowboys haven’t been immune. Three Dallas players have chosen to sit out the year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cornerback Maurice Canady, wide receiver Stephen Guidry, and fullback Jamize Olawale have all opted out of the 2020 season. None of the three were expected to be anything other than backups this year, but it never hurts to have depth at multiple positions in the NFL.
It might be hard to see the bright side of numerous players leaving the team before the season, but Jerry Jones will actually receive a generous $1.4 million gift from the opt outs.
Jerry Jones receives an extra $1.4 million in cap space for his players opting out
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On the surface, seeing three players depart before the 2020 season even starts isn’t what Cowboys fans want to see. But looking closer, it might actually be more of a positive than a negative.
Because of the three players opting out, Jerry Jones will receive close to $1.4 million to add to the Cowboys cap space. The Cowboys will save $1 million from Olawale and $380,000 from Canady, bringing their total to $1.38 million.
With the added bonus, the Cowboys now have $10.9 million in cap space. That’s plenty to go after another free agent before the start of the season, and Jones has already been aggressive with the new boost.
Jones used his extra $1.4 million to sign Everson Griffen
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Jerry Jones wasted no time spending his new gift. On Wednesday, Jones made a splash in free agency by signing Everson Griffen. The Cowboys will pay Griffen a maximum of $6 million for his one-year deal.
The added $1.4 million to Dallas’ cap space ensures the team will still have close to $5 million left for the season. Teams always want to keep their cap space around the $5 or $6 million range throughout the year to replace injured players or scoop up recently cut players.
Jones has been aggressive all offseason. It started in the draft, and it’s carried over into free agency. The longtime GM is clearly fed up with his team’s underwhelming finishes in the last few seasons, so he’s built a team that’s destined for postseason success in 2020.
All contract figures courtesy of Spotrac
