Jerry Jones: I don't second guess signing Anthony Spencer to the franchise tag
IRVING – Since defensive end Anthony Spencer is going to have season-ending knee surgery, some will look at it like he was paid $10.6 million for 34 plays this season.
It's easy to second-guess signing Spencer to the franchise tag for a second consecutive season, but Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Wednesday that he just views it as part of the business.
"I really look at it as, that goes with it," Jones said. "That's the life we've chosen. I don't in any way, second-guess the commitment we made to him because of the caliber of player he was. We certainly would like to have those dollars, but I'd rather have Spencer. I can't look at the obvious any time something doesn't work out.
"I can tell you, if anybody was going to get the money under these circumstances, I'm glad it's him. He's worked hard. He's that quality of an individual and that quality of player."
Coming off his first Pro Bowl season, Spencer wanted to sign a long-term deal with the Cowboys but the two sides couldn't work out an agreement.
Does Jones feel fortunate that he didn't sign Spencer to a long-term contract?
"Once we made the commitment, I spent no time [looking back] because that don't do you any good right there," Jones said. "We knew what we were doing when we [gave him the franchise tag]. You got to assume that he did what was good for Anthony, and I think that he did. He had his logic and it was good logic. We did what we should've done in my mind with the Cowboys. We wanted him on the team."
Spencer missed all of training camp and was inactive for the season opener as he recovered from a July 25 arthroscopic left knee surgery.
The 29-year-old played 34 snaps against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2 but couldn't overcome soreness in the knee the following week and was inactive Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.
Jones said Spencer had "clearance form everybody" to play against the Chiefs in Week 2.
"He was certainly ready to go," Jones said, "relative to what ultimately he needs this surgery for."
In terms of Spencer's NFL future, he is a free agent at the end of the season.
When asked about that topic, Jones said Spencer "will be a great compliment — if we can go that way — to [DeMarcus] Ware, in the future."
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