Jerry Jones named Executive of the Year

[Ty Cobb]

Here is one example of why Jerry Jones won this award:

 

The Cowboys didn't want to keep DeMarcus Ware with a $16 million salary-cap figure. They weren't willing to offer Ware a smaller deal. They thought his best days were behind him. The Denver Broncos quickly scooped up Ware with a three-year, $30 million deal with $20 million guaranteed. 

Ware had a cap figure of $9.666 million in 2014 and had 10 sacks. 

The Cowboys went with the numbers' approach in replacing Ware. They signed Jeremy Mincey to a two-year deal. They kept Anthony Spencer on a one-year deal. Combined with George Selvie, they combined to count $3.771 million against the cap and combined for 9.5 sacks. 

So it was basically the same production at nearly $6 million in savings. In theory, the Cowboys were able to allocate dollars elsewhere, like locking up Tyron Smith to a long-term deal. Whenever a team thinks it's one player away from a Super Bowl, they make a mistake. Charles Haley was more the exception than the rule when the Cowboys traded for him, but that also came before the salary cap.