With free agency looming, it seems like it’s going to take something close to a miracle for the Dallas Cowboys to manage keeping Anthony Spencer on the team, as the linebacker will be looking to a contract his current team just might not be able to afford.

Already $20 million over the over the salary cap, even without Spencer, the Cowboys don’t look like a team that has any chance of keeping players looking for big money or going after premier free agents during the off-season. They can restructure deals with current players like  Doug Free and Dan Connor to get about $10 million back, or restructure contracts with Brandon Carr, DeMarcus Ware,Jason Witten and Miles Austin, which might free up another $15-20 million.

Still, it’s hard to believe all six of them will be willing to take immediate pay cuts unless we’re unaware of some special camaraderie going in within the Cowboys, hoping to take the team to the next level. Looking at their achievements in the past few years (8-8 or worse with no playoffs), it’ll be safe to assume there isn’t any.

Beware the man coming off a contract year, a wise man once said. On the final year of his contract, Spencer recorded a career high 11 sacks in 2012, earning him a pro bowl selection. Being one of the premier pass rushers in the 2013 NFL free agency class, Spencer is going to command a big contract – the second contract in an NFL’s player career is usually his biggest, and Spencer will be looking to test free agency waters for a lot of money.

With a lot of teams always looking for premier pass rushers, especially guys like Spencer who can play both as the OLB in the 3-4 defense or a DE in the 4-3 defense,, it’s looking like 2012 was the last season for Spencer with the Dallas Cowboys, the only team he has played for since entering the league in 2007, recording 32.5 sacks in 90 games.