DeMarcus Ware knows that if the Dallas Cowboys ultimately cut him, he would have no shortage of suitors.
The defensive end will listen to the Cowboys' overtures regarding restructuring his contract, but Ware doesn't want to take a pay cut, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Clarence Hill reported.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that the Cowboys have reached out to Ware about lowering his contract figure.
According to Hill, Ware knows he has value on the open market and might not be so inclined to acquiesce to the Cowboys' proposals. The 31-year-old expects to be back to his old self following elbow surgery this offseason. It's likely Ware would rather push money to future seasons than take an actual pay cut.
Ware is due $12.25 million in base salary in 2014. The Cowboys can save about $7.4 million if they cut Ware. Dallas sits a shade over the salary cap, so the question will be how much they ask him to shave. If it's significant, Ware is likely to prefer testing the open market.
Because of his versatility to still play a 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker very productively, even when injured, Ware would vault to the top of the free-agent market.
*The latest "Around The League Podcast" talks the latest news, Jimmy Graham and the best fits in free agency. *
