Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl defensive end Anthony Spencer will have season ending microfracture knee surgery.
Anthony Spencer was the Cowboys franchise tag designated player for 2013. He missed all of the preseason and the season opener after having arthroscopic knee surgery . Spencer played week two against the Kansas City Chiefs, but was inactive last Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.
Anthony Spencer’s franchise tag means the Cowboys will pay him $10.6 million this season. Before being tagged, the two sides could not agree on a contract extension.
Team owner Jerry Jones said, “Here’s a case of a guy, you almost have to tie him up to get him off the field. He was so diligent in his rehab. The individual that I have the most empathy for is Spencer because of the type of person he is.”
Head coach Jason Garrett added, “You can’t go back eight days ago and say, ‘Hey let’s have him make 16 plays instead of 30.’ We thought we were doing the right thing by him and our football team.” Garrett is, of course, referring to playing Spencer week two against Kansas City.
Anthony Spencer played the 2012 season under the franchise tag as well. He had his best season, recording 55 tackles and 11 sacks.
George Selvie will continue to start in place of Anthony Spencer. He has two sacks on the season and hopes to make the loss of Spencer less painful. So far, so good. The only game the Cowboys have lost this year was week two against the Chiefs.
Do you think the Cowboys can survive without Anthony Spencer?
[image via Wikimedia Commons ]
