IRVING (March 5, 2012) -- The Dallas Cowboys have placed their
franchise tag on Anthony Spencer to keep the outside linebacker
from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
With the decision before Monday's deadline for such a move,
Spencer will be guaranteed a base salary of about $8.8 million next
season.
Spencer has started 53 of 76 games in his five seasons with the
Cowboys, starting all but one game the past three seasons. Spencer
had 66 tackles with six sacks and four recovered fumbles last
season.
Dallas has used the franchise tag only two other times, in 2002
on offensive lineman Flozell Adams and in 2008 on safety Ken
Hamlin. Adams and Hamlin both later agreed to contract extensions.
Spencer has 21½ career sacks.
