Dallas Cowboys projected to be $31million over salary cap next season

We’re almost to the halfway point of the 2013 NFL season but it’s never to early to start looking ahead to next season. The Dallas Cowboys are currently projected to be $31 million over the salary cap next season. This is from a team who hasn’t seen the playoffs since 2009.

If Dallas is $31 million over the cap, it would be $13 million more than the next-closest team, the New Orleans Saints.

Dallas’ messy salary-cap situation got even messier this week when the Cowboys released former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jay Ratliff, who will count for almost $7 million against the cap in 2014.

Dallas likely will be forced to cut more players and slash contracts in an effort just to get back to the salary cap, especially after giving lucrative extensions to quarterback Tony Romo, linebacker Sean Lee, tight end Jason Witten and wide receiver Miles Austin.

The Cowboys are currently sitting in first place in the NFC East.