After being stripped of $10 million in cap space by the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys issued a statement on Monday denying that the team violated any of the league's salary cap rules.
"The Dallas Cowboys were in compliance with all league salary cap rules during the uncapped year," it read. "We look forward to the start of the free agency period where our commitment to improving our team remains unchanged."
The penalty seems to stem from Miles Austin's contract in which he was paid a base salary of $17 million dollars during the "uncapped" 2010 season. The National Football Post's Andrew Brandt reports that teams were warned about dumping contracts during the uncapped year but no warnings were made about loading up on contracts.
Again, no written warnings about loading uncapped year, but verbal warnings on "abusing uncapped year."Owners pushed for punishment.
— Andrew Brandt (@adbrandt) March 12, 2012
Still Miles signing and subsequent signings of Albert Haynesworth and Deangelo Hall in Washington angered the other owners and they have pushed for punishment on those contracts for which they have got.
For more on the Cowboys and their salary-cap situation, visit SB Nation Dallas andBlogging The Boys.