Sources: Tony Romo deal reworked

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IRVING, Texas -- Like they did with DeMarcus Ware and Miles Austin earlier this summer, the Dallas Cowboys have reworked the contract of Tony Romo to save $6.552 million against the 2011 salary cap, according to sources.

As a result the Cowboys have roughly $18 million in salary-cap room as they enter the season. Unused cap space can be carried over into the 2012 season.

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Romo was scheduled to make a $9 million base salary in 2011 but the team converted $8.19 million into signing bonus, which gives Romo a base salary of $810,000.

The restructured contracts of Ware and Austin saved the Cowboys roughly $13 million in cap room.

The big difference in the Romo maneuver and the dealings with Ware and Austin is that the Cowboys added three years to Romo's contract that void if he is on the team through the 2013 season. The original deal Romo signed in 2007 runs through 2013.

By extending the years, the Cowboys were able to prorate the $8.19 million over five years instead of three, which saved them approximately $1.1 million. New Orleans and Indianapolis had made similar cap adjustments with Drew Brees and Peyton Manning to help their causes in recent years.

Todd Archer covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com.

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Todd Archer

ESPNDallas.com

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Todd Archer joined ESPNDallas.com in November 2010. He's covered the NFL since 1997 and the Cowboys since 2003. He covered the Bengals and Dolphins before arriving in Dallas. A Massachusetts native, Archer lives in the Dallas area with his wife and two children.