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The Dallas Cowboys have begun the process of trimming fat and cutting costs in order to get under the salary cap by the start of the new league year, and DeMarcus Ware is subject No. 1. 

Ware has agreed to restructure his contract in order to save the team about $4 million against the cap for 2013, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter

Rather than take the New York Giants' route by releasing overpaid veterans, the Cowboys appear as though they're going to spend much of the next two weeks redoing deals. Guys like Tony Romo, Doug Free, Jay Ratliff, Miles Austin and Jason Witten are also restructure candidates. Schefter reports that the team plans on reworking about a dozen more contracts between now and the start of free agency on March 12.

In that case, maybe they're serious about making a run at re-signing Anthony Spencer. In fact, with that many deals being restructured, Dallas might also have the room to invest in some out-of-house free agents, too. I just hope this doesn't come back to bite them harshly in a couple of years. 

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The 2013 NFL Scouting Combine is over with, and now we're counting down the days before the NFL draft takes place at Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 25, 26 and 27. The Dallas Cowboys will have to wait for free agency to take place before getting a feel for what they'll do with their No. 18 overall pick, and what happens in the 17 preceding picks will obviously factor in as well. 

Still, we couldn't wait. Here are 10 prospects the 'Boys should be planning on targeting with that top selection in our post-combine draft board for America's Team.

As the first point notes, the key will be what happens with impending unrestricted free agent Anthony Spencer, whom the team wants to re-sign but might not be able to afford. As they move to a 4-3, they'll need a complementary pass-rushing weapon for DeMarcus Ware, but the interior defensive line also requires some reinforcement. 

That, combined with the fact that Doug Free is a huge liability at right tackle and there are weak spots at center and guard, means the trenches should be the focus of this year's draft. 

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The New York Giants have spent the majority of the offseason thus far trimming some valuable fat. Three starters were released earlier in the month, making room for the team to lock up an offensive pillar for the next half-decade. 

Ultimately, re-signing left tackle Will Beatty to a five-year, $38.75 million contract (per USA Today's Mike Garafolo) will go down as the move that defined Big Blue's 2013 offseason. 

It isn't a sexy move, but the cap-strapped Giants don't have the luxury to spend cash on high-profile free agents. Instead, the focus is on ensuring that Eli Manning and the offense can function at the highest possible capacity for as many years as possible before the clock strikes midnight on the Manning era. 

The 27-year-old Beatty was 13 days away from becoming an unrestricted free agent and there isn't a proven left tackle on the market who could have replaced what he brought to the table in his breakout 2012 campaign. 

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Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine complete, the B/R NFC East Blog has put together updated draft board suggestions for all four teams within the division. Since the Philadelphia Eagles hold the No. 4 overall pick and select again in the 35th spot, we've got boards prepared for the first two rounds.

Here's how we see things at the top...

There's a very good chance that three of those prospects are gone by the time Philly's on the clock. There are strong early indications that Luke Joeckel and Sharrif Floyd won't be around, which would mean that the Eagles would be guaranteed to have a shot at one of the top two players on the above board.

As for Round 2...

It probably goes without saying that a lot can and will change between now and April 25. If the Eagles keep both starting corners, they probably go with a front-seven defender in Round 1. If they don't gain confidence in the health of either Jason Peters or Todd Herremans (or both), then maybe they go with Joeckel or Eric Fisher, or even Lane Johnson.

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Combine Tony Romo's 2013 cap number with the $5 million cap penalty imposed on the Dallas Cowboys by the NFL and you get $21.8 million. That's 18 percent of the estimated $123 million salary ceiling the team will be responsible to get under by March 12.

Considering that the latest cap-related report from ESPNDallas.com's Calvin Watkins estimated that the 'Boys were still $20 million over that number, it's easy to understand why few are optimistic about the organization's chances of re-signing impending free-agent edge rusher Anthony Spencer. 

Additionally, the team has indicated that it isn't prepared to part ways with wide receiver Miles Austin or defensive tackle Jay Ratliff and might not be ready to give up on right tackle Doug Free. Those three are on the hook for over $25 million in 2013, but there's a chance that number is cut down significantly by way of restructures. 

Assuming that happens and Brandon Carr's deal is reworked, the Cowboys should be able to get under the cap without redoing Romo's deal or signing him to an extension that eases the short-term burden. But that would also make it impossible for Dallas to bring back Spencer, which is something I elaborated on earlier this month

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It's still not clear whether or not the Washington Redskins will attempt to take the NFL to court in an attempt to get back some or all of the $18 million in cap space they've been docked by the league. But it appears that if the Redskins fight, their divisional peers from Dallas won't be joining them.

Citing a source, ESPN's Ed Werder reports that the Cowboys are staying out of it.

The Cowboys were only docked $10 million over two years, which is $26 million less than Washington was forced to sacrifice. With half of those totals down the drain, it seems the 'Boys realize it isn't worth taking such a drastic measure over $5 million.

 

On to what else is being talked about in the NFC East...

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Everyone in the NFC East will have picked twice before the Washington Redskins are finally on the clock in April's NFL Draft. With Washington being the only team in the league lacking a first-round selection, this was a weird combine for 'Skins fans, but with Robert Griffin III on board I'm sure they're OK with that.

 

Stock rose

Robert Alford (CB, Southeastern Louisiana): A lot of people already had the Southland Conference product pegged for the 'Skins in Round 2. But now, after finishing in the top five in the 40-yard dash, the broad jump, the vertical jump and the bench press, there's a chance he won't be available by the time Washington is on the clock at pick No. 51.

Kyle Long (OT, Oregon): Long exceeded expectations in athletic drills. He didn't bench but was the third-fastest offensive lineman in the forty. Howie Long's son might also be gone by the time the 'Skins pick in Round 2. 

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Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

I apologize if this combine wrap-up for the New York Giants looks quite similar to the one I did for the Dallas Cowboys, but those two teams share a lot of needs (4-3 pass rushers, safeties, offensive linemen) and just so happen to be picking next to each other in the first round of the draft. 

Here's an updated look at some notable prospects expected to be on the Giants' radar with the combine out of the way. 

 

Stock Rose

Robert Alford (CB, Southeastern Louisiana): There has been lots of chatter about him already, and he's gaining momentum. Alford is intriguing because he comes out of the Southland Conference. He'll become his school's first draft pick since it resumed its football program in 2003. Now, after finishing top five in the 40-yard dash, the broad jump, the vertical jump and the bench press, he's got to be on the Giants' radar early.

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Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine out of the way, the Dallas Cowboys now have a chance to make any necessary adjustments to their draft board before free agency gets underway in two weeks' time. There's no rush, but we can get a jump on things by looking at how nine potential Dallas draft picks were impacted by what they did this week in Indianapolis

Stock rose

Lane Johnson (OT, Oklahoma): The good news is Johnson looks like he'd be a dream candidate to replace Doug Free at right tackle. The bad news is that his combine performance was so good that there's almost no way he'll last until the 18th pick. 

Eric Reid (S, LSU): He was the fourth-fastest safety with a 4.53 40-time and was tied for first with a 40.5-inch vertical jump. Matt Elam also performed well, but Reid's stock rose more. Plenty of safety options in the first two rounds for Dallas. 

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Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Eagles admitted that their draft board wasn't going to change dramatically based on what went down at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. But how potential top picks performed in the spotlight at Lucas Oil Stadium is still a piece to the draft puzzle. 

Here's a look at 11 potential future Eagles and how they fared in Indy. 

 

Stock rose

Dee Milliner (CB, Alabama): His stock was already growing, and only one defensive back ran faster than Milliner (4.37). He also fared well in the vertical jump (36.0). And remember that he was dealing with a labrum tear. With the Detroit Lions picking right behind Philly in the No. 5 spot, a team desiring Milliner could sell the farm to the Eagles in order to move up into their slot.