NFL Raises 2013 Salary Cap to $123 Million

NFL teams struggling with their 2013 salary cap situation received great news on Thursday. According to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, the league notified all teams that the salary cap is on the rise from the $120.6 million it was set at last year to $123 million this year.

Teams have to be in compliance with this number by the start of the league year on March 12.

This has to have some front offices, such as the over-the-cap Dallas Cowboys, breathing a little easier right now.

Teams were expecting the cap to remain around the same level and fall in the $121 million neighborhood. ESPN reports that, according to league sources, the higher cap is a result of revenues that exceeded last year's projections.

This is yet another sign that football is the undisputed king of American sports, and despite a recent lockout, concussion controversies and ensuing rule changes, the sport is only increasing its grip on the American public. 

While the higher cap is the result of good news for the league, it is directly beneficial to teams and players. 

Obviously, a difference in $2 million is not going to make or break a team's offseason plans. However, at this point, any relief is welcomed by teams scrambling to make room. 

Of course, this won't just benefit the teams up against the cap. While $2 million won't land a star, it can definitely lead to a quality player or beef up a team's depth. 

And all of that is great news for the players. That is $64 million that teams can now spend on players. The price tag on all free agents just jumped a small fraction.

It is a good time to be involved with the NFL.