Cowboys don't wish to use tag on Anthony Spencer

Cowboys leading tackler Anthony Spencer will likely be with the team next season. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Dallas Cowboys will likely not use the franchise tag on defensive end Anthony Spencer, reports Fox Sports Southwest. 

Spencer led the team in tackles last season with 106 and also had 11 sacks. The team placed the tag on Spencer last year and ended up paying him $8.8 million. If he is franchised again, it will come at a cost of about $10.6 million. The Cowboys are currently $20 million over the salary cap and need to cut players to re-sign Spencer to a long-term deal.

"We're always in the business of keeping great football players and he is one of those,'' Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said. "Anthony wants to stay here and the Cowboys smartly want to keep him. Hopefully there will be some creativity available to get something done," Spencer's agent Jordan Woy said.