SAN ANTONIO -- The NFL and the players have jointly ratified the new collective bargaining agreement, finally allowing the Cowboys' signed free agents to practice tonight at the Alamodome.
That means veteran starters like Doug Free, Kyle Kosier, Marcus Spears and Gerald Sensabaugh are taking the field for the first time since the 2010 season. New defensive end Kenyon Coleman is also practicing. Others include Jason Hatcher, Bryan McCann, Jesse Holley and Alan Ball.
Safety Abram Elam, who agreed to a one-year contract late Wednesday, will miss practice but is expected to arrive tonight.
Now that the New League Year has begun, teams also must get under this year's $120.4 million salary cap. The Cowboys created some $17 million in cap room by releasing Roy Williams, Marion Barber, Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo, and they are likely to restructure contracts for stars like Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware and Miles Austin to free enough space if need be.
