ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Broncos have emerged as the favorites to sign free agent DE DeMarcus Ware. It's worth noting Schefter reported the Seahawks had "emerged as the favorites" to sign Michael Bennett on Monday -- before signing Michael Bennett on Monday. So there's surely substance here. Denver always seemed like a strong landing spot for free agent Jared Allen, but Ware has more juice left in the tank and would form one of the NFL's most imposing pass-rush duos with Von Miller.

The Dallas Morning News reports the Cowboys and free agent DeMarcus Ware have both left the door open for a new deal. According to reporter David Moore, Ware will give the Cowboys a chance to match before he signs an offer in free agency. "DeMarcus and I agreed on an understanding that would allow him to explore the options he will have for the 2014 season and beyond," owner Jerry Jones said. "We were also in very strong agreement that playing for the Dallas Cowboys would be one of the options we would both be exploring." Ware has reportedly already received calls from "six playoff teams."

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports free agent DE/OLB DeMarcus Ware is already drawing interest from "six playoff teams." There's debate over how much Ware, 32 in July, has left in the tank, but it doesn't sound like he's going to be on the open market for long. Ware has averaged nearly a sack per game during his nine-year career, and missed only three lifetime contests. Of course, all three came in 2013, where Ware registered a career-low six sacks.

Cowboys released DE/OLB DeMarcus Ware. It's the end of an era that saw Ware make seven Pro Bowl teams and be named an All-Pro four times. The Cowboys really had no other choice. Ware was unwilling to take a pay cut, and Dallas had less than $1 million in cap space. Ware, 32 in July, battled injuries in 2013 but still should attract plenty of suitors on the open market. The move clears a shade over $7.4 million in cap space, while the Cowboys will eat over $8.5 million in "dead money." Ware has 117 career sacks.

ESPN's Ed Werder reports DeMarcus Ware has requested the Cowboys to decide his future by Tuesday's 4PM ET start of free agency.

ESPN Dallas reports DeMarcus Ware believes he can "get a payday in free agency" if the Cowboys release him.

The Cowboys have informed DeMarcus Ware they "definitely want to keep him," but not at his current salary. Ware is due $12.25 million this season, and $13.75 million in 2015. For once, it appears the Cowboys are actually prodding someone to take a cut, and not just kick the salary-cap can down the road in the form of a restructure. It's unclear how amenable Ware is to a pay-cut. Unless he's open to a massive reduction, it's quite possible he'll be granted his release.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, there is "no communication" between the Cowboys and RE DeMarcus Ware. Jerry Jones has publicly hinted twice in the past three days that Ware may be cut, and the Cowboys have yet to ask Ware to take a pay reduction. Ware is not expected back in Dallas unless he agrees to slash his salary. Per the NFL's most recent salary cap data, the Cowboys are a league-high $18.9 million over. The Cowboys and Steelers (- $6.75 million) are the only clubs over the cap.

Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones strongly hinted RE DeMarcus Ware could be released. "There's no question when you are where we are on the cap, even though we've had some new cap space added, and you have a defensive player that's your highest paid defensive player, and he hasn't been on the field much the last two years, that has to be considered," Jones said. "You can't have it all." The Cowboys don't really have many options. They're nearly $20 million over the cap and cutting Ware would present the biggest savings ($7.4 million). Ware is just one of plenty tough decisions Dallas has to make the next two weeks.

Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones insists the team's salary-cap problems are a minor issue. Dallas is estimated to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million over the 2014 cap. "The only thing the cap issues do with us is we can't be big players in free agency," Jones claimed." I think history will tell you that being a big player in free agency is overrated and usually detrimental to the growth of a franchise, because a lot of these guys are leaving their other team for a reason." Jones' second point isn't invalid, but it's extremely wishful thinking to cast Dallas' issues as minor. Big D has many hard decisions to make, none harder than the future of DeMarcus Ware. Jerry Jones has toed the line between salary-cap management and madness for years on end, but could be getting close to an implosion.