The Cowboys confirmed that they have enforced the de-escalator clause in Trevon Diggs’ contract, lowering the cornerback’s base salary from $9 million to $8.5 million, because he didn’t rehab enough at the team facility.
“The de-escalation is contractually spelled out,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday. “When he decided to train in South Florida, he understood what the consequences would be.”
Dallas places base-salary de-escalator clauses in its large contracts, all but guaranteeing participation in the offseason program. The team had the option of not enforcing the clause, and Diggs is believed to be the first Cowboys’ player to see his base salary lowered because of it.
His contract stipulates he participate in 84.375 percent of the offseason program at the team facility.
“He didn’t earn it; he didn’t come,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “That’s in his contract that he doesn’t get that unless he’s going to be here. . . . Those are contractual things as Stephen said. It would be very detrimental to the team not to abide by the agreement.”
