Report: NFL salary cap to jump to roughly $130M

The Cowboys are more than $20 million over the salary cap. (USATSI)

The NFL salary cap for 2014 will be approximatley $130 million, a five-percent increase from the year before when it was $123 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The figure is higher than teams were expecting, which will provide some relief for cap-strapped organizations like the Saints, Steelers and Cowboys.

Preliminary estimates originally had the cap closer to $126.3 million (via OvertheCap.com), which gave the Saints $1.4 million in cap space. But that number could now be closer to $4 million. Likewise, the Steelers would go from $12.3 million over the cap to $8.7 million over, and the Cowboys would go from $24.6 million over to $20.9 million.

Teams have until March 11 to get under the cap, although many have already begun the process; the Lions have released Louis Delmas and Nate Burleson, and the Saints have parted ways with Jabari Greer, Will Smith and Roman Harper.

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Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch to plead guilty to reckless driving; lawyer thinks he'll avoid suspension



A DUI case that has been hanging over Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch since the summer of 2012 has reached a conclusion. Lynch has agreed to plead guilty to lesser a charge of reckless driving. The admission of guilt comes as part of a plea deal that will see Lynch receive two years probation and a to-be-determined fine. He will also need to attend six classes on driving safety."We are resolving the case Friday by pleading to a wet reckless," said Ivan Golde, Lynch's attorney. "We have a strong case for trial and could win the case, but the last thing he needs is to go through a public trial."Lynch was arrested July 14, 2012 after an officer allegedly observed him driving in and out of lanes and nearly colliding with two cars. Lynch's blood-alcohol level was 0.08, the least amount above the legal limit "I can't speak for the commissioner (Roger Goodell), but my feeling is Marshawn is OK and will avoid a suspension."



Lynch was suspended for three games in 2009, but that was for a weapons charge, and that falls under a different league policy than drunk driving. As a first-time offender of this policy, Lynch's lawyer is right: He will most likely avoid a suspension.