Brandon Carr faces uncertain future with the Dallas Cowboys

Cornerback Brandon Carr understands the business side of football could end his time with the Dallas Cowboys before next season gets under way.

For now, though, Carr is under contract with the organization and is keeping his same approach going into the off-season.

“It’s always an unknown,” Carr said of his status following Sunday’s regular-season finale against Washington. “This is a business. That’s what it is. Every year, the locker room is going to change. Pretty much every day locker rooms change. It’s turnover.

“You can’t fear it. You just control what you can control. You just continue to work – work hard, be in the community and give it my all."

Carr is going into the final year of a five-year, $50.1 million contract he signed prior to the 2012 season. He has a base salary of $9.1 million in 2016 with a cap hit of $13.817. Technically, the Cowboys have him signed through 2017, but the final year is voidable.

But the Cowboys can save more than $9 million in cap room by cutting him after June 1. Carr's cap hit would drop from $13.817 million to $4.717 million, thus Carr could be cut.

Carr is coming off a second consecutive season without an interception. He finished with six passes defended and 72 tackles.

Carr wasn’t ready to evaluate his season personally, but said: “It’s been an up-and-down season as a team. We’ve had some highlights to this year and some plays you wish you could take back.”

The Cowboys had the fifth-best pass defense in the league, but tied for the second-fewest interceptions with eight. Carr hasn’t had an interception since November 2013.

Despite that, the Cowboys have repeatedly said they like what Carr brings to the team. He’s a veteran presence in the locker room, and has been recognized for his charitable contributions off the field. He is the Cowboys’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award this year.

Therefore, the Cowboys and Carr could look at re-structuring a deal that is mutually beneficial. Carr expressed interest in staying in Dallas following Sunday’s game, and the Cowboys understand the importance of cornerback depth.

Orlando Scandrick missed this season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and free-agent-to-be Morris Claiborne was sidelined five games with hamstring injuries.

Carr, meanwhile, has been as reliable as any corner as far as health. The 29-year-old has started every game in his eight-year career – 128 of 128.

The question is whether he'll make another start for the Cowboys.

"When the time comes to make some decisions, we’ll make them," Carr said.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Brandon Carr faces uncertain future with the Dallas Cowboys."