IRVING, Texas — All-Pro linebacker DeMarcus Ware took a step closer to a contract extension Thursday when his agent, Pat Dye Jr., came to the Dallas Cowboys’ Valley Ranch training complex for a face-to-face discussion.

Dye said nothing is imminent. But the sides made progress in their first meeting since before training camp.
“It’s closer than what it was,” Dye said. “We weren’t in the same universe before (Thursday).”
Dye said the meeting with team vice-president Stephen Jones was constructive.
“They made significant concessions in some areas and we made significant concessions in all areas,” Dye said. “It’s a matter of determining what his value is. We still have three, four or five fundamental differences.”
One difference that seemingly has been removed is whether Ware will receive franchise quarterback money.
As the league’s best pass rusher and a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Ware could make the case that he deserves to be the highest-paid player in the NFL, regardless of position.
“We are past that discussion,” Dye said. “That is not the focal point.”
Considering the recent contracts of Giants quarterback Eli Manning (six years, $97.5 million) and Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (six years, $92 million), the hurdle was an important one to cross.
The baseline of negotiations instead could be the contracts of Redskins tackle Albert Haynesworth ($100 million), Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs ($63 million), Vikings defensive end Jared Allen ($74 million) and Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney ($72 million).
More importantly, look at the guaranteed money of Haynesworth ($41 million) and Suggs ($38 million) as a possible target for Ware and Dye.
Ware is set to make $1.005 million in the last season of his contract.
Jones said when the off-season began that re-signing Ware was the team’s top priority. With the regular-season opener two days away, that goal has not been met.
And without an new collective bargaining agreement, Ware would be a restricted free agent next season.
“There is still some work to be done,” Dye said. “We don’t have a timeline. Both sides would rather have it behind them sooner than later. We will just see.”
Captains selected
Quarterback Tony Romo, tight end Jason Witten and linebackers Bradie James and DeMarcus Ware were named captains for the coming season in a vote by the team Thursday.
Punter Mat McBriar will be the special-teams captain Sunday against Tampa Bay.
The subsequent special-teams captains will be awarded to the player of the week following each game.
“They are standout players as well as leaders,” coach Wade Phillips said of the captains’ selections.
Phillips said it’s wrong to suggest the Cowboys didn’t have any leaders last season when the team slumped.
“You always have a lot of leaders when you win,” he said.
The Cowboys had eight captains last season. Three — Terrell Owens, Greg Ellis and Keith Davis — are no longer on the team. The others were Marion Barber, Ken Hamlin, Romo, Witten and James.