http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=626EF324-D473-A8AD-C9AE73E606072458
IRVING, Texas - For the last 10 years, Flozell Adams has been protecting the Cowboys' starting quarterback.
But he was only a few hours from being unprotected himself.
Instead, the Cowboys avoided free agency with their starting left tackle, signing Adams to a six-year deal late Thursday afternoon.
With free agency officially beginning at 11:01 p.m. (CST) Thursday night, Adams would've been able to start negotiating with other clubs. Now he returns with a contract that will likely keep him in a Cowboys uniform for the remainder of his career.
The Cowboys now have four players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents: Running back Julius Jones, cornerbacks Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones and safety Keith Davis.
Although Adams will turn 33 in May, the Cowboys obviously couldn't risk the chance of losing him to another team. The Cowboys have high hopes for their three young tackles - Pat McQuistan, Doug Free and James Marten - but Adams has proven himself as one of the NFL's best tackles, especially in the last five years.
Since Adams signed a five-year, $25 million contract that included a $10 million bonus back in 2003, he has made four Pro Bowls, only missing out in 2006 when he suffered a torn ACL early in the season.
Adams was named a Pro Bowl starter in 2007 as one of three Cowboys offensive line selections.
The Cowboys contemplated putting the franchise tag on Adams instead of safety Ken Hamlin last week, but his franchise tender would've been about $9 million. The Cowboys could've lowered the franchise cap charge with a multi-year deal, but giving Adams the tag would've set his market value at least $9 million per season.
Hamlin's franchise tag is only $4.396 million, but expect the Cowboys to sign him to a multi-year as well that will lower his cap charge for next season.
IRVING, Texas - For the last 10 years, Flozell Adams has been protecting the Cowboys' starting quarterback.
But he was only a few hours from being unprotected himself.
Instead, the Cowboys avoided free agency with their starting left tackle, signing Adams to a six-year deal late Thursday afternoon.
With free agency officially beginning at 11:01 p.m. (CST) Thursday night, Adams would've been able to start negotiating with other clubs. Now he returns with a contract that will likely keep him in a Cowboys uniform for the remainder of his career.
The Cowboys now have four players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents: Running back Julius Jones, cornerbacks Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones and safety Keith Davis.
Although Adams will turn 33 in May, the Cowboys obviously couldn't risk the chance of losing him to another team. The Cowboys have high hopes for their three young tackles - Pat McQuistan, Doug Free and James Marten - but Adams has proven himself as one of the NFL's best tackles, especially in the last five years.
Since Adams signed a five-year, $25 million contract that included a $10 million bonus back in 2003, he has made four Pro Bowls, only missing out in 2006 when he suffered a torn ACL early in the season.
Adams was named a Pro Bowl starter in 2007 as one of three Cowboys offensive line selections.
The Cowboys contemplated putting the franchise tag on Adams instead of safety Ken Hamlin last week, but his franchise tender would've been about $9 million. The Cowboys could've lowered the franchise cap charge with a multi-year deal, but giving Adams the tag would've set his market value at least $9 million per season.
Hamlin's franchise tag is only $4.396 million, but expect the Cowboys to sign him to a multi-year as well that will lower his cap charge for next season.
