http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=07C69037-906D-3DD2-10AFD72A9BCF0F32
IRVING, Texas - What an off-season it has been for Cowboys cornerbacks.
First they make a controversial trade for one with a sketchy past. Then they draft another corner with one of their two first-round picks.
And now the Cowboys have made Terence Newman one of the highest-paid players at his position.
With the Cowboys just beating the deadline to sign players under the current collective bargaining agreement, Newman signed a six-year extension, totaling the package as a seven-year contract in the neighborhood of $51 million.
The Cowboys might not be finished either, as a deal with running back Marion Barber could get finalized as well.
The NFL owners announced Tuesday in Atlanta they will opt out of the current CBA agreement. All contracts completed after 3 p.m. (CDT) on Tuesday would follow the new rules, which would've prevented the Cowboys from prorating his signing and roster bonuses past five seasons.
The Cowboys did ignite contract talks with the agents of Barber and Ken Hamlin this week, although no deals were done as of early Tuesday afternoon.
Both players have yet to sign their one-year offers. Barber has a restricted tender of $2.561 million and Hamlin was given a franchise tag of $4.33 million, although the Cowboys have said they would like to get both players re-signed to long-term deals.
But for now, the Cowboys settled for locking up Newman.
A five-year veteran who was drafted fifth overall in 2003, Newman's original contract expired after the 2008 season. Apparently, the Cowboys aren't too concerned about his age. Although he's played just five years, Newman will turn 30 just before the start of the regular season.
Despite missing three games and six starts because of injuries, Newman was selected to his first Pro Bowl this past season, recording four interceptions and 62 tackles and tying for the team high with 15 pass deflections.
Newman, whose contract was set to expire after the 2008 season, will participate in the start of the Cowboys' OTA (organized team activity) practices, which begin Tuesday and run through Thursday for the next three weeks.
Newman's contract will rank right up with other cornerbacks who have recently signed new contracts, including Seattle's Marcus Trufant, who signed a six-year, $50.2 million deal in March. San Francisco gave Nate Clements an eight-year, $80 million deal last season and Oakland recently signed DeAngelo Hall to a seven-year, $70 million contract after acquiring him in a trade with Atlanta.
Newman hasn't been widely considered one of the NFL's top cornerbacks, mainly because of his lack of interceptions.
While the argument could be made that opposing teams usually don't test him much, other critics claim that Newman doesn't have the knack for the big play.
That changed somewhat last season.
In his first start in 2007, Newman picked off a fourth-quarter pass against Buffalo and returned it 70 yards, which led to a field goal in a game the Cowboys rallied for a 25-24 win.
He also stalled a fourth-quarter drive against Washington with an interception in the final minutes of a 28-23 victory. Newman returned an interception against the Jets 50 yards for a touchdown on Thanksgiving. He also picked off a deflected pass by Brett Favre in the Cowboys' win over Green Bay for his third interception in a three-game span.
Newman has just 16 career interceptions in five seasons, but don't forget Deion Sanders had just 14 picks in his five years with the Cowboys.
Newman's new deal comes on the heels of the Cowboys trading for Pacman Jones, who has yet to be reinstated by the NFL after serving a one-year suspension. The Cowboys also drafted South Florida's Michael Jenkins with the 25th overall pick.
While the Cowboys appear to have a crowded group of cornerbacks, head coach Wade Phillips and secondary coach Dave Campo have made it clear they subscribe to the theory of 'you can't ever have too many good cornerbacks.'
Newman and fellow starter Anthony Henry both missed considerable playing time last season with injuries.
Newman suffered a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, which forced him to miss the first two regular-season games and limited him to nickel duty until the fourth game of the season, when Henry suffered a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss three games and a total of six starts.
Jacques Reeves, who ended up starting 13 games, and Nate Jones were called upon to fill in. However, both signed with other teams in free agency, Reeves going to Houston and Jones becoming one of several former Cowboys players and coaches to sign with the Dolphins.
JUST SEEN ON ESPN BARBERS CONTRACT IS 7 YR 45 MILLION 21 MILLION GUARANTEED
IRVING, Texas - What an off-season it has been for Cowboys cornerbacks.
First they make a controversial trade for one with a sketchy past. Then they draft another corner with one of their two first-round picks.
And now the Cowboys have made Terence Newman one of the highest-paid players at his position.
With the Cowboys just beating the deadline to sign players under the current collective bargaining agreement, Newman signed a six-year extension, totaling the package as a seven-year contract in the neighborhood of $51 million.
The Cowboys might not be finished either, as a deal with running back Marion Barber could get finalized as well.
The NFL owners announced Tuesday in Atlanta they will opt out of the current CBA agreement. All contracts completed after 3 p.m. (CDT) on Tuesday would follow the new rules, which would've prevented the Cowboys from prorating his signing and roster bonuses past five seasons.
The Cowboys did ignite contract talks with the agents of Barber and Ken Hamlin this week, although no deals were done as of early Tuesday afternoon.
Both players have yet to sign their one-year offers. Barber has a restricted tender of $2.561 million and Hamlin was given a franchise tag of $4.33 million, although the Cowboys have said they would like to get both players re-signed to long-term deals.
But for now, the Cowboys settled for locking up Newman.
A five-year veteran who was drafted fifth overall in 2003, Newman's original contract expired after the 2008 season. Apparently, the Cowboys aren't too concerned about his age. Although he's played just five years, Newman will turn 30 just before the start of the regular season.
Despite missing three games and six starts because of injuries, Newman was selected to his first Pro Bowl this past season, recording four interceptions and 62 tackles and tying for the team high with 15 pass deflections.
Newman, whose contract was set to expire after the 2008 season, will participate in the start of the Cowboys' OTA (organized team activity) practices, which begin Tuesday and run through Thursday for the next three weeks.
Newman's contract will rank right up with other cornerbacks who have recently signed new contracts, including Seattle's Marcus Trufant, who signed a six-year, $50.2 million deal in March. San Francisco gave Nate Clements an eight-year, $80 million deal last season and Oakland recently signed DeAngelo Hall to a seven-year, $70 million contract after acquiring him in a trade with Atlanta.
Newman hasn't been widely considered one of the NFL's top cornerbacks, mainly because of his lack of interceptions.
While the argument could be made that opposing teams usually don't test him much, other critics claim that Newman doesn't have the knack for the big play.
That changed somewhat last season.
In his first start in 2007, Newman picked off a fourth-quarter pass against Buffalo and returned it 70 yards, which led to a field goal in a game the Cowboys rallied for a 25-24 win.
He also stalled a fourth-quarter drive against Washington with an interception in the final minutes of a 28-23 victory. Newman returned an interception against the Jets 50 yards for a touchdown on Thanksgiving. He also picked off a deflected pass by Brett Favre in the Cowboys' win over Green Bay for his third interception in a three-game span.
Newman has just 16 career interceptions in five seasons, but don't forget Deion Sanders had just 14 picks in his five years with the Cowboys.
Newman's new deal comes on the heels of the Cowboys trading for Pacman Jones, who has yet to be reinstated by the NFL after serving a one-year suspension. The Cowboys also drafted South Florida's Michael Jenkins with the 25th overall pick.
While the Cowboys appear to have a crowded group of cornerbacks, head coach Wade Phillips and secondary coach Dave Campo have made it clear they subscribe to the theory of 'you can't ever have too many good cornerbacks.'
Newman and fellow starter Anthony Henry both missed considerable playing time last season with injuries.
Newman suffered a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, which forced him to miss the first two regular-season games and limited him to nickel duty until the fourth game of the season, when Henry suffered a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss three games and a total of six starts.
Jacques Reeves, who ended up starting 13 games, and Nate Jones were called upon to fill in. However, both signed with other teams in free agency, Reeves going to Houston and Jones becoming one of several former Cowboys players and coaches to sign with the Dolphins.
JUST SEEN ON ESPN BARBERS CONTRACT IS 7 YR 45 MILLION 21 MILLION GUARANTEED
