Mr.Bottomtooth
03-01-2007, 02:22 PM
Cowboys give McBriar 5-year deal
Pro Bowl punter cashes in with $2.5 million signing bonus
12:11 AM CST on Thursday, March 1, 2007
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
IRVING – In reality, Mat McBriar was not going to leave the Cowboys in 2007, but the team made sure their Pro Bowl punter will be around through 2011.
McBriar, who was scheduled to be a restricted free agent, agreed to a five-year contract worth $8.5 million that makes him the highest-paid punter in the NFL. The deal includes a $2.5 million signing bonus.
Because McBriar is in his native Australia, the contract has yet to be officially signed.
The Cowboys and McBriar's agent, Jack Bechta, began talks in earnest last week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and came to an agreement quickly. McBriar's matches the team-high bonus for a kicker given to Mike Vanderjagt last year.
In earning his first Pro Bowl spot, McBriar averaged 48.3 yards per punt last year, the best in team history and the first punter since Yale Lary in 1963 to average more than 48 yards. He was also fourth in the NFL in net average at 38.6 and had the longest punt in the league with a 75-yarder vs. Houston. Of his 56 punts, 27 traveled 50 or more yards and seven went for more than 60 yards.
Bledsoe may get released today: In order to avoid paying him a $1 million roster bonus on Friday the Cowboys will have to release quarterback Drew Bledsoe by 3 p.m. today. By cutting Bledsoe, the Cowboys would save $6 million in salary-cap space, and put them in the market for a backup QB.
Glenn to get bonus: Receiver Terry Glenn is due a $5 million roster bonus Friday, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones said last week Glenn will be paid. Under the new rules of the collective bargaining agreement, The Cowboys can prorate Glenn's roster bonus over the final four years of his contract to lower his salary-cap figure.
Clock ticking on Colombo: The Cowboys will lose exclusive negotiating rights by 11 p.m. today if they are unable to reach a deal with right tackle Marc Colombo.
The Cowboys met with Colombo's agents, Ken Kremer and Tom Condon, last week in Indianapolis and were scheduled to pick up the talks again this week. Colombo is the top priority after he solidified the right-tackle spot last season.
No word on Stewart: Brian Stewart, who sources said will become the Cowboys' next defensive coordinator, was at Valley Ranch on Wednesday. Yet, no official decision was made regarding the hire. New Dallas coach Wade Phillips needs to make one more hire to complete his staff.
Briefly: The team has had talks with the agents for kicker Martin Gramatica and DE Kenyon Coleman. They do not plan on re-signing center Al Johnson, LB Al Singleton and safety Tony Parrish, who will be unrestricted free agents.
The Cowboys will tender qualifying offers to restricted free agents CB Nate Jones, CB Jacques Reeves, WR Patrick Crayton and LB Ryan Fowler. Crayton could receive the second-round tender worth $1.3 million, which would require a team to give up a second-round pick to sign him.
Jones, Reeves and Fowler will be tendered at $850,000, which would require teams to give up seventh-round picks for Jones and Reeves. Because Fowler was undrafted, the Cowboys would not receive compensation should he sign elsewhere. ... The Cowboys re-signed LB Junior Glymph to a one-year deal worth $510,000.
http://www.cowboysplus.com/topstory/stories/030107cpmcbriar.6c40d18.html
Pro Bowl punter cashes in with $2.5 million signing bonus
12:11 AM CST on Thursday, March 1, 2007
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
IRVING – In reality, Mat McBriar was not going to leave the Cowboys in 2007, but the team made sure their Pro Bowl punter will be around through 2011.
McBriar, who was scheduled to be a restricted free agent, agreed to a five-year contract worth $8.5 million that makes him the highest-paid punter in the NFL. The deal includes a $2.5 million signing bonus.
Because McBriar is in his native Australia, the contract has yet to be officially signed.
The Cowboys and McBriar's agent, Jack Bechta, began talks in earnest last week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and came to an agreement quickly. McBriar's matches the team-high bonus for a kicker given to Mike Vanderjagt last year.
In earning his first Pro Bowl spot, McBriar averaged 48.3 yards per punt last year, the best in team history and the first punter since Yale Lary in 1963 to average more than 48 yards. He was also fourth in the NFL in net average at 38.6 and had the longest punt in the league with a 75-yarder vs. Houston. Of his 56 punts, 27 traveled 50 or more yards and seven went for more than 60 yards.
Bledsoe may get released today: In order to avoid paying him a $1 million roster bonus on Friday the Cowboys will have to release quarterback Drew Bledsoe by 3 p.m. today. By cutting Bledsoe, the Cowboys would save $6 million in salary-cap space, and put them in the market for a backup QB.
Glenn to get bonus: Receiver Terry Glenn is due a $5 million roster bonus Friday, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones said last week Glenn will be paid. Under the new rules of the collective bargaining agreement, The Cowboys can prorate Glenn's roster bonus over the final four years of his contract to lower his salary-cap figure.
Clock ticking on Colombo: The Cowboys will lose exclusive negotiating rights by 11 p.m. today if they are unable to reach a deal with right tackle Marc Colombo.
The Cowboys met with Colombo's agents, Ken Kremer and Tom Condon, last week in Indianapolis and were scheduled to pick up the talks again this week. Colombo is the top priority after he solidified the right-tackle spot last season.
No word on Stewart: Brian Stewart, who sources said will become the Cowboys' next defensive coordinator, was at Valley Ranch on Wednesday. Yet, no official decision was made regarding the hire. New Dallas coach Wade Phillips needs to make one more hire to complete his staff.
Briefly: The team has had talks with the agents for kicker Martin Gramatica and DE Kenyon Coleman. They do not plan on re-signing center Al Johnson, LB Al Singleton and safety Tony Parrish, who will be unrestricted free agents.
The Cowboys will tender qualifying offers to restricted free agents CB Nate Jones, CB Jacques Reeves, WR Patrick Crayton and LB Ryan Fowler. Crayton could receive the second-round tender worth $1.3 million, which would require a team to give up a second-round pick to sign him.
Jones, Reeves and Fowler will be tendered at $850,000, which would require teams to give up seventh-round picks for Jones and Reeves. Because Fowler was undrafted, the Cowboys would not receive compensation should he sign elsewhere. ... The Cowboys re-signed LB Junior Glymph to a one-year deal worth $510,000.
http://www.cowboysplus.com/topstory/stories/030107cpmcbriar.6c40d18.html