Newman and Barber signed to long term deals

[Agent Zero]

IRVING, Texas - On a day that was supposed to only signal the start of OTA practices here at Valley Ranch, the Cowboys locked up a centerpiece on each side of the ball.
The Cowboys signed running back Marion Barber and cornerback Terence Newman to long-term deals on Tuesday that total more than $96 million.
Newman, who had a year remaining on his original contract from 2003, signed a seven-year, $51 million contract that included a $12 million signing bonus and more than $22.5 million in guaranteed money over the first three years.

Barber, who had yet to sign his restricted free agent tender of $2.561 million, instead was rewarded with a seven-year, $45 million deal with more than $16 million in guarantees, including a $12 million signing bonus.

The Cowboys were able to beat the deadline to sign players under the current collective bargaining agreement. 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 will follow new rules, which would've prevented the Cowboys from prorating the players' signing and roster bonuses past five seasons.
Contract talks also ignited between the Cowboys and Ken Hamlin, who was given a franchise tag of $4.33 million. The club has expressed interest in signing the Pro Bowl safety to a long-term deal as well. While that can still occur, the deal likely won't be longer than a five-year contract.
The club has also looked into re-signing defensive end Chris Canty to a long-term contract. Like Barber, Canty was given a one-year restricted tender and if a long-term deal is not completed, he could play the 2008 season on a one-year, $2.017 tender.

The Cowboys also have Terrell Owens, Marc Colombo and Tank Johnson entering the final years of their contracts, and DeMarcus Ware will be a free agent after the 2009 season.
But for now, the Cowboys settled for locking up Newman and Barber.
Just last week, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he didn't expect Barber to attend the OTA practices, especially without signing his tender.
Now, the running back is expected to be back for Wednesday's session.
While Barber has only started two regular-season games and another in the playoffs last season, the Cowboys have showed signs of making him their future running back.
Not only did they let Julius Jones go to Seattle in free agency, they opted not to draft a higher-rated Rashard Mendenhall in last month's draft because his style was similar to Barber's. Instead, the Cowboys opted for a more elusive Felix Jones, who is not considered an every-down back but should be able to complement the style of Barber.

Despite rotating with Julius Jones, Barber rushed for a career-high 975 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Barber is expected to spearhead a running back corps that now includes a pair of drafted rookies in Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, a fourth-round pick from Georgia Tech.
Just like the Cowboys drafted for depth behind Barber, they did the same at cornerback in taking Mike Jenkins (25th overall) and Orlando Scandrick in the fifth round. The club also traded for Adam "Pacman" Jones, who has yet to be reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after a one-year suspension.
But Newman is still the leader of that position, not to mention one of the NFL's highest-paid cornerbacks now.

A five-year veteran who was drafted fifth overall in 2003, Newman's original contract expired after the 2008 season. Apparently, the Cowboys weren'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's contract will rank right up with other cornerbacks who have recently signed new contract, 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.

The cornerback delivered his Pro Bowl season playing through pain. He 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.




Newman got a seven-year, $51 million deal while Barber got $45 million over seven years.

Link- http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cf...AFD72A9BCF0F32

[Darius Ali]

Both good moves IMO. Marion Barber is a workhorse and Newman is very solid as well. Dallas has a team that can really do things in the future. They just need to get over that hump. T.O. is getting older though so they may need to shore up the WR spots.

[Agent Zero]

Originally Posted by Darius Ali

They just need to get over that hump. T.O. is getting older though so they may need to shore up the WR spots.

That is the truth. T.O. is some sort of human anomaly for how he has kept up his game for so long. But I know it can't go on forever. I sure would have loved to see Roy Williams be traded to Dallas this year.

[cruzg24]

The G-men!!!!!!