IRVING, Texas - (KRT) - Perhaps the Dallas Cowboys underestimated the value of cornerbacks in today's NFL.
Dallas wants a veteran to play opposite second-year cornerback Terence Newman, but it's probably going to cost quite a bit more than owner Jerry Jones or vice president Stephen Jones envisioned when they opted to let three-year starter Mario Edwards become a free agent at the end of last season.
The reason is two-pronged: a lot of teams need cornerbacks and the salary cap increased about $4 million, giving teams more money to spend.
"Cornerback is one of the most important positions on the field and you have to pay them," said Jordan Woy, Edwards' Dallas-based agent. "They're being paid the way left tackles like Flozell Adams were paid last year."
Jerry Jones declined to comment.
Less than a week into free agency, it has become clear that cornerbacks are prized possessions into today's NFL.
Last year, no free-agent cornerback received a bigger signing bonus than the $6.5 million check Detroit wrote to Dre Bly.
This year, Champ Bailey, the best cornerback available, received an $18 million signing bonus from Denver.
Good cornerbacks such as Ahmed Plummer and Antoine Winfield received signing bonuses of $11 million and $10.8 million, respectively. Even injury-riddled cornerback Shawn Springs cashed in, when Washington gave him a $10 million signing bonus.
Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, both of whom played for Philadelphia last season, are considered the two best free-agent cornerbacks still available. Each will command a signing bonus in the $6 million to $8 million range.
So the Cowboys must decide whether they're going to follow the market and pay big dollars for a cornerback or use a draft choice to fill that need.
Of course, the Cowboys could attempt to re-sign Edwards.
He doesn't intercept or deflect as many passes as they prefer, but he's also a solid player who understands the scheme and has started the last three seasons.
But he's probably going to require a signing bonus of at least $4 million and a five-year contract.
After all, cornerbacks such as Fernando Bryant, David Barrett and Reggie Howard, each comparable to Edwards in terms of ability and tenure as a starter, received contracts in the six-year, $24 million range.
None received a signing bonus of less than $4 million.
"The cornerback market is the biggest surprise of free agency," said Dallas-based agent Drew Pittman. "When someone pays $18 million to the best guy available, then everyone else pays $8 million less and they think they got a deal."
Meadows spurns Cowboys:
Even though the Cowboys offered him about $500,000 more per year, right tackle Adam Meadows
decided he wanted to be closer to his Georgia home and signed with Carolina on Monday.
"It was a hard decision for him to make. He's a little different. He wasn't going out to for the money," said Meadow's agent Donnie Henderson. "He just felt something from Carolina pulling at him."
After releasing Ryan Young, the Cowboys' current options at right tackle include Kurt Vollers and Torrin Tucker.
http://www.mercurynews.com
Dallas wants a veteran to play opposite second-year cornerback Terence Newman, but it's probably going to cost quite a bit more than owner Jerry Jones or vice president Stephen Jones envisioned when they opted to let three-year starter Mario Edwards become a free agent at the end of last season.
The reason is two-pronged: a lot of teams need cornerbacks and the salary cap increased about $4 million, giving teams more money to spend.
"Cornerback is one of the most important positions on the field and you have to pay them," said Jordan Woy, Edwards' Dallas-based agent. "They're being paid the way left tackles like Flozell Adams were paid last year."
Jerry Jones declined to comment.
Less than a week into free agency, it has become clear that cornerbacks are prized possessions into today's NFL.
Last year, no free-agent cornerback received a bigger signing bonus than the $6.5 million check Detroit wrote to Dre Bly.
This year, Champ Bailey, the best cornerback available, received an $18 million signing bonus from Denver.
Good cornerbacks such as Ahmed Plummer and Antoine Winfield received signing bonuses of $11 million and $10.8 million, respectively. Even injury-riddled cornerback Shawn Springs cashed in, when Washington gave him a $10 million signing bonus.
Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, both of whom played for Philadelphia last season, are considered the two best free-agent cornerbacks still available. Each will command a signing bonus in the $6 million to $8 million range.
So the Cowboys must decide whether they're going to follow the market and pay big dollars for a cornerback or use a draft choice to fill that need.
Of course, the Cowboys could attempt to re-sign Edwards.
He doesn't intercept or deflect as many passes as they prefer, but he's also a solid player who understands the scheme and has started the last three seasons.
But he's probably going to require a signing bonus of at least $4 million and a five-year contract.
After all, cornerbacks such as Fernando Bryant, David Barrett and Reggie Howard, each comparable to Edwards in terms of ability and tenure as a starter, received contracts in the six-year, $24 million range.
None received a signing bonus of less than $4 million.
"The cornerback market is the biggest surprise of free agency," said Dallas-based agent Drew Pittman. "When someone pays $18 million to the best guy available, then everyone else pays $8 million less and they think they got a deal."
Meadows spurns Cowboys:
Even though the Cowboys offered him about $500,000 more per year, right tackle Adam Meadows
decided he wanted to be closer to his Georgia home and signed with Carolina on Monday.
"It was a hard decision for him to make. He's a little different. He wasn't going out to for the money," said Meadow's agent Donnie Henderson. "He just felt something from Carolina pulling at him."
After releasing Ryan Young, the Cowboys' current options at right tackle include Kurt Vollers and Torrin Tucker.
http://www.mercurynews.com
