DMN Blog: 'Boys want Miles Austin Long-Term/Carpenter has shoulder surgery

[Cowboy Brian]

http://espn.go.com/dallas/story?id=4846487&campaign=rss&source=DALLASHeadlines

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of options this offseason with wide receiver Miles Austin, a restricted free agent.

Owner/general manager Jerry Jones doesn't want to make it too complicated, though. He saw enough in Austin's spectacular 11-game stretch as a starter to try to sign the Pro Bowl receiver to a long-term deal.

"Yes," Jones said Thursday. "That's all I'm going to say, but the answer is yes."



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On the day DeMarcus Ware signed his six-year deal, executive vice president Stephen Jones expressed hesitation about entering negotiations with Austin. At the time, Austin had just finished setting an NFL record with 421 receiving yards in his first two starts.

"Some of the biggest mistakes that are ever made are when you pay a guy off one year," Stephen Jones said then.

Austin finished his breakthrough season with 81 receptions for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns. He set a franchise record with 250 receiving yards on 10 catches against the Kansas City Chiefs in his first career start, including the game-winning 60-yard touchdown in overtime. He averaged 16.3 yards per catch this season.

Austin eventually became the team's top wideout this season, taking the role previously held by Roy E. Williams, whom the Cowboys traded for last season and signed to a five-year, $45 million deal.

But that doesn't mean Jerry Jones is giving up on Williams.

"You look at his talent, you look at his potential, you look at his contract," Jones said. "You look at how he came early and stayed late, tried to improve, looked for ways to maximize his value. All of those things are a major consideration. His contract is a major consideration.

"Do you compromise your football team? No. I've done far more than that financially in thinking at the time I've compromised the football team. I do not think that is the case with Roy. ... We've got a player that has the will and has the ability."

 

[WoodysGirl]

Cowboys want Miles Austin for the long term
3:58 PM Thu, Jan 21, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips

Without a new collective bargaining agreement, Miles Austin will be a restricted free agent for the second straight year. Heck, he would not be an unrestricted free agent until after the 2011 season.

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the Cowboys would like to work out a long-term deal with the wide receivers.

"That's all I'm going to say, but the answer is yes," Jones said.

Last year the Cowboys put the second-round tag on Austin. This year he would have to command the first-round tender if not more than that. The first-round tender is $2.4 million. The first- and third-round tender is $3.1 million

Where does Austin fit for a new deal? Roy Williams got five years, $45 million with a ton guaranteed but that came on the heels of a last-minute trade with Detroit where he had all of the leverage.

The Cowboys had the leverage on DeMarcus Ware this year, but still gave him a $78 million extension with $41 million guaranteed. Austin won't be in that stratosphere, but the Cowboys have been fair to players in the past.

Bobby Carpenter has shoulder surgery
3:49 PM Thu, Jan 21, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips

Add linebacker Bobby Carpenter to the list of players having off-season surgery.

Carpenter had his left shoulder scoped but should be back in time for the off-season conditioning program. Carpenter had been bothered by the injury for most of the season but did not miss a game.

Punter Mat McBriar had knee surgery on Wednesday and center Andre Gurode will have surgery soon, which is why he pulled out of the Pro Bowl.

 

[Coakleys Dad]

Thats great news.

 

[dadymat]

I hope he dont overpay....i like Austin and he could be great...but so far hes givin us 1 good season....and i know he hasnt had many opportunities in years past but that is largely due to him being often injured ....id like to make him prove it another season ...ala Ware last season...make Miles start and see how he starts next season at mid season if he is still showing same production pay the man......i just fear we get in another Barber/ Hamlin situation

 

[Eskimo]

I hope he dont overpay....i like Austin and he could be great...but so far hes givin us 1 good season....and i know he hasnt had many opportunities in years past but that is largely due to him being often injured ....id like to make him prove it another season ...ala Ware last season...make Miles start and see how he starts next season at mid season if he is still showing same production pay the man......i just fear we get in another Barber/ Hamlin situation

Barber and Hamlin were in a different situation altogether. Both are okay players who made the Pro Bowl based more on team success than on their actual individual abilities. Both are okay complementary players, average type starters coming off career years. They fed more off of the success of other rather than the other way around. Miles is different because he is the engine that made the Cowboys offense go last year. When Miles started producing, an offense that had been struggling to throw the football (other than against Tampa Bay) came to life again and regularly was able to march down the field. He lead a team that had a hard time scoring TDs with 11. I do agree that the big concern is injuries which did hold him back in his 3rd year.

I can see both sides of the negotiations. I would probably franchise Miles and make him prove it for another year and then give him the big deal. Otherwise, I would try and work out a 5 year deal for about $40M given that he has only proven himself for one year. It might be better for both sides if we franchised him for the year. This is kind of what we did after the 2006 year with Romo - we asked him to show us he could do it again in 2007 before re-signing him to a long-term deal.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

...Center Andre Gurode will have surgery soon, which is why he pulled out of the Pro Bowl.

We must have the gimpiest OL in the NFL.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

We must have the gimpiest OL in the NFL.

:laugh2:

 

[utrunner07]

I would give Austin $45m over 5 years, its only fair, he is going to be our #1. Paying him more than Roy would be ridiculous because 45 is a lot. Offer him 45 and I would be he takes it.

 

[TheHustler]

Barber and Hamlin were in a different situation altogether. Both are okay players who made the Pro Bowl based more on team success than on their actual individual abilities. Both are okay complementary players, average type starters coming off career years. They fed more off of the success of other rather than the other way around. Miles is different because he is the engine that made the Cowboys offense go last year. When Miles started producing, an offense that had been struggling to throw the football (other than against Tampa Bay) came to life again and regularly was able to march down the field. He lead a team that had a hard time scoring TDs with 11. I do agree that the big concern is injuries which did hold him back in his 3rd year.

I can see both sides of the negotiations. I would probably franchise Miles and make him prove it for another year and then give him the big deal. Otherwise, I would try and work out a 5 year deal for about $40M given that he has only proven himself for one year. It might be better for both sides if we franchised him for the year. This is kind of what we did after the 2006 year with Romo - we asked him to show us he could do it again in 2007 before re-signing him to a long-term deal.

If I remember right, Barber didn't even have 1000 yards the year he made it to the pro bowl.... what a bad move....

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Get Austin locked up and get rid of Roy if possible.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I think that's a good sign that they're going to try and get a deal done with Austin. The nice thing is that due to there being no CBA there is no giant rush to get it done. They'll get the best deal for both sides.