IRVING, Texas - The Cowboys have taken their first step in free agency this year, and what a huge one it is.
They have agreed to terms with 6-6, 366-pound offensive lineman Leonard Davis, and will likely make the signing official on Monday, which will easily make him the biggest guy up front.
The terms, seven years, close to $49.75 million, with $18.75 million in guaranteed money, would make Davis one of the highest paid offensive linemen in club history. Davis' total package would average just more than $7 million a year. When the Cowboys re-signed Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams in 2003, his five-year, $30 million deal averaged $6 million a year and included a $10 million signing bonus.
Just a sign of the times and the team's needs.
Davis might be the former second pick in the 2001 draft who never lived up to advance billing, or the starting left tackle the Arizona Cardinals chose not to re-sign or franchise this off-season, but the six-year veteran represents a huge Cowboys need who can fill a variety of spots.
Davis could play right tackle. Remember, the Cowboys failed to get last year's 16-game starter Marc Colombo re-signed before the start of free agency. The deal for Colombo still is on the table.
Davis could play right guard. Soon-to-be 35-year-old Marco Rivera, who has started the past two years at right guard, has undergone two surgeries to repair ruptured disks in the past two years, and his status heading toward the 2007 season appears to be in doubt. The Cowboys might need a starting right guard.
Also, Davis could play left tackle in a year. Adams, a three-time Pro Bowler, is entering the final year of that five-year deal he signed when Bill Parcells first arrived. He's also turning 32. Who knows if the Cowboys can re-sign him next year or will want to re-sign him to a hefty deal, knowing he'll be turning 33 before the start of the 2008 season.
But that the Cowboys would pay nearly $7 million a year for an offensive lineman, is just another sign the salary cap has been raised to $109 million for the 2007 season. And judging from several contracts signed over the weekend, this also represents the new price of doing business in free agency.
Two free-agent guards just signed for similar terms. Cleveland has signed Eric Steinbach to a seven-year, $49.5 million deal that included a reported $17 million of guaranteed money. Buffalo signed guard Derrick Dockery to a seven-year, $49 million deal that included $18 million in guaranteed money. Some of Davis' guarantees are included in base salary and roster bonuses.
The 29-year-old Davis, who visited with the Cowboys at The Ranch on Friday, has started 91 of a possible 96 games during his six-year career with the Cardinals, including 46 of 48 while starting the past three years at left tackle.
The Cowboys negotiated hard with Davis on Friday, trying to prevent him from taking his planned visit on Saturday with Washington. They failed to accomplish that when Davis and his representative were pushing for more guaranteed money, and Davis did meet with the Redskins on Saturday. But negotiations with the Cowboys heated up again, and by Sunday afternoon the Cowboys had their man.
This would seem somewhat of a homecoming for Davis, the All-America left tackle with the Texas Longhorns. Davis grew up in nearby Wortham, Texas, about 100 miles south of Dallas.
That the Cowboys have agreed to terms with Davis does not preclude them from continuing negotiations with Colombo. The Cowboys still might need Colombo if it's become apparent Rivera, turning 35, is unable to return. The only other viable starting candidate at guard would be Cory Procter, who was a game-day inactive for all 16 games last year.
Also, depth at tackle is thin. Only Pat McQuistan is considered a backup candidate at this point.
They have agreed to terms with 6-6, 366-pound offensive lineman Leonard Davis, and will likely make the signing official on Monday, which will easily make him the biggest guy up front.
The terms, seven years, close to $49.75 million, with $18.75 million in guaranteed money, would make Davis one of the highest paid offensive linemen in club history. Davis' total package would average just more than $7 million a year. When the Cowboys re-signed Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams in 2003, his five-year, $30 million deal averaged $6 million a year and included a $10 million signing bonus.
Just a sign of the times and the team's needs.
Davis might be the former second pick in the 2001 draft who never lived up to advance billing, or the starting left tackle the Arizona Cardinals chose not to re-sign or franchise this off-season, but the six-year veteran represents a huge Cowboys need who can fill a variety of spots.
Davis could play right tackle. Remember, the Cowboys failed to get last year's 16-game starter Marc Colombo re-signed before the start of free agency. The deal for Colombo still is on the table.
Davis could play right guard. Soon-to-be 35-year-old Marco Rivera, who has started the past two years at right guard, has undergone two surgeries to repair ruptured disks in the past two years, and his status heading toward the 2007 season appears to be in doubt. The Cowboys might need a starting right guard.
Also, Davis could play left tackle in a year. Adams, a three-time Pro Bowler, is entering the final year of that five-year deal he signed when Bill Parcells first arrived. He's also turning 32. Who knows if the Cowboys can re-sign him next year or will want to re-sign him to a hefty deal, knowing he'll be turning 33 before the start of the 2008 season.
But that the Cowboys would pay nearly $7 million a year for an offensive lineman, is just another sign the salary cap has been raised to $109 million for the 2007 season. And judging from several contracts signed over the weekend, this also represents the new price of doing business in free agency.
Two free-agent guards just signed for similar terms. Cleveland has signed Eric Steinbach to a seven-year, $49.5 million deal that included a reported $17 million of guaranteed money. Buffalo signed guard Derrick Dockery to a seven-year, $49 million deal that included $18 million in guaranteed money. Some of Davis' guarantees are included in base salary and roster bonuses.
The 29-year-old Davis, who visited with the Cowboys at The Ranch on Friday, has started 91 of a possible 96 games during his six-year career with the Cardinals, including 46 of 48 while starting the past three years at left tackle.
The Cowboys negotiated hard with Davis on Friday, trying to prevent him from taking his planned visit on Saturday with Washington. They failed to accomplish that when Davis and his representative were pushing for more guaranteed money, and Davis did meet with the Redskins on Saturday. But negotiations with the Cowboys heated up again, and by Sunday afternoon the Cowboys had their man.
This would seem somewhat of a homecoming for Davis, the All-America left tackle with the Texas Longhorns. Davis grew up in nearby Wortham, Texas, about 100 miles south of Dallas.
That the Cowboys have agreed to terms with Davis does not preclude them from continuing negotiations with Colombo. The Cowboys still might need Colombo if it's become apparent Rivera, turning 35, is unable to return. The only other viable starting candidate at guard would be Cory Procter, who was a game-day inactive for all 16 games last year.
Also, depth at tackle is thin. Only Pat McQuistan is considered a backup candidate at this point.
