Owens signs 3-year, $25 million deal with Cowboys
Terrell Owens has gone from stomping on the Dallas Cowboys’ star logo to wearing it on his helmet.
The reviled receiver joined the Cowboys on Saturday, signing a three-year, $25 million contract to play for Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells in what promises to be an interesting combination of strong personalities. The deal includes a $5 million signing bonus, with salaries of $5 million this year, $8 million in 2007 and $7 million in 2008.
“I’m a star among stars now,” a smiling Owens said.
There’s no questioning his talent – Owens has put up numbers the Cowboys have lacked since Michael Irvin was in the prime of his career in the mid-1990s.
It’s his attitude that prompted the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles to get rid of Owens. His relationship with the Eagles soured only months after he led them to the Super Bowl, finally ending with his release Tuesday.
Owens referred to his past problems as “life-learning experiences.”
“I’m going to put those things behind me,” Owens said. “They can only make a man stronger, wiser. For me, that’s what it’s done. I’ll be a better teammate, a better person, a better man in life. I’m looking forward to this opportunity. I couldn’t be more excited to be here.”
•The Cowboys signed offensive tackle Jason Fabini to a three-year contract.
Fabini spent his entire eight-year career with the New York Jets, starting 114 straight games until he tore a chest muscle Nov. 18 and didn’t return. He was released Feb. 22.
Show Daunte the money
Earlier this week newly acquired Miami quarterback Daunte Culpepper said he was seeking clarification of his situation with the Minnesota Vikings.
In Friday’s edition of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, first-year Vikings coach Brad Childress said what Culpepper was seeking was more money and lots of it.
“Somewhere there is a buy-in factor. I just didn’t think that was the case,” Childress said. “Right from the beginning. As I mentioned, I never had a conversation with him about this football team. It was always about what he needed financially and money. I never heard team, I always heard me and I and, ‘I need $10 million. I’m a $10 million-dollar-a-year quarterback.’ “
Vikings owner Zygi Wolf said he was set to pay Culpepper the $6 million roster bonus that was due March 24, but that the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback coming off the worst season of his seven-year career wanted to improve on his 10-year, $102 million deal signed in 2003.
Seahawks, Davis agree
Already having secured their four defensive tackles from the 2005 season, the Seattle Seahawks are expected to add even more depth to the position in the person of free agent Russell Davis. Davis, who will turn 31 later this month, has agreed to terms on a three-year deal, ESPN reported.