Cornerback Terence Newman, the Dallas Cowboys' first round draft pick, signed a contract on Thursday, clearing the way for him to report to the team when training camp opens on Saturday.
Newman signed a seven-year deal worth $33.4 million. The deal includes a $13,001,000 signing bonus, half of which he received at the signing. The other half will be given to him in February, easing the salary cap burden of the deal.
Newman will earn $18.4 million over the first six years of the deal. His base salary for this season will be $1.1 million. The final year of the contract is scheduled to earn him $15 million, but that year will probably be voided, if he reaches certain easily attainable, playing time incentives.
The fifth overall selection out of Kansas State, Newman won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. He played on offense as well, a move that indicates his playmaking capabilities. He also was the team’s return specialist, tallying 26 punts for 388 yards and 2 touchdowns and 13 kickoffs for 370 yards.
He should have no problem adjusting to the speed of the game in the NFL. He was the Big 12 Conference's outdoor 100-meter champion in 2001 and had an impressive performance at the NFL scouting combine with sub-4.4 40-yard dash times, a 41-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 11 feet, 4 inches.
"There was no doubt in my mind I was going to be here on our reporting date," Newman said in a news conference at the Alamodome. "I'm happy to be a member of the Dallas Cowboys. Hopefully, I'll have my star on my helmet. If not, hopefully I have enough money that I can pay for one.
"I wanted to be here on time, so my teammates know that I'm here for them. I wanted to let the coaches and owner know that I'm in it to win."
Newman's signing bonus represents a record for a Cowboys rookie and is the largest ever received by a rookie defensive back in NFL history. It is nearly $3 million more than Quentin Jammer, the fifth pick last season, received.
Newman is expected to start and give them a shutdown cornerback that the team has not seen since Deion Sanders. Adding him with Derek Ross, Darren Woodson and Roy Williams will give the Cowboys its best secondary in years.
"We think we're putting the pieces together toward having one of the better young secondaries in the NFL," Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones said. "In years past, when we've had success and were winning Super Bowls, it was a position that was always very solid for the Dallas Cowboys. The last few years have taught us how difficult it is to find great corners and how valuable they really are."
Negotiations appeared to have been stalled early in the week. However, both sides compromised to get the deal done.
Dallas increased its signing bonus offer by several million to avoid adding an escalator clauses and incentives that could dramatically increase Newman's base salary if he achieved them.
The Cowboys also have agreed to terms with center Al Johnson (2nd round) on a four-year deal that includes a $1.82 million signing bonus. They are still in negotiations with tight end Jason Witten (3rd round) and linebacker Bradie James (4th round).
The expectation is to have all draft picks signed by the first practice of training camp on Saturday.
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