May 20, 2008 - 7:13 PM
0 shoutsIRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- Dallas Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman has cashed in on his career season. Running back Marion Barber also received some serious cash.
The Cowboys secured the long-term services of Newman and Barber on Tuesday, re-signing both star players to lengthy contracts.
Newman agreed to terms on a six-year contract extension worth $50.2 million while Barber signed a seven-year contract for $45 million, including a $12 million signing bonus.
Barber's deal can earn him up to $16 million guaranteed.
A first-time Pro Bowler in 2007, Newman will receive $22.5 million in guaranteed money over the first three years of the deal, according to his agent, R.K. Ben Dogra.
Newman's contract rivals the deals signed this offseason by cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall, Marcus Trufant and Asante Samuel.
Hall agreed to a seven-year, $67 million deal with the Oakland Raiders shortly after being acquired from the Atlanta Falcons. Trufant inked a six-year, $50.2 million contract to remain with the Seattle Seahawks while Samuel signed a six-year, $57 million free-agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cowboys evidently feel that Newman, who was set to earn $1.4 million in base salary next season, is worth a similar investment. He will be counted on to lead a defensive backfield that also features Pro Bowl safety Ken Hamlin and rookie cornerback Mike Jenkins.
Dallas' secondary also could include troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, who was acquired last month from Tennessee but still has not been reinstated from his league-imposed suspension.
The fifth overall selection in the 2003 draft, Newman appeared in 13 games last season for the NFC East Division champion Cowboys, recording 50 tackles and matching a career high with four interceptions.
A talented cover corner who also can serve as a punt returner, the 5-11 Newman started every game over his first four seasons in Dallas.
Newman, 29, constitutes a key cog in a core group of Cowboys that also includes the 24-year-old Barber, who rushed for a career-high 975 yards and 10 touchdowns - both team bests - last season.
The 220-pound Barber likely will be counted on as Dallas' featured back following the free-agent departure of Julius Jones, who signed with Seattle this offseason after splitting time in the Cowboys' backfield during the 2007 campaign.
A 2005 fourth-round pick, Barber emerged as one of the league's top young runners in 2006, when he led the NFC with 14 rushing TDs.
