Cowboys WR Roy Willams signs lucrative extension

Oct 19, 2008 - 6:33 AM IRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- Roy Williams has a shiny star on his helmet, and a shiny new contract to match.

The Dallas Cowboys signed Williams to a five-year, $45 million extension on Saturday, hours before he makes his debut against the St. Louis Rams.

The deal includes $27 million in guarantees and will keep Williams in "The Lone Star State" until 2013.

A Texas native and former University of Texas star, the 6-2, 220-pound Williams was acquired from the Detroit Lions for three draft picks prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. Dallas traded a first-round pick, third-rounder and sixth-round selection in 2009 for Williams and a seventh-rounder.

Williams will make his debut with his new team on Sunday when the Cowboys (4-2) visit the Rams (1-4).

The 26-year-old Williams was scheduled to be a free agent after this season, but is now one of the highest-paid receivers in the league.

His deal rivals some of the recent deals his peers have been yielding.

New teammate Terrell Owens was given a four-year, $34 million deal this summer, and the New York Giants signed Plaxico Burress to a five-year, $35 million extension prior to the start of the season. Buffalo's Lee Evans also signed a four-year, $37.25 million deal earlier this month.

Williams was brought to Dallas to help alleviate some of the double coverage Owens has been seeing lately. He will not have Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo throwing to him in his first game, though. Romo, who suffered a broken pinkie in last week's loss to Arizona, will be active but will not start.

Instead, Williams and company will be catching passes from 40-year-old Brad Johnson. The seventh overall pick in 2004, Williams has 29 touchdown catches in 60 career games with Detroit.