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Signing Miles Austin still priority with draft picks under contract

08:14 PM CDT on Friday, July 23, 2010

By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com

All off-season long the Cowboys have said re-signing Miles Austin to a long-term deal was their top priority. Stephen Jones reiterated the point today inside the Alamodome but did not have a timeframe on when a deal could be struck.

"When we make sure we've got our hands around everything, he's first and foremost," Jones said.

Austin is set to make $3.168 million this season. The club has had cursory talks with his agent, David Dunn, and those could increase now that the team has signed all of its draft picks. Jones said nothing is concrete in terms of meeting with Dunn, however, it should be noted Dunn's offices are not far from Oxnard, Calif., where the Cowboys will hold their second half of training camp.

Jones said the decision to give Austin a big money has little to do with wanting to see the wide receiver repeat his Pro Bowl season from 2009.

"Not as much that as it is just the uncertainty," Jones said, alluding to the uncertain collective bargaining agreement.

The Cowboys have five players with salary-cap figures in excess of $9 million in 2011, led by Tony Romo's $12.962 million charge should a cap return in the future.

"Everything we do right now we have to be very calculated in figuring out how it affects us," Jones said.
 
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