Cowboys reward Austin with six-year extension
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones insisted all summer that he wanted to give wide receiver Miles Austin a new contract. Jones delivered it today.
Austin, whose breakout 2009 season resulted in a Pro Bowl berth, received a six-year contract extension from the Cowboys. "It feels great to be wanted by this team," Austin said in a news conference, flanked by Jones on his right. " ... My main focus is really on the Redskins (in the season opener) this week."
Austin signed a one-year, $3.168 million tender in June, but the former undrafted receiver from tiny Monmouth College is no longer primarily a kick returner who occasionally has a pass thrown his way. Austin has emerged as Romo's favorite target -- and a problem for defensive coordinators league-wide.[pullquote quote="It feels great to be wanted by this team" credit="Miles Austin"]
So much has changed since Austin, filling in for injured Roy Williams, made his first NFL start last October at Kansas City. Austin finished with 10 catches for 250 yards against the Chiefs to break the Cowboys' single-game yardage record, set by Hall of Fame receiver "Bullet Bob" Hayes in 1966. Austin also scored two late touchdowns, including a 60-yarder in overtime.
It was quite a breakout performance for Austin, who entered the game with 23 career catches, including five in the first four games last season.
Austin's encore was six catches for 171 yards and two more TDs in Dallas' next game. He went on to finish the season with 81 catches for 1,320 yards, sixth-best in team history and the sixth-best by any undrafted receiver in the NFL.
Source: NFL
