Cowboys’ Lawrence signs $105 million deal; Prescott next?
FRISCO, Texas — DeMarcus Lawrence may not be the highestpaid Dallas Cowboys player in history for long. Doesn’t mean the club’s best defensive end can’t enjoy the distinction while it lasts.
The 26-year-old Lawrence signed a five-year, $105 million contract, with $65 million guaranteed, on Tuesday. He then was asked repeatedly to try to reflect on what it means to have a $21 million-per-year average that tops retired quarterback Tony Romo, pass rushing predecessor and franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware and receiver Dez Bryant before him.
“I have so many emotions going on right now,” Lawrence said while his parents, young son and fiancee watched in the room where coach Jason Garrett holds his daily news conferences during the season.
“It’s hard for me to take it in. Going through the back surgeries and stuff, I thought my career was over. Before I even made a couple of sacks, I thought I would never see this day.”
Shoulder surgery is next, scheduled for Wednesday and part of the reason a deal got done long before a July 15 deadline that was in place after the Cowboys put the franchise tag on Lawrence for the second straight year.
Getting the procedure done now raises the question of whether the two-time Pro Bowler will be ready for the regular season — he declared that he would be — and waiting to do it until after he had a new contract gave Lawrence some leverage.
Last year, Lawrence signed the $17.1 million franchise tag right away. This year, he wasn’t going to grab $20.5 million guaranteed anytime soon, determined to get the long-term deal he felt he deserved. By not signing, Lawrence could have skipped mandatory minicamp without getting fined.