Cowboys receiver Miles Austin, a restricted free agent tendered at the highest possible level, previously has resisted signing his offer. With the June 15 deadline threatening to cut the figure roughly in half, Austin finally made his move.
According to Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News, Austin has applied his name to the bottom of the document.
He’ll get $3.168 million in 2010. He would have risked seeing the offer cut to $1.65 million, if he had failed to sign it by Tuesday.
The question now becomes whether Austin will ink a long-term contract.
“It’s not that big of a deal to me,” Austin said, per Archer. “It is what it is. I’m here to work, that’s what I do. I’m not trying to lose any more money. . . . Hopefully something can work out. Obviously I love Dallas. Yeah, I’m excited for the season. I’m excited to play hard.”
Still, until he signs a long-term deal, Austin bears the risk of a serious injury. And if that serious injury comes, the large payday perhaps never will.