The Cowboys have been dealing with a slew of injuries to their offensive and defensive lines this summer, but linebacker Sean Lee has managed to stay healthy after missing 10 games last season with a toe injury.
That’s not the only reason why the Cowboys were trying to sign Lee to a contract extension, but it probably didn’t hurt when it came time to hammer out the final details. Lee’s agent Mike McCartney announced that his client, whose contract had been set to expire after the 2013 season, has agreed to a six-year extension that will put him under contract to the Cowboys through the 2019 season. The Cowboys have confirmed that Lee is signing the deal right now.
Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reports that it is worth $7 million a year and can rise to $8.5 million a year through incentives. There’s no word on guarantees or signing bonus, however.
The Cowboys said during the offseason that they would likely look at giving Lee an extension, which is no surprise given how quickly he became an important part of the defense after joining the team as a second-round pick in 2010. Lee’s shown a facility for all aspects of life as an inside linebacker and his brief preseason appearances have shown that those abilities translate to the middle linebacker spot in a 4-3 defense as well.
As long as Lee is healthy, he’ll be a linchpin for new coordinator Monte Kiffin and, given the length of his contract and Kiffin’s age, probably the next Cowboys coordinator as well.