Hours after Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes was handed to the Jets for a fifth-round draft pick, the team that gave up a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and a fifth-round pick for receiver Roy Williams has another wideout who isn’t happy with his contract.
In any other year, Cowboys receiver Miles Austin would be making nearly $10 million under the franchise tag -- or averaging $9 million on a long-term deal. Thanks to the uncapped year, Austin will make $3.168 million for 2010.
As a result, he’s staying away from the team’s offseason program. The guy who throws the passes to Austin isn’t concerned.
“Miles will be back, don’t worry, he’ll be back and around,” quarterback Tony Romo told ESPN Radio in Dallas. “He’s just getting things done, the business side of things that happens once and while. But I talked to Miles the other day, he’ll be on a bike. He’s a good kid, he’s going to work hard and he’ll be ready to go when the time comes. He does a lot of good things, and he knows what it takes to play at a high level, year in and year out.”
Still, with only three days to go before the window slams shut on possibly leaving, Austin can exert leverage only by staying away from the offseason program until June 15, at which time the Cowboys can reduce his tender offer by well over $1 million.
So while he’ll definitely be back on June 15, we’d be surprised if he shows up before then.