Dallas Cowboys sign receiver Miles Austin with higher expectations

By MAC ENGEL

ARLINGTON — Once an undrafted free agent from a Division I-AA school, receiver Miles Austin progressed so much in his first three NFL seasons that he had the New York Jets seriously interested in trying to sign him as a restricted free agent.

The Dallas Cowboys, however, weren’t going to let that happen even if the Jets officially had made him an offer, which they didn’t. Austin signed his one-year tender offer worth $1.54 million Thursday, and the Cowboys expect him to contend for the No. 2 receiver slot behind Roy Williams.

"I hope he’s ready to step up and compete," Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said. "We certainly think a lot of Patrick Crayton, but it would be nice to have competition for that spot."

The team is not ready to sign Austin to a long-term contract extension until he produces a bit more. In three seasons, Austin has 18 career catches for 345 yards with three touchdowns. In 12 games last season he caught 13 passes for 278 yards.

The club also signed running back Alonzo Coleman and tight end Rodney Hannah to one-year contracts Thursday. Both players spent last season on the practice squad.

Wildcat visions

Even if the Cowboys don’t draft a Wildcat-formation quarterback, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t use it. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones thinks they have a Wildcat quarterback on... -- Continue reading at the publisher's site