IRVING, Texas - When a player signs a mega-deal like the one DeMarcus Ware did on Monday, the first thing you look for is how he responds.
But while all eyes will be on Ware next Sunday when the Seahawks come to town, it won't actually be his first game with the new deal.
Now it wasn't official yet, but Ware already knew it was all but finalized about an hour before kickoff Sunday against the Falcons.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who normally doesn't go down to the playing field until the fourth quarter of home games, made a special trip this time.
"Usually, Jerry doesn't come down to the field, he lets us stretch (before the game)," Ware said. "That should've been a red-flag when he came over to me. But nobody noticed. After the game, he talked a little bit. We already knew what the plans were."
So while the boss telling his star employee that he just gave him a raise that will pay him $78 million over six years might affect an average person, Ware actually shined against Atlanta. He had two sacks and a forced fumble, giving him now four sacks in the last two games.
Ironically enough, these last two outings Ware has played with a stress fracture in his foot. But it's funny how money can make a big difference. Ware joked at his press conference Monday at Valley Ranch how it didn't seem to hurt too bad on Sunday.
"OK, so I had a hurt foot, and a lot of the weight went off of that foot," Ware said. "I think I put a lot of it behind me and now I can say let's give it 110 percent because they've just given you 110 percent."
And actuality, the Cowboys gave Ware a six-year contract extension worth $78 million, including $40 million in guaranteed cash, for a deal that averages $13 million per season and will keep him with the Cowboys through the 2015 season.
While the money obviously stabilizes himself and his family for life, Ware seemed just as excited knowing he will continue to wear the blue star on his helmet, likely for the rest of his playing career.
"It's sort of like a dream," said Ware, when asked about that reality. "When you're younger and playing video games, you see Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin on the game. Now you feel like you're a part of that tradition. It's awesome just to have this opportunity to say, 'This is my job and this is what I'm going to do for the rest of my life.'"
As outlandish as a $78 million contract might seem, it's quite a bit lower than Ware and his agent Pat Dye Jr. originally asked when the negotiations began last year. Dye had no qualms admitting they were wanting to get in the range of quarterbacks such as Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, who both signed contract extensions this year. Manning got a six-year, $97 million deal and Rivers went for $92 million over six years as well.
"How do you ask for too much money for a guy like DeMarcus Ware," said Dye, who said he understood the Cowboys have more than just one player to build around. "We eventually came to an agreement and I know where they are coming from. They have to manage a football team. So this is a deal that we like and we think is more than fair."
For Ware, he said it wasn't hard finding the balance between getting fairly compensated, but also not breaking the bank, knowing that the Cowboys have many other talented players to pay as well.
"With me, it's about getting what you deserve. I feel like I've gotten what I deserve in my situation," Ware said. "But you can't ask for too much money when you need other players in here. You've got to be able to build and you can't really build with one guy. It's about a team. You can't ask for just too much money, because they need the ability to work, too. So really, it's about being a team player."
But not just any player. Ware knows the expectations are raised even more now.
"If you want to be the face of the team and the face of the defense, you must also be the leader," Ware said. "We have a lot of leaders on this defense. You can't be about just one guy in football. You have to be able to bring it all together as a team, and that's what I'm here for."
And because of this new deal, Ware is going to be here for quite some time.
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