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 The contract is worth $70 million and includes $45 million
guaranteed, with a $20 million signing bonus, ESPN reported.
A photo of Bryant signing the contract at the Cowboys' facility was
tweeted by a reporter for DallasCowboys.com.
"I smiled the whole way over here," he told the website. "I couldn't
even say nothing but just smile and laugh, because I couldn't
believe it.
"All I could just think about is that it's a dream -- a dream come
true. I think the only thing that's missing is a Super Bowl."
Owner Jerry Jones said, "If we were not comfortable with how Dez has
grown over the past five years off the field ... this deal probably
doesn't get done.
"I'm happy for both sides. It's a great deal for Dez, and he's
earned this contract. We're satisfied with the terms and structure.
Condon and Stephen worked hard on the contract to get it done on
time."
- - -
The Denver Broncos signed star wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to a
five-year contract, moments before Wednesday's deadline for
franchise players.
A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the deal with the three-time
Pro Bowl player is worth $70 million and includes $43.5 million
guaranteed.
"We are thrilled to reach a long-term contract agreement with
Demaryius Thomas," John Elway, the Broncos' executive vice president
of football operations and general manager, said in a statement.
"He has developed into one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, and
making sure he remained a Denver Bronco was a significant priority
for our team."
- - -
The Kansas City Chiefs signed Justin Houston to a six-year, $101
million deal -- the richest contract for a linebacker in NFL
history.
According to reports, the deal includes $52.5 million guaranteed,
with a signing bonus of $20.5 million. The contract is the richest
deal in Chiefs history.
The 6-foot-3, 258-pound Houston led the NFL with 22 sacks last
season -- a half-sack short of the record set by Michael Strahan of
the New York Giants in 2001.
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In four seasons with the Chiefs, Houston has recorded 248 tackles,
48.5 sacks, 19 passes defensed, one interception, seven forced
fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 71 quarterback pressures.
- - -
New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski agreed to a four-year
deal worth $17.2 million.
Gostkowski signed a one-year tender the same week the Patriots
designated him a franchise player, which restricted his ability to
sign with other teams in free agency. The two sides beat Wednesday's
4 p.m. ET deadline for signing a new contract.
Gostkowski, 31, was a fourth-round pick of the Patriots in 2006.
Last season, he became New England's all-time leading scorer and was
35-of-37 on field goals to lead the NFL with 156 points.
- - -
The NFL Players Association and Tom Brady likely would head to
federal court if any of the New England Patriots quarterback's
four-game suspension remains for his alleged role in Deflategate.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to announce a ruling this
week on Brady's appeal of his four-game suspension.
The union will go to federal court to challenge the league if Brady
still is suspended for any games, NFLPA sources told ESPN legal
analyst Ryan Smith.
- - - (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
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