Miles Austin has been handed a new six-year contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys reportedly worth around $54 million.
Wideout handed massive Dallas deal after breakout season
Wide receiver Miles Austin has been rewarded for his breakout season last year with a new six-year contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys, which is reportedly worth around $54 million.
The 26-year-old was an undrafted rookie but emerged from the shadows last season with an amazing performance to earn a Pro Bowl berth.
Austin had just 23 career catches before he was handed a surprising first NFL start against Kansas City last season, and he responded with 10 catches for a team-record 250 yards and two touchdowns.
He then went on to nail down the starting spot with 81 catches in the season for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns, numbers which result in him being the Cowboys' number one receiver this season.
As such, despite signing a one-year tender worth $3 million in June, the Cowboys were keen to sign him to a long-term deal before the season-opener against Washington on Sunday.
Career
"My career started here, you guys gave me a shot and obviously I put my all out there every day," said Austin. "It feels great to be wanted by this team because I want to be here."
Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said Austin's performances did not come as a surprise to those behind the scenes, and they expected his production to continue to improve.
"We all are familiar and admire the way Miles has evolved into the player he is today. We're also very impressed with the person that he is," Jones said.
"I've never felt like when we have made this kind of commitment to any individual that we've ever been as prepared or better informed about what he is as a player and as a person. That's a good feeling and made this very comfortable in terms of getting this done.
"He's what we want to build our franchise around."
Pillars
Austin joins quarterback Tony Romo, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and tight end Jason Witten as the pillars of the Cowboys team going forward, along with rookie receiver Dez Bryant - who is expected to win the starting job opposite Austin from Roy Williams.
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has been impressed with Austin's work ethic, which has remained intact despite his newly-found star status and contract situation.
"I am confident in Miles. Yeah, he's only done it one year, but what a year," Phillips said. "He's shown so many things. He had the greatest game in Cowboys history. That's pretty strong.
"It's not like a guy who just had a good year. He had a tremendous year, and he had tremendous games that nobody's had before. I think that's part of the confidence.
"He's such a hard worker, he is a great athlete and he's learned how to pull it all together. I think that will continue."
