The Dallas Cowboys signed center Phil Costa to a two-year contract, ESPN reported Saturday. The deal prevented Costa from becoming a restricted free agent.
Costa, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010, started every game in 2011 but was limited to three games last season because of back and ankle injuries. He is expected to be back in the lineup in 2013.
Although owner Jerry Jones praised Costa for his intelligence and work ethic at the Scouting Combine, he also acknowledged Costa's limitations by saying the Cowboys would need strong guard play on either side of him, ESPN reported.
"I can see going with Costa at center for several years," Jones said at the Combine via ESPN.
Costa's agent, George Mavrikes, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Costa's $2.7 million, two-year deal includes a $450,000 signing bonus for $950,000 guaranteed this season.
That will be a savings on the cap for the Cowboys since Costa could have made about $1.3 million as a free agent.
The move came only days after the Cowboys reworked the contracts of five starters, including DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten and Miles Austin, to save salary cap space.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Costa, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010, started every game in 2011 but was limited to three games last season because of back and ankle injuries. He is expected to be back in the lineup in 2013.
Although owner Jerry Jones praised Costa for his intelligence and work ethic at the Scouting Combine, he also acknowledged Costa's limitations by saying the Cowboys would need strong guard play on either side of him, ESPN reported.
"I can see going with Costa at center for several years," Jones said at the Combine via ESPN.
Costa's agent, George Mavrikes, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Costa's $2.7 million, two-year deal includes a $450,000 signing bonus for $950,000 guaranteed this season.
That will be a savings on the cap for the Cowboys since Costa could have made about $1.3 million as a free agent.
The move came only days after the Cowboys reworked the contracts of five starters, including DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten and Miles Austin, to save salary cap space.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.