Gamble pays off for Dallas Cowboys' Hamlin

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Gamble pays off for Dallas Cowboys' Hamlin
Topic Started: Jul 16 2008, 09:16 AM (30 Views)
Deb	Jul 16 2008, 09:16 AM Post #1
The resident Cowboys Chick Posts: 676 Group: SUPER MOD SQUAD Member #211 Joined: February 18, 2007	Gamble pays off for Dallas Cowboys' Hamlin 09:52 PM CDT on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 • E-mail IRVING – Throughout the off-season, Ken Hamlin could count on his phone buzzing from text messages or telephone calls from his Cowboys' teammates wanting updates on his contract situation. On Tuesday, Hamlin finally had a firm answer after signing a six-year, $39 million deal that included a $9 million signing bonus as part of a $15 million guarantee. "It's a good feeling when your teammates want you around," Hamlin said Tuesday from Los Angeles, where he attended the ESPY Awards. "I wanted to be around them, too." Tuesday's announcement was the culmination of a chance Hamlin took on himself last year. Teams were leery of a serious head injury that knocked him out of Seattle's final 10 games in 2005 and were reluctant to extend big offers after he played a final full season in Seattle in 2006. He signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys worth $2.5 million, hoping a productive season would lead to a big payday. It worked. He had career highs in tackles (102), interceptions (five) and pass deflections (15) and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. "I always said my first trip to Hawaii would be when the NFL paid for it," Hamlin said. "I hope I can make them pay again." But Hamlin's value to the Cowboys is more than tangible statistics, which is why keeping him with a multi-year deal was so important. Had the Cowboys not signed him Tuesday, they ran the risk of having him skip training camp and showing up the week before the season began. Hamlin brings stability to the secondary that has been missed since Darren Woodson played his last game in 2003. Hamlin makes sure players are lined up properly. He makes the right switches. He provides the voice Woodson once did and teammates listened. "I think leadership is definitely something I don't take lightly," Hamlin said. "Just being able to communicate better allows you to do things a little bit better. You have to make sure we're all accountable out there in a game." That's why staying away from Valley Ranch was so difficult this off-season. Because of his contract situation, he did not take part in the conditioning program, the organized team activities or even mini-camp, but he kept himself in shape by working out on his own. The secondary he sees next week in Oxnard, Calif., when training camp begins, will look different than the one he last saw in January, starting with Adam Jones ("I'm going to call him AJ.," Hamlin said.) draft picks Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick, as well as a new position coach, Dave Campo. Despite his absence, Hamlin kept in contact with defensive coordinator Brian Stewart and spoke a few times with Campo so that when camp opened he would be ready. "One thing I've said is I don't want to be just another guy," Hamlin said. "I feel like I'm one of the top safeties in the league if not the top. I want to be known as that." SPENDING SPREE This off-season, the Cowboys spent $58.9 million in signing bonuses to keep five Pro Bowl players, the most recent being safety Ken Hamlin on Tuesday. Name Pos. Contract terms Signing bonus Flozell Adams OT 6 years, $43.8 million $13 million Marion Barber RB 7 years, $45 million $12 million Ken Hamlin FS 6 years, $39 million $9 million Terence Newman CB 6 years, $50.2 million $12 million Terrell Owens WR 4 years, $34 million $12.9 million



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