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TE Witten gets 4-year extension from Cowboys

 
Published March 29, 2017

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas tight end Jason Witten signed a four-year extension Tuesday that virtually guarantees the 14-year veteran will spend his entire career with the Cowboys.

The deal runs through 2021 and leaves the final year of the two-time All Pro's current contract intact. The extension has a maximum value of $29 million with no new guaranteed money and gives the team the flexibility to restructure and create about $4 million in salary cap space.

Witten, who turns 35 in May, is one of two tight ends in NFL history with at least 1,000 catches and 10,000 yards receiving. The other is Tony Gonzalez, who retired in 2013 after 17 seasons.

A 10-time Pro Bowl player, Witten is Dallas' franchise leader with 1,089 catches and needs 17 yards to break Hall of Famer Michael Irvin's mark of 11,904 career receiving yards.

RULE CHANGES: NFL owners approved having referees use a hand-held tablet for video replay reviews, eliminating "going under the hood," and also centralized final decisions on such calls. Previously, the referee went to a sideline camera for reviews, and he would have final say on the call. Now, league officiating chief Dean Blandino and his staff in New York will make those decisions with input from the referee. Also at the league meetings, owners extended bringing touchbacks to the 25-yard line for another year, and eliminated "leapers" trying to block field goals or extra points. They added protections for defenseless receivers running their routes, too.

EAGLES: Defensive end Chris Long agreed to terms on a two-year deal. A No. 2 overall draft pick by the Rams in 2008, Long spent eight seasons with then joined the Patriots last season.

JETS: Former Colts offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison, who was undrafted out of Florida in 2014, signed as an unrestricted free agent. Terms were not available. He is expected to add depth and possibly compete at center with Wesley Johnson. Also, coach Todd Bowles said there will be "heavy competition" at quarterback between newly-signed veteran Josh McCown and young incumbents Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty.