Cowboys Agree To Deal With LB McClain

By Mike Fisher | @fishsports

IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) -- In a move that has the fingerprints of Jerry Jones and the New England Patriots all over it, the Cowboys have switched gears on Rolando McClain, agreeing with him on a one-year contract to stay in Dallas.

The deal, first reported by ESPN, has a base value of $3 million, with another $1 million in play-time incentives. That's still a bargain relative to McClain's Pro Bowl-level performance last year, and on paper, Dallas can now use McClain in the middle with Sean Lee at weak side playing behind Greg Hardy and company.

But "on paper'' is different than "in the building,'' where the twice-retired McClain is "enigmatic' ' at best. Many of Jerry's lieutenants were not supportive of spending more than the vet's minimum ($745,000) to retain McClain, a former top-10 overall pick with a habit of not only missing games but also practices.

But the Patriots' interest in McClain fueled Jerry's willingness to up the ante, 105.3 The Fan is told. And the fact that McClain is still making substantially less than former Dallas linebacking mates Bruce Carter (now in Tampa) and Justin Durant (now in Atlanta) can make this signing seem like a bargain.

It might not be a bargain six days a week. Jerry and the Cowboys plan on it working out every Sunday, though.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)