IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Marcellus Wiley and his father can finally
agree that the Dallas Cowboys are their favorite team.
The elder Wiley has long been a Cowboys fan, even the past seven
years when his son played defensive end for the Buffalo Bills and
San Diego Chargers. On Thursday, Marcellus made his dad proud by
signing a $16 million, four-year deal with Dallas that includes a
$4.5 million signing bonus.
The deal includes base salaries of $660,000 (for 2004), $2 million (2005), $4.34 million (2006) and $4 million (2007). There is a $500,000 roster bonus for 2005 and the fourth year of the contract can be voided if Wiley is named to the Pro Bowl or has 11 sacks in any of the first three years of the deal.
"My father beat it into my head that the Cowboys were the best
and only team in the NFL," Wiley said. "They've won it all before
and now they're a team on the rise with an opportunity to do it
again. I just wanted to be part of that."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells are thrilled
to have Wiley, too. He gives them the pass-rushing end that was
missing from a defense that ranked No. 1 in the NFL anyway.
Although Wiley has gone from 13 sacks in 2001 to six then to
three last season, Dallas officials believe the drop wasn't a dip
in ability.
They chalk it up to extenuating factors like scheme changes and
facing more double teams because offenses weren't as concerned
about his fellow linemates. That's not as likely to happen with
Wiley playing alongside Pro Bowl defensive tackle La'Roi Glover and
opposite end Greg Ellis.
Wiley said he's on a mission to prove he can still be a dominant
player. He noted that he's only 29 and that he's not as banged up
as most seven-year veterans because he's only started the past four
seasons.
"It's a great situation," he said. "I can contribute without
knowing the load is on my shoulders."
Wiley replaces Ebenezer Ekuban, a former first-round pick who
never lived up to expectations. Ekuban signed with Cleveland on
Wednesday.
"It offers him the opportunity to start for a potential Super
Bowl team with a Hall of Fame coach in Bill Parcells," agent Leigh
Steinberg said.
A graduate of Ivy League school Columbia, Wiley also brings a
colorful personality to Dallas.
Once a judge for the Miss Universe Pageant, he's an aspiring
musician with his own line of clothing and an extensive collection
of arcade games. His Web site (www.datdude.com) is named for the
nickname he used to call others but has since been turned into his
own moniker.
"He's got a chance to evoke enthusiasm," Jones said. "That's
a big plus."
Wiley was a second-round pick by Buffalo in 1997; as a rookie,
he was teammates with Jim Jeffcoat, who will now be his position
coach in Dallas.
After spending three years backing up Bruce Smith, Wiley
replaced him in 2000 and posted 10½ sacks and 104 tackles.
Then the Chargers signed him for $40 million over six years and
he responded with 13 sacks and a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2001.
The combination of his big salary and declining numbers the past
two seasons led to his release last week. Wiley pointed out that
San Diego made similar decisions last year with Rodney Harrison and
Junior Seau and both did well on their new teams.
Plenty of teams were interested in Wiley. He went to Seattle
last week and had more trips planned when he arrived in Dallas on
Wednesday.
He extended his stay after talking to Parcells and Jones, then
told agent Leigh Steinberg to cancel the other interviews and
strike a deal with the Cowboys.
Wiley called his father before, during and after the
negotiations in Dallas. His dad, who grew up in East Texas, hid his
excitement -- until he heard that the contract was signed.
"It was a different conversation," Wiley said, laughing. "He
was like, 'Wow.' It's a dream come true for the family."
Wiley never rooted for the Cowboys, partly as a way of
rebelling. That gives him something in common with Parcells, who
became a big Red Sox fan while growing up in New York merely
because his dad pulled for the Yankees.
Signing Wiley is the first big move the Cowboys have made since
the signing and trading period began last Tuesday, although it
wasn't for a lack of trying.
Several players they pursued signed elsewhere and a proposed
deal for receiver Keyshawn Johnson is likely to happen, but remains
on hold, primarily because Tampa Bay hasn't been able to reach a
deal with Cowboys receiver Joey Galloway.
Information from ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli and The Associated Press was used in this report.