Cowboys owner Jerry Jones rewarded receiver Miles Austin for his big season in 2009 with a big contract in 2010. And now that he got paid, Austin doesn’t look like the same player he was last year.
But Jones isn’t getting upset.
“I’m not at all disappointed in his play in any way and don’t want to sound even defensive about it,” Jones said on KRLD-FM, via the San Antonio Express-News.
Of course, when you make a point of saying you don’t want to sound defensive, that usually makes you seem more defensive. And there’s no denying that Austin, who signed a six-year, $54 million contract in September, has declined: In 2009, Austin had 81 catches for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns. With three games to go this season Austin has 58 catches for 826 yards and five touchdowns.
Jones, however, insists that Austin is a valuable asset.
“He gives us really one of the strengths of our team relative to him and the other receivers, so I’m glad we’ve got him and glad we’ve got him under contract,” Jones said.
Perhaps. But he was paid in response to his 2009 Pro Bowl season. Now he’s not playing at a Pro Bowl level.
