The Cowboys desperately needed to upgrade their defensive backfield and did so on Wednesday with the signing of free agent cornerback Brandon Carr.
Carr was considered so important that the franchise reportedly dished out a five-year, $50 million contract on Wednesday, making him one of the highest paid players at his position.
"We're fired up," Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan told CBS 11 in Dallas on Wednesday. "He's a great guy. We loved him on tape. We got the right corner."
Carr, 25, is a 6-foot, 207-pounder who intercepted eight passes during his first four NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He had four interceptions last year and has broken up 59 passes in the past three seasons. Carr, a former standout at Division II Grand Valley State, was drafted by Kansas City in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
"I'm very excited," Carr told the Cowboys' website Wednesday. "I've been waiting for this day for a very long time. I'm humble. I'm grateful to be here. I'm blessed to be in this situation. At the end of the day, I'm ready to go back to work and do some work for the Dallas Cowboys."
The Cowboys, who released two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Terence Newman on Tuesday, struggled in the secondary throughout the past two seasons. Adding Carr and having a full season to prepare in Ryan's system should help that unit improve.
Carr met with the Cowboys in Arlington on Tuesday and was immediately impressed with the team's private jet and enormous stadium.
"I was blown away," said Carr, who mentioned that he's always been a Cowboys fan. "From the initial plane ride to pick me up, saw the big star on the jet. I sat down and talked with the coaches the whole way here. I got to the stadium, and it was everything that I imagined. It's the best stadium in the world. The hospitality I got while I was here was unmatched.
"I think everybody's genuine, and I think everyone's eager to get this thing going again. That's what I like, and that's why I'm here."
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Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
