Price signs with Dallas

[GM]

Price is right: Peerless signs one-year deal with Dallas

Sep. 3, 2005

CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

IRVING, Texas -- Receiver Peerless Price decided Saturday to join the Dallas Cowboys, primarily because of the chance to be reunited with quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

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Price signed a one-year deal, giving him a chance to become a free agent again next season when he'll have more time to look around. He landed on the market this week after being cut by Atlanta and teams wanted him to make his choice by the 5 p.m. Saturday roster deadline.

After visiting with Miami, New England, Dallas and the Saints, Price picked the Cowboys because he liked the idea of again catching passes from Bledsoe while being in a receiving corps that also features Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten and Patrick Crayton, a promising second-year player coming off a strong preseason.

"Drew and Peerless had a relationship and that's what it came down to," agent Tim McGee said.

Price had his best season in 2002, his only year with Bledsoe in Buffalo. Price then parlayed his 1,252-yard, 94-catch season into a $37 million, seven-year contract with Atlanta, but never lived up to expectations.

Bledsoe vouched for Price to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells. They also heard rave reviews from players who'd tried covering him.

"I think he does have quickness," Parcells said Friday. "I think he is receptive to coaching and he has been productive in the league."

McGee said Price became less important to the Falcons because his role changed when a new coaching staff switched offenses. He knows the Cowboys are set in their ways under coach Bill Parcells.

"It's not just Drew and Peerless connecting," McGee added. "Please make sure this is clear: It was Drew selling Peerless on the combination of him, Keyshawn, Terry and (Crayton)."

A lot of receivers and only one ball can sometimes cause a problem. McGee said it won't because Price is focused on wins not catches.

"Put it this way -- you got four guys and how many Super Bowls have they been to? One. I think it comes down to sacrifice," said McGee, himself a former NFL receiver.

AP NEWS

The Associated Press News Service