Dallas Cowboys sign linebacker Keith Brooking to three-year, $6 million deal

The Cowboys aren't done wheeling and dealing just yet.

IRVING — The Dallas Cowboys announced today that they have signed linebacker Keith Brooking to a three-year deal worth about $6 million—with about $2.5 million guaranteed. The club hopes that Brooking will be able to provide a veteran defender familiar with coach Wade Philips at the linebacker position, where Dallas will likely lose some key players to free agency.

Photo not provided by the Dallas Cowboys

Pictured: the fearsome linebacking unit of Burnett, Thomas and Bradie James

Brooking, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and Atlanta’s leading tackler each of the last eight seasons, became a free agent after failing to work out a new contract with the Falcons. He was the team’s first-round pick in 1998, and helped the team reach the Super Bowl as a rookie. Brooking played all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and was the last remaining player from that Super Bowl team from a decade ago.

The move was made to shore up the position in case current starters Zach Thomas and/or Kevin Burnett leave in free agency, or in case Thomas opts to retire. The position also needed some fresh blood, as the unit noticeably wore down over the course of the season, becoming a league-wide embarrassment in the final two games against Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Posted by Todd M.