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Courtship of CB Brandon Carr included private jet, dinner at Cowboys stadium and Super Bowl talk
By Clarence E. Hill
The courtship of cornerback Brandon Carr began just after the 3 p.m. opening of free agency on Tuesday. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and secondary coach Jerome Henderson and Joe Baker jumped into a car and headed to the airport.
Once there they boarded owner Jerry Jones’ private jet and flew to Kansas City to pick up Carr and bring him back for a free agent visit.
Talk about the epitome of “you had me at hello”.
“I got the phone call to head to the airport,” said Carr by phone one day after signing a five-year, $50.1 million contract to join the Cowboys. “The coaches greeted me. I saw the private jet. I got goose bumps.”
But the Cowboys didn’t stop there. The plane ride back consisted of talking football and then there was the fly over Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. After landing, the Cowboys whisked Carr to Cowboys Stadium for an up close and personal look along with dinner with several of his future teammates, including receiver Miles Austin, tight end Jason Witten, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and linebacker Sean Lee.
“I heard so much about the stadium,” Carr said. “I could see the stadium from the air. When I got there, it was everything I thought it was and more. Stepping on the field and seeing the Jumbotron, I was ready to play there.”
It was all a surreal experience for Carr, who was not a big time recruit out of high school and played in college at Grand Valley State before being a fifth round pick of the Chiefs in 2008. He said he still hasn’t come down from the emotional high.
“I didn’t know what to expect with whole free agency process,” Carr said. “I took it all in and absorbed it. I enjoyed the moment. At the same time I knew I had to take care of myself and my family.”
Carr can do that and more with the whopping $50.1 million contract that includes a $10 million signing bonus and $26.5 million in guaranteed to money.
“I was hoping for a good contract,” Carr said. “That’s why you grind so hard in the off season, putting in all the work and them playing your tail off. Now with that comes bigger responsibility. I am up for the challenge. I plan to work twice as hard as before and help set a tone in the locker room."
Carr grew up a Cowboys fan. He said the first uniform he ever put on was a Cowboys uniform. Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders was his favorite player and he imitated Prime time’s high stepping dance many times as kid envisioning himself as a Cowboys player.
Now that he’s here, his focus is bringing a Super Bowl back to Dallas for the first since Sanders and company last won 1995.
That was one of the theme’s of his courtship at Cowboys Stadium as well from the players and the coaches.
“It’s a dream come true for me to put that helmet on and grind. The No. 1 goal now is to win a Super Bowl. That’s what everyone I talked to expressed. They talked about adding the right pieces, getting better and winning. Once the season starts, that’s the no. 1 priority.”
Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.co...tadium-and-super-bowl-talk.html#storylink=cpy
By Clarence E. Hill
The courtship of cornerback Brandon Carr began just after the 3 p.m. opening of free agency on Tuesday. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and secondary coach Jerome Henderson and Joe Baker jumped into a car and headed to the airport.
Once there they boarded owner Jerry Jones’ private jet and flew to Kansas City to pick up Carr and bring him back for a free agent visit.
Talk about the epitome of “you had me at hello”.
“I got the phone call to head to the airport,” said Carr by phone one day after signing a five-year, $50.1 million contract to join the Cowboys. “The coaches greeted me. I saw the private jet. I got goose bumps.”
But the Cowboys didn’t stop there. The plane ride back consisted of talking football and then there was the fly over Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. After landing, the Cowboys whisked Carr to Cowboys Stadium for an up close and personal look along with dinner with several of his future teammates, including receiver Miles Austin, tight end Jason Witten, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and linebacker Sean Lee.
“I heard so much about the stadium,” Carr said. “I could see the stadium from the air. When I got there, it was everything I thought it was and more. Stepping on the field and seeing the Jumbotron, I was ready to play there.”
It was all a surreal experience for Carr, who was not a big time recruit out of high school and played in college at Grand Valley State before being a fifth round pick of the Chiefs in 2008. He said he still hasn’t come down from the emotional high.
“I didn’t know what to expect with whole free agency process,” Carr said. “I took it all in and absorbed it. I enjoyed the moment. At the same time I knew I had to take care of myself and my family.”
Carr can do that and more with the whopping $50.1 million contract that includes a $10 million signing bonus and $26.5 million in guaranteed to money.
“I was hoping for a good contract,” Carr said. “That’s why you grind so hard in the off season, putting in all the work and them playing your tail off. Now with that comes bigger responsibility. I am up for the challenge. I plan to work twice as hard as before and help set a tone in the locker room."
Carr grew up a Cowboys fan. He said the first uniform he ever put on was a Cowboys uniform. Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders was his favorite player and he imitated Prime time’s high stepping dance many times as kid envisioning himself as a Cowboys player.
Now that he’s here, his focus is bringing a Super Bowl back to Dallas for the first since Sanders and company last won 1995.
That was one of the theme’s of his courtship at Cowboys Stadium as well from the players and the coaches.
“It’s a dream come true for me to put that helmet on and grind. The No. 1 goal now is to win a Super Bowl. That’s what everyone I talked to expressed. They talked about adding the right pieces, getting better and winning. Once the season starts, that’s the no. 1 priority.”
Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.co...tadium-and-super-bowl-talk.html#storylink=cpy