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Rosenhaus on Stallworth, Gaffney & Izzo

Say this for Drew Rosenhaus: the man knows how work a crowd.

He held court just outside the media workroom here, and while his chat was mostly centered on Zach Thomas, he fielded questions about players he has around the league and showed that he a) knows his clients and b) gets little sleep.

As far as his three Patriots clients, Rosenhaus said he's been talking with the Patriots about both Donte Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney, but "more likely Donte will become a free agent."

He said talks in regard to Gaffney are "ongoing" and that he and Izzo have a verbal agreement with the team on a one-year deal.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Z. Thomas to Dallas

Agent Drew Rosenhaus just announced that linebacker Zach Thomas has signed with the Dallas Cowboys, uniting him with his hometown team.

Rosenhaus said the financials were very close with the three teams Thomas talked with -- Dallas, New England and New Orleans -- but what swayed it for Thomas was the chance to return to Texas, where he grew up, where his family still lives, and where he starred at Texas Tech.

Dallas is giving Thomas $1 million in base salary, a $1 million signing bonus and $1 million is what he called easily reachable incentives. It is a one-year deal, though Rosenhaus said that could change.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Z. Thomas signs with Dallas

More in a few minutes.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

More on Capers

Before he was hired by Bill Belichick and the Patriots, Dom Capers had an offer from the Cowboys to serve as a "defensive consultant." But he turned it down after asking defensive coordinator Brian Stewart -- whom Capers hired as a coaching assistant in Houston, Stewart's first NFL job -- if he would be uncomfortable with his taking the gig.

Stewart said he would be uncomfortable, and Capers pulled out of the opportunity.

"It shows what kind of class he has," Stewart said here at the Convention Center. "Like most leaders, he has a way of not just looking at the moment, but looking ahead. I appreciate that."

Capers knew his presence might cause problems for Stewart -- if Dallas' defense improved, Capers might get credit, and if it slipped, then the questions would begin about why Capers wasn't in charge of the defense instead of Stewart.

There's a bit more about the situation here.

As a coach, Stewart -- who gets bonus points here for having spent time as a Syracuse assistant -- said Capers is "very attention-detailed. Very, very. He's very organized, very smart, a very diligent coach. He's going to get the guys to do what he wants."

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments 0