Defensive end Marcus Spears and linebacker Steve Octavien signed their respective tender offers on Tuesday, to remain in Dallas for the 2010 season.
Spears was one of team's two first round selections in the 2005 draft (along with DeMarcus Ware), 20th overall. We were somewhat surprised at the tender offer given Spears--an original draft-pick level tender--coming off a season in which the LSU product posted 50 tackles and a career-high 2.5 sacks.
But, as a restricted free agent and a former first rounder, Spears's hands were more or less tied. He accepted the offer on Tuesday, and is set to make $1.226 million in 2010; this is a slight raise for Spears, but about a $500,000 less than his back-ups--Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen--will make, assuming they sign their tender offers.
Steve Octavien saw action in 14 games in 2009, and was fourth in special teams tackles with 12.
