Cowboys sign former Chargers DE Wiley

The Dallas Cowboys finally made a move in free agency, inking defensive end Marcellus Wiley to a four-year contract worth $16 million. He received a $4.5 million signing bonus.

Wiley will replace Ebenezer Ekuban at the right end spot and will join La’Roi Glover and Greg Ellis on the defensive line that now looks much improved despite their #1 ranking in the NFL last season.

Wiley 29, was released by the San Diego Chargers in a salary cap move. He had 10½ sacks his last season in Buffalo in 2000, then pulled in 13 sacks in 2000 with the Chargers. But his numbers have declined – six in 2002 and 3 last season.

The move not only pleases Marcellus but his father as well, who grew up in East Texas and is a big Cowboys fan.

"My father beat it into my head that the Cowboys were the best and only team in the NFL," Wiley said. "They've won it all before and now they're a team on the rise with an opportunity to do it again. I just wanted to be part of that."

A second round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 1997, Wiley spent three seasons behind Bruce Smith. He finally got his shot in 2000 when Smith went to Washington. He responded with 10½ sacks and 104 tackles.

The Chargers then paid Wiley more than $40 million with a six-year contract.

In coming to Dallas, he will be reunited with defensive line coach Jim Jeffcoat, who was his teammate in Buffalo.

The Cowboys feel that his numbers decreased in San Diego because of scheme changes and being double-teamed by opposing offenses. That won’t happen in Dallas, where Ellis, Wiley and Glover all have the capability of being a disruptive force.

"It's a great situation," Wiley said. "I can contribute without knowing the load is on my shoulders."