IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys took care of one of their top offseason priorities Saturday when they acquired quarterback Jon Kitna as the likely backup for Tony Romo.
Dallas also signed free-agent linebacker Keith Brooking to a three-year contract. Brooking, released Friday by Atlanta, played all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Falcons and was the last remaining player from their Super Bowl team a decade ago.
Dallas traded starting right cornerback Anthony Henry to Detroit, where Kitna appeared in only four games last season before going on injured reserve with a back injury.
When Romo missed three games last season because of a broken pinkie finger, the Cowboys went 1-2 and leaned heavily on their defense to beat Tampa Bay 13-9 for the lone victory in that stretch. The Cowboys, who began the season as a Super Bowl favorite, instead finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
Dallas released 17-year veteran quarterback Brad Johnson on Thursday.
The 36-year-old Kitna, who was due a $1 million roster bonus next week, was not expected to return to the Lions. He is scheduled to make $1.95 million this season.
Henry started all 16 games for Dallas last season. Orlando Scandrick or Mike Jenkins, both rookies last season, could be in position to take over in the starting job.
Brooking, a five-time Pro Bowler 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.
Dallas also signed free-agent linebacker Keith Brooking to a three-year contract. Brooking, released Friday by Atlanta, played all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Falcons and was the last remaining player from their Super Bowl team a decade ago.
Dallas traded starting right cornerback Anthony Henry to Detroit, where Kitna appeared in only four games last season before going on injured reserve with a back injury.
When Romo missed three games last season because of a broken pinkie finger, the Cowboys went 1-2 and leaned heavily on their defense to beat Tampa Bay 13-9 for the lone victory in that stretch. The Cowboys, who began the season as a Super Bowl favorite, instead finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
Dallas released 17-year veteran quarterback Brad Johnson on Thursday.
The 36-year-old Kitna, who was due a $1 million roster bonus next week, was not expected to return to the Lions. He is scheduled to make $1.95 million this season.
Henry started all 16 games for Dallas last season. Orlando Scandrick or Mike Jenkins, both rookies last season, could be in position to take over in the starting job.
Brooking, a five-time Pro Bowler 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.