NFL notes: Cowboys extend Costa in 2-year deal worth $2.7 million

The Dallas Cowboys have signed center Phil Costa to a two-year contract worth $2.7 million and saved roughly $350,000 of salary cap space in the process, according to a source.

Costa was set to become a restricted free agent and would have been tendered a $1.323 million contract in 2013.

The new deal includes a $450,000 signing bonus and will only count $975,000 against the cap.

Injuries wrecked Costa’s season in 2012. He missed much of training camp with a back injury and then re-aggravated the injury in the season opener. He missed four games before returning for two games and suffering a dislocated ankle, which sidelined him for the rest of the season.

The three-year veteran, who made the team as an undrafted free agent in 2010, started every game in 2011.

Costa is expected to return to the starting lineup in 2013. Ryan Cook and Mackenzy Bernadeau started in his place last season.

The cap-friendly deal for Costa follows one the Cowboys made with long snapper L.P. Ladouceur on Thursday and is the latest of a number of cost-saving moves by the team to help manage the salary cap. The Cowboys also restructured the contracts of several veterans, including linebacker DeMarcus Ware, receiver Miles Austin, tight end Jason Witten, cornerback Brandon Carr and Cook.

The team has guards Nate Livings and Bernadeau, cornerback Orlando Scandrick and defensive tackle Jay Ratliff on standby to restructure their deals if they need further cap room.

— Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Breaston to return?

Former Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Steve Breaston is considering undergoing the Regenokine treatment in Germany in an effort to repair knee inflammation and early arthritic symptoms, according to sources. Breaston had visits last week with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.

During the procedure, a small cup of blood is removed from the patient, and then it is incubated at a slightly elevated temperature and spun in a centrifuge to make a serum that’s injected to combat inflammation and may resolve the player’s irritation.

Breaston feels his knee is fine but he is being advised by his family and one of his agents, Eric Metz, to explore this revolutionary procedure that worked well for NBA standout Grant Hill, who shared the same doctor.

Breaston plans to continue to train and improve his knee until he is ready to sign with an NFL team

101 Awards

Peyton Manning won his seventh NFL 101 Award on Saturday night as AFC offensive player of the year.

The Denver quarterback came back from a neck injury and transitioned to a new team, and had one of his best seasons. He led the Broncos to a 13-3 season and threw for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Other honorees on included: Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson for NFC offensive player of the year; Houston defensive end J.J. Watt for AFC defensive player of the year; San Francisco linebacker Aldon Smith for NFC defensive player of the year; Chuck Pagano and Bruce Arians of the Colts were co-winners for AFC coach of the year; and Pete Carroll of the Seahawks for NFC coach of the year.

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