At about 10 p.m. CT Saturday, on the 18th floor of the Ritz Carlton in St. Louis, Roy Williams signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the Cowboys that included $27 million in guaranteed money.

What made the deal easy to consummate on Saturday night was that the Cowboys were playing in St. Louis, home of Creative Artists Agency, which represents Williams. With the Cowboys and CAA in the same city, and with the framework of the deal already in place, the deal got done before Dallas’ Saturday night curfew.

Notably, Williams is scheduled to earn $29.7 over the next three years, an average of $9.9 million per year, which is more than the $27 million that Terrell Owens is scheduled to earn.

Clearly the Cowboys are making a commitment to Williams for the long-term, perhaps having something to do with Owens in the short term. Throughout this season, something has not been right with Owens, who turns 35 in December.

It might be that the Cowboys aren’t throwing him the ball enough, but Owens has yet to lead Dallas in receiving yards in any game this season. Dating back to last season, he now has been held under 100 yards in nine straight games, the longest streak of games under 100 yards for Owens since 1998-’99. And the last time Owens started a season with seven straight games under 100 yards was 1999.

Might mean nothing. But might mean something.

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