ESPN NFL

The Dallas Cowboys used their bye week free time in a productive manner on Tuesday, turning their attentions to off-field matters and signing starting inside linebacker Bradie James to a five-year contract extension, ESPN.com has learned.

	James

The extension, which runs through the 2011 season, is worth $20 million and includes an $8 million signing bonus.

James, 25, was entering the final year of the original contract he signed with the team as a rookie in 2003, and he would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring without the extension.

Team officials had said publicly in the offseason that securing a long-term deal with James was a priority and have been in negotiations with agent Jimmy Sexton for more than a month. Coach Bill Parcells has several times cited James, who moved into the starting lineup in 2005, when Dallas switched to a 3-4 alignment, as one of the team's most improved players.

James joins tight end Jason Witten as members of the Cowboys' 2003 draft class who have signed long-term extensions since the end of the 2005 campaign.

The former LSU standout is a terrific fit in the 3-4, and he responded to extended playing time last season by leading the Cowboys in total tackles, with 109. He also had 2½ sacks, two quarterback pressures and four passes defensed.

A fourth-round draft choice in 2003, and the 103rd player chosen overall that year, James played primarily on special teams in his first two seasons, appearing in 30 games but starting only two contests. For his career, James has 161 tackles, 2½ sacks and seven passes defensed.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.