DALLAS, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys have signed offensive tackle Marc Colombo to a four-year contract worth $22 million.
The contract runs through the 2012 season, and includes $11.5 million in guaranteed money.
Originally a first-round pick by Chicago in the NFL draft in 2002 out of Boston College, the 6-foot-8, 315-pounder was made the Cowboys' right offensive tackle during the 2005 training camp and has started 47 straight games.
"I just love being a Dallas Cowboy," he told the Dallas Morning News. "I love everything about it. I definitely didn't want to leave my offensive line. I'd die for those guys."
His lone career drawback is the serious knee injury that kept him out of the lineup for nearly two seasons after he was drafted by the Bears.
The 30-year-old Columbo was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March.
