'Boys sign Rossum

The Dallas Cowboys signed cornerback and returner Allen Rossum today.

A 12-year veteran, Rossum originally entered in the league as a third-round draft choice (85th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1998 out of Notre Dame. He played two seasons with the Eagles before being traded to the Green Bay Packers on August 20, 2005 for a fifth-round draft choice, where he played two more seasons.

Rossum played five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons after signing with the club as an unrestricted free agent on March 13, 2002. He was traded to Pittsburgh on September 1 , 2007 and then signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent on February 28, 2008. Rossum was released on October 12, 2009 by the 49ers after appearing in three games.

Rossum currently ranks second in NFL history for total career return yards (14,987) and kickoff return yards (11,931) and first among active players (ninth all-time) with 3,056 career punt return yards. He is the only player in NFL history to have a kickoff return for a touchdown with five different teams – Philadelphia, Green Bay, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

For his career, he has played in 156 games with 10 starts totaling 117 tackles with 2.0 sacks, two interceptions and 14 pass breakups. He has returned 307 punts for 3,056 yards for a 14.9 average with three touchdowns, including a long return of 75 yards. Rossum has 513 kickoff returns for 11,931 for a 23.3 average with five touchdowns with a long of 104 yards.

Rossum played high school at Skyline in Dallas, Texas, where he played football and ran track – where in 1993 he posted the fastest time in the nation in the 100 meters (10.02 seconds). Was also a two-time All-American in track at Notre Dame competing in the 55 meters.