OXNARD, Calif. Vince Coleman . -- Tyron Smith has a new contract that will probably make him the most important blocker for the next Dallas quarterback after Tony Romo. The Pro Bowl left tackle signed an eight-year, $98 million extension Wednesday that pushes the total value of his deal to $110 million over 10 years, locking him up through 2023. The extension includes a $10 million signing bonus and $40 million in guaranteed money. Smith joins Romo as the only Cowboys with contracts valued at more than $100 million. Smith was just 20 when the Cowboys took him ninth overall in 2011 out of Southern California. That was Jason Garretts first draft as coach. "That first one says a lot about what you believe," Garrett said. "Hes something else. We really emphasize the importance of mental toughness. We believe thats a distinguishing trait in players and in teams. And he represents that in spades. Hes off the charts." In a statement through his marketing agency, Smith said the Cowboys approached him with what is a cap-friendly deal for the franchise, and the lineman asked his agents to weigh the pros and cons of signing it. Smith said part of his reasoning was rewarding owner Jerry Jones for standing by him during a difficult time that included Smiths lawyer accusing the players parents of taking money from him after he had set up a way to give them a portion of his rookie contract. "Theyve looked out for me and I just wanted to look out for them," Smith told reporters after Wednesdays late practice. "The deal they offered me, didnt really need much and its something I was really comfortable before I took it." Executive vice-president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys wanted to make Smith the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL, which he said was accomplished through a $12.2 million average for the eight-year extension. "Tyron deserves it," Jones said. "Hes 23 years old, and it may be the first 10-year deal Ive ever done in football where I think the guy will be playing in the last year of his contract." Smith has started all 47 games in his career, missing one game with a sprained ankle in 2012. He played right tackle as a rookie before moving to the left side, and this year hell be protecting Romos blind side with the 34-year-old coming off back surgery. "Hes just been everything we wanted to build this program and this team around," Garrett said. "He was a really young player we put in really in minute one of day one. Hes everything we thought he was going to be, physically and intangibly and just as a person. His work ethic is fantastic." Smith became the first-round model in three of four drafts for the Cowboys -- proven players from major college programs. They took centre Travis Frederick from Wisconsin late in the first round last year after trading down and grabbed right guard Zack Martin out of Notre Dame in the middle of the first round this year. "On draft day, youre optimistic about the players you take, particularly that high in the draft, but when you see them develop as quickly as he has into the kind of leader and the player you want, not only for your team but your program, its really satisfying," Garrett said. "Hes a cornerstone player in this franchise." As with Smith, Frederick and Martin have been plugged in as starters from the start of their first off-season. They were born within four months of each other and will each be 23 when the season starts. "You see those relationships developing before your eyes," Garrett said. "Its a special bond, particularly when you play a position like offensive line where the communication is verbal but also has to be almost by feel." Michael Wacha . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. Daniel Ponce de Leon . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Michigans Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-mike-matheny-jersey-large-131q.html .B. -- Canadas Rachel Homan opened the Ford Womens World Curling Championship with a 7-5 win over Russia on Saturday. DETROIT -- R.A. Dickey exited the game, leaving a bases-loaded mess in the sixth inning. Afterward, he could thank reliever Aaron Loup for a remarkable escape. "It doesnt get any better," Dickey said. Loup pitched out of that bases-loaded, nobody-out jam, helping Toronto hold onto to what at that point was a one-run lead. Then the Blue Jays broke the game open late, beating the Detroit Tigers 8-2 Wednesday night. Adam Lind doubled twice to drive in three runs and Melky Cabrera added a homer and three hits for Toronto. The AL East-leading Blue Jays scored three runs in the eighth and two in the ninth in winning for the 18th time in 22 games. "Were picking each other up," said outfielder Jose Bautista, who also had three hits for the Blue Jays. "The day that one guy doesnt come through, then somebody else does. Its what winning teams do, and were enjoying it. Winning baseball is much more fun." Miguel Cabrera and Ian Kinsler homered for Detroit, but Kinsler also left the bases loaded twice. The AL Central-leading Tigers left 11 runners on base in their fourth straight loss. Detroit has dropped 12 of 16. "I still think of it as a funk," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "I still think this team is way better than were playing in the last few weeks." Detroits Rick Porcello (8-3) seemed to be cruising, but he allowed a two-out double to Melky Cabrera in the sixth, followed by a walk to Bautista. Lind then hit a drive over Austin Jacksons head in Comerica Parks cavernous centre field, scoring both runners to put the Blue Jays ahead 3-2. Dickey almost gave the lead right back, allowing a single in between two walks. But with the bases loaded, Loup came on and struck out pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez before getting Rajai Davis and Kinsler on foul popups. "Youre almost thinking, youre bound to give up at least one, possibly two," Loup said. "But you try to liimit the damage as much as possible. Brett Cecil. Tonight was, I guess, one of those lucky nights, you kind of pull a rabbit out of your hat." Dickey (6-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in five-plus innings, walking four and striking out four. Loup pitched two scoreless innings in relief. "I was trying every trick I had," Dickey said. "I was kind of on the tightrope all game, having to use everything in my arsenal, and some days its like that. Thankfully, I minimized the damage in a couple of the innings, and then Loup did that incredible thing in the sixth, and that was really the turning point in the game." Toronto padded its lead in the eighth. Melky Cabrera hit an RBI single and Lind added a run-scoring double in that inning. By the time the game ended, it seemed there were as many Blue Jays fans left at the ballpark as Tigers fans. Bautista added a two-run double in the ninth. Melky Cabrera opened the scoring in the first with a solo shot, but Miguel Cabrera answered in the bottom half with his 11th homer of the year. Kinslers home run in the third put the Tigers ahead 2-1. Tigers shortstop Eugenio Suarez made his major league debut after being called up from the minors before the game. He entered as a substitute in the seventh, and his first plate appearance was eventful. With men on first and second in the eighth, he hit a grounder to third. Brett Lawrie fielded it and stepped on third for a force, but his throw to first hit Suarez around the upper back for an error, leaving runners at second and third. The Tigers left them on base too. NOTES: Detroit also loaded the bases with two out in the fourth, but didnt score when Kinsler flied out to right. ... Bautista made a diving, backhanded catch to retire Torii Hunter in the third on his flyball to right. ... Detroits Justin Verlander (6-4) takes the mound Thursday against Torontos J.A. Happ (4-2) as the Tigers try to avoid a three-game sweep. ' ' '