Cowboys' Brandon Carr playing like star as he grows more comfortable with big-money label

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr, left, intercepts a pass from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Matt Barkley intended for wide receiver Jason Avant, right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (The Associated Press)

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr, right, intercepts a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant, left, from quarterback Matt Barkley during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez) (The Associated Press)

Brandon Carr is more comfortable carrying the label of "$50 million cornerback" these days.

It's been a year since Carr was the biggest free agent investment in the secondary for the Dallas Cowboys since Deion Sanders nearly two decades ago.

He's playing like a big-money star as he goes into a matchup with Detroit's Calvin Johnson on Sunday. Washington's Pierre Garcon and Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson had just nine catches among 23 targets combined the past two weeks with Carr mostly in charge of keeping them under control.

Carr says he did feel the burden of the big contract a year ago, but he still played pretty well. In fact, he essentially won a game with an interception in overtime.

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