Just how do you name a figure that makes any sense at all after Philip Rivers received 93 Million bucks from the San Diego Chargers? Big Ben got a big contract and Eli Manning got a Giant contract, so where does that put that famous Patriot Tom Brady?

Why does the image of the Brinks truck keep coming back to me?

“If somebody wants to pay you more money … I think we’re all probably underpaid, don’t you think?” Brady asked. “We all wish we were paid more. That’s not the reality. I’m focused on this year. I’ve thought about it. I just want to go out and have a great year. Believe me nothing is guaranteed. That’s what I learned last year. You don’t know whether you’ll be out here next week or the following week, so I think the most important thing is to focus on this week, and the more prepared you are for this week, the less chance you’ll have to play poorly or to have an injury.”

source

Now while the Squibster is contemplating that 92 million dollar raise from his blogging boss, what in the world would you pay Tom Brady? Tom seems to think he can just not think about it and concentrate on football, but how can it not be on his mind. Let’s say his quarterback rating is down a little and they are playing the Lions and leading by 2,000 points by half time. Don’t you think Tom Brady will be telling Bill Belichick that they need to throw more in the second half? The guy is only human. Why do you think the expression contract year was invented?

Gisele Bundchen may want a new dress with Tom's new contract

Just thinking about that makes me think that Tom will want to do it all this year. Super Bowl, QB rating, 50 touchdown passes, you name it. Should be an interesting year!

Image: Zuma Press

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Post from: EveryJoe

Tom Brady needs a new contract

Greg Jennings signed a contract that makes him the second highest paid receiver in the National Football League. He is second only to Larry Fitzgerald.

Hey, Greg Jennings, look at the ball!

You can almost hear the rush to the phones as quite a few NFL receivers are texting their agents to ask for a better deal.

They always think they’re underpaid, and they always wait for that one example – a player they think can’t compare to them on the field – to use as leverage.

Jennings will become that guy for wide receivers throughout the league. He will become the new guy to emulate when it comes to negotiations and contract demands.

Jennings, who is only 25 years old, had solid numbers in 2008 (80 receptions, 1,292 yards, nine TDs),
source

Ahh, the NFL money beat goes on. Remember when the Detroit Lions made Cory Redding the highest paid defensive lineman after one good year? Quite a few NFL players benefited from that and quite a few more will benefit from this signing.

Image: Zuma Press

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Jennings second highest paid receiver

So far Clemons has looked better, but there will be 28 million reasons to start Sanchez sooner rather than later. It could work, but the odds are against it. Sanchez does not even have a lot of college experience from his time at that quarterback factory known as USC. Eventually, Sanchez will be ready and then maybe his on field prowess can catch up to his off field life.

Sanchez has the charm and the money

But if quarterbacks are to make their legends both on and off the field then Mark is way ahead of everyone with countless endorsements and a pictorial in GQ magazine. He also has the personality to carry it off.

“This is just the beginning,” Sanchez said. “I’ll be working every day to justify this contract.”

The Jets traded three players and two draft picks to select Sanchez fifth overall in April’s draft, despite his lack of starting experience at Southern California. The quarterback taken before Sanchez, Matthew Stafford, who was chosen first over all, recently signed a six-year deal, with $41.7 million guaranteed.

As to why Sanchez and the Jets settled on five years — which meant less guaranteed money for Sanchez — General Manager Mike Tannenbaum said, “Without getting into all of the details, there were tradeoffs.”
source

Photo source Newscom

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Sanchez – The contract leads to starts

The Steelers have signed linebacker James Harrison to a new contract that will pay him $51.175 million over the next six years.

Harrison, the NFL’s 2008 defensive player of the year, will receive $20 million in bonus money.

source

James Harrison is a winner again

The Steelers are loaded with great defenders, but keeping James Harrison was a high priority. Harrison has taken an odd route to stardom and it is quite a surprise that he has ended up with such an awesome career.

Harrison, who will turn 31 on May 4, has had quite a spike in his career since signing with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He was cut a few times by the Steelers, briefly signed by the Baltimore Ravens and spent time in NFL Europe before settling in with the Steelers, becoming a regular contributor toward the end of the 2004 season.

source

Photo source Newscom

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Harrison signed by Pittsburgh

Coach Mike McCarthy is asking Aaron Rodgers for a loan

Wonder how Brett Favre feels about this one. The Green Bay Packers anted up 65 million dollars and signed Aaron Rodgers through 2014.

On Friday morning, Thompson and the Packers finished high stakes but quick negotiations that began during the Packers’ bye last week, and signed Rodgers to a lucrative contract extension through the 2014 season. Rodgers had one more year left on his rookie deal, but Thompson pulled the trigger after watching Rodgers grow the three previous years and then this offseason slide into the role as starter at the game’s most important position.

source

20 million was guaranteed and it seems that was because of the current salary cap for the Packers.

No details were available on the structure of Rodgers’ deal, but the Packers had about $20 million in cap room before signing him Friday, so they undoubtedly structured it to count significantly against that $20 million. They also are a decent bet to extend the contract of another player or two before the season ends — receiver Greg Jennings is a prime candidate, though others, such as safeties Nick Collins and Atari Bigby, are possibilities as well.

Photo source Newscom

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Post from: EveryJoe

Aaron Rodgers 6 years 65 million

Plaxico Burress catches the winning pass in the Super Bowl and dreams of his millions

Image details: Super Bowl XLII served by picapp.com

It is starting already.

In fact it probably started the day the New York Giants led by Eli Manning on a historic last game winning drive won the Super Bowl.

The celebrating, the banquet speaking circuit, the feeling great attitude, the feeling you are the best attitude, the forgot how hard it was and how lucky you were and all the things that happened at just the right times attitude.

The most visible is Plaxico Burress refusing to practice.

Burress reported to the Giants’ mandatory minicamp Wednesday but refused to work out because he wasn’t happy with the way contract negotiations are progressing between the team and agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Coach Tom Coughlin had indicated after practice that Burress did not work out because of a knee injury, but the receiver said he was healthy.

“Me and my agent are trying to get a deal done so I can stay a New York Giant for a long time,” Burress said. “I, personally, don’t like the way they’re going and I am not happy about it. I am choosing not to participate.”

source

We all know that Plax is a great player. He was outstanding at my alma mater Michigan State University.

He has never been a great practice player, but now he feels important. Who wouldn’t after what he did in the Super Bowl.

Burress, who caught a game-winning 13-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining in the Super Bowl to give the Giants a 17-14 win over the previously unbeaten New England Patriots, has three years remaining his six-year, $25 million deal. He will earn $3.25 million this year, $3.5 million in 2009 and $3.75 million in 2010.

But this is just the beginning for the New York Giants and the reason it is so hard to repeat.

Good Luck, Giants.

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Post from: EveryJoe

Plax tells why Giants won’t repeat as NFL Champions

2008 NFL Draft day

Only 3 hours for round 1. Last year the NFL draft was over in 6 hours. No receivers taken in the first round. How odd. The fast guys must slow the draft down.

Jake Long

Jake Long officially became a Miami Dolphin. The first draft pick in 2008 for the NFL by Bill Parcells. Big Tuna could not get rid of the pick, so he overpaid a very good young tackle to the tune of 58 million bucks for 6 years. 30 mill guaranteed. 6 years of no playoffs for the Dolphins, but at least they have a tackle.

Jake Long – an even bigger Tuna

Image details: 2008 NFL Draft served by picapp.com

Pacman – Ride ‘em Cowboy

Pacman is a Cowboy. It is official. Will Pacman even make the field is another question. The trade itself was very complicated.

The deal was agreed to in principle Wednesday. Then came all a convoluted series of talks between both teams, Pacman, the league and the union, a back-and-forth, forth-and-back series that team vice president Stephen Jones called the most complicated in his nearly 20 years in the league.

source

Brett Favre is gone

Brett Favre was placed on the Packer reserved retired list and no longer counts as part of their roster. It is so hard to imagine playing the Packers and not seeing Brett Favre slinging the ball around.

Detroit Lions had to pull something

Too gun shy to draft another receiver, the Detroit Lions traded down with KC two slots to draft an offensive tackle. There we go with the tackle thing again. Who would have thought that tackles would cause so much controversy. This looks like a good deal for Detroit. Here is what went down.

The Chiefs sent the 17th pick in the first round, along with third and fifth- round picks to Detroit in exchange for the 15th overall pick and Detroit’s third-round selection.

With the 15th pick, Kansas City took Virginia offensive lineman Branden Albert, who projects as a standout at either guard or tackle in the NFL. The Lions dropped back only two spots, but picked up their offensive lineman of choice, tackle Gosder Cherilus from Boston College.

source

So, Detroit got an extra 5th, moved up in the third round, and also drafted the tackle they wanted? Since when did Detroit start making sense?

Matt Ryan finds opportunity

No sooner had we all written Matt Ryan off as the answer to the Baltimore Ravens, when, lo and behold, Atlanta picks Matt Ryan as their face of the future. Here is the scoop.

The buzz: Ryan combines the strong arm, fine technique and surprisingly good mobility to become an early NFL starter – possibly as a rookie. He is one of the premier prospects in this class. They selected Ryan over Glenn Dorsey as the new face of their organization. source

Matt Ryan goes from a quarterback to a face. What position is that anyway?

Man, it has been a huge day. Also took the dog in and had him groomed. He looks great.

NFL Football special comment Did the Lions really do something right? Big Tuna took a tackle?

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Post from: EveryJoe

2008 NFL Draft, Jake Long, Pacman, Brett Favre, Detroit Lions, Matt Ryan – what a day

That is right. 58 million smackaroonies for an offensive lineman. That is a lot of dough. That is way too much dough. Jake Long will most likely be a great left tackle, but that is too much money to spend to find that out.

Jake Long can now afford those Gucci football shoes

Image details: Purdue v Michigan served by picapp.com

The draft needs to be fixed. It is a joke to pay a football player that has not even arrived in his first camp and make him the highest paid player at his position. It is an even bigger joke to make Jake Long the highest paid lineman and make him play for Miami, a team that does not expect to win a whole lot of games.

You realize that you just punished Miami. Now a fistful of dollars are tied up in an inexperienced rookie lineman.

Hey, give credit to Miami. They knew the fix they were in and put on their best face.

Long’s total contract package is for $57.75 million, said a person familiar with the negotiations who didn’t want to be identified because the Dolphins declined to reveal terms. Last year’s top pick, JaMarcus Russell, signed for $61 million with the Oakland Raiders but missed all of training camp before reaching a deal.

Long becomes the highest-paid lineman in the NFL and a 6-foot-7, 315-pound cornerstone in a rebuilding project for the new Dolphins regime led by Bill Parcells. Last season Miami went 1-15, and the offensive line has been a chronic problem in recent years.

source

As a big football fan, maybe this would have been easier to digest if it was a unique skill player like JaMarcus Russell and Calvin Johnson were last year. It would have been easier to take if Matt Ryan or Darren McFadden had been a little higher rated, but this is a left tackle.

So take heart out there all of you left tackles that are protecting right handed quarterbacks… Hey, do we even know if the Miami quarterback will be right handed? Ouch! A bigger joke.

Jake Long can play

Don’t get me wrong, every team needs a great left tackle and Jake Long, from University of Michigan, has all the makings of a great left tackle. The real problem is that you should not have to pay 58 million bucks for one, especially an untested one.

The draft is so bad that other teams were not very interested in taking Miami’s pick off their hands. It is better to hamstring them with a huge contract on an inexperienced left tackle.

NFL Football special comment The draft won’t get fixed, because the players association likes it this way. It eventually raises all salaries to have a small group of rookies come in way over paid.

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Post from: EveryJoe

Miami Dolphins presign Jake Long, draft needs fixing

JaMarcus Russell has all the tools and now all the money to go with it!

Evidently when you are wanted you are wanted.

What a joke. Without even playing a single down in the NFL, JaMarcus Russell will walk off with a fortune.

Who does he think he is, Tiger Woods?

Without making 1 touchdown pass or proving he can win, JaMarcus Russell will sign an unbelievable record rookie contract.

Who does he think he is, LeBron James?

The final contract needs to be approved by the NFL, but it will be worth at least $60 million with about $31 million guaranteed, the person said. An official announcement could come Tuesday.

The previous record deal for a rookie came when the Detroit Lions gave No. 2 pick Calvin Johnson $27.2 million in guarantees this year. Top pick Mario Williams got $26.5 million in guaranteed money a year ago from Houston. source

NFL Football JaMarcus Russell factoid:

Russell became the all-time passing leader in Alabama high school history as he threw for 10,744 yards in his career, eclipsing the mark set by former University of Alabama and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle. source

How dumb are the Raiders? They let JaMarcus sit around and miss practice to the point where he won’t be up to speed for a long time and they still give him all the guaranteed money that he wanted.

NFL Football JaMarcus Russell oddity:

Russell was redshirted during the 2003 season, when quarterback Matt Mauck led LSU to the BCS National Championship. source

Did you know the coach, Lane Kiffen, did not even want to draft JaMarcus?

Bad for Kiffin: My sources continue to tell me that Kiffin didn’t want to draft Russell in the first place. Kiffin wanted either Brady Quinn (but not a strong enough arm for Al Davis) or Calvin Johnson (but Al was in love with JR). source

This only gets worse. JaMarcus Russell knows Lane Kiffen does not want him. Russell is just not his style of quarterback.

I’m also told that Russell knows that Kiffin didn’t want him. In fact, you can read a lot of Kiffin’s decision to go with McCown over Culpepper and then stick with him as the subtext of his upcoming Russell relationship.

He doesn’t want the Dazzler QB. He wants a vocal, inspirational, gutty guy who doesn’t make mistakes, though McCown made a couple Sunday. He doesn’t want Culpepper–Davis’ option–and he’s proving that every week.

Man, this is going to get screwed up with not only the fans cheering to bring in a not ready for prime time JaMarcus, but Al Davis cheering right along beside them.

And, yes, it gets worse. If JaMarcus goes in there he has to play behind the Oakland offensive line. Better get used to being hit.

NFL Football Fan Question Do you plan on sitting and waiting for your next massive raise?

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JaMarcus Russell sits on his butt and hits the jackpot

Michael Vick is off to court

The wheeling, the dealing, the backroom negotiations all came to a head on Friday as Michael Vick was very careful not to cop a plea for gambling.

Oh, Michael admitted to conspiracy to kill the dogs that were not up to snuff and Michael agreed that he bankrolled the operation for the Bad Newz Kennels to run the dog fighting operation, but he did not admit to gambling.

You should not be surprised that for the price of his very high priced lawyers, Michael was trading some time in jail for the possibility to once again play in the NFL.

The statement said that when the kennel’s dogs won, the gambling proceeds were generally shared by Vick’s three co-defendants — Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips.

“Vick did not gamble by placing side bets on any of the fights. Vick did not receive any of the proceeds of the purses that were won by Bad Newz Kennels,” the summary said. source

Goodell drops the hammer

While this may be an important tactic that Vick’s lawyers were using, it did not appear to impress Commissioner Roger Goodell at all. It took Goodell about 2 seconds to reach a decision on Michael Vick.

In disciplining Vick, commissioner Roger Goodell said Vick’s admitted conduct was “not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible” and regardless whether he personally placed bets, “your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL player contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player.”

Goodell freed the Falcons to “assert any claims or remedies” to recover $22 million of Vick’s signing bonus from the 10-year, $130 million contract he signed in 2004. source

While this is good to see and well overdue, at least the NFL and Goodell stepped up and have remained consistently tough on any troublemakers in the NFL.

More Troubles for Michael

As if this was bad enough, the Judge in the case still has a lot to say about this episode as well. Michael’s troubles may be far from over.

In the plea agreement, the government committed to recommending a sentence on the low end of the federal sentencing guideline range of a year to 18 months. However, the conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, and the judge is not bound by any recommendation or by the guidelines.

Hudson has a reputation for imposing stiff sentences, according to lawyers who have appeared in his court. The judge will set a sentencing date at Monday’s hearing.

Michael Vick rundown

So we have Michael submitting a plea (plea agreement.pdf).
Michael denying he gambled.
Michael admitting conspiracy.
Michaeal suspended indefinitely by the NFL.
Michael going to jail for 1 year to 18 months for the dog fighting and maybe much longer for the conspiracy.

It is very hard to see Michael Vick ever again playing in the NFL!

NFL Football Fan Question Did this go down the way you thought?

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Post from: EveryJoe

Michael Vick goes bye bye