ARTICLE: All absurd contract teams - Zach Thomas mention

[WoodysGirl]

Closer look at latest staggering NFL contracts

Since Thursday turned to Friday, contract after eye-popping NFL contract has been handed to free agents. The numbers have been staggering especially since this free agent class is pretty pedestrian.

To get a better handle on how these numbers look in practical terms, I took 23 high-profile players who’ve switched teams and signed new deals since Friday.

I added their contract values and the combined lengths of the contracts and divided them to figure out the average deal handed out since Friday – 5 years, $25.7 million or an average of $5.185 million per year. Taking it a step further, I multiplied that average and got a combined yearly cost for these 23 OK to good players would be $119.255 million. That’s $3 million over the salary cap and it’s 30 players short of the roster limit.

(Note: Since no offensive tackles have been signed I put a pair of defensive tackles on the list. Also, Zach Thomas was signed by Dallas before free agency began but contract numbers for other linebackers were not available).

Player Position Team Contract

OFFENSE
• Josh McCown QB Miami Dolphins 2 years, $6.25 million
• Alge Crumpler TE Tennessee Titans 2 years, $5.25 million
• Bernard Berrian WR Minnesota Vikings 6 years, $42 million
• Ernest Wilford WR Miami Dolphins 4 years, $13 million
• Jerry Porter WR Jacksonville Jaguars 3 years, $15 million
• Michael Turner RB Atlanta Falcons 6 years, $34.5 million
• Alan Faneca G New York Jets 5 years, $40 million
• Justin Smiley G Miami Dolphins 5 years, $25 million
• Jeff Faine C Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 years, $37.5 million
• * Spencer Johnson T Buffalo Bills 5 years, $17.5 million
• * Randy Starks T Miami Dolphins 5 years, $21 million

DEFENSE
• Corey Williams DT Cleveland Browns 6 years, $38 million
• Marcus Stroud DT Buffalo Bills 5 years, $31.5 million
• Bobby McCray DE New Orleans Saints 5 years, $20 million
• Justin Smith DE San Francisco 49ers 6 years, $45 million
• Demorrio Williams LB Kansas City Chiefs 5 years, $15 million
• Kawika Mitchell LB Buffalo Bills 5 years, $17.5 million
• * Zach Thomas LB Dallas Cowboys 4 years, $19 million
• Drayton Florence CB Jacksonville Jaguars 6 years, $36 million
• Asante Samuel CB Philadelphia Eagles 6 years, $54 million
• Madieu Williams S Minnesota Vikings 6 years, $33 million
• Gibril Wilson S Oakland Raiders 6 years, $39 million

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Josh Brown K St. Louis Rams 5 years, $14.2 million

FACTS AND FIGURES
Combined contract value: $591,200,000
Combined length of contracts: 114 years
Average contract given: $5 years, $25.7 million
Average Cost Per Year on Deals: $5.185 million
Combined Cost Per Year: $119.255 million
Pro Bowlers: Crumpler (4), Faneca (7), Stroud (3), Thomas (7), Samuel (1).

Compiled by Tom Curran, NBCSports.com• Print this
LINK

 

[WoodysGirl]

Shock reverberates

2:15 PM Wed, Mar 05, 2008 | Permalink
Albert Breer E-mail News tips

Every year, the price tag rises on free agents. So seeing a hike in the price of doing NFL business is hardly a shock.

But this is different. And yesterday's six-year, $55 million accord that brought Javon Walker to Oakland was the coup de grace of these laugher contracts. There are $27 million in the first three years of the deal. Which means the first half of Walker's contract is equal to all of what Randy Moss got from New England.

"Absolutely amazing," is the way one league insider put to me. The other NFL types I've talk to since last night are similarly stunned, and that's after most were surprised by what happened over the first few weeks of free agency.

Bottom line, most people think this market's out of whack. Way out of whack. I tend to think they're right. Know who agrees? The NFL elite, that's who.

While some of you may groan and moan by the resounding silence coming out of Valley Ranch, I think a look around the league at who else has been inactive would serve you well.

Some of the teams I found to be quiet? The Patriots. The Giants. The Colts. The Chargers. The Seahawks. And yes, the Cowboys. In others words, all six teams that made the playoffs in each of the last two years.

Part of it is they don't have holes to fill like other teams do. But another aspect is that they probably realize the insanity of the money being thrown around. My guess is that when the smoke clears on all this, they'll look smarter for it.

The fact is this wasn't exactly a bumper crop to begin with. More cap room meant more teams could re-sign their own guys, and more clubs had the space to slap the franchise tag on the very high level free agents. That depleted the market, and those desperate to spend have done so irrationally.

So you guys have it, here's the Top 25 remaining unrestricted free agents, according to Scouts Inc.'s rankings over at ESPN.com (Insider subscription required for grades):

1. Steelers OT Max Starks (Grade: 72)*
t-2. Bengals LB Landon Johnson (71)
t-2. Jaguars OT Maurice Williams (71)
t-4. 49ers G Larry Allen (70)
t-4. Patriots OLB Rosevelt Colvin (70)
t-4. Seahawks WR D.J. Hackett (70)
t-4. Steelers LB Clark Haggans (70)
t-4. Panthers LB Dan Morgan (70)
t-9. Rams LB Brandon Chillar (69)
t-9. Cardinals WR Bryant Johnson (69)
t-9. Saints TE Eric Johnson (69)
t-9. Raiders C Jeremy Newberry (69)
t-13. Dolphins C Rex Hadnot (68)
t-13. Colts G Jake Scott (68)
t-15. Browns G Lennie Friedman (67)
t-15. Cowboys RB Julius Jones (67)
t-15. Jaguars G Chris Naeole (67)
t-18. Jets CB Andre Dyson (66)
t-18. Broncos K Jason Elam (66)
t-20. Lions RB Tatum Bell (65)
t-20. Lions CB Fernando Bryant (65)
t-20. Eagles DE Jevon Kearse (65)
t-20. Buccaneers CB Brian Kelly (65)
t-20. Bills DT Larry Triplett (65)
t-20. 49ers DT Bryant Young (65)

* -- Transition tag

 

[Wimbo]

Wow. Did Breer really post "for fee" ESPN info on his blog?

 

[WoodysGirl]

Wow. Did Breer really post "for fee" ESPN info on his blog?

The list of free agents are free. The ESPN scouting grades are not.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

that is incrediable money--wow

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The list of free agents are free. The ESPN scouting grades are not.

Aren't those the grades to the right of the name, though?

Anyway, some of this is bogus. Zach basically signed a one or two year deal. That last year was heavily inflated.

 

[Stash]

t-18. Jets CB Andre Dyson (66)

Given the insane amount of money still floating around, and Dyson's ranking as one of the few decent cornerbacks left, I'm sure he'll be priced out of the Cowboys' range.

Looks like it's Draft City fellas!

 

[gollum]

* Spencer Johnson T Buffalo Bills 5 years, $17.5 million
• * Randy Starks T Miami Dolphins 5 years, $21 million


Obviously, the original moron from NBC doesn't know the difference between Offensive and Defensive Tackle.

This article must have gone to "print" before the Javon Walker signing, but Miami is being ridiculed for absurd spending. We all know that Oakland definitely belongs in the bozo category between Gerbel, Javon, and Tommy Kelly signings.

 

[Skinsmaniac]

* Spencer Johnson T Buffalo Bills 5 years, $17.5 million
• * Randy Starks T Miami Dolphins 5 years, $21 million


Obviously, the original moron from NBC doesn't know the difference between Offensive and Defensive Tackle.

This article must have gone to "print" before the Javon Walker signing, but Miami is being ridiculed for absurd spending. We all know that Oakland definitely belongs in the bozo category between Gerbel, Javon, and Tommy Kelly signings.

I noticed that as well but if you read the article he says that he put the DTs under offense because no OTs have been signed yet.

 

[CarlAllDay]

whats intersting to me is that we probably could've gave less money to max starks from pittsburgh who's younger than re-signing flozell.

dont get me wrong im happy that we resigned him but just a thought where we could've saved a few more dollars and probably locked up deals with mb3 or hamlin.

we really did give flozell alot of money especially at 33 years old.

im just a little nervous because i still cant forget about the larry allen contract and oh god marco rivera.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Aren't those the grades to the right of the name, though?

Anyway, some of this is bogus. Zach basically signed a one or two year deal. That last year was heavily inflated.

Maybe I wasn't clear. I do that sometimes. The FA list with their scouting grades is free , the "expert's take" isn't.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

My God the Raiders are incredibly stoopid.

 

[AdamJT13]

It's pretty dumb to use a simple total average value instead of looking at how the contract actually is structured.

Suppose we would have signed Javon Walker to a two-year contract, with the first year nothing but a $1 million base salary and the second year with a $10 million base salary and $11 million roster bonus. As a simple average, it's $11 million per year -- a horrible contract! But in reality, it's nothing but a one-year contract for $1 million, a great contract.

Zach Thomas' contract is pretty much the same thing. In reality, it's nothing but a one-year deal for $2 million, with another $1 million available in incentives.

 

[Juke99]

It's pretty dumb to use a simple total average value instead of looking at how the contract actually is structured.

Suppose we would have signed Javon Walker to a two-year contract, with the first year nothing but a $1 million base salary and the second year with a $10 million base salary and $11 million roster bonus. As a simple average, it's $11 million per year -- a horrible contract! But in reality, it's nothing but a one-year contract for $1 million, a great contract.

Zach Thomas' contract is pretty much the same thing. In reality, it's nothing but a one-year deal for $2 million, with another $1 million available in incentives.

On the nosey.

Thomas' contract is a very good deal.

I am seeing it as being similar to the early 70's Cowboys bringing in the likes of Ditka, Alworth, Adderly, Gregg, Caffey...some veteran leadership. It worked back then. Let's hope it does again now.

 

[5Stars]

On the nosey.

Thomas' contract is a very good deal.

I am seeing it as being similar to the early 70's Cowboys bringing in the likes of Ditka, Alworth, Adderly, Gregg, Caffey...some veteran leadership. It worked back then. Let's hope it does again now.

Not only that, but Zach does not need money...he wants to play football.

 

[TheKey]

I think the Wilford contract is reasonable, I like him. At that price I think Crumpler is a bargain.