It's called negotiating. What would you expect Jerry/Stephen to do? Start off offering $33 million? You have to leave room to go up in your offers. I suspect CeeDee's agent was asking for like $36 million to start, or less but a 5 or 6 year contract length, etc.
You offer less than you'll give, demand more than you'll take. And end up somewhere in the middle. That's the way it works, usually.
I still remember the first large injury case I handled as a young insurance adjuster. Supervisor gave me $20K to try to settle a case. Finally settled with the lawyer for $18k. When the attorney showed up for the check, he asked what my top offer would have been, and I told him about the $20K, and he chuckled and said his bottom figure was $17K, so I "won" the battle, saved $2K and he only got $1K over his lowest acceptable figure.
Then there's contract length, guaranteed money, voidable years (if any) etc.
Would like to have seen it get done a week or two ago so as to get CeeDee in camp for some reps, but as long as he's signed before the season, I'm happy.
He got what he deserved, is less than he would have gotten if Jerry had waited until his contract expired, has two weeks to get in more football shape and gets him signed until he's 29, before he gets to the dreaded 30 mark, where lots of players' performance starts to drop off.
Glad it's done....
