News: FoxSports: Behind the scenes of an epic day of NFL spending (Dez, Demaryius, and Justin Houston)

[WoodysGirl]

With the rest of the sports world seemingly on hold for a brief summer vacation, the NFL took center stage on a Wednesday afternoon in July with an interesting few hours and a flurry of action and contract negotiations.

Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, and Justin Houston were the three headline names, but the machinations behind the scenes -- all three negotiation processes rolled out and done in unique ways -- could be worth some day-after analysis, as well.

Whereas information from both Bryant's and Thomas's situations were at times played out publicly (or, at the very least, on Twitter through threats and real-time updates), Justin Houston's mega-deal with the Kansas City Chiefs was done in relative secrecy, catching much of the football world by surprise on Wednesday.

Perhaps not enough was made of just how monster a deal it was. Houston, a former 70th overall pick, is now the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history. History. His six-year, $101 million contract is second to only Ndamukong Suh's in terms of defensive players.


Read the rest: http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...in-houston-contracts-behind-the-scenes-071615

 

[DallasEast]

On Tuesday, sources notified FOX Sports that the NFLPA was in line to pursue collusion charges against the Cowboys and Broncos if long-term deals were not hammered out for Bryant and Thomas before Wednesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline. Formal letters were sent to both teams on Monday and I'm told the NFLPA was more than just willing to go down this road, but also quite prepared to do so.

it's funny. Evidence of collusion was so "damning" that the NFLPA was determined to legally rock the worlds of both franchises UNLESS both of its members received favorable contracts. It kinda reminds me of the old criminal protection racket...

"Look Vinny. You have a nice store. Pay us and you can keep your store nice. Don't pay us and your store won't look so nice anymore, caPEESH?"

 

[big dog cowboy]

Justin Houston's mega-deal with the Kansas City Chiefs was done in relative secrecy, catching much of the football world by surprise on Wednesday.

Perhaps not enough was made of just how monster a deal it was. Houston, a former 70th overall pick, is now the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history. History. His six-year, $101 million contract is second to only Ndamukong Suh's in terms of defensive players.

Yep he gets paid more than JJ Watt now.