LB James Harrison agrees to contract (20m guaranteed)

[50cent]

Steelers linebacker James Harrison cashed in on his incredible 2008 season by agreeing to a new contract that is worth $51.175 million over the next six seasons, according to a source.

Harrison was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year last season and had a 100-yard interception return before the half in the Steelers Super Bowl victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He was scheduled to make $1.4 million this season, the final year of his contract.

Included in the contract is about $20 million in bonuses, the source said.

Harrison rose from being an undrafted player cut a few times into one of the best defensive players in football. He's only been a starter for the past two years. The 30-year-old Harrison had 16 sacks in 15 regular-season games last year and he had eight-and-a-half sacks in 2007. He took over the starting job after the departure of Joey Porter after the 2006 season.

The contract extension for Harrison was considered one of the main goals for the Steelers during the offseason. The team wanted to reward him for last season along with preventing him from hitting the free agent market in 2010. Harrison had 199 tackles during his two seasons as a starter.

He played his college ball at Kent State University, which also produced Hall of Fame Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Ware's new deal $51.180 million

 

[DallasEast]

Hey, Jerry Jones.

Open wallet and say, "AHHHHH ****!!!" :laugh2:

 

[jterrell]

Ware's new deal $51.180 million

Even at 60 mil he'll be a good deal and a lot better than some fantasy 100 mil deal.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Steelers linebacker James Harrison cashed in on his incredible 2008 season by agreeing to a new contract that is worth $51.175 million over the next six seasons, according to a source.

Harrison was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year last season and had a 100-yard interception return before the half in the Steelers Super Bowl victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He was scheduled to make $1.4 million this season, the final year of his contract.

Included in the contract is about $20 million in bonuses, the source said.

Harrison rose from being an undrafted player cut a few times into one of the best defensive players in football. He's only been a starter for the past two years.

In case anyone wonders why athletes use performance enhancing drugs...

 

[FLCowboyFan]

I was thinking this was Marvin!

 

[DallasEast]

In case anyone wonders why athletes use performance enhancing drugs...

Financially, it's an early jackpot, but healthwise, it's a potential disaster in the making well-before it's time to cash in those chips.

 

[Arch Stanton]

Stupid money...........

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

So really is a $20 million dollar guaranteed money contract... 30 years old, not a bad retirement fund.

 

[AdamJT13]

Ware's new deal $51.180 million

I'm guessing Ware will get much closer to Haynesworth money than Harrison money. Harrison is much older and will have a difficult time playing six more seasons.

Ware might get $52 million just in the first four seasons of his contract, with much more after that.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Well at least Jerry and Ware's agent have a some parameters to start with. Ware is younger that Harrison so his contract could be in 75-80 million range, with at least 30+mil guaranteed

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Interesting...I honestly expected it to be higher. I think that we'll see Ware sign for something in between what Harrison got here and what Haynesworth got earlier this offseason. And anywhere in between there I can easily live with (mainly cause I love Ware and I don't care what they give him as long as he stays a Cowboy for his career) with a big smile on my face.

 

[Jed_70]

I'm surprised he got a contract at that length and amount from the Steelers at the age of 30.

They usually let their LBs walk around that 30-32 year old range.

I guess Ware will be getting a little more than that being that he's younger and better.

 

[Future]

There must be some loophole for the Steelers to be able to release him after three or four years without taking much of a cap hit. No way he'll be playing until he's 36.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I'm guessing Ware will get much closer to Haynesworth money than Harrison money. Harrison is much older and will have a difficult time playing six more seasons.

Ware might get $52 million just in the first four seasons of his contract, with much more after that.

I was thinking that this deal actually bodes well for the current negotiations. $9 mil for the DPOY? TO was making more than that.

 

[AbeBeta]

There must be some loophole for the Steelers to be able to release him after three or four years without taking much of a cap hit. No way he'll be playing until he's 36.

it isn't so much a "loophole" as the basic structure of pretty much every big -- most really big ones are structured so that you can cut a guy and break even after 3-4 years.

 

[burmafrd]

Ware should get more money then Haynesworth due to his production and steady improvement. Haynesworth has shown nowhere near what Demarcus has shown.

 

[RamziD]

6 years, $51.75M, $20M+ guaranteed. Per ESPN.

What will Ware get?

6 years, $60M, $28M guaranteed?

Edit: Mods, please delete. Just got home and this was news to me. Didn't see other thread.

 

[Clove]

6 years, $51.75M, $20M+ guaranteed. Per ESPN.

What will Ware get?

6 years, $60M, $28M guaranteed?

Edit: Mods, please delete. Just got home and this was news to me. Didn't see other thread.

The farm.

 

[sonnyboy]

6 years, $51.75M, $20M+ guaranteed. Per ESPN.

What will Ware get?

6 years, $60M, $28M guaranteed?

Edit: Mods, please delete. Just got home and this was news to me. Didn't see other thread.

Just heard this. You have to look at this as a positive.

I was thinking of an 8 year deal in the 80-100 mil dollar range.

Harrison was the Defensive MVP. Why should Ware get more money?