Category: NFL (Page 445 of 1282)

Sam Bradford to command $50 million guaranteed?

An ESPN.com report by Adam Schefter says that Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford will command in the range of $50 million in guaranteed money when he signs as the No. 1 overall pick in next week’s draft.

The contract for the No. 1 overall pick will likely be staggering. Bradford’s contract is expected to pay him an average of $13 million a season with roughly $50 million in guaranteed money. These figures are based on the past two drafts, when Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford were the first quarterbacks picked.

Two years ago, the Falcons’ Ryan received $34 million in guaranteed money on a deal that averages $11 million a season. Stafford, who was picked No. 1 last season by the Lions, received $42 million in guaranteed money on his deal, which averages $12 million a season.

It’s no secret that the rookie salary structure is completely ludicrous in the NFL and it’s something that the league will eventually have to change or else it’ll keep getting worse. A player that has never once stepped on the field should never command more money than anyone on the team’s current roster. It just doesn’t make any sense.

That said, Bradford might as well cash in when he can. If the owners and player’s union come together on a new CBA deal for next season, one of the items that might be changed is the salary structure for rookies. Commissioner Roger Goodell is on record saying that the league could make a change, but he’s going to need the approval of the player’s union first, which could prove to be a high hurdle to jump.

Report: Albert Haynesworth looking to be traded during draft

According to a report by the Washington Post, Albert Haynesworth is planning to skip the Redskins’ voluntary minicamp this weekend and will only report to mandatory minicamp in June.

But here’s the kicker: Haynesworth is also upset about the team’s plan to use him as a nose tackle in their new 3-4 defensive alignment and is hoping to be traded during the draft next week.

Haynesworth is frustrated about the Redskins’ plans to use him as a nose tackle in their new 3-4 defense, and the eight-year veteran hopes to be traded during the three-day draft that begins next Thursday. On Saturday, General Manager Bruce Allen said he was not disappointed about Haynesworth doing his own thing because “it’s voluntary.”

As the article notes, owner Daniel Snyder shelled out a record $100 million contract that included a then-record $41 million in guaranteed money when he signed Haynesworth last offseason. One would think that the least Haynesworth could do is be a leader and show up to the team’s first organized workout, whether the camp is voluntary or not.

But that’s the day and age we live in. Even though a player is making a ridiculous amount of money, he feels as though he’s bigger than the team. Don’t want to play in a specific scheme? No problem, just bitch about it and don’t show up. Instead of embracing his new role or at the very least, showing up so that his coaches can walk him through their plans for utilizing him, Hanyesworth would rather be traded.

Hopefully he rots in Washington. He followed the dollar signs there last offseason, so he should have to honor his commitment and play hard. But chances are, the Redskins will never see a good return on their investment and Haynesworth will wind up being yet another bad signing in a long history of bad signings by Snyder.


Photo from fOTOGLIF

Morgan a lock at No. 12 to the Dolphins?

According to Dolphins beat writer Edgar Thompson of the Palm Beach Post, Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan will “100 percent” be Miami’s pick at No. 12 in next week’s draft if he’s available.

Many draft pundits speculated that the Dolphins would select Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant at No. 12 before the team acquired Brandon Marshall from the Broncos earlier this week. But with their need at receiver filled, the Fins can now concentrate on adding a pure pass rusher.

After racking up 19.5 sacks (including 12.5 last season) while playing at Georgia Tech the past three years, Morgan is highly regarded as the best pass rusher in this year’s draft. While he lacks pure athleticism, speed and overall quickness, he exhibits good instincts, awareness, and has a non-stop motor. He was highly productive in college and has an outstanding work ethic, which is probably why Bill Parcells and the Dolphins are drawn to him.

Unless the Seahawks select him at No. 6 or the Jaguars target him at No. 10, Morgan should be on the board when the Dolphins pick at No. 12.

With help from Gatorade, Eli, and LT, TSR spends a day in the life of an athlete

“Do you guys want to play Foosball?”

“Sure, sounds cool.”

“All right, it’ll be LT and me versus you two.”

There I was, in a trendy New York City building in SoHo, lined up across from a sure-fire, first-ballot Hall of Famer ready to play Foosball. While I tried to remember the last time I played the table game, flashbulbs started to go off around me as the ball was dropped into play.

This is going to be an interesting night, I thought to myself.

After years of it only being available to college and pro athletes, the sports nutrition leader Gatorade is set to release “G Series Pro” to the public. The beverage line, which is designed to help elite athletes perform at their top level before, during and after practice or competition, will be available at GNC stores nationwide starting on May 1.

To help launch the new “G Series Pro” product line, Gatorade held a get together in Manhattan on April 13. Along with an exclusive group of media members, in attendance that night were Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning, Jets’ running back LaDainian Tomlinson, as well LT’s new teammates, offensive lineman D’Brickashaw Ferguson and receiver Jerrico Cotchery.

“What are you doing, man?” I barked at my Foosball teammate Kyle (another member from the media) after he allowed Tomlinson to score two quick goals to send us to an early 2-0 deficit. “You’re killing us with your play!”

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