WP:Bailey's Contract

[sportscurmudgeon]

Please notice that the deal that Champ is trying to get from Denver is a six year deal. The Skins offer was originally a nine year deal and then came down to eight. The length of the deal was a major sticking point in the entire negotiation with the Skins.

Also, please notice that they are talking about a signing bonus of $16M. (Actually, I heard it would be $15.5M but at that level what the hell is another half-million among friends?) The Washington offer was for $13M at first and then $14M.

People here were angry that Champ did not take the Skins offer and some said he would never get anything more than that on the open market. At the moment - and all the bidding isn't quite done - he will be at least $1.5M higher in signing bonus and will make about $50M over 6 years instead of $58M over 9 years.

Of course, he'll never see the last years of the deal in Denver just as he would not have ever seen the years at the end of the deal the skins offered. The important advantage to Champ about the Denver offer is more money in the bank immediately and a shorter time until his cap number becomes a burden and he can renegotiate for another hefty signing bonus.

That's today's NFL Economics 101 from the Pro Bowlers perspective...