Not to be an I-told-you-so, but did I not repeatedly say there was no way the Arizona Cardinals were going to let Larry Fitzgerald get out of town, that too many of you became deluded with this idea the Cowboys could trade for him? So there goes another one of those “rumors” down the drain, Fitzgerald signing a four-year, $40 million deal, with $30 million guaranteed, a $15 million signing bonus, a $5 million roster bonus due in ’09 and $17 million in his pocket for this year. Best part, he’s only 24, meaning when this contract expires he’ll still be only 28, worthy of another big-time deal – and signing bonus – as long as he continues to produce at his current pace and remains healthy. Maybe we’ll be addressing him again then.
You just never know why your next job opportunity might surface. Take Cowboys unrestricted cornerback Nate Jones, visiting the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday. Why are the Vikings interested in this predominant special teams player who has played some dime and subbed into the nickel this past year when either Terence Newman or Anthony Henry were out injured? Well how about this: Jones went to Rutgers when current Vikings special teams coach Paul Ferraro was the defensive coordinator. Good a reason as any.
If the Seattle Seahawks should release running back Shaun Alexander, just two seasons removed from his 2005 NFL MVP performance, rushing for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns, is this more an indictment of Alexander’s declining rushing skills or what the Seahawks think of a less expensive Julius Jones? Because as usual, releasing high-priced veterans just a couple of years into a new contract is expensive. Alexander was given an $11.6 million signing bonus after his MVP season on a five-year deal, meaning the team still must account for $6.9 million in prorated signing bonus. So if he is released this year before June 1, all would accelerate into Seattle’s cap. Can’t do that even if the move would save his $4.77 million base salary. If released after June 1, then the Seahawks are hit for $2.3 this year and a whopping $4.6 million next. Stay tuned here.
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