NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Three transcendent players signed new contracts this week. Only one got a truly transcendent deal. And he’s the one who chose to withhold his services.

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who stayed away for all of the 2017 training camp and preseason and held out again this year, has a contract that doesn’t simply nudge the bar higher. It shoves it several levels up.

Here’s the full breakdown of the deal that sets a record that may not soon be broken.

1. Signing bonus: $40 million.

2. 2018 base salary: $892,000, fully guaranteed at signing with no offset.

3. 2019 base salary: $9.108 million, fully guaranteed at signing with no offset.

4. 2020 base salary: $17 million, guaranteed for injury at signing, and fully guaranteed in March of 2019, with no offset.

5. 2021 base salary: $19.892 million, guaranteed for injury at signing, and fully guaranteed in March of 2020, with no offset for $10 million of the total amount.

6. 2022 base salary: $9.25 million, non-guaranteed.

7. 2022 roster bonus: $5 million, due second day of league year.

8. 2023 base salary: $14 million, non-guaranteed.

9. 2023 roster bonus: $5 million, due second day of league year.

10. 2024 base salary: $16.75 million, non-guaranteed.

11. 2024 roster bonus: $5 million, due second day of league year.

Now for a little analysis and some extra facts.

First, the $40 million signing bonus is more than any non-quarterback ever has gotten.

Second, Donald will make $50 million during the first two years of the deal, all of it fully guaranteed at signing, with no offset.

Third, by March 2019, Donald will have $67 million fully guaranteed, with no offset. Given what they’ll be paying him the next two years and the cap hit resulting from cutting him by then, the chances of the Rams cutting him before the next $17 million becomes fully guaranteed as slim and none.

Fourth, by March 2020, Donald will have $86.892 million fully guaranteed, $76.892 million of which will be exempt from offset. Again, given what he’ll make in 2018 and 2019, the chances of the Rams dumping Mack after only two years are remote.

Fifth, the new-money average is $22.5 million, and the total average at signing is $20.2 million.

Sixth, and perhaps most importantly, Donald would have made roughly $40 million over the next three years under the last year of his rookie deal and a pair of franchise tags. He’ll exceed that by $27 million, an amazing feat — especially in light of the position he plays.

 

HEADLINES...

Dolphins trade safety Jordan Lucas to the Chiefs...

Michael Floyd, Hau’oli Kikaha among Saints’ cuts...

49ers announce 12 cuts, including Joe Williams, Aldrick Robinson...

Josh Gordon to practice on Monday...

Report: Browns have interest in trading for Khalil Mack

 

Noteworthy: it's a conditional 2020 seventh rounder, not even 2019. No word yet on what the condition(s) might be.

One reason why the Falcons might have wanted him = special teams help. The Falcons have been doing their best to bolster the return and coverage units this year.

I really don't think they needed the depth at safety, with Damontae Kazee playing like a demon and hybrid safety/linebacker Kemal Ishmael still around. But the special teams units could still use more solid contributors, and I've heard that while Richards was a total flop at safety, he was at least competent on special teams.

Atlanta released bargain rack free agent safety Ron Parker to make room for Richards. Parker was a disaster at safety in preseason and not very good on special teams either. That would make Richards an upgrade.

It's probably worth a conditional 2020 seventh rounder to see if they can turn him around and make something useful of him on defense.

 

Just read that... interesting. Of all the teams rumored to get him, the Bears wernt one of them. Surprise, surprise.

 

I would say that the Bears are definitely giving up the two firsts if they jumped into the mix.

 

Agreed… Raiders are going to cash in on this for sure.

 

Corey Coleman has been released by the Buffalo Bills. If you can't play WR for the Brown or Bills, bag some groceries.

 

Thanks for the draft pick, Buffalo !!!!

 

In a pretty significant surprise, the Minnesota Vikings are releasing defensive end Brian Robison, the longest-tenured member of the roster.

 

hmmm dint someone here say the browns shit the bed when they traded for a lowly 7th round pick? I mean this person insisted they could have got more. Looks like maybe the Browns took the best available offer and actually now got a pick for free.

 

"Somethin for nothin . . . Picks for free" !!!

 

Scarbrough Road...Dallas waives the 'bama pick.

 

Steelers Depot reporting that the Raiders will cut Martavis Bryant as he faces another drug suspension

 

Jerick McKinnon tore his ACL on the last play of practice yesterday.

 

It gets even better . . .

Because they traded for him, they inherited his contract as well. In essence, the Bills gave up a 7th round pick to eat $2M in dead money this year and $1.5M in dead money next year.

 

Just can’t catch a break.

 

I want my, I want my NFL TV