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Vick signs 10 year $130M contract.

LoKyBuckeye

I give up. This board is too hard to understand.
Vick agrees to 10-year deal worth $130 million
By GEORGE HENRY, Associated Press Writer
December 23, 2004

LOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -- Michael Vick became the richest player in the NFL by agreeing to call Atlanta home for the next decade.

The Falcons' star quarterback signed a 10-year, $130 million contract extension Thursday that guarantees him an NFL-record $37 million in bonuses.

``You know, making a commitment says a lot, not just to me, but to our team,'' Vick said with a smile. ``It means a lot to me.''

Vick's contract surpasses the $98 million deal Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning signed in March -- although Manning's contract is for seven years. Manning was guaranteed $34.5 million in bonuses.

Falcons general manager Rich McKay and Vick's agent, Joel Segal, began negotiations more than two months ago. They reached an agreement in principle Monday afternoon.

Vick signed the deal 20 minutes before an afternoon news conference to announce the extension.

``A lot of guys come into the league, they bounce around and never really find a home,'' Vick said. ``But I'm very excited to know that I'll be here and have an opportunity to bring a Super Bowl to this city.''

The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2001, Vick has a 24-12-1 career record. He is 14-4 since returning from a broken ankle last year, and this season led the Falcons to just the third division title in franchise history.

Atlanta earned a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs following the win over Carolina and Green Bay's loss to Jacksonville. The Falcons (11-3) visit New Orleans on Sunday, but Vick missed his second straight practice Thursday after injuring his left (throwing) shoulder in last week's overtime win over Carolina.

Rookie Matt Schaub hasn't been told he will start against the Saints, but the third-round pick from Virginia is prepared to do so. If he does play, Schaub won't try to play like Vick, who leads the NFL with 7.6 yards per carry.

Schaub, like many of his teammates, considers Vick a freak of nature.

``Yeah, pretty much,'' Schaub said. ``I always thought he was, watching him on TV, but seeing it up close every day is something else.''

Vick, chosen Wednesday to his second Pro Bowl, needs 80 yards to break the single-season record for rushing by a quarterback, set by Chicago's Bobby Douglass in 1972.

In a Week 8 victory at Denver, Vick became the first player in league history to rush for 100 yards and pass for 250 in a game.

``I'll share with you a comment I made to Michael and his agent over the summer,'' Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. ``I think Michael kind of flinched when I said. 'You understand that the only way you'll leave Atlanta will be in a box.' And I said, 'Coming from New York, you understand what I'm talking about.' ``

According to a league official who requested anonymity, both parties faced a Dec. 31 deadline in which Vick had reached incentives that allowed him to void the 2005 and '06 seasons of the six-year, $62 million contract he signed in 2001.

The Falcons had the option of buying back both years to prevent Vick from becoming an unrestricted free agent March 2, but that choice would have charged them a combined $17.25 million against the NFL salary caps of '05 and '06.

By signing Vick to an extension before Dec. 31, Atlanta created approximately $2 million in cap savings next year and $1 million the following season.

``That was the only time barrier that was there,'' McKay said. ``Because once we exercised that option, we'd eaten up all this year's room, so we can't do a new deal until next year.''

Updated on Thursday, Dec 23, 2004 7:14 pm EST
 
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Am I alone in thinking that Vick is one of the most overrated players in the NFL? Sure he is athletic and fun to watch, but as a QB, to me, he is barely above average. He makes some aweful decisions, and his accuracy is mediocre at best. He seems more like a RB playing QB to me.
 
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I'm not sure if he's overrated or not.... he made the playoff two years ago, last year when he was hurt the Falcons were awful, he is heathly this year and they are back in the playoffs. He doesn't put up huge numbers but he wins and he makes things happen. He'll grow out of the bad decision making..... if he get a playmaker WR then the league better watch out. I'm not a big fan of him... in fact I'm a little sick and tired of him but I think he is the real deal.
 
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It is obvious the Falcons are a completely different team without him. As they showed today, and showed last year. He is an amazing player and a great leader and just goes all out. You don't need to have the best numbers to be great for your team and worth a lot to that team. Craig Krenzel ring a bell here?
 
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NFBuck said:
Am I alone in thinking that Vick is one of the most overrated players in the NFL? Sure he is athletic and fun to watch, but as a QB, to me, he is barely above average. He makes some aweful decisions, and his accuracy is mediocre at best. He seems more like a RB playing QB to me.
I totally agree with you.

We had a thread about most overrated player on the Pro Football Board awhile back and he was my first choice.

Other people disagreed and gacve good reasons but I still think he's had more hype than any other player in the history of the league.
 
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Regardless of his current worth to the second best team in the NFC( kinda like being the tallest midget) they will regret this contract down the road.

10 years is forever in the NFL and QB's who make their living by running don't have the best odds for a long healthy career. He's already missed one year from a leg injury, what happens when those start to mount and the incredible athleticisim we see now starts to fade? If they can break down Earl Campbell and Bo Jackson they can break down Mike Vick.

I don't think the Falcons had much choice or bargining power, but imo they will be sucking on this one for the last 3-4 years of that 10 years, at BEST.
 
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key element to keep in mind with football contracts... they are unlike baseball and basketball by far... most of the time, once the team cuts the player, the remainder of the contract is worthless... and also they are backloaded... (balances out the upfront bonus money)

granted Vick has $37M in guaranteed money... but the contract probably pays him $4-6M a year for the next 5 years... then it probably really escalates... this way only 10% of the guaranteed money (10 yr contract) plus the annual salary... goes against the cap... so if he turns into a dog, the team won't have to eat all the remainder of the contract.. altho he probably has a buy out clause in there too...

Falcons probably figure he has a good 5-6 years left... and he'll average about $10M a year.. so with salary inflation... plus not having to worry about losing him which they would if he hit the market... they're probably happy too...

Hell, we were paying $8M for Couch !!!!
 
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Am I alone in thinking that Vick is one of the most overrated players in the NFL?

Nope.

I think he can be very good... I just don't think he is... I'd say the enxt two years and we'll knw whether this was a good idea or not... I thought Peyton Manning's last extension was stupid.. Oops.
 
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He's good and could be great, if he continues to improve. The contract was simply because the franchise could not afford to let him get away and when you pay Keith BROOKING $41M, you've got to put some money up for Vick. IMHO, he's one step away from a Bo Jackson-type of injury.
 
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