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grayman · 03-08-2004, 03:49 AM

here's the link for anyone interested, bottom of the page:
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7145465

McNair deal has unprecedented bonus (sort of)
While Peyton Manning's blockbuster contract made huge headlines earlier this week, it turns out he wasn't the only reigning MVP who signed a contract extension with a ludicrous bonus attached to it.

SportsLine.com has learned that one day before Manning's deal, the Tennessee Titans reworked Steve McNair's contract in order to significantly lower his cap number. But in the process, the Titans included an unprecedented clause in his deal that called for a ridiculous $50 million option bonus payment in three years in order to extend his deal for another three seasons. The salaries for those years are at an outlandish $11 million in the first year followed by $13 million and $15 million. With the salaries involved, that three-year total equals $89 million, but he will obviously see none of that money, at least not in that structure.

The reason this was done was to drop McNair's base salary from more than $7 million this year to the league minimum while turning the rest into bonus money. They can then prorate this bonus over the next six years rather than the three he has remaining on his contract.

But what this also means is that in three years, the Titans will have to either let McNair go free in order not to pick up the $50 million option or re-sign him to a reworked extension.

My question concerning this is: Why would McNair agree to this? I know that it helped the Titans get under the cap without decimating their team, but the article basicly says that he has just given up his bonus. There is no way that he will get that money. I would love to think that keeping most of the team intact is more important than the money, but that isn't a theory that gets a lot of support based on players' decisions throughout the league. Even if McNair did feel that way, I can't believe that his agent would agree to this. What does everyone think? Is this an altruistic move by McNair, or just a mistake by him and his agent?

03-08-2004, 03:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
grayman you can't see me Location: Illinois	McNair's New Contract? here's the link for anyone interested, bottom of the page: http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7145465 McNair deal has unprecedented bonus (sort of) While Peyton Manning's blockbuster contract made huge headlines earlier this week, it turns out he wasn't the only reigning MVP who signed a contract extension with a ludicrous bonus attached to it. SportsLine.com has learned that one day before Manning's deal, the Tennessee Titans reworked Steve McNair's contract in order to significantly lower his cap number. But in the process, the Titans included an unprecedented clause in his deal that called for a ridiculous $50 million option bonus payment in three years in order to extend his deal for another three seasons. The salaries for those years are at an outlandish $11 million in the first year followed by $13 million and $15 million. With the salaries involved, that three-year total equals $89 million, but he will obviously see none of that money, at least not in that structure. The reason this was done was to drop McNair's base salary from more than $7 million this year to the league minimum while turning the rest into bonus money. They can then prorate this bonus over the next six years rather than the three he has remaining on his contract. But what this also means is that in three years, the Titans will have to either let McNair go free in order not to pick up the $50 million option or re-sign him to a reworked extension. My question concerning this is: Why would McNair agree to this? I know that it helped the Titans get under the cap without decimating their team, but the article basicly says that he has just given up his bonus. There is no way that he will get that money. I would love to think that keeping most of the team intact is more important than the money, but that isn't a theory that gets a lot of support based on players' decisions throughout the league. Even if McNair did feel that way, I can't believe that his agent would agree to this. What does everyone think? Is this an altruistic move by McNair, or just a mistake by him and his agent? __________________ That's right - I'm a guy in a suit eating a Blizzard. F U.