There's a fairly widespread belief in league circles that the best place to get a high-end running back is at the bottom of the first round of the draft. The player can be tied up for five years (at the top of round two it drops to four), and he's paid a relatively low amount, under the slotting process.
Then, if he becomes a star, the team can use the franchise tag for year six. For year seven, the player likely won't have enough left in the tank to justify a huge-money long-term deal.
The Cardinals, intentionally or not, have taken advantage of that reality with the 31st pick in round one.
A league source tells us that the contract signed by running back Beanie Wells carries a base value of only $9 million over five years. That's an average investment of $1.8 million per year for a guy who could become just what the Cardinals have needed at the tailback position.
The deal has a maximum package of $11.8 million, and guaranteed money (after the option bonus is exercised) of $6.345 million. The signing bonus will be $2 million.
So while Wells won't go hungry, he might soon find himself a member of the Anquan Boldin unhappy camper club, if Beanie becomes a star.
Five years (maybe six) is a long time for a guy to wait at a position where every hit takes a little tread off the tires -- and each hit could be the last one he ever takes.
Beanie gets $9 million deal
Posted by Mike Florio on August 1, 2009 6:47 PM ET
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There is the florio we all know and cant stand. Taking shots at the cardinals again huh sister? Why not say the Cardinals made a great deal for them considering they drafted a running back with a ton of talent but was hurt during his days at Ohio State instead of basically calling them cheap. THINK FLORIO THINK!
We all know that if the Cards had given Benie more than his draft position warranted, Florio would have ripped the Cards for that.
The only part of the NFL draft that needs a rookie scale is the top 15. Pretty much everything after that is fair.
He's not calling the Cardinals cheap; he's making light of a flaw in the rookie signing process and suggesting that the NFL should think about approaching certain positions differently because of the shorter life of their careers. However, he did not mention the performance based bonuses players outplaying their salary receive at the end of the year. (Which Beanie would receive if he reaches "stardom")
Ever hear of a "contract holdout"?
Cards got a seriously good deal here. Beanie is likely to be the best RB out of this draft and one of the top three or four this decade.
Im really not sure why everybody is getting bent at florio about this. The cardinals are not the only team that does this. Its becoming common practice for teams to draft RBs in later rounds for the very reason he specified. you get a RB in the 2nd,3rd or 4th round even later and you get him for cheap, by his 2nd year he becomes a vital part of the offense. This is not the cardinals being cheap, they are just using good business sense.
Cards got a seriously good deal here. Beanie is likely to be the best RB out of this draft and one of the top three or four this decade.
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I'm a Cards fan through and through, but even I can tell you that is flat out wrong. So, so, so wrong.
Hey steeler, the reason people have a problem with Florio is 1. his analogy is nothing new. 2. he would have never made this analogy if Donald Brown had signed first instead of Bean Bag. Everyone who reads this site know that Florio reports on the Cards in a certain tone to either get the Cards fans riled up or because Micahel Bidwill owes him money. Everyone knows his lame shots at the Cardinal organization are getting old.
MaineMan said-Cards got a seriously good deal here. Beanie is likely to be the best RB out of this draft and one of the top three or four this decade.
I agree. I think Wells and Moreno will be studs. However, IMO, Donald Brown will be the back this draft is remembered for.
Beanie will be a decent RB, but I figure his style to be awfully similiar to an aged Edgerrin James combined with Marion Barber's stiff arm.
Not many big plays, but keeps the chains moving.
Card's passing attack will compensate for that, so in a sense, this was an excellent deal for the Cardinals, as long as Beanie stays somewhat healthy, giving them 10-11 games at 100% at least.
Donald Brown has something most rookies don't, Patience. Watch for him to be the stud of a la Matt Forte.