APLast year, first overall draft pick Sam Bradford got a six-year, $78 million contract with $50 million guaranteed. This year, first overall draft pick Cam Newton is getting a whole lot less.
Newton and the Carolina Panthers have agreed to a four-year, $22 million deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The contract is fully guaranteed, but still: The difference between the old rookie pay scale and the new rookie pay scale means a difference of tens of millions of dollars to Newton’s bottom line.
And although Newton can’t be happy about it, that’s a good thing: The new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and the owners divvies up the salaries differently so that the veterans who have proven themselves get a bigger slice of the pie than the unproven rookies. That’s completely fair.
If Newton turns out to be the great player the Panthers hope he is, his next contract will be enormous, and he’ll have earned every penny of that.
If Newton turns out to be a bust, he’ll still have earned enough money that if he’s smart about it, it will last him several lifetimes. But he won’t be nearly as expensive as busts of the recent past have been. That’s good for the Panthers and good for the NFL.
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I can get used to this!
This is the Eagles Nnamdi news channel hour. No Cam crap.
I’d be happy about $22M.
that’s cheap, Panthers are rollin right now
I’ve said it many many times…still way too much for an unproven rookie. Especially when it’s fully guaranteed.
This is one of the best NFL changes in years. So glad to see this.
The rookie payscale was almost worth the lockout. Almost.
How fair is it for a rookie that puts up the #’s like Randy Moss, AP, Percy Harvin, Sanchez put up their rookie years. Look at Chris Johnson having to hold out for being underpaid. They needed to have a clause put in if the rookie puts up #’s better than any other player in the league they get more $.
I’m loving the new rookie wage scale! Go Steelers!
further proof that Andrew Luck is one smart kid…
As i am sorta excited about Nnamdi. I am also really happy to see that only 22 mill for the number one pick.
That will make the league a better place !
It’ll be interesting to see how this influences future draft picks. Teams with mid-high first round picks may be more willing to gamble on certain players because there isn’t as much money involved.
I still think Carolina made a big mistake taking Newton first overall, but at least it’s only a $22M mistake and won’t cripple the team for years to come when he turns out to be a thoroughly mediocre NFL QB.
Out of the league in 4 years.
Super Bowl bound!!!!
Time to go to work. The contract was a far gone conclusion and I guess it’s best for the league. Now let’s go!
The #1 overall pick is actually worth something now
The lack of drama with the rookie contracts this year is a very nice change.
Basically waited to see what the 2nd and third overall picks would/could get….works for me.
I love this new rookie wage scale.
Yeah buddy. I’ve had a complete 180 about Cam Newton. Pissed that they were drafting him, then he showed this attitude, this work ethic, the keeping the team together mojo that I can’t help buy like. Now at least if he sucks it’s not a JaMarcus Russell mistake.
“If Newton turns out to be a bust, he’ll still have earned enough money that if he’s smart about it, it will last him several lifetimes. ”
I bet he’s already talking to Soulja Boy’s plane salesman.
You know, this will blow up the trade chart now. Not so bad to have the number 1 pick when you know you don’t have to finance the future to get them under contract. So as the curve was going the other way, teams not wanting to give up as much to move up as before, now it should swing back the other way where you could really load up on picks to drop down. Interesting. We’ll see what the Bengals get offered next year.
Why do you say “__________ agrees” ? …. I’m sure they want $75 million guaranteed….it’s a WAGE SCALE
AWESOME movie – ‘Cowboys and Aliens’
Should have stayed at Auburn.
One of these days they are going to be talking about REAL money. All of these jerks making more than half a million are grossly overpaid.
Look at all you Raiders/Cowgirls/Deadskin fans hating on Carolina.
Just cause your team can’t draft talent and overpay for ineffective veterans doesn’t mean all teams work the same way. We actually have a smart front office that know how to draft and develop players.
He is not happy. He was making more per year at Auburn.
sfimam says: Jul 29, 2011 7:39 PM
Look at all you Raiders/Cowgirls/Deadskin fans hating on Carolina.
Just cause your team can’t draft talent and overpay for ineffective veterans doesn’t mean all teams work the same way. We actually have a smart front office that know how to draft and develop players.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Like Jimmy Clausen? The savior of your franchise last year. Or insert name here, the savior of your franchise next year after Scam fails this year
$56 million less than Bradford … Based upon how they’ll perform in this league, that actually sounds about right.
I doubt he’ll be a bust. Everyone always says the same thing about the first pick going to a QB. I think Newton has what he needs to prove them wrong.
“The new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and the owners divvies up the salaries differently so that the veterans who have proven themselves get a bigger slice of the pie than the unproven rookies. That’s completely fair.”
Kevin Kolb agrees whole-heartedly
sfimam says: Jul 29, 2011 7:39 PM
Look at all you Raiders/Cowgirls/Deadskin fans hating on Carolina.
Just cause your team can’t draft talent and overpay for ineffective veterans doesn’t mean all teams work the same way. We actually have a smart front office that know how to draft and develop players.
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Giving Jake Delhomme that huge contract after having one of the worst games a QB has ever had with that Arizona debacle kind of negates your argument.
That was the textbook definition of overpaying for an ineffective veteran. That or maybe one of Dan Snyder’s many blunders.
I don’t know what level Cam Newton will reach, I don’t think he’ll be another JaWalrus Russell.