Last year, Eagles quarterback Mike Vick signed a $100 million contract. Last week, Saints quarterback Drew Brees signed a $100 million contract.
And that’s where the similarities end.
Vick signed a six-year, $100 million deal. Brees’ covers five years. Thus, even if Vick were to earn every penny, his average is $16.67 million. Brees’ deal averages $20 million annually.
We already know Vick won’t earn every penny. With the last year at $20 million voiding if he takes at least 35 percent of the snaps in any given season, it’s already a five-year, $80 million contract — maximum, dropping the average to $16 million.
Also, Vick made $20 million in 2011. Brees will make $40 million in 2012.
Then there’s the fact that Brees’ contact contains at the back end triggers that force the Saints to make a decision early in the offseason. With more than half of his salaries guaranteed in 2015 and 2016 if the team doesn’t cut him three days after the Super Bowl, Brees will either know he’s getting his $19 million in 2015 or $20 million in 2016, or he’ll get a crack at free agency weeks before free agency even starts.
So Brees got the much better deal. Which makes sense, since in all fairness he’s a much better player.