PaCkFan_n_MD
08-03-2008, 04:30 AM
Grant's deal is done; he'll report Sunday
By Tom Silverstein
Saturday, Aug 2 2008, 07:32 PM
Green Bay -- Running back Ryan Grant scored a major victory in his negotiations with the Green Bay Packers, agreeing to terms on a four-year contract loaded with incentives and escalators that could earn him $30 million, his agent Alan Herman told the Journal Sentinel.
"He's very happy," Herman said. "It's been a dream year for him."
The Packers started out offering only a $1.75 million signing bonus, but Herman was able to negotiate a deal that will pay Grant a $3 million roster bonus when he signs the contract and another $1.25 million through base salary ($750,000) and another roster bonus ($500,000).
Thus, Grant will earn $4.25 million this year. Over two years, his take will be $8 million.
Herman said that there are many layers of incentives and escalators that will compensate Grant handsomely if he produces the way he did last year when he rushed for 956 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games.
If Grant rushes for 1,500 yards this year, he will earn another $4 million in 2009, Herman said. If he only rushes for 1,000 yards he would only earn an additional $1 million.
Herman said the base salaries in the contract were set but the incentives and escalators will determine Grant's income each year. He said based on the way Grant plays the next four years, he could earn $30 million or $24 million or $18 million.
He said the four-year deal will allow Grant, 25, to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2011 season.
One of the benefits for the Packers is that all of Grant's earning this year will count against the salary cap right away rather than carry into next season and beyond. The Packers are $30 million under the salary cap and so they have plenty of room to take on Grant's salaries.
Most teams would have made the $3 million roster bonus a signing bonus so that the cap charge could be pro-rated over four years. As a roster bonus, all of it counts this year.
Herman said the two sides spoke on Thursday, but there was no communication on Friday. Then Herman reached negotiator Russ Ball this morning and the two spoke for nearly six hours straight before finalizing the agreement around 6 p.m.
Herman said regardless of whether Grant makes it to the Pro Bowls four straight years or plays a significant amount of time, he's going to make good money on the deal. The Packers had submitted a one-year, $370,000 tender offer that secured their rights to the second-year running back, but Grant refused to sign.
Feeling his situation was unique -- he was on the Giants' practice squad in 2005 and sat out all of 2006 with a non-football releated hand injury -- Grant wanted a multi-year deal that would guarantee he would be compensated well if he played at the same level he did last year.
Grant was acquired for a sixth-round pick from the Giants shortly after he had been informed he had made the team and suddenly found himself in Green Bay the first week of the regular season. He was a backup behind Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn until exploding for 104 yards in the Denver game.
He became the starter after that and rushed for 100 yards five more times, including his 201-yard playoff performance against the Seattle Seahawks. Only San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson had more rushing yards (947) over the season's final 10 weeks.
By Tom Silverstein
Saturday, Aug 2 2008, 07:32 PM
Green Bay -- Running back Ryan Grant scored a major victory in his negotiations with the Green Bay Packers, agreeing to terms on a four-year contract loaded with incentives and escalators that could earn him $30 million, his agent Alan Herman told the Journal Sentinel.
"He's very happy," Herman said. "It's been a dream year for him."
The Packers started out offering only a $1.75 million signing bonus, but Herman was able to negotiate a deal that will pay Grant a $3 million roster bonus when he signs the contract and another $1.25 million through base salary ($750,000) and another roster bonus ($500,000).
Thus, Grant will earn $4.25 million this year. Over two years, his take will be $8 million.
Herman said that there are many layers of incentives and escalators that will compensate Grant handsomely if he produces the way he did last year when he rushed for 956 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games.
If Grant rushes for 1,500 yards this year, he will earn another $4 million in 2009, Herman said. If he only rushes for 1,000 yards he would only earn an additional $1 million.
Herman said the base salaries in the contract were set but the incentives and escalators will determine Grant's income each year. He said based on the way Grant plays the next four years, he could earn $30 million or $24 million or $18 million.
He said the four-year deal will allow Grant, 25, to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2011 season.
One of the benefits for the Packers is that all of Grant's earning this year will count against the salary cap right away rather than carry into next season and beyond. The Packers are $30 million under the salary cap and so they have plenty of room to take on Grant's salaries.
Most teams would have made the $3 million roster bonus a signing bonus so that the cap charge could be pro-rated over four years. As a roster bonus, all of it counts this year.
Herman said the two sides spoke on Thursday, but there was no communication on Friday. Then Herman reached negotiator Russ Ball this morning and the two spoke for nearly six hours straight before finalizing the agreement around 6 p.m.
Herman said regardless of whether Grant makes it to the Pro Bowls four straight years or plays a significant amount of time, he's going to make good money on the deal. The Packers had submitted a one-year, $370,000 tender offer that secured their rights to the second-year running back, but Grant refused to sign.
Feeling his situation was unique -- he was on the Giants' practice squad in 2005 and sat out all of 2006 with a non-football releated hand injury -- Grant wanted a multi-year deal that would guarantee he would be compensated well if he played at the same level he did last year.
Grant was acquired for a sixth-round pick from the Giants shortly after he had been informed he had made the team and suddenly found himself in Green Bay the first week of the regular season. He was a backup behind Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn until exploding for 104 yards in the Denver game.
He became the starter after that and rushed for 100 yards five more times, including his 201-yard playoff performance against the Seattle Seahawks. Only San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson had more rushing yards (947) over the season's final 10 weeks.