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POSTED 6:18 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 6:24 p.m. EDT, April 29, 2006
LEINART'S LAST SEASON COST NEARLY $40 MILLION
It's a question we've received from multiple readers while covering every pick from one through 40 in the 2006 draft.
How much did that ballroom dancing class cost USC quarterback Matt Leinart?
If he'd come out in 2005, Matt would have been in line for a deal worth $24 million in guaranteed money alone. As the tenth overall pick a year later, he'll get less. A lot less.
The No. 10 selection in 2005, former Trojan teammate Mike Williams, received a signing bonus of $1 million, a roster bonus of $1.265 million, an option bonus $6.235 million guaranteed by future base salaries, and $2 million in guaranteed base salaries after the execution of the option bonus.
That's $10.5 million in guaranteed money. The difference? $13.5 million.
And that's just the guaranteed money. As the No. 1 overall pick, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith had plenty more in readily attainable incentives jammed into the deal -- a lot more than the No. 10 selection a year later would get. Smith's total package was worth $54 million over six years. The package that Mike Williams received had a maximum value over five years of $13.5 million.
Sure, Leinart will get more than Williams because it's a new year and Matt's a quarterback. But the difference, in the end, will still be in the neighborhood of $40 million.
Wow. $40 million bucks. All because Leinart wanted to be young, have fun, and drink Pepsi for one more year.
And shame on the folks around Matt who didn't urge him to get the hell out of school when his stock could be no higher.
Shame also on coach Pete Carroll. Even if Matt decided to return on his own with no input from Carroll, the head coach should have had a heart-to-heart with the 2004 Heisman winner, urging him to strike while the iron is hot.
At the end of the day, the $40 million that forever has been lost came out of Leinart's pocket -- and we hope that at some point Matt figures it out.
POSTED 6:18 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 6:24 p.m. EDT, April 29, 2006
LEINART'S LAST SEASON COST NEARLY $40 MILLION
It's a question we've received from multiple readers while covering every pick from one through 40 in the 2006 draft.
How much did that ballroom dancing class cost USC quarterback Matt Leinart?
If he'd come out in 2005, Matt would have been in line for a deal worth $24 million in guaranteed money alone. As the tenth overall pick a year later, he'll get less. A lot less.
The No. 10 selection in 2005, former Trojan teammate Mike Williams, received a signing bonus of $1 million, a roster bonus of $1.265 million, an option bonus $6.235 million guaranteed by future base salaries, and $2 million in guaranteed base salaries after the execution of the option bonus.
That's $10.5 million in guaranteed money. The difference? $13.5 million.
And that's just the guaranteed money. As the No. 1 overall pick, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith had plenty more in readily attainable incentives jammed into the deal -- a lot more than the No. 10 selection a year later would get. Smith's total package was worth $54 million over six years. The package that Mike Williams received had a maximum value over five years of $13.5 million.
Sure, Leinart will get more than Williams because it's a new year and Matt's a quarterback. But the difference, in the end, will still be in the neighborhood of $40 million.
Wow. $40 million bucks. All because Leinart wanted to be young, have fun, and drink Pepsi for one more year.
And shame on the folks around Matt who didn't urge him to get the hell out of school when his stock could be no higher.
Shame also on coach Pete Carroll. Even if Matt decided to return on his own with no input from Carroll, the head coach should have had a heart-to-heart with the 2004 Heisman winner, urging him to strike while the iron is hot.
At the end of the day, the $40 million that forever has been lost came out of Leinart's pocket -- and we hope that at some point Matt figures it out.
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