QB’s Bayou charm and bluff got him $7-million deal in Cleveland. Andrew Brandt
A final word about the Jake Delhomme contract with the Panthers and (lack of) offset, as there have been many questions and erroneous reports about the lasting value of his this contract (the gift that keeps on giving).
To extend or not
Delhomme extended his contract with the Panthers last April prior to its final year. He was going to make $6.325 million in 2009 and, as part of his extension, that number did not change. The $12.675 million in remaining guarantee on the extension certainly had to be protected – and was – by Delhomme’s agents, since otherwise there would be no reason for the player to extend his contract as 2009 was unchanged. The Panthers were also cap-strapped due to the unwieldy number on Julius Peppers and other past decisions.
We can all debate the value of Delhomme as a player, whether back in April or now, but once the decision was made to extend his contract by the Panthers, there had to be sufficient consideration from the team for the player to make the deal. Otherwise he could play out the deal and become the top quarterback in the unrestricted free agent market in 2010. An offset of future guaranteed money would have devalued the extension signed by Delhomme significantly.
Offset requires language
As for an offset clause and its inclusion or omission in contracts: It needs to be written in. NFL contracts do not have automatic offset language; it would need to be detailed in the contract. For instance, as described here last week, Michael Vick’s $1M of guaranteed salary in 2010 has an offset clause, meaning if he’s released by the Eagles and signs elsewhere, the Eagles will get relief.
Delhomme’s contract in Carolina did not have offset language. Furthermore, it has language about how the guarantee is paid out were he to be released: The 2010 guarantee is paid through the upcoming season and the rest of the money is due March 1, 2011, at a present value rate according to the one-year Treasury Note rate published in the Wall Street Journal on Feb. 1, 2011.
More shrewd moves by Delhomme
Delhomme’s value on the field can be debated, but he is certainly a savvy businessman. While the Browns were enamored with him as a potential starter, he captivated the staff during his visit with his Bayou charm and personality (I know, he did the same in Green Bay years ago when he made a visit as a restricted free agent). Setting that tone for the negotiation, he then resisted their overtures to sign a deal before he left the building.
Instead, Delhomme gave the Browns the perception that he was going to take more trips, including one to his former team and hometown Saints, who had a mutual attraction but not the financial level of the Browns.
Although he was obviously not going to compete for the starting job in New Orleans, Delhomme was able to create the perception that he would strongly consider an offer there. The Browns could have called the bluff but did not and paid him $7M for 2010, a number confirmed by both sides of the negotiation and that insures his position as their starting quarterback – or at least it should.
Contract breakdown
$1.5M signing bonus
$4.545 roster bonus on 3/20
$855,000 salary
$100,000 workout bonus
Was a trip to the Saints a realistic option? I think we know the answer to that. However, with the prospect of that visit, the Browns raised their offer, and Delhomme agreed to sign and not travel to New Orleans.
Well-played by Delhomme, who will make close to $20M in the next 12 months, almost the same as his former teammate and free agent prize of the 2010 class, Julius Peppers.
It’s good to be the recently terminated (his contract, not him) Jake Delhomme in 2010.
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Wow, Holmgren is an idiot when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks. Who would have known?
More likely, Holmgren is paid big bucks to do a difficult job because he does it better than anyone else.
You almost have to feel sorry for Cleveland. Holmgren may be a good coach, but he apparently has no business sense at all. I'm surprised they didn't snap up LT as well.
If they were just going to waste $7 mill, why not get Peppers?
Their best move at QB would have been Troy Smith and keeping Quinn for at least one more year.
What offensive talent does Delhomme that would be equal to or better than what he had in Carolina? One less stud receiver, and substantial downgrade in RB talent. This year is going to be painful for Browns fans.
Hey Henry in Seattle,
I didn't say Holmgren couldn't evaluate QB's, but giving Delhomme 7 mil smacks of desperation my friend... especially since Delhomme is washed up, but I live in Charlotte so what do I know?
Everyone is throwing around the 7 mil. figure for the reaction it gets. It's actually 7 mil. if he reaches all of the performance incentives. And if he reaches those, no one will be complaining about him making the money. But a 7 mil., incentive heavy contract doesn't get everyone all fired up.
Holmgren and Company have been around a while and know what they're doing, much more than any of us second guesser do that's for sure.
20 million for the year...That's about a mill per interception!!
This is not directed at anyone specifically, but people keep saying "holmgren knows what he's doing." What evidence do we have for that? He was a good coach for many years, but he wasn't very successful as a dual coach/GM in Seattle and had the GM title taken away. Seattle could have hired him as their GM this year but passed. Maybe they know him better than the people in cleveland, who by any standard have shown they do not know what they are doing.
Maybe this works out for them, but it has clearly left most of the league scratching their heads.
kmack-
I think you are getting some erroneous information. The 7M is real money -- signing bonus, salary, roster bonus, and workout bonus..Incentives are on top of the 7M.
Schaub $17, J Russell $11, Cutler $22 ($11) , C Palmer 9.5,D Garrard 8.5, M Cassel 15.5 - Do you get my drift - Holmgren got a steal of a deal - thats not desperation, it was a shrewd business move. Yes JD threw some picks - how many did Cutler throw?? He is a winner with something left in the tank. Jake will help in transition and is a significant upgrade over Quinn and Edwards dont kid yourselves. I do not believe that Holmgren had the best resume in Seattle doing both jobs - and he kind of got tired his last few years as a Head Coach. But maybe his mistake in Seattle was letting Ted Thompson go - seems to me that Seattle's demise was a few years after TT left and Green Bays resurgence followed TT's arrival. Give some credit where it is due there. Given the way that Cleveland's D played the last 5 games , even though I am not a Mangini fan - think that the Browns will have a much better year in 2010.
All,
Let me chime in just a little ....
Holmgren has come to the conclusion that he needed to "fix" the QB situation in Cleveland. Gone are Anderson and Quinn. In come S. Wallace........a long term unproven commodity, who has been able to make some plays in spare playing time.
I think Holmgren realizes that S. Wallace is NOT his long term answer. I think he realizes that Delhomme is not either. BUT......
Look over the list of available FA veteran QBs. Its a pathetic overall list.
I think Holmgren has brought in Delhoome to fill in a short term role until he can acquire his long term answer. If Delhomme stays in Cleveland 2 full years, it will be an upset.
$7 Mill / 1 season? Who cares. Its Lerner's money, Given Holmgren's other options, and inability to pry Kolb away from Philly, I think he felt it about necessary to secure Delhomme for 1 year. Law of Supply/Demand = Low supply means the market price to get what is available is very high.
When it comes to the QBs, I trust what Heckert and Holmgren are planning will work out well.
Will Delhomme take Cleveland to the playoffs next year? Not.......
Only way I can get my head around this is that there is some up-front cap-free spending going on this year, and this buys at least a year for a rookie QB from this years draft to get his feet on the ground. And Delhomme is an upgrade on Quinn in that at least he's a vet who has experienced success in the league, for whatever that's worth in the clubhouse and huddle.
But this is almost snyder-esque in the way they outbid themselves for this guy. In any kind of salary-constrained year this would be the kind of self-inflicted gunshot wound that keeps teams in the bottom tier.
Having watched Cleveland pass by opportunities for years and years,
I salute bringing JD to town.
He will provide leadership in a transition year that sees Cleveland with
700 draft picks, 1400 free agents, 5000 trades and 20 remaining veterans.
Holding this rodeo together is of prime importance as they install a new offense
and hope to build on late-season defensive successes.
New broom does sweep clean sometimes.
JD can still move and will see more of the field than either of last year's QBs.
Quinn and Anderson had become a very depressing in-fight. They both
have potential, but need a change of scene to find how much.
Good luck Brownies. I'm glad to see some decisive moves...win or lose.
I think the shocker here is that Holmgren abandoned the formula that has been the only one that's ever worked for him at QB. That is, target a depth guy on the roster of a team with a good passing game and trade for him. That's how Favre landed in GB, that's how he got Hasselbeck in Seattle. Veteran QBs changing teams fail more often than it works due to system issues - instead of trading Wimbley to Denver for a running back, he should've called about Matt Flynn, or maybe Troy Smith or someone along those lines. As good as Delhomme but at least they'd have some upside and they'd come at a fraction of the price tag.
Wow. ...and Delhomme's not young, either. He's not old, but it's not like having him gives a team a bright future or anything. Like Peter King said today, why didn't they go after McNabb? He's at least kind of elite. But, Delhomme... man, there must just be something about the guy.
He always seems to get taken too early in fantasy drafts too. And the guys who take him always seem mad at themselves even as they're taking him. Like, "ah crud, I don't know why I always do this, but... I'll take Delhomme." And everybody mocks them, like everybody knows he's nothing special as a player. But, for whatever reason, people just can't resist.
$20 million.
What a world!
To Scott - Holmgren got lucky with Farve and Farve beat Wolf's expectations- buy had his ups and downs at the start - Holmgren also started with a young but hungry staff - look how many ended up being head coaches of note - check the picture of that staff when they started. Favre only got to start because of Majik man's injury and the rest is history. In Seattle, you are correct, he got a known franchise type of QB that was basically trained behind Farve - - now he is starting with nothing - they had enough tape on Quinn and Edwards to know what they didnt have. JD should give them at least 2 years - and as per my earlier post - it is only costing them 7 million plus bonuses - compare that to others who are not half as good.
Dan - Peter King is an EXPERT - not really - rumours by design - I think that JD has more in the tank than McNabb - and at half the price ( factoring in draft picks that you might have to give up). If Mangini can keep his fingers out of everything and get his guys on the same page - this team will be improved - if not Holmgren will fire his sorry butt and not much will be lost - They do not stand much of a chance behind Pittsburg, Cinci and Baltimore's upgraded passing attack.
To Scott - Holmgren got lucky with Farve and Farve beat Wolf's expectations- buy had his ups and downs at the start - Holmgren also started with a young but hungry staff - look how many ended up being head coaches of note - check the picture of that staff when they started. Favre only got to start because of Majik man's injury and the rest is history. In Seattle, you are correct, he got a known franchise type of QB that was basically trained behind Farve - - now he is starting with nothing - they had enough tape on Quinn and Edwards to know what they didnt have. JD should give them at least 2 years - and as per my earlier post - it is only costing them 7 million plus bonuses - compare that to others who are not half as good.
Dan - Peter King is an EXPERT - not really - rumours by design - I think that JD has more in the tank than McNabb - and at half the price ( factoring in draft picks that you might have to give up). If Mangini can keep his fingers out of everything and get his guys on the same page - this team will be improved - if not Holmgren will fire his sorry butt and not much will be lost - They do not stand much of a chance behind Pittsburg, Cinci and Baltimore's upgraded passing attack.
Let's wait and see what becomes of all the moves the Browns have made and will make. We have 12 picks in the draft that should help the team build a solid foundation. I hear all the doomsdayers, but this isn't a championship team. You all talk like they blew their chance at the Super Bowl. This is a team that is building a credible team, and maybe a champion. You build it one brick at a time. Jake isn't the greatest QB, but he is an experienced QB. Build a line around him, get a few weapons to hand off to and throw to. Build a defense to give the offense the ball back, and you end up with a competitive team. Three years from now who knows? I'm a diehard Browns fan and have been for over 50 years. I'm good with the direction we are going. Right now I'm happy to be competetive, and I believe we are heading in that direction. GO BROWNS !
Seven million buys a lot of crawfish. Think of the incentive money as extra hot sauce.
Huh, ordinarily the rule of law is that mitigation of damages in a contract is required by a plaintiff. Thus there would be an offset if Delhomme signed with someone else, absent an express provision to the contrary.
The only thing I can think of is that Holmgren is gonna go after a QB in the 1st round & if he lands a QB, he'll study behind Delhomme until he's ready to start. I agree with having a knowledgable, vet QB to have a young QB behind him but I have no clue why he'd get rid of Quinn. I haven't seen much footage of Quinn but according to his stats & the offensive team he had around him, it didn't look like he played enough to get a good look at him. Quinn didn't have too much to work with either.
Holmgren may know how to develope QB's but he's not any good at personnel, just check his work at Seattle. Some NFL people have mentioned this as well, but, we'll see. I'm glad i'm not a Browns fan.
Holmgren has NO business in a Front Office. This is gonna be a DISASTER, the likes of which Cleveland never seen. hehehehehe
Holmgren has NO business in a Front Office. This is gonna be a DISASTER, the likes of which Cleveland never seen. hehehehehe
I think Cleveland is now finding out why Holmgren had his GM title taken away from him in Seattle.
talk about savvy businessmen, how bout mike holmgren talking randy lerner into giving him 10 million per to write his checks for him. now that's bayou charm.
also - do i sense some subtext here andrew - were you trying to dump a quarterback on the brownies? did delhomme screw up your plans? did you screw this deal up somehow?
Jake will help Cleveland as they rebuild. It was time to go here in Charlotte, but I think his value has not totally eroded. While you get both the bad and the good with Jake....you hope that his desire to win and his leadership will be positive for a rebuilding franchise. Nice to know all of the fans know more tabout football han a guy like Holmgrem! Best of luck to you Jake. We'll always remember you entire body of work here with our Panthers. It was nice when you look at it all and not bad for a still young NFL franchise!!
I think its a good move. Jake had a bad season. So what. Some times you have to be bold. Who cares about the 7 million dollar contract. If anyone is stupid, it the Panthers for paying a guy who is on someone elses roster. Where did young QB's with potential and upside get for the Browns in the last few years anyway? The same thing Jake can, even at his worst. Hopefully he can bounce back this year. If not, no big loss in a no-cap year.
I am not sure if Delhomme has it or not. He had a few great years but has been struggling. We will see what happens this year.
and Pouncey. If we traded back to the late first, added a third round pick, and took Pouncey I would be extremely happy. He would be an immediate upgrade over Wells at center.
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Mar 15, 2010
03:17 PM
Delhomme may be business savvy, but Holmgren has to be an IDIOT for giving this guy 7 million. He had NO market as a starter, only as a backup. Why Holmgren would even worry about him signing in New Orleans is beyond me. That's not apples to apples....does Holmgren think the Saints are going to give him starter money?
First Holmgren keeps Mangini, now he gives 7 mil to Jake Delhomme....Jake DELHOMME !!!! God I'm glad I'm not a Browns fan..... what is in the water up there??? Good Lord