Adalius Thomas Contract: $22 Million in First Two Years

In his Monday Morning Quarterback column, Peter King of SI.com has the goods on Adalius Thomas's contract with the Patriots:

• Signing bonus: $12 million in 2007.
• Option bonus: $8 million payable in 2008, applied for cap reasons in equal $2 million increments in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

• Salaries: $900,000 in '07, $900,000 in '08, $1.9 million in '09, $4.9 million in '10 and $5.9 million in '11.

• Workout bonuses: $107,000 annually if he participates in the Patriots' offseason workout program in Foxboro.

• Cap numbers: In succession, beginning this year, $3.4 million, $5.4 million, $6.4 million, $9.4 million, $10.4 million.

To put it another way, this is a front-loaded contract in terms of the value to Thomas (he'll make $22 million between now and December 2008) but a back-loaded contract in terms of the cap charge to the Patriots. Thomas will be a very good player for a very reasonable price in 2007. But in 2011, when Thomas is 34 years old and almost certainly not nearly as effective, he's going to cost quite a bit of money against the Patriots' cap.

Bottom line: The Patriots are mortgaging the future to win now.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-05-2007 @ 8:22AM

rln2433 said...

But what is the cap exposure after year 3 if they choose to release him? Most deals are actually 3-4 year deals and not 5-6 years when you consider the restructuring and early releases.

That said, the Pats have a window to work with in the next two to three years and then the cost for their D-Line and Brady will become huge.

Gary said...

I think the contract was structured smartly. Especially when you consider that people are looking at the 2011 cap hit in 2007 dollars. When the largest part of Thomas' contract is due, the NFL salary cap will most likely be significantly higher than it is in 2007, making the cap hit not nearly as destructive as it seems today.

On a side note, hats off to Tedy Bruschi. This past weekend, he was the recipient of the 2007 Make-A-Wish Hero award. As you may remember, ESPN ran a story on Bruschi's day with a young Patriots' fan named Andrew, a 5 year old boy who had endured multiple heart surgeries and proved to be one heck of a fighter. Bruschi was Andrew's "hero" because, in Andrew's words, "He had heart surgery like me".

To all those who chided Bruschi for returning after his stroke, please remember this story. The hope and inspiration Bruschi provides to adults and children with similar conditions goes far beyond football.

Fovever genuinely modest, Bruschi said "I am humbled by this award. However, I don't see myself as a "hero". Andrew is the true hero, I'm just the guy he wanted to meet."

Atta boy, Tedy. That is just another of many valid reasons why no other Patriot will ever wear #54 after you retire.

3-05-2007 @ 11:09AM

Ch V Kalyan said...

MDS - I am gonna disagree with you. I think Pats have done a worked around the salary cap in a positive way (not the 'skins way!).

When you give a front loaded salary, it is better than the paper contracts that player get. (did i see you raise your hand, clements?). Since the Pats are commiting $22 million for 2 years to AT - he is gonna be happy.

The Pats will look at the salary cap situation during the season and make legal renegotiations to ensure that all the salary cap available is used and by the end of the season - the backlog of $9.4 mil & $10.4 mil is gonna come down. Hence the Pats are happy with this deal.

So i don't think that the Pats are mortgaging their future for the present. I think this is the same kind of deal that Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, Corey Dillon received.

Are there pitfalls in these deals? YES. If the players balk at receiving less money in the later years (can't think of an example but it will happen sooner than later!) or if cap numbers goes high (McGinnest, Dillon) - the player or the team might decide to part ways.

3-06-2007 @ 3:50AM

Congrats to the Pats in getting the Welker deal done...and hats off to both teams for doing it in "gentlemanly fashion". The Pats and the Phish agreed to sidestep the nasty business of signing away a restricted free agent by coming to the terms that eventually would have been enforced if Welker Miami had not matched the Pats offer.

Miami traded Welker to the Pats for a 2nd round pick (which would have been their compensation anyway) and both teams were able to walk away with their dignity intact.

I hope the facts of this deal help people to realize that the Pats were not "off their rockers" in pursuing Welker. The reported 38.5 Million tender would have been a backloaded deal which would have NEVER reached financial maturity.....shame on you people for even THINKING the perpetually frugal Patriots would ever part with that amount of money for Welker.

These signings have left the Patriots in a wonderful position to sign another quality free agent and frees up more options come draft time. They will now be able to pursue a quality DB in the first round and perhaps another high-profile college WR...plus the usual "diamonds in the rough" that the Pats seem to have the uncanny ability to pick.

Now we get to see the fruits of the Patriots' fiscal responsibility over the past few years....they have been saving up for this moment for several seasons, and now that they have the cash, they're spending it freely and wisely. Look out NFL...the Pats are still breathing...down your necks, I might add...