Thursday, May 10, 2001

Vick gets $60 million over six years

Falcons QB Michael Vick, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, signed a six-year, $62 million deal on Wednesday, making him the richest rookie in NFL history. Vick gets a guaranteed $15.3 million through the first three years, including a $3 million signing bonus.

Buchsbaum: This is exactly why the Chargers didn’t want to draft him, and is what is wrong with the NFL and professional sports in general. Vick is a multi-talented young man who was blessed with more talent than almost anyone else. However, he is far from a polished product, has never proven himself on this level, and also has the potential to never realize that great potential. It is totally absurd that in the sports business, they pay people more for their potential than for their production — that someone such as Michael Vick can get more money now than a Kurt Warner, who has proven himself and is a league MVP. This is why professional sports could end up destroying itself. It also is why the union should come out in favor of not just a salary cap for rookies, but also a pay scale for rookies, just like in many other businesses, where first-year workers get X amount with a possibility of incentives to raise it to Y amount. But that’s it, and they should not be able to negotiate long-term contracts until they prove themselves.

Raiders sign LB William Thomas

Buchsbaum: He fits their defensive scheme very well, and he’s an excellent cover linebacker. He’s a little soft at the point of attack, but he’s a "Will" ’backer, so that isn’t a key factor. He’s got great instincts and does make plays.

Redskins release RB Skip Hicks

Buchsbaum: This basically came down to the fact that Marty Schottenheimer could not take his lack of toughness, wanted Donnell Bennett in there and needed some cap room. Hicks could very easily end up with the 49ers. He’s a former UCLA player, Terry Donahue is very familiar with him and he realizes he’s a very talented player. If he ever becomes tough enough, he can be a top NFL back.

Packers re-sign John Dorsey, increase his power as director of college scouting

Buchsbaum: Dorsey is one of the rising stars in the scouting business, and getting him back was a very good move for the Packers. He reportedly was Andy Reid’s first choice to take over the personnel department of the Eagles, and reportedly may have turned that down for three factors: One, loyalty to the Packers and how well they’ve treated him. Two, he gets along well with the people in Green Bay. And three, although he and Reid are very close friends and have a great deal of mutual respect, Dorsey lost a great deal of respect for Jeffrey Lurie and the people that run the Eagles because of the way they treated Tom Modrak.

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2000 - 2001 Season