| The third in a six-part series Michael Keathley
would not hear his name called in the 2001 NFL draft. The draft was complete, but the
excitement was just beginning for Brady and roughly 250 other agents around the country
who were scrambling to get their clients signed as free agents. Ten minutes after the
draft, nine teams had expressed interest in Keathley. Kansas City, Philadelphia,
Indianapolis, Detroit, Washington, San Diego, Dallas, Green Bay and Denver all contacted
Brady about signing his client.
Keathley, a 6-foor-3, 308-pound guard from Texas Christian, was one of the top
undrafted free agents available. Brady quickly gathered information on each team that was
interested. He reviewed current rosters, depth charts and draft picks. As he reviewed the
information, the bidding war began. Brady assumed the role of an adviser, negotiator and
salesman.
He gauged the interest of teams by how much money they were willing to spend on a
signing bonus and how frequently they called. He quickly narrowed the list down to five
teams: Washington, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Detroit and San Diego. While San Diego and
Detroit called every few minutes for an update, Washington did not. Brady didn’t
think the Redskins were showing enough interest and scratched Washington off the list.
Indianapolis had drafted two linemen, and Philadelphia had five solid starters returning
with some strong backups. Neither team was willing to match the $15,000 signing bonus that
San Diego and Detroit were offering.
An hour after the draft ended, Brady narrowed the teams to San Diego and Detroit.
Keathley’s former TCU teammate and fifth overall pick, LaDainian Tomlinson, had spent
time in San Diego’s war room on the second day of the draft, encouraging San Diego to
select his former teammate. With only seven offensive linemen currently on San
Diego’s roster, the situation appealed to Keathley. Keathley waited on the other end
of Brady’s cell phone while the agent negotiated with San Diego on another phone from
his home office.
"We’re really torn between you and Detroit right now," Brady told San
Diego. "Sometimes it comes down to the smallest of things, and we’re just
looking for any little thing to make that decision. They have $2,500 more on the table
right now. If you can match their offer, we’ll give you a decision in the next 60
seconds."
San Diego rejected Brady’s pitch, citing Keathley’s injury history. Brady
quickly countered: "I’ve been told that if you gave every NFL offensive lineman
an MRI, 80 percent of them would reveal bulging discs in their backs."
As Brady spoke to San Diego, Detroit was calling on the other line. Brady put Detroit
on hold and asked San Diego if OL coach Joe Bugel would call Keathley. Before speaking to
Detroit on the other line, Brady picked up his cell phone and told Keathley to stall San
Diego and ask them some questions.
Brady switched lines and began his pitch to Detroit.
"You used your first two picks on offensive linemen. Maybe you can help me out
here. I’m just trying to understand why you are so interested in my client."
A representative from Detroit deferred the question to Detroit CEO Matt Millen. Millen
got on the phone and said he was looking for hard-nosed linemen to provide a nucleus for
his team, and he would like Keathley to be a part of it. Millen gave the phone back to a
negotiator, and Brady began his pitch again:
"We’re trying to decide between two great situations right now. We started
with nine teams and have it narrowed down to you and San Diego. They’re offering 17.5
right now. Match their offer, and we’ll give you a decision in the next 60 seconds. I
have Michael on the other line."
After another hour of negotiating, San Diego and Detroit had both increased their
offers to $17,500 and were showing no signs of budging. Looking at figures from the NFL
Players Association, Brady knew the highest signing bonus for a free agent last year was
$20,000. He continued to pitch both teams, hoping to secure a better deal for his client.
The biggest signing bonus San Diego had given a free agent last year was $7,500. San Diego
GM John Butler and the Lions’ Millen had each called Brady about Keathley. By the
interest each team demonstrated, he knew his client would stand a strong opportunity with
either team.
San Diego would be employing a wide-open, West Coast offense under new offensive
coordinator Norv Turner. It featured a lot of three-step QB drops, which would be easier
on an offensive lineman. Keathley was leaning toward San Diego when Bryan Cox called
again. He felt the situation in Detroit was best for an offensive lineman. Cox played
against Millen and knew he was a solid leader. Seeing that Millen was a former lineman
himself, Cox thought the situation couldn’t be better for an offensive lineman.
Assistant director of Sports Planning Ken McNeill began fielding the calls from Detroit
and San Diego while Brady talked to Keathley on his cell phone.
"It’s tough to have to decide your whole future in 15 minutes," McNeill
acknowledged privately.
With Detroit and San Diego calling for a decision every few minutes, Brady finally told
Keathley, "It’s put-up or shut-up time. What do you want to do?"
Keathley opted to join former teammate Tomlinson in the warm climate of southern
California.
"Congratulations," Brady said. "You’re now a San Diego
Charger."
Next: Big money is changing the industry
Part I: Uncertainty clouds Day One of the
draft
Part II: Day Two of the NFL draft |
