N.F.L. NOTEBOOK; Leinart and the Cardinals Agree on a Six-Year Contract
Published: August 15, 2006
Matt Leinart, the University of Southern California quarterback who was the No. 10 pick in the draft, reached agreement with the Arizona Cardinals last night on a six-year contract with a maximum value of $51 million, his agent said.
The deal includes $14 million in guaranteed payments, according to the agent, Tom Condon.
Condon said changes to the structure of the deal ended an impasse between Leinart's camp and the Cardinals. The value of the overall pact will increase if Leinart reaches predetermined playing time levels that will trigger escalator clauses in the later years of the deal.
Earlier yesterday, Cardinals Coach Dennis Green sharply criticized Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner, and his representatives for rejecting ''a more than generous'' offer. ''It is an outstanding contract,'' Green said. ''It's $14 million guaranteed.''
Leinart was the only unsigned first-round pick. He could be in training camp in Flagstaff, Ariz., this afternoon.
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why should Lienart really care .
He squeezed out his millions
fawk them if they cant take a joke.