Bulger signs lucrative 6-year extension
July 27th, 2007 | by Kevin Morris |
By
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
There will be no training-camp holdout for Marc Bulger — and he’s got at least
26 million guaranteed reasons why.
Bulger, who reported for the first full day of Rams training camp after missing
a team meeting Thursday, became one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks
today when he signed a six-year contract extension today that on average will
pay him just more than $10 million per season.
Guaranteed money in the extension is $26 million.
As Bulger practiced with the team today, his agent, Tom Condon, met this
morning with Rams executives to complete the deal.
Bulger was a no-show at a mandatory team meeting Thursday, and faced the
possibility of being fined $14,000 for each day of training camp he missed.
First-round draft pick Adam Carriker also will be on the practice field — some
time today.
Carriker agreed to terms on a five-year contract early this morning, but he has
not yet signed the contract and as an unsigned rookie cannot participate in
practice. The Rams had a morning practice today that was open to the public,
and another practice tonight that is closed.
Check back later this morning for updates to this story.
* * *
Our earlier story on Bulger and Carriker:
As they reported for training camp Thursday, one by one Rams players expressed
optimism and/or hope that quarterback Marc Bulger’s contract situation would be
resolved quickly.
“I expect to see Marc today, but if not, I trust that he’ll handle it the way
he’s got to handle it,” center Andy McCollum said Thursday morning.
But as morning gave way to afternoon, Bulger was nowhere to be found. He was a
no-show for a mandatory meeting at Rams Park.
“He was not here for the meeting,” coach Scott Linehan confirmed late in the
afternoon.
As afternoon gave way to evening, Bulger remained absent. But his agent, Tom
Condon, was in town, and negotiations on a contract extension for the Pro Bowl
quarterback continued late into the evening.
The same was true for first-round draft pick Adam Carriker in what was a hectic
evening for the Rams’ front office. Carriker also was a no-show Thursday, and
negotiations also continued late into the night with his agent, Van McElroy, on
a contract for the rookie defensive lineman from Nebraska.
All along, the Rams have quietly maintained a sense of confidence that
something would get done in short order with Carriker. But the absence of the
soft-spoken Bulger, a team leader and someone who rarely rocks the boat, was
surprising to many at Rams Park.
And unlike Carriker, the Rams can fine Bulger $14,000 for each day of training
camp he misses. On Thursday, at least, Linehan didn’t want to broach the topic
of fines.
“Let’s get to (today) before there’s any overreaction of any kind,” Linehan
said in reference to a potential Bulger holdout. “It’s just like anything else,
it’s human nature to want to have things perfect. But that’s not reality or
life sometimes. But I actually do feel very confident about where we’ll be by
(this) morning.”
Late Thursday evening, talks apparently recessed without a deal. The Rams have
offered to make Bulger the highest-paid player in franchise history, both in
terms of overall contract value and guaranteed money. But earlier in the week,
the sides remained substantially apart. Condon did not return phone messages
from the Post-Dispatch on Thursday.
Linehan spoke with Bulger on Thursday morning. Linehan later indicated that in
a sense, Bulger’s absence was an excused one.
“It’s complicated,” Linehan said. “(Bulger) said he had a lot of things he had
to do. He handled it the right way. Certainly, I’d be a lot more comfortable if
it had been resolved before the (team) meeting.”
Linehan remained optimistic that Bulger would have a contract extension and be
on the field today for the start of training camp practices.
“I’d be surprised if he wasn’t,” Linehan said. “Because I think it’ll be
resolved.”
Bulger has one year remaining on a four-year, $19.1 million contract. But the
Rams and Bulger’s agent have been working on an extension for much of the
offseason. In a radio interview earlier this month, Bulger wouldn’t rule out
the possibility of a holdout. Jay Zygmunt, the Rams’ president of football
operations-general manager, told the Post-Dispatch earlier this week that a
contract extension for Bulger was the team’s No. 1 priority.
Left tackle Orlando Pace, who has missed his share of training camp in the past
because of contract impasses, knows better than most that negotiations can be
difficult, intense and frustrating.
“Hopefully they can get Marc’s contract wrapped up,” Pace said. “I know it’s a
tough process. I know it’s one of those things that is probably going to take a
little time. Hopefully he’s here, and hopefully he’ll be behind center.”
The team begins training camp with morning and evening practices today.
“I know Marc will be ready regardless of what happens,” McCollum said. “He’s
been around for a long time and he knows what he’s doing.”
Bulger is coming off a career year, in which he established career highs for
completions (370), yards passing (4,301) and touchdown passes (24), while
throwing only eight interceptions.
“Bulger’s a huge key to our offense,” running back Steven Jackson said.
“Without him, I don’t know how we’re going to run the offense.”
“He means a lot to this football team,” wide receiver Torry Holt said. “He’s
reserved all the time, but he’s vocal when he wants to be and when he needs to
be. I’m just looking forward to getting back out there with him this year,
getting our chemistry back, and being prolific once again.”
