LKelley67

otay, some of you might know i am a salary cap-bang for th buck preacher. wise or stupid signings can make or break a team. but on this point...

i looked up a couple from last year-
#3 larry fitzgerald 6 yrs/60mil, 20mil guaranteed, signing bonus unknown

#4 philip rivers 6 yrs/50mil, 14.25 mil signing bonus

#6 kellen winslow 6 yrs/29mil base to 40mil w/incentives, 16.5 mil signing bonus

year to year these stay about the same or nudge upward slightly. so the benchmarks for signing brown, cadillac, or benson should be 6yrs/ 30-60mil, 20-30mil guaranteed, and 14-17mil signing bonus.

current high rb\'s portis signed for 7yrs/51mil w/11.5mil signing bonus and tomlinson 8yrs/50mil. i assume those are backend loaded with much of that they will never see (the way most big contracts are now).

james seems to have a big head and try to demand towards that. alexander is a definite step down (even tho better production actually). i don\'t see a lot of difference in the vet mkt price of say 6yrs/50 mil and a 10-12mil bonus and a top 6 draft pick price of 6 yrs/45mil and a 15mil bonus.

you get a few more miles since james is 26 and alexander 28. you do get a proven product, alexander 5600 yds, 60tds, and a 4.4ypc the past 4 years. he hasn\'t ever missed a game.

help me, i cannot see a significant money difference for getting a sure thing. one of those teams could sign him for a 2nd (or less!) and then draft edwards or m. williams too. i do not overvlaue rb\'s. 1000yd backs are nothing special anymore. there is a lot more risk of a rookie taking the money and not running ala sullivan or just being a bust like curtis enis or ron dayne vs. getting a proven all-pro though.