Seahawks have signed Nate Burleson to offer sheet...and a funny one!From Sando:
The Seahawks signed Vikings WR Nate Burleson to an offer sheet today, giving Minnesota seven days to match or lose the three-year veteran to Seattle.
Get this: My understanding is that the offer is a seven-year, $49 million deal with $5.25 million guaranteed and two hilarious poison pills guaranteeing the contract if he plays a certain number of games in the State of Minnesota, or if his average-per-year exceeds the average of the highest-paid running back on the team. The poison pills are obviously direct retribution for the contract Minnesota used to sign LG Steve Hutchinson from the Seahawks. Obviously this deal will be reworked after a few years, but they did what they had to do to make this look like the seven-year, $49 million offer the Vikings made to Hutchinson. I'll need to confirm these terms but that is the initial word.
If Minnesota does not match the Seahawks' offer, the Vikings would receive Seattle's third-round choice in the upcoming draft. It's a low third-round pick given that Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl last season, but the pick would still give the Vikings ammunition should they try to trade up the draft board.
The timing of the offer sheet is perhaps a little surprising given that NFL teams have until April 21 to make offers to restricted free agents, and this is a league that sometimes needs a deadline to get things done. But Seattle's interest in Burleson has been well established since the team visited with him last week at Seahawks headquarters. Seattle also might be looking to move proactively after suffering some free-agent losses, notably Hutchinson and WR Joe Jurevicius. The team also fell short in a recent attempt to acquire DE John Abraham from the Jets.
If the inital reports hold up...thats absolutely hilarious!
<<<=========================UPDATE
Nate Burleson's offer sheet with the Seahawks is ultimately a four-year, $14 million contract.The rest of Burleson's seven-year, $49 million contract is full of dummy years intended to prove a point to the Vikings and the league.
(Click the picture of Johnny Cash to see a hidden message from Tim Ruskell to the Minnesota Vikings)
I like Burelson, and I love the poison pills.
ReplyDeleteNothing quite like a dish of their own medicine.
Posted by Alan
Nice; it's good to see our front office has a well-developed taste for vengeance. That's the kind of team I like to root for.
ReplyDeletethats the thing...everyone wants respect, well our team has done everything to earn except one thing---we're pushovers...
ReplyDelete...proof of that is the more recent Packers obviously tampering, and getting away with it...Seattle didnt do anything
its about time they get revenge on one of them!
Sando also cleared things up saying he is serious; not an april fool's joke, AND also said it appears our FO is making a point at how broken the system is...(me): and if this goes to an arbitor, and we lose, we can officially say favortism...they cant suddenly change the system because of us...that would be ignorant, so they have to let us get away with it...if we dont...then there is some investigating that needs to be done
this will be a better signing then some of you think...
Posted by adp
Revenge AND humor, that's what I like!
ReplyDeletePosted by Rockyseahawk
Damn, I love this team.
ReplyDeleteAnd the FO is growing on me every day.
Posted by Bluefoot
BTW: Is Burelson worth $49 mil/7 years? Hard to say, but it's a little steep if you ask me. then again, maybe Sando's right, that restructuring is on the way and this is just for spite.
ReplyDeleteoh, and for those who may worry about the contract...
ReplyDelete...its just like Peterson's and Alexander's...there is no way he is getting all that...he might even restructure as soon as Minny declines to match (my suggestion...not a fact)...no way he gets paid almost twice as much as DJack, a far superior WR
Posted by adp
wow talk about timing...i knew someone would question the price! lol
ReplyDeleteShefter reports that the number of games in Minny is 5...which is perfect...our schedule should have 2-3 games in Minny MAX, not including playoffs during the life of the deal...pretty spiffy...he also apparently got a kick outta it
ReplyDeleteThe only important thing in the contract money wise is the guaranteed part which I believe is 5 mil & change. As opposed to 16 mil for Hutch.
ReplyDeleteWhich really isn't bad because the team is not on the hook for the rest.
Posted by Rockyseahawk
True...
ReplyDeleteBut I wonder how much the initial year is worth...
Posted by Bluefoot
I just HAD to add that picture to this post, because if that offer sheet indeed includes those terms, that's EXACTLY the message that Ruskell & Co. is sending to the Vikings.
ReplyDelete[b]FUCK YOU AND THE BOAT YOU RODE IN ON![/b]
Posted by alba
LOL, That pic is perfect!
ReplyDeletePosted by Bluefoot
Props to you guys that called this one during the Futchinson saga.
ReplyDeleteWho was that, anyway?
Posted by Bluefoot
Confirmation of the report
ReplyDeleteThis is great... It's true!
This is doing a great job addressing the needs of the team this off season, and I love attitude. This organization is on well on its way to deveoping a competitive identity.
That, and I like the fact that the Vikings FO is getting a taste of their own medicine. Who thought this could possibly backfire on them? Crap in our Cheerios, will ya? The Vikings SUCK. Their Whizzinators, their STD exchange boat cruise, their inability to retain an almost legit QB - These turds belong in the minor leagues. I look forward to the game with them this season. Futchinson can't block everyone.
Posted by Bluefoot
Not sure if this was the first reference (I'm not even sure if it was MY first reference because it's the first thing I thought of when I heard they were interested in Burleson). Anyway, this looks like exactly what they did (except the contract is a bit shorter).
ReplyDeleteAt 3/21/2006 08:23:35 PM,
They couldn't do that because the matching team would have to pay more. They could, however, sign him to a ten year contract with huge numbers over the last few years. Then, they put a clause in where he has to be more highly paid than X (whatever fits based on the vikings roster/salaries). If he's not more highly paid than X, the entire contract becomes guaranteed (including years 8, 9 and 10 in which he makes 25M). That should do the trick.
Posted by mfan
Burleson is a good pickup for a late third (almost 4th) round pick. Another good move IMO. +1
Posted by mfan
More confimation from Lee Pastorsmelly
ReplyDeletePosted by Bluefoot
Lee Pastorsmelly...Futchinson? lol...Blue I forgot to congratulate you for graduating kindergarten in a couple months...!
ReplyDeleteI also called the ridiculous clause thing, though I said he should get a 100 mill bonus if he wears purple during the season...there were a ton of suggestions though, including state of Minny type of stuff...honestly i dont remember if THAT was me or not...
Posted by adp
Right, my above post is in response to your suggestion because they COULDN'T offer 100M.
ReplyDeletePosted by mfan
I think my favorite part is the exact numbers involved. 7 years 49M. Remarkably similar to the deal Hutch signed. I do love a good dose of symbolism.
ReplyDeletePosted by mfan
SI covers the contract , but leaves out the poison pills.
ReplyDeletePosted by Bluefoot
Well, if the Hutch deal didn't kill the "poison pill" loophole, this one certainly should!
ReplyDeleteThis is like a bad Saturday Night Live Skit.
(anyone other than me worried about it somehow backfiring on the Seahawks, like having the league schedule us for 5 preseason games in Minnesota or something??!!)
Posted by alba
im more worried of the following two:
ReplyDelete1. Seattle ends up losing to the arbitor (im not one to say the world is against us, but it wouldnt surprise me...)
2. This ends up happening with Seneca or Josh...
Posted by adp
UPDATE:
ReplyDeleteNate Burleson's offer sheet with the Seahawks is ultimately a four-year, $14 million contract.
The rest of Burleson's seven-year, $49 million contract is full of dummy years intended to prove a point to the Vikings and the league.
So relax Seahawk fans...the money is nothing
Posted by adp
Minny fans see it as:
ReplyDeleteBurleson for Hutch and 3rd Rounder
Seattley fans see it as:
Peterson and Burleson for Hutch and 3rd Rounder
I see it as:
2 Important Skill Positions for Less Important Position and Unproven Rookie
Posted by adp
one more thing, need to give a ton of credit to Burleson's agent, Ken Sarnoff...pretty much my favorite agent now...and hes doing what Burleson wants---to play for his home team...i like it when the agent works for the player, and not the other way around
ReplyDeleteOk folks, step back from the feeding frenzy for a minute and wipe the purple blood from your armchair fangs. I have a serious question.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I haven't followed Burleson's career closely, other than to know he's shown promise in the shadow of Moss. What kind of receiver is he--possesion or a down field burner?
I hope it's the later because that's where the Hawks have a need. If he's just another possesion receiver, this isn't as great a pick up once the revenge buzz wears off. Right now DJ is our only deep threat and he's proven inconsistent.
Posted by bokonon
Help us, Monkey! Your northern mid-west NFL expertise would be invaluable right about now.
ReplyDeletePosted by Calling Monkey!
Burleson is not TO or Keyshawn. He's not a guy who's going to take a 7 yard slant to the house, or out muscle a DB to make a catch.
ReplyDeleteAnd coming off a leg injury, he may not be a classic "downfield burner", but I'm not sure we need that, since Matt hasn't proven to be very accurate on the deep throws.
What Burleson is is a YOUNG reciever who has a GREAT pair of hands, and that works just fine.
With SA and our running game, we force defenses to play close to the line of scrimmage, which opens up the field in the 5-15 yard range. This is where we carve up defenses with the passing game.
We don't need to be heaving 30 yard bombs to make this engine run. (athough a nicely thrown 30 yard pass IS a thing of beauty!)
Posted by alba
easy question to answer:
ReplyDeletehe's almost a mirror of DJack, though DJack is more elusive while Burleson is a little faster...Burleson does not have downfield hail mary speed, but hes is a PERFECT fit for the WC offense...like alba said, he can take a 7 yarder and turn it to big yardage...basically, barring a miracle, Engram heads back to the slot, and Burleson is gonna grow into that roll real well
if you follow the Sonics, or basketball in general...think Wilcox going to Seattle...the fit is there, and now Wilcox is flourishing
Posted by adp
Actually alba and ADP you are both right in a way about Burleson. As you know, I watch a lot of Vikes games, (not my first choice but football is football).
ReplyDeleteNate Burleson does have good hands, and is really very much like DJack, should fit this offense very well.
One thing though, he has much better RAC ability than you are giving him credit for alba, thought the injury slowed him a bit last year, he was just fine at the end of last season, and when he is healthy, he actually can take a 10 yard slant to the house.
I'm not saying he is great at it, just that I think he will surprise some people with just how good is after the catch. He really is a lot like DJack, they have very similar games. In the end, I htink this will prove to be a very good signing for us.
wow so you DO watch a ton of Minny games? I thought Alba was joking...well in that case I shoulda just saved my breath...thanks monkey!
ReplyDeletePosted by adp
Also, I think that we have a decent burner. As Hackett matures, he could turn into a great deep threat.
ReplyDeleteI think the Burleson signing was done just before the owners meeting this coming week for a reason. It was specifically directed at Minnesota and no other team for a reason. Seattle is going to want compensation in the form of draft picks this year for Hutchinson. The problem with this whole thing was that Seattle couldn't match the reasonable part of the offer or get draft compensation. Minnesota deliberately set out to screw Seattle and circumvent the TT with the Agent and the Union and screwed up RFA also. Minnesota was willing to pay Hutchinson $7M a year only because they could avoid paying draft picks. The TT was designed to let the players team be able to match an equal offer or let the player go. Seattle has a right to be pi$$ed because they weren't allowed to match an offer that was even over priced. Seattle is making a point that RFA is not over yet and many other teams could get screwed yet this year. Seattle should also be awarded Draft picks to compensate them and they could come from Minnesota. I'd be willing to bet that there are 30 other owners that don't like this situation either and are willing to agree to something to make sure there will not be anymore offer sheets like the Hutchinson offer sheet. From an NFL point of view, Minnesota should be very high on their $hit list.
ReplyDelete