Saints RB Ricky Williams' "incentive-laden," eight-year
contract that guarantees him $16.2M and "could be worth"
$68.4M is "potentially the most lucrative" deal ever for an
NFL rookie, according to Mike Strom of the New Orleans
TIMES-PICAYUNE. Williams' contract includes an $8.84M
signing bonus and base salaries that range from $175,000 to
$400,000 over the course of the deal. Also included is
$1.6M in annual bonuses of $100,000 for doing such things as
participating in off-season workouts and keeping his weight
below 240 pounds. Williams can earn another $500,000 each
year if he reaches at least 10 of 26 goals worth $50,000
apiece. The rest of Williams' contract "is based on" three
escalator clauses, with the first allowing Williams to earn
an additional $3M in years two through seven depending on
his previous season's rushing total. Williams can earn $1M
for gaining 1,600 yards, $1.5M for 1,800, $2M for 2,000,
$2.5M for 2,100 and $3M for eclipsing the NFL single-season
rushing record of 2,105 (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 5/15).
TD MODEL: If Williams finishes in front of Broncos RB
Terrell Davis in three of four offensive categories during
his first four years, "then he will get the same amount of
money in the last four years of his contract" that Davis
received during the last four years of his contract.
Williams can also earn extra if the Saints' record improves
from the previous year and if he carries the ball at least
35% of the team's offensive plays (PHILA. INQUIRER, 5/15).
