From the NY Sun. Later in the article is says August 8th was the deadline to trade unsigned draft picks, so Leinart either signs with us, or sits out the year. They must have changed that I had no idea the deadline was that early.
In early 2005, Leinart was expected to be the first overall draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers, but he surprised almost everyone by announcing he would return for his senior season at USC and put the NFL off for a year. The 49ers selected Utah quarterback Alex Smith with the top pick and gave him a contract with $24 million in guaranteed money. Neither Leinart's agent nor the Cardinals have talked publicly about the specifics of their contract negotiations, but Leinart is probably looking at an offer from the Cardinals worth about half the one he would have gotten last year from the 49ers.
The NFL salary structure ties rookie contracts to the slot where the player was chosen; Leinart was the 10th overall selection in this year's draft. Ninth overall pick Ernie Sims got about $12 million guaranteed on a five-year deal with the Detroit Lions, and 11th overall pick Jay Cutler got about $11 million guaranteed on a six-year contract with the Denver Broncos. Leinart should expect a deal somewhere in that range.
But Leinart's agent, Tom Condon, doesn't hesitate to hold his clients out if he doesn't like the deal the team is offering. In 2001, rookie running back LaDainian Tomlinson skipped almost all of the San Diego Chargers' training camp when Condon demanded more money.Condon and New England Patriots tight end Ben Watson eventually parted ways before Watson's rookie year because Watson thought Condon was being too stubborn in his negotiations with the team.
Interestingly if you read the blog Leinart did with ESPN pre draft he said reports he lost millions by staying in school were wrong, he said he wasn't healthy the year before and he could have easily been Aaron Rodgers and fell to 24 if he had come out that year. He said he figured he'd go top 3 and that he probably made himself money by staying in school. Then after the draft he said that he had a bad feeling from the Titans just before the draft, it was clear Chow had told him I want you, but they're picking Young. He said there were rumors that Denver was moving up to 8 to pick him, but Buffalo wouldn't do the deal. There were rumors the Jets wanted him but backed off. He said he was happy to be a Cardinal but he and his agents were totally surprised he lasted until #10.
