Guards, and Their Paychecks, Are Finally Standing Out (1 Viewer)

[Dave]

Derrick Dockery learned the value of offensive tackles early. He was one in high school, earning the prestige afforded to the very large bodyguards for the most important player of all, the quarterback. Every kid wanted to play one of the hot offensive positions, Dockery said — quarterback, wide receiver, left tackle.

But when Dockery went to the University of Texas, he found two future first-round draft picks — Mike Williams and Leonard Davis — entrenched on the offensive line’s edges. So the Longhorns’ coaches slid Dockery inside to guard, in one stroke knocking him down the game’s pecking order and cutting his earning potential.

Until now. Last season, Dockery was guaranteed $18.5 million when he signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with Buffalo, the most lucrative contract in Bills history at that point. And he became part of a recent free-agency trend: the awarding of eye-popping contracts to guards, once the most anonymous of N.F.L. players.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/s...em&ex=1205208000&en=38690f8ae33b9c3a&ei=5087

 

[Taceo]

This couldn't have happened after locking up Jahri Evans long term could it

 

[meily]

This couldn't have happened after locking up Jahri Evans long term could it

Aleast we would be paying Jahri to stay and not to come to N.O.....we know his worth and impact on this team, I hate paying big money for what a guy did on another team....doesn't always mean he'll do the same for your team.

 

[Pdlc]

Every position is getting overpaid.

 

[Trey W.]

i believe you are right Pdlc

 

[cdogg]

Overpaid? Naww..... People are paid what they worth. These players create billions of dollars every year. The salary cap is exploding. These are the people who create running lanes, and protect QB's. They are worth it.

 

[meily]

Every position is getting overpaid.

I agree.....