04/19/24
September 09, 2002
Why not to have a rapper as your sports agent:
Uber-agent, Leigh Steinberg got Ricky Williams an improved contract with the Dolphins. But check out this comparison between Williams' pay and that of Edgerin James:
In his first two NFL seasons, Williams earned $10 million, including a $9 million signing bonus. Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James, another 1999 first-round pick represented by Steinberg, earned $20 million during the same period.I don't think Master P will be getting many calls from other NFL players.
Ttrendel: That's not the point; Williams was one pick behind James in the 1999 draft, and yet his imbecilic contract earned half as much money for him. While in retrospect, James deserved to make more money, that doesn't get Master P off the hook for a hilariously bad deal. As for James having a better attitude, the guy hung out in South Florida all summer and missed both voluntary and mandatory team workouts. Sure, he just wanted to play ... for Miami.
posted by rcade at 07:47 AM on September 10, 2002
If I remember correctly, SI had an article about Williams's contract when it was signed, and about how silly it was. For him to make as much as James did, Williams was going to have to rush for something like 2000 yards each of the first 3 seasons (or something comparitively) and the Saints were going to have to perform wildly beyond expectations as well. It was simply a case where the agent was outsmarted by the number crunchers in team management.
posted by grum@work at 09:29 AM on September 10, 2002
Um... James was a factor well before the combines. He didn't win a Heisman, granted, but he was a huge factor for UM his last year. If anyone thought he wasn't a factor, they weren't paying much attention to college football at all his junior year.
posted by tieguy at 09:57 AM on September 10, 2002
Money-wise, James has shown he deserves more than Williams. As rcade noted, my point was that Master P got Williams a raw deal. Either that or NFL GMs are much smarter/slicker than record executives.
posted by shackbar at 04:59 PM on September 11, 2002
Well, Edgerin James has been a major tool of the team. Without him (i.e. last season) the Colts fall apart. Ricky Williams was a constant belly-acher for the Saints. Notice also that Ricky won the Heisman. James wasn't even considered a prospect until the combine. That says something. Ricky thinks he deserves something while Edgerin just wants to play. I think that Ricky will do great at Miami, but he will never be 1/10 the player of Edgerin, not only stats-wise but attitude-wise. the proof is in the pudding- Edgerin James, 3yrs, 4023 yds, 29 TD's Ricky Williams, 3 yrs, 3240, 18 TD's Also consider that during Ricky's stay in NO, he was the primary offensive weapon. James has been a secondary weapon due to Manning and Harrison. Any loss in Ricky's pay is due to lack of ability and poor attitude. Is James worth more than Ricky? HELL YES.