http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2787446

The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms on a seven-year, $49.6 million contract with free agent offensive lineman Leonard Davis, the second pick in the 2001 NFL draft who has played the last six seasons for the Arizona Cardinals.

Davis will receive $24 million over the first three years of the contract, and $18.75 million of Davis' contract is guaranteed.

"It's a new chapter in my life," Davis said. "I want to win games, which obviously I haven't been able to do in this part of my career. Right now, all I can do is look forward to being successful. ... I want to be able to have some respect, earn respect."

Davis, 6-feet-6, 366 pounds, is expected to play either right tackle or right guard for the Cowboys, depending on the resolution of contract talks with current Cowboys right tackle Marc Columbo, an unrestricted free agent the Cowboys hope to re-sign.

"It just glares out at you the flexibility his skills give us making what we want to be now and in the future what we want to do in our offensive line," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.

Davis' contract exceeds the free agent deals of Bills guard Derrick Dockery (7 years, $49 million) and Browns guard Eric Steinbach (7 years, $49.5 million).

Wow, that much gauranteed cash....for leonard davis? 18.75 mil is a too much for him..

Aight **** it, let's just say Clements inked the richest deal for a defender in history, regardless of if he actually recieves it or not. And that prompts me to say the 49ers just overpaid him cuz he, to me, hasn't proven himself to be worth more than Champ Bailey. This really may screw over the Patriots cuz Asante Samuel sees this happening and thinking how it should be him getting this deal(and by all rights, he would be cuz he's a better, younger CB than Clements). That's just how I feel about it... Eman5805

No doubt about it, they did overpay him. He is getting 22 mil guaranteed, about 7 more than my liking, and thats what makes me anxious. But its not nearly as bad as it seems.

[QUOTE="raghavan"]And will people stop saying clements made 80 million? I even made a thread about this. Clements will see 43.5 million dollars over 6 years.Clements is NOT the highest paid defensive player, because he will NEVER see 80 million.nygiants1080

"The 49ers rewarded Clements, the top player in the ESPN.com ratings of the league's unrestricted free agents, with an eight-year, $80 million contract that includes $22 million in guarantees.By virtually any standard used to assess NFL contracts by those in the industry, the pact makes Clements the highest-paid defensive player in league history."

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2786253

Answer the question. Do you think he will get the 80 mil? Dont be naive. This is a well structured contract. He gets the title, but he aint gettin the money. It looks superfically rich but he wont get the money and thats what counts, because he will not be paid 36.5 million in the last 2 years as the contract is structured, even if he becomes the best CB of all time. My whole point is he gets the title of richest player, but he really isnt.

Bailey, of course. Id rank clements anywhere from 4-7.

And will people stop saying clements made 80 million? I even made a thread about this. Clements will see 43.5 million dollars over 6 years. Clements is NOT the highest paid defensive player, because he will NEVER see 80 million.

The popular opinion around here is he got 8 years 80 million dollars. That is NOT true. Ill explain.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

"A league source tells us that, as a practical matter, it's a six-year deal worth $7.25 million per year."

http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=514187

I don't claim to know how the 49ers and agent Todd France structured Clements' whopping eight-year, $80 million contract. (Those exact numbers won't be available until they're included in league paperwork.) But it doesn't have to count more than $5 million against this year's salary cap.

The prorated signing bonus money can be spread out over six years - not the full eight years of his deal - because of the length of the current CBA. So assuming he received a $22 million signing bonus (and that's a big assumption), the bonus portion would count $3.67 million each year for the next six years. He could be making the minimum salary this year of $595,000. So that means that Clements could conceivably count only $4.26 million against the cap in 2007.

But it's also possible the 49ers wanted to put more money on this year's cap because they have so much space to eat up (and that would leave them in better shape in future years). Therefore, they could have bumped up the first-year salary and/or converted some of that $22 million guaranteed into a roster bonus that counts immediately against this year's cap.

He will earn 7.25 per for the first 6 years. That is 43.5 million dollars. The last 2 years he will see INSANE amounts of money that will pay him 36.5 million. But, the bonus will be paid in full by then. At least, 90 percent of it. So what this means..

This is a 6 year, 43.5 million dollar contract. He will NEVER see year 7 and 8.

Solid move. He will be a great player.

What position will he play though? I read he might play Right Tackle, but he played Left Guard in cinci.

Eh, since Adalius Thomas is pretty much a lost cause at this point, I guess the niners could go after Porter instead. He would give the team some swagger, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much. Renegade_Fury

Yeah, pretty much. Id like porter. He has had a more consistent career but thomas had an amazing year last season compared to porter.

I wanted the Eagles to keep Michael Lewis:( I think he's better than Sean Considine(Especially at tackling)familyguy77

As an eagles fan, what can you tell me about michael lewis?

[QUOTE="raghavan"]Clements in actuality got a 6 year, 43.5 million dollar contract.nygiants1080

Yeah, but its a lot of funny money in years 7 and 8. He will earn 36.5 million in the last 2 years. He will never see that much $. He earns about 7.25 per for the first 6 years.

Clements in actuality got a 6 year, 43.5 million dollar contract.

The last 2 years pay him 36.5 million. He will NOT see those years. In the first 6 years he makes 7.25 per, along with a 22 mil bonus.

Just remember, the 80 mil is not the real contract.

Im dissapointed we didnt sign adalius thomas. Maybe joey porter will be a niner? Hes had a more consistent career but he had a down year last year.

I cant say much about michael lewis. He had a down year as well but he was a probowler a few years ago. I need to see financial details.