http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2800006 The Philadelphia Eagles signed former Rams unrestricted free agent wideout Kevin Curtis to a six-year, $32 million contract on Thursday. Curtis The Eagles beat out the Minnesota Vikings and two other teams for the chance to land the heavily-coveted Curtis, who will be guaranteed $9.5 million in the deal. Rated by ESPN.com as the No. 23 player available in the unrestricted market, Curtis was one of the top players still remaining in the talent pool. The four-year veteran was one of the most popular unrestricted free agents from the outset of the signing period, but his courtship was delayed when he changed agents a week into the process. Curtis, 28, had played his entire career with the St. Louis Rams before going into free agency. He wrapped up his visits with other teams this week, meeting with Tennessee Titans officials, then returned home to Utah to deliberate the offers from his various suitors. The addition of Curtis is a coup for the Eagles and team president Joe Banner, not just because of the intense competition for his services, but also because he figures to be such a good fit with the team's young corps of receivers. He has played in an offense similar to the design of coach Andy Reid, and the deep threat he consistently provides will compensate for Philadelphia's recent loss of wide receiver Donte Stallworth in free agency. One of the NFL's fastest players, certainly in terms of straight-line speed, Curtis will bring a big-play dimension to the Eagles' attack. In his four seasons with the Rams, he registered 136 receptions for 1,714 yards and 12 touchdowns. His best season was in 2005, when Curtis had 60 catches for 801 yards and six touchdowns, playing in the Mike Martz-designed offense. He garnered considerable playing time that year because of injuries, but his role was reduced under first-year coach Scott Linehan in 2006, when St. Louis relied more on the running game and didn't use as many three-wideout formations. A former Utah State standout, Curtis was a third-round choice in the 2003 draft, and has appeared in 51 games, with 11 starts. John Clayton and Len Pasquarelli are senior writers for ESPN.com
Not really, due to the way they are set up..... Curtis got 9.5 million guaranteed from the eagles. The patriots gave Stallworth 3 million guaranteed (one year deal) Stallworth has a one year deal, with a 5 year option after the 07 season. The Patriots have the ability to extend him after the 07 season, or cut him at no loss. Stallworth is only guaranteed for the 07 season. If they do extend him , there is a pre negotiated deal in place. If the patriots decided to extend Stallworth for the full six years, he would see the rest of the 11.5 million guaranteed. Since the pats can cut Stallworth after a year things are a lil different , as he would never see the rest of his gauranteed money beyond what they agreed to for this year. According to this article, Curtis has a staight up 6 year 32 million $ deal, with 9.5 mill gauranteed. Curtis is a lesser reciever then Stallworth, but not a bad pick up for the eagles at all. He should do well there.
Man, I had this guy 2 years ago on my fantasy team and he actually was one of my top 3 WR's...I'm gonna get him this year...When McNabb comes back, he's gonna be a beast...without the hamstrings.
The pats look foolish once again, they could have had a better player than welker, paid him less guaranted money and saved 2nd & 7th rd picks had they signed Curtis instead of trading for mr. 1 TD in his career.
No they dont. Curtis is there to replace Stallworth. In case you did not notice they got Stallworth for a few million Dollars and have the ability to cut him OR extend him. Not only did they get him for cheap money, he turned down more money and better deals from other teams. Stallworth is a far better player then Curtis. The patriots felt bringing on the RFA Wes Welker was worth the second rounder. PS Curtis and Welker both make the same gauranteed money, and To the Patriots Welker was worth going after. You do know Belichick is very good frinds with Saben right> They see something in the kid they want. You of course are a better talent evaluator then Pioli and Belichick tho. Not sure why you dont undestand Welker is a Replacement for Troy Brown. A guy brought in to work in the slot , return kicks , and get tough first downs. Pretty sure the Eagles grabbed Curtis to replace Stallworth. The patriots had 12 draft picks before they signed Welker. They ob felt he was worth giving up the second pick to get, since he was a rfa. I think they assume he is a sure thing. Where there last two second round picks have been bad news. Seeing how the had 29 million in cap space, there entire roster tendured 12 draft picks including 2 first rounders, I think they felt the second rounder was Dissposable. Next you are going to say pciking up Kelly Washington for 3oo grand was a bad move....
They got Curtis for cheaper than what NE got welker for, the only reason Stallworth came somewhat cheap to NE was b/c of his history and no team willing to gamble on him long term. would you rather have Welker paying more in guaranteed money PLUS a 2nd and 7th rd pick or Curtis?
Wrong again, the Titans offered him more gauranteed money and years. Stallworth turned them down. Im not a talent evaluator. I dont care they gave a second and seventh for him. They had 12 picks and now had 10 picks including two first rounders. If he turns out to be a Troy Brown it would be worth every cent to the patriots. There is a reason they did not go after Curtis. Jackson was a bust and so was Johnson. Both second rounders.
Did they offer him a long term deal w/ $10 mil+ guaranteed? it doesn't matter anyway, the Pats overpaid for Welker when they could have gotten a better player in Curtis for alot cheaper.
Donte Stallworth was offered more money / years By the Titans - fact Kelly washington was offered more money / years by the Dolphins - fact Both players turned down the offers, and settled to make cheap money in one year deals. The pats ability to be extend them ior tell them to walk. The deals are "no risk" deals with the ability to pay off big. It does matter, the eagles brought in Curtis to replace Stallworth. Tyhe patriots got him for cheap money and no risk. Stallworth > Curtis. Not sure why they would bring in Curtis to work in the slot and return kicks when he was not that great in the slot previously. If Welker is a Troy Brown it was worth the second round pick. Welker is getting 9.5 over six years btw : ) Until he proves he was not worth going after, you are speculating and going against some of the best talent evaluators in the NFL. You know more I guess. The question is, what are you going to say when the pats use those 10 draft picks they have left and the 2 first rounders in a month or so. I am sure they forgot how to draft right? The end
So what? Who cares if they were offered more money and turned it down? They weren't ofered welker type deals. if the money is close guys will usually take a little less to play w/ a good team.. Welker is NOT a Troy Brown, welker is not a Kevin Curtis. you overpaid badly for him. It was one of the worst moves of any team all offseason.
Receiver Wes Welker's contract with the Patriots is a five-year package worth $18.1 million. He receives a $5.5 million signing bonus and a $3.5 million option bonus due in the spring of 2008. His base salaries are $550,000 in 2007; $1.4 million in 2008; $1.65 million in 2009; $1.9 million in 2010; $2.15 million in 2011. Welker can earn a $50,000 workout bonus in 2007; $250,000 roster bonuses in each season from 2008-2011; and $100,000 workout bonuses in each season from 2008-2011. this is from the boston globe. How is that more money than Curtis? It's more like half
My point exactly. Go back and read some previous posts made but this guy. Never is even close to correct with his homer driven babble. This is like the 5th time he made claims about inaccurate numbers. Check out the first post in the Stallworth thread, then check my post under it.
The article I posted says he got $10 mil in guarantees, Curtis got $9.5. 10 is more than 9.5(the guaranteed money is the important part of the contract) PLUS you gave up 2nd and 7th rd picks AND Curtis is better.
Curtis brings a totally different skill set then Welker. They gave up the second because he was an rfa. The seventh was a good faith move by Kraft to smooth over differences. Obv they felt they could do it having 12 picks and 2 first rounders. They obvioulsy feel he is more sure of a move then drafting a guy for the same purpose. Judging by there most recent second rounders they may be right. They wanted Welker for his skill set in there system. Once again you should be comparing Curtis to Stallworth. You just dont get it do you? That is what the eagles hired Curtis for. To replace Stallworth who NE got for peanuts.
Curtis is BETTER than Welker, he can do everything Welker can and you could have had him CHEAPER! Have the pats EVER made a bad move? seriously, if they signed Ryan Yarborough I think you'd say it was the best signing of the offseason.
I would not. maybe Curtis did not want to play for NE. maybe they do not like him for a certain reason. You are speculating. Most your posts are horribly inaccurate. Other then the beef you have with the Welker signing. You have a solid argument there, I just do not agree. I feel with there abundance of draft picks, and there recent inability to pick up a nice reciver in the second round, I think it may pay off in the end for them. I feel he has a Troy Brown like skill set, and will turn into that type player in that system, with that qb. Nick Saben is good friends with Bellichick and I suspect a little insider info on Welkers potential was shared. They have enough tape on him, and have proven to be good evaluators of potential. The pats moves made sense, and some saved them money. The Brady and Morris moves where good role player pickups, that saved them a lot of money when Dillon and Graham left. Dillon is finished and was against the cap for almost 5 million bucks. Morris cost them a fraction of that and will be effective to flank Maroney for his 8 - 10 carries a game. Brady is a good blocker and saved them alot of money when Graham left for Denver. They have Thomas and Watson already. DG is not worth the 15 million gauranteed it would have took to keep him a patriot. Not to them anyway. Brady is a good role player (blocker) that saved them money. The Stallworth deal was a good move, Lots of upside and no risk. They got him for cheap money in a one year deal, he can only help. Same for Washington. 300 grand for one year at no risk? Of course you make that deal. The Thomas deal fills a huge hole in there defense. He also is a perfect player to step in while they draft and develope a lb. They opened up there check book for Thomas, like they did Colvin. They got him for less then his market value, hence them not overpaying. While they gave him big money, they got him for LESS then his market value. They had the money to do it, and the smarts to set the cap up so it worked out fine. All these moves make sense. They have 10 draft picks and two first rounders. They have 9.5 million in cap space left and are close to resigning there franchised player. There entire roster is locked up and tendered for the future. You seem to be eluding to the fact that somehow the patriots are not going to utalize there 10 reamaining draft picks (including 2 first rounders) effectivley, like they have in previous years. One of the best drafting teams is just going to forget how to use 10 draft picks this year eh? That is just not going to happen. They will draft well to back up a productive fa period. Since they had 29 million in cap space this year, with all there core players locked up, they are utalizing both f/a and the draft. They had 17 fa on the roster in 2001, dont know why this is such a shock to you. They have spent all the way to the cap in every year they won a superbowl.Last year they used the money on there own players. They still have 9 million wich means they have not yet done what they did over the last 6 years, and spent all the way to the cap. Kraft said he was going to use all the cap money when people where upset they sat around last year after they locked up there players. The difference is this year they have the luxury to go out and get some guys they want due to being smart with the cap and signing there own players last year. Not sure how all these moves and 10 draft picks is not going to make them a better team, but whatever you say. Having 9 million bucks and 10 draft picks left after the moves they made, is hardly making bad moves.
