Vick agrees to 10-year deal worth $130 million

<p>Michael Vick became the richest player in the NFL by agreeing to call Atlanta home for the next decade.</p><p>The Falcons' star quarterback signed a 10-year, $130 million contract extension Thursday that guarantees him an NFL-record $37 million in bonuses.</p><p>"You know, making a commitment says a lot, not just to me, but to our team," Vick said with a smile. "It means a lot to me."</p><p>Vick's contract surpasses the $98 million deal Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning signed in March _ although Manning's contract is for seven years. Manning was guaranteed $34.5 million in bonuses.</p><p>Falcons general manager Rich McKay and Vick's agent, Joel Segal, began negotiations more than two months ago. They reached an agreement in principle Monday afternoon.</p><p>Vick signed the deal 20 minutes before an afternoon news conference to announce the extension.</p><p>"A lot of guys come into the league, they bounce around and never really find a home," Vick said. "But I'm very excited to know that I'll be here and have an opportunity to bring a Super Bowl to this city."</p><p>The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2001, Vick has a 24-12-1 career record. He is 14-4 since returning from a broken ankle last year, and this season led the Falcons to just the third division title in franchise history.</p><p>Atlanta earned a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs following the win over Carolina and Green Bay's loss to Jacksonville. The Falcons (11-3) visit New Orleans on Sunday, but Vick missed his second straight practice Thursday after injuring his left (throwing) shoulder in last week's overtime win over Carolina.</p><p>Rookie Matt Schaub hasn't been told he will start against the Saints, but the third-round pick from Virginia is prepared to do so. If he does play, Schaub won't try to play like Vick, who leads the NFL with 7.6 yards per carry.</p><p>Schaub, like many of his teammates, considers Vick a freak of nature.</p><p>"Yeah, pretty much," Schaub said. "I always thought he was, watching him on TV, but seeing it up close every day is something else."</p><p>Vick, chosen Wednesday to his second Pro Bowl, needs 80 yards to break the single-season record for rushing by a quarterback, set by Chicago's Bobby Douglass in 1972.</p><p>In a Week 8 victory at Denver, Vick became the first player in league history to rush for 100 yards and pass for 250 in a game.</p><p>"I'll share with you a comment I made to Michael and his agent over the summer," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. "I think Michael kind of flinched when I said. 'You understand that the only way you'll leave Atlanta will be in a box.' And I said, 'Coming from New York, you understand what I'm talking about.' "</p><p>According to a league official who requested anonymity, both parties faced a Dec. 31 deadline in which Vick had reached incentives that allowed him to void the 2005 and '06 seasons of the six-year, $62 million contract he signed in 2001.</p><p>The Falcons had the option of buying back both years to prevent Vick from becoming an unrestricted free agent March 2, but that choice would have charged them a combined $17.25 million against the NFL salary caps of '05 and '06.</p><p>By signing Vick to an extension before Dec. 31, Atlanta created approximately $2 million in cap savings next year and $1 million the following season.</p><p>"That was the only time barrier that was there," McKay said. "Because once we exercised that option, we'd eaten up all this year's room, so we can't do a new deal until next year."</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/12/154707