In the 24 hours since the Oakland Raiders signed defensive lineman Tommy Kelly to a seven-year, $50 million contract with more than $18 million guaranteed, I've taken some time to consult various sources I trust to gauge their opinions on the deal.The consensus: What the hell were the Raiders thinking?
Kelly is a fine player. He's versatile enough to play either end or tackle, and he has the skill set necessary to play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4. It's not like he's terrible.
But the Raiders, who expect to use him as their three-technique tackle, have just made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL. I can't find anyone who thinks he's worth even close to that kind of money. He's coming off a torn ACL, he's not a particularly good pass rusher, and he's a little slim to be a run-stuffing defensive tackle.
This is the kind of contract that leaves a team wondering what happened to all of its salary cap space when it's in desperate need of depth at other positions. The Raiders gave Kelly way too much money.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. How is the contract loaded year to year? If it is out year heavy it may not be that outrageous.
Posted at 2:08PM on Feb 29th 2008 by NetRaider
2. Tommie Harris is smiling from ear to ear.
Posted at 8:23PM on Feb 29th 2008 by Fornelli
3. Kelly is worth every penny , the Saints and Broncos were both ready to sign him for about the same money.If either one had, you would be raving how they had shored up their line, but when the Raiders resign him, some how its the dumdest deal in the history of the NFL, Why is that ?
Posted at 9:29PM on Feb 29th 2008 by brotherbyrd
4. Fornelli,
If Tommie Harris is smiling, his agent Drew Rosenhaus is licking his chops and counting down the days till the next offseason.
Posted at 9:54PM on Feb 29th 2008 by Tim
5. Kelly is not worth this type of money and I will never believe any team would pony up 50.5 mill over 7 yrs!!!Corey Williams is much better yet only got a 6yr for about 38 million. And he has two good knees!! I just hope Kelly shows us he is indeed worth every penny.
Posted at 4:33AM on Mar 1st 2008 by rodmoney
6. last year cory redding got a $47-48 million contract, what has he ever done, i bet you didn't have a problem with that, kelly will do big things this year,.
Posted at 12:09PM on Mar 1st 2008 by kevin rule
7. I hope Kelly turn out to be worth it but at this point it looks like another Davis blunder. Because of it they will most likely lose Clemons, as they were offering him far less, yet he was tied for the sack lead. Stupidity seems to reign within that organization, IMHO.
Posted at 12:32PM on Mar 1st 2008 by srw
8. Kelly is a good and versitile player. Is he worth 50.5 million dollars? That is still to be seen. I think he is worth alot of money, maybe just not that much. I would like to see him have a big season so people will finally stop bashing Al Davis.
Posted at 12:48PM on Mar 5th 2008 by gatorboy2110
9. You dont give huge contracts based on potential. Making him the highest paid tackle in the game is a rediculous notion by a team that doesnt have a clue what they are doing anymore. Add another 55 million for Javon Walker, and I have over 100 million reasons why the Raiders will not win a play-off game for a decade.
Posted at 1:08PM on Mar 5th 2008 by Sac