Well, there goes that. Adam Caplan, of Pro Football News and Injury Report, reports the Houston Texans have agreed with free agent TE Jeb Putzier (Broncos) on a four-year, $7.5 million contract. The deal also includes a $1.85 million signing bonus.
Hutchinson Ruling:How it affects the Jets Does that affect us and if so how? Updated: March 20, 2006, 8:38 PM ET Vikings' man? Seahawks lose Hutchinson rulingAssociated Press SEATTLE -- The Seahawks must match the guarantee provision in the $49 million, seven-year deal offered to All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson by the Minnesota Vikings if the NFC champions want to keep their transition player. Hutchinson In a hearing Monday in Philadelphia, a special master ruled against Seattle, saying an unprecedented provision guaranteeing all of the $49 million in an offer sheet Hutchinson signed with Minnesota should he not be the team's highest-paid offensive lineman is valid. "The Seahawks lost," NFL Players' Association general counsel Richard Berthelsen said Monday. League spokesman Michael Signora said Monday evening that the Seahawks had until midnight ET Monday to match the Vikings' offer or lose Hutchinson to Minnesota. The Seahawks and Vikings each said they had no comment. Hutchinson's agent, Tom Condon, said that the Seahawks had not contacted him as of Monday night about possibly matching the offer in the final hours. Jones "There's not been any contact with them at all since the offer sheet was signed," said Condon, who considers his Pro Bowl client to now be a member of the Vikings. When asked if Hutchinson wanted to leave the team that drafted him 17th overall out of Michigan in 2001, Condon said: "Not at all. I think that there wasn't any reason for him to leave Seattle. "Nevertheless, Minnesota really stepped out for him." The Vikings' seven-year offer, which Hutchinson signed on March 12, included $16 million guaranteed. It would be the richest deal ever given to a guard. And Monday's ruling means it just got richer. The most guaranteed money in NFL history is the $34.5 million signing bonus Peyton Manning received in March 2004 from Indianapolis, part of a record $98 million Colts contract. Berthelsen attended a two-hour hearing Monday morning in Philadelphia before special master Stephen Burbank, who ruled on the matter. The Seahawks had argued Monday morning that because they have recently re-negotiated Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones' $54.5 million, seven-year contract by adding an eighth, voidable year, Jones' team-best lineman deal now has an annual value below that of Hutchinson's offer. After the re-negotiation, Jones' annual base salary would dip to $6.81 million -- just below Hutchinson's $7 million annual average if Seattle matched Minnesota's offer. Thus, the Seahawks argued Monday morning they should not have to guarantee the rest of Hutchinson's new deal. Berthelsen said Burbank did not elaborate in his ruling. But Berthelsen said the decision validated the NFLPA's stance that the conditions at the time Hutchinson signed the offer sheet with the Vikings are the conditions Seattle must match -- meaning Hutchinson wasn't the highest-paid Seahawks linemen then, so Seattle must guarantee all $49 million of the Vikings' deal to match it. "They wanted to put in additional language to make it from any point from now until the end of the 2006 league year," Berthelsen said. "That is contrary to the intent of the wording that was in the contract. "And the special master agreed." The only positive for the Seahawks may be closure. They now have $6.39 million more to spend on potential free agents -- money they had been obligated to tender to Hutchinson once they made him their transition player last month. Seattle has offered a first-round draft pick for Jets defensive end John Abraham, who wants a long-term deal. The Jets are still mulling that offer for their franchise player. Some of the money freed by Hutchinson leaving could be used to sign his replacement. Versatile veteran Floyd Womack, who started 22 games at tackle and guard in his first four Seattle seasons before he lost his right-tackle job, is currently in line to replace Hutchinson. Also SeeSeahawks maneuver to keep guard Hutchinson The Seattle Seahawks have ... Adjust Font Size:
I'd loved to see him together with Baker as the TE for NY. Fortunately there are some talented TEs in the draft
I would've liked to get Putz, really solid TE for the price the Texans payed, I think they got a steal. We have to bring back Baker now.
