Vikings sign Hutchinson to offersheet that Seahawks probably wont/cant match

#1
(March 13, 2006) -- Start fitting Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson for a Minnesota Vikings.

The $50 million offer sheet that Hutchinson signed Sunday with the Vikings includes a provision dictating that he be the highest paid offensive lineman on his team this season -- or the entire $50 million contract becomes fully guaranteed, according to someone who has seen the offer sheet. Well, Seattle offensive tackle Walter Jones averages $7.5 million per year, while Hutchinson's contract pays him an average of $7 million per year.

The Vikings made Steve Hutchinson an offer that will be tough for the Hawks to match.

So if Seattle matched Hutchinson's offer sheet, it not only would have to figure out how to squeeze in this year's $13-million-plus salary-cap figure, but it also would have to guarantee a whopping $50 million to Hutchinson, making it the richest cash contract in NFL history by a cool $15 million.

As it is, Hutchinson will be the fourth highest paid offensive linemen in football, behind only Jones, Orlando Pace and Jonathan Ogden.

The deal, devised by Hutchinson's agent Tom Condon, makes it exceedingly difficult for the Seahawks to match. One person involved in the composition of the offer sheet predicted the Seahawks cannot match it; the ramifications would be way too severe.

Seattle is said to be miffed not at the contract, but at Hutchinson's actions. As an act of good faith, the Seahawks opted to slap Hutchinson with the "transition" tag instead of the "franchise" tag, enabling the guard to solicit a deal that would be the best gauge of his market value. Seattle opted against the franchise tag only because it did not want to disenfranchise Hutchinson the way so many players slapped with the franchise tags are.

In turn, Hutchinson's agent devised one of the most innovative contracts ever created, a monumental deal that nobody in Seattle saw coming. Now, the overwhelming chances are, Hutchinson is gone.

Seattle does have one other option, but it is highly risky. It can match the offer sheet and appeal the terms of the offer sheet to the NFL's Management Council. A Special Master would hear the appeal and if it ruled against the Seahawks, Seattle would be obligated to pay Hutchinson $50 million.

It's probably a gamble the Seahawks cannot afford to take.
Vikings r in the running once again, Hutchinson (most likely), LB Ben Leber, RB Chestor Taylor, K Ryan Longwell, and re-signing WR Korean Robinson, the Vikings r look GOOD! Pick up a good player at S like Will Demps to replace Chavous and ur looking at a solid Superbowl contender

And who knows whats gunna happen with Culpepper, if they get a solid player, or high draft pick, things will be looking REAL GOOD. Like trading Culpepper to the Saints for the 2nd overall draft pick, and gettin Matt Leinhart or Vince Young to backup Johnson this year (they need a solid backup behind johnson, cuz age has got to catch up to him eventually) I know Saints arnt gunna do that, but mabe Chambers from the Dolphins, that would be nice :rolleyes:
 
#2
culpepper will traded for a conditional 2nd round pick at best

no way anyone would give up a first round pick for someone who will likely be cut
 

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