Rams sign Bulger to 6-year, $65 million deal
Marc Bulger's numbers put him in the top tier of NFL quarterbacks, and now he has a contract to match.
The St. Louis Rams signed the two-time Pro Bowler to a six-year, $65 million contract extension Friday that makes him the highest-paid player in franchise history. The contract includes $27 million in guaranteed money and puts him in a group of six quarterbacks making $10 million a year.
The Rams tied up both of their loose ends on the first day of training camp, also reaching agreement on a five-year deal with first-round draft pick Adam Carriker.
Bulger, coming off a career year, was a no-show for a mandatory team meeting Thursday and is in the final year of a four-year, $19.1 million contract with a salary of about $4 million for this year.
"The whole time we knew it was going to get done, it was just a matter of logistics," said Bulger, who threw for 4,301 yards last season with 24 TDs and 8 interceptions. "The numbers are one thing. It's huge. The first contract was a life-changer and this is a life-changer."
Strahan to retire? Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan failed to report to the New York Giants training camp in Albany, N.Y., on Friday, and he is mulling retirement, his agent told the team.
"He is not here," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said after Strahan failed to report with veterans and rookies to the University at Albany. "Last night I talked to his agent (Tony Agnone) and his agent said to me at seven o'clock last night that he is contemplating retirement. That's all I know right now."
Neither Reese nor coach Tom Coughlin has been able to contact Strahan, although the 35-year-old who holds the NFL single-season record for sacks (22ˆ¨) left a message for Coughlin around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday night.
Coughlin did not see the message until Friday morning. He left a telephone message for Strahan, but it was not immediately returned.
Jets sign RB Fisher: The New York Jets signed veteran running back Tony Fisher and linebacker Mark Zalewski on Friday. Fisher, who spent last season with St. Louis after four years with Green Bay and playing collegiately at Notre Dame, should add depth to the Jets' running back corps.
McNabb can practice: Donovan McNabb was cleared to practice when the Philadelphia Eagles take the field for the first time today.
The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback hasn't played in a game since he tore a ligament in his right knee on Nov. 19. He participated in the team's final minicamp last month, but it wasn't a certainty he would start training camp on time.
Signings: First-round draft pick Ted Ginn Jr. agreed to terms with the Miami Dolphins, his father said. Ginn, a receiver and kick returner out of Ohio State scored 26 touchdowns for the Buckeyes, including a Big Ten-record 6 returning punts. ... Defensive tackle Amobi Okoye signed a $17.6 million deal with the Houston Texans and was on the field Friday for the first day of training camp. Okoye agreed to a six-year deal that can be voided after five years under certain conditions. ...
The Baltimore Ravens reached agreements with first-round offensive guard Ben Grubbs (Auburn) and fourth-round fullback Le'Ron McClain (Alabama). ... New York Giants first-round draft pick Aaron Ross (CB, Texas) reported to training camp with a five-year, $13 million contract. ... Reggie Nelson, all All-American safety at Florida and the 21st overall pick in the April draft, signed a five-year deal worth $13.2 million with Jacksonville.
Extra points: No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders failed to agree on a contract before the start of training camp Friday, forcing the quarterback to miss the team's first practice. ... The Carolina Panthers suspended offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges for the first two games of the regular season, a day after his arrest on a misdemeanor assault charge.