RALPH
CINDRICH
Agent

Cindrich continues to pull a lot of strings in the player movement game that has seized the NFL.

He has negotiated more than $120 million worth of contracts in the first two years of free agency. Cindrich is an agent who is concerned about players' financial awareness and careers after football. He twice has surveyed college seniors on their attitudes toward and perceptions of the economic side of the NFL.

The Sporting News

 

"... One of the Top 100 Most Powerful people in all of sports, one of the most influential agents in the NFL..."

 

"His ethics are sensational."

 

"Crown Agent Ralph Cindrich as Undisputed Free Agent Champ".

 

"Few agents make a difference, but he (Cindrich) does. Gets the most for (his) clients."

 

"A man of utmost integrity"

 

". . . one of the top five football agents in the Country."

Friday, August 31, 2001
Updated: September 1, 12:43 PM ET

Home is where the big money is

 

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
When it comes to the NFL's most lucrative contracts for the 2001 season, home is definitely where the big-money deals reside.

Big ticket items
According to NFL Players Association salary documents obtained by ESPN.com, there are 54 players who will earn $5 million or more in compensation for the 2001 season. The compensation figures listed reflect the total of a player's base salary for 2001 and all signing, reporting, roster and offseason workout bonuses. The figures do not reflect any performance bonuses or incentives that might be earned during the season:
Pos. Player Team Comp.
QB Brian Griese Den $13,054,560
DT Bryant Young S.F. $12,977,000
RB Corey Dillon Cin $12,900,000
WR Eric Moulds Buf $12,502,560
DE Jason Taylor Mia $12,035,500
QB Brett Favre G.B. $11,477,640
WR Randy Moss Min $10,610,000
QB Steve McNair Ten $10,505,120
DT Gerard Warren Cle $10,110,000
CB Ray Buchanan Atl $10,100,000
OG Leonard Davis Ari $10,094,416
OT Bob Whitfield Atl $10,050,000
DE Marcellus Wiley S.D. $9,504,160
LB Mo Lewis NYJ $9,500,000
OT Brad Hopkins Ten $8,982,120
QB Mark Brunell Jac $8,503,760
LB Derrick Brooks Tam $8,500,000
LB John Mobley Den $8,304,560
OG Pete Kendall Ari $7,754,800
OG Will Shields Kan $7,504,160
FS Darren Sharper G.B. $7,500,000
QB Brad Johnson Tam $7,255,120
OT Matt Lepsis Den $7,029,560
DE Michael Strahan NYG $7,005,120
CB Patrick Surtain Mia $6,776,000
RB Jerome Bettis Pit $6,740,000
DT Sean Gilbert Car $6,553,520
DT John Randle Sea $6,505,120
C Jeff Hartings Pit $6,503,200
CB Jason Sehorn NYG $6,500,000
CB Dewayne Washington Pit $6,253,120
LB Dwayne Rudd Cle $6,250,000
QB Drew Bledsoe N.E. $6,038,533
WR Cris Carter Min $6,000,000
DT Richard Seymour N.E. $6,000,000
LB Dexter Coakley Dal $5,951,200
RB Emmitt Smith Dal $5,853,200
CB Chad Scott Pit $5,850,000
OG Dan Neil Den $5,823,280
QB Vinny Testaverde NYJ $5,800,000
CB Aeneas Williams Stl $5,605,120
QB Elvis Grbac Bal $5,505,120
DE Kenny Holmes NYG $5,503,200
DT Darrell Russsell Oak $5,501,120
OT Ross Verba Cle $5,500,000
DE Trace Armstrong Oak $5,478,120
RB Ahman Green G.B. $5,420,560
RB Curtis Martin NYJ $5,368,000
OT Todd Steussie Car $5,250,000
TE Marcus Pollard Ind $5,175,000
DT Tony Williams Cin $5,103,840
QB Chris Chandler Atl $5,005,040
DE Joe Johnson NOR $5,000,000
QB Michael Vick Atl $5,000,000

According to NFL Players Association salary documents obtained by ESPN.com, there are 54 players whose total compensation for the 2001 campaign is at least $5 million. Of that group, a dozen players will earn $10 million or more this season. That number will almost certainly grow by one when Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Justin Smith, the lone unsigned player from the '01 draft, agrees to terms.

Most of the highest-paid players either moved into or retained their status in the elite payroll group by remaining with their current teams. In fact, with the exception of first-round defensive tackle Gerard Warren of Cleveland, everyone in the top 10 is a veteran who either signed a new contract with his current team or restructured an existing deal.

There are five players who will earn more than $12 million each this season and that is believed to be a new record.

Topping the stratospheric tax bracket list is Denver quarterback Brian Griese, whose new six-year, $39 million contract will pay him $13,054,560 this season in compensation. The major portion of that total comes from a $12.6 million signing bonus, with the balance in his base salary ($450,000) and a modest workout bonus ($4,600).

Griese's compensation is about $3 million less than the 2000 leader, Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, who topped out at slightly more than $16 million. Griese was the NFL passing champion for the 2000 season.

"The focus anymore is on teams keeping their own best players, spending the money on the guys they know, instead of investing in (veteran) free agents," said Ralph Cindrich, the agent who negotiated Griese's blockbuster deal. "We had a situation that was right for us and right for the player. It made good sense for everyone. They wanted him there and he wanted to be there."

The union's recent report on player movement this spring, which indicated that a record-tying low 93 unrestricted free agents switched teams, demonstrate the increased emphasis both players and teams have displayed lately in maintaining the status quo. And the salary documents reflect the value in doing so.

Thirty-seven of the 54 highest-paid players for 2001 either re-signed with their incumbent team, extended existing contracts or restructured existing deals to help the franchise gain cap room. In the latter cases, teams simply converted part of the player's base salary into a signing bonus.

Just a dozen of the players in the group of 54 earned their status in free agency, by going to new teams. Veteran cornerback Aeneas Williams is the lone player in the assemblage to have been traded, from the Arizona Cardinals to the St. Louis Rams, who signed him to a three-year contract.

There are only four rookies - all first-round selections, of course - in the top group. Just two rookies, Warren and Arizona offensive guard Leonard Davis, rank among the players with compensation of $10 million or more. And Warren, the third overall choice in the draft, is the lone rookie in the top 10 earners, with a total compensation of $10.11 million.

A quirk in the collective bargaining agreement, which permitted team to prorate signing bonus over just six seasons instead of the usual seven years, contributed to the dearth of rookies among the highest-paid players. Most of the top draft choices were forced to split their signing bonus, taking a portion as an "option bonus" next spring, a maneuver forced by the system, but which blunted total 2001 compensation.

Warren, for instance, has a guaranteed option bonus for next spring. Davis, on the other hand, has an incentive he must earn.

The roster of big-money earners for this season also reflects a shift in priorities, with the quarterback position incredibly tied by offensive linemen for most members in the elite group. There are 10 quarterbacks and 10 offensive linemen. Other positions: defensive tackle (seven); defensive end and cornerback (six each); running back and linebacker (five apiece); wide receiver (three); tight end and safety (one each).

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.