SAN FRANCISCO, 27 July 2005 — National Football League No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith has agreed to a six-year deal worth $50 million with the San Francisco 49ers, making him the highest-paid rookie in NFL history.
The University of Utah quarterback has agreed upon a contract worth $50 million that includes $24 million in bonus money, the most guaranteed money ever to an NFL newcomer.
Smith, expected to take the starting job for the 49ers that once belonged to legend Joe Montana, beat the guaranteed 20 million dollars last year’s top pick, quarterback Eli Manning, received from the New York Giants.
Smith’s agent, Tom Condon, was also Manning’s agent.
“We’re happy to have it done and get him in to camp on time,” Condon said. “We think he has got a great future in the league.”
With Smith’s deal complete, agents and clubs have a base from which to work in assessing the value of players selected later in the draft as all sides hope to come to terms in time for NFL pre-season training camps, which have either opened or will open in the next week.
Star Rusher Apologizes for Walking Out on Teammates
In Davie, Florida, Ricky Williams apologized to teammates, coaches and fans of the Miami Dolphins here Monday at training camp, one day after returning to the American football club he walked away from a year ago.
The star running back stunned the National Football League team last July by announcing his retirement. The Dolphins were 4-12, their worst record since 1969, and coach Dave Wannstedt resigned after a 1-8 start.
“There were some things in life I wanted to explore outside of football,” Williams said. “I realize making the decision to walk away from football affected the team in a negative way.
“I realize I hurt the team and the fans and am very regretful that people were hurt in the process. I can see how leaving the team to experience things outside of football came off as being selfish, so I offer an apology to all the people that were negatively affected by my decision.”
Williams faces a four-game suspension at the start of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He admitted failing a drug test for marijuana after leaving the club last July.
“I wasn’t comfortable with being an NFL player,” Williams said. “I’ve had a problem with some of the (NFL) rules. But I’ve learned a lot in the last year.
“I had a different concept about freedom. I used to think freedom was doing what you wanted whenever you wanted. Freedom having the strength to be in any situation and be content. I see this as a great opportunity to work on that.” Pressed on his marijuana smoking, Wiliams replied, “I told (teammates) that I wouldn’t let the media become a distraction. Talking about my marijuana use becomes a distraction.”
Williams said marijuana helped him once he stopped using the anti-depressant drug Paxil because it didn’t agree with his diet.
Nick Saban replaced Wannstedt as coach this season and said he thinks Williams can return to the team with no lingering animosity from those he abandoned a year ago.
“He apologized to the team and I haven’t noticed any resentment from the players,” Saban said. “We will try to support him in every way. I don’t think there’s any question he has shown the ability to play effective football.”
Williams, 27, said he felt welcomed back into the Dolphins fold by his once and future teammates, calling his reception “surprisingly positive.”
“I spent two years with these guys. I could tell a lot of guys care about me and are happy to have me back,” he said. “I’m back to work. I’m 100 percent committed to this or I wouldn’t be here. I never stopped loving football.”
Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas was willing to forgive and forget.
“At first it was a little uncomfortable, but then once we started to talk everything was fine after that,” Thomas said. “He did a great job putting himself out to the whole team.
“It was probably pretty hard for him to come out and apologize, but you could tell he wasn’t just doing it because somebody told him to do it.”
Miami defensive end Jason Taylor had just as simple a notion - judge not lest ye be judged.
“I told him not to worry about proving anything to me, just do what you do,” Taylor said. “He didn’t have to explain anything to us. Some guys play for money, for fame, or because they love it. I can’t judge someone for what their motives are.”
