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| | | June 26 - In most professional sports these days, size counts. Not the size of an athletes' jock strap mind you, but the size of his contract. Take NFL star Greg Jennings, who signed a $27 million 3-year contract extension this week to continue playing as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers.
As part of the deal, Jennings will reportedly received a guaranteed fee of $16 million. This is a vast improvement on the $535,000 base salary he earned this year, the final year of his existing contract with the Wisconsin National Football League team. His career is now secure for at least three more years.
'We didn't feel like there was any need for me to sit out and choose not to participate,' said Jennings after the deal was officially concluded. 'That was not the route I wanted to go.' Once his new contract expires following the 2012 NFL season, the 25-year-old wide receiver will be an unrestricted free agent.
Said Packers coach, Mike McCarthy, 'We're excited for Greg Jennings' future here; there is no doubt. I think Greg is a young man that has developed here in Green Bay and I can't say enough about him personally. I like the way he goes about his business, and he is definitely well deserving of this contract.'
While it is not uncommon for NFL players to boycott training camps or offseason programs as leverage to secure the contracts they want, in the case of Jennings the negotiations seemed to go smoothly and without a hitch. No doubt this had something to do with the player's impressive season last year.
He racked up 80 passes (his career-best) for a total of 1,292 yards, and made nine touchdowns. In addition, he was named an NFC Pro Bowl first alternate behind Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin of the Arizona Cardinals, Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers and Roddy White of the Atlanta Falcons.
A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Jennings seemed humbled at his new contract. 'My expectations are higher than anybody else's, I guarantee you. Money is not going to change the player that I am. It probably will change the outlook of fans, thinking that I should produce more, but I will produce more anyway.'
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| | 6/25/2009 11:35:45 PM |
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