With the Patriots signing nose tackle Vince Wilfork and cornerback Leigh Bodden to lucrative contracts, the deal inked by offensive guard Stephen Neal has flown under the radar a bit.
That pact is for two years and totals $6.5 million. Between signing bonus and salary, it pays Neal about $4 million this season, with the remainder coming in 2011.
This looks like a win-win for both sides.
Neal was considering retirement after the playoff loss, but this is a nice final payday for him. He said that he doesn't envision playing once this contract expires.
Meanwhile, the Patriots retain a starting guard who is still playing at a high level. When considering that Titans starting guard Eugene Amano recently signed a longer-term extension that averages around $5 million per season, it looks like good value for New England on a short-term deal.
That pact is for two years and totals $6.5 million. Between signing bonus and salary, it pays Neal about $4 million this season, with the remainder coming in 2011.
This looks like a win-win for both sides.
Neal was considering retirement after the playoff loss, but this is a nice final payday for him. He said that he doesn't envision playing once this contract expires.
Meanwhile, the Patriots retain a starting guard who is still playing at a high level. When considering that Titans starting guard Eugene Amano recently signed a longer-term extension that averages around $5 million per season, it looks like good value for New England on a short-term deal.
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Mike Reiss first started covering the Patriots in 1997 with the team's official newspaper, Patriots Football Weekly, before moving on to the MetroWest Daily News in his hometown of Framingham. From 2005 to 2009, he covered the Patriots for The Boston Globe, while also writing on the NFL. He started his popular Patriots blog in 2004. Send any questions or comments for Mike to his mailbag. Follow him on Twitter here.
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