McFadden signs for six years, $60m
Darren McFadden and the Raiders entered contract talks with one major goal in mind: avoid a training camp holdout.
The sides accomplished that after only two days of negotiations, finalizing a $60 million, six-year contract that ensures McFadden will be in training camp on time and not repeat the protracted holdout that derailed quarterback JaMarcus Russell's rookie year in Oakland.
"I'm very happy to have it out of the way," McFadden said at a news conference yesterday. "I want to be in training camp. I want to be out there practicing and learning plays. Missing a day of training camp is like missing a week of college practices. It would be a major setback."
That's exactly what happened to Russell and the Raiders a year ago, when the No. 1 overall pick did not sign his $61 million contract until after the regular season started and ended up starting only one game.
McFadden, the touted running back from Arkansas, made avoiding a holdout a priority when he picked Ian Greengross as his agent, and talks with the Raiders started earlier and went smoother than they did with Russell a year ago. Greengross and McFadden, who was the fourth overall pick, sat down Tuesday night to go over his priorities in a contract and talks with the Raiders began the following day.
Greengross stayed in town when preliminary talks showed signs of progress and finalized the deal Thursday night. McFadden came back to the Raiders facility to sign the contract that will guarantee him $26 million.
Police point to Lynch
Authorities believe Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was driving the vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident that injured a pedestrian last weekend."We're proceeding on the assumption that Lynch was driving the car," Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark said. On Thursday, Clark was limited to saying Lynch was inside the 2008
Ex-Steeler White dies
Dwight White, the Steel Curtain defensive end known as "Mad Dog" who helped lead the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s, died following surgery. He was 58. He died at a Pittsburgh hospital, the team said. The cause was not disclosed. The team said White was released from the hospital after back surgery, but then was readmitted with complications. White made the Pro Bowl twice . . . Broncos center Tom Nalen, a former Boston College star, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, and the team expects him to be ready for training camp in July . . . Authorities said a convicted steroids dealer who claimed to have sold drugs to pro football players killed himself. The Dallas County medical examiner ruled 35-year-old David Jacobs's shooting death a suicide, but police in the Dallas suburb of Plano aren't saying whether he shot his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Amanda Earhart-Savell . . . Jaguars safety Gerald Sensabaugh apologized for his second arrest in 14 months and contradicted a police report that said he was "doing wheelies" on a motorcycle. Sensabaugh was arrested May 30 in his hometown of Kingsport, Tenn., and charged with reckless driving . . . Indianapolis reserve running back Luke Lawton was traded to Philadelphia for a conditional 2009 draft choice.
