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Fred Taylor, Chris Baker contract recap

Email|Link|Comments (6) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff March 6, 2009 03:30 PM

A closer look at the contracts signed by RB Fred Taylor and TE Chris Baker with the Patriots:

Taylor's deal is a two-year, $5 million pact. It includes a $1.45 million signing bonus and base salaries of $1.55 million (2009) and $2 million (2010).

Baker's deal, on the surface, is a five-year, $14.4 million pact. But because of the presence of a $1.2 million option bonus in 2011, it could also be viewed as a two-year, $5.3 million deal (includes $200k in workout bonuses). If the Patriots pick up the $1.2 million option bonus in 2011, it becomes the five-year deal. If they don't, it ends at two years. Overall, Baker received a $1.5 million signing bonus and the following base salaries: $1.6 million (2009), $2 million (2010), $2.1 million (2011), $2.6 million (2012) and $2.9 million (2013).

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6 comments so far...

No way that Baker contract goes past 2 years unless he's the second coming of Tony Gonzalez which he isn't.

Posted by Jim L. March 6, 09 03:40 PM

this is a smart move on Baker. If he doesnt perform well in 2 years then drop him and get a new TE. Taylor can probably last 2 years or so so that deal aint too bad either.

Posted by alex March 6, 09 03:49 PM

Essentially, the deal costs the Pats 4.175 mil in cap space in '09. According to Miguel at Patscap.com....they're currently $12.4 mil under the cap. I could see a restructuring or two to get that up to, say, $15....the draft picks (assuming they use them all in the spots they currently hold, which I think we can all agree is unlikely) is around $5 mil or so? $6 maybe? I know Peter King had a rough breakdown but I'm too lazy to look. I know he said that the #7 player made about as much as all 3 of the other spots. Mayo has an '09 cap figure of about 2.25....so let's say it costs them 5 mil to sign all the picks (to be generous). Now...that's something in the 7-10 mil range. Is that enough to extend Wilfork (although his current cap figure of about 3 mil would also be added to the mix if the deal was done), extend Mankins (who has a current cap figure of about 2.2) AND sign/trade for a big name? .......you know? I think it just might be.

Posted by Rob in Central MA March 6, 09 04:16 PM

2.5 million for Fred Taylor? c'mon!! that's too much. He's a great back when healthy, which isn't often enough and he's 32 yo. We could've kept Vrabel, stuck w/the backs and tight ends we had and the cap would be roughly in the same place. I'm thinking Baker and taylor for Vrabel ain't worth it. Pete

Posted by Pete March 6, 09 06:25 PM

Yes you guys - sure wish you were running the Patriots instead of the idiot Krafts or Belichick - they don't have a clue, do they?

Posted by CJ March 6, 09 09:56 PM

Pete--you're an idiot. I'm tired of you and other would-be fans and your ignorance. Fred Taylor will likely enter Canton long before Corey Dillon.

Fred Freakin Taylor you moron. One of the best RB's in the last decade just took a low offer to be a Patriot.

Pete--turn in your Patriot shirts and tell your kids that you're really a j-e-t-s fan.

Posted by Ghost of Lombardi March 7, 09 02:25 AM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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