Post by lazarus on Jun 18, 2003 13:03:25 GMT -5
Rushing the quarterback pays off for Strahan, linemen
NFL teams do more than talk about the pass rush. They put their money where their mouth is. In Michael Strahan's case, that was $20.6 million in signing bonus and salary for the 2002 season, making the New York Giants defensive end the league's highest-paid player, according to a USA TODAY database study of NFL payrolls.
Strahan topped runner-up Donovan McNabb, the Philadelphia quarterback (and his frequent target), by almost $6 million.
The study, based on financial documents obtained by USA TODAY, also showed that teams shifted more of their salary-cap resources to defensive linemen. Of 11 position designations, six saw declines in their chunk of total team cap room from 2001, but two of the three showing the biggest gains were defensive tackles (13.7%) and defensive ends (8.8%), with quarterbacks sandwiched between (10.3%).
The statistical analogy holds true on the field as well, where the premium on pressuring the passer spreads the wealth from the pass-rushing ends to the interior linemen. The old joke about meeting at the quarterback is more true than ever.
"It's like corralling your prey," says agent Gary Wichard, whose sack-minded clients include 2002 league leader Jason Taylor (18 1/2) of Miami and rookie leader Dwight Freeney (13) of Indianapolis. "You have guys who are quick off the edge and 315-pounders in the middle, pushing the pocket. If the quarterback can't perform, you win. That's why these guys get paid."
That's also why NFL teams combined to draft a record 11 defensive linemen in the first round of the April draft.
"Pass rush is extremely important," Houston coach Dom Capers says. "Look at the guys who were taken last year. Julius Peppers (12 sacks for Carolina) and Freeney had a tremendous impact on their teams."
The salary cap is the financial ceiling on spending. Set at $75 million a team for the coming season, it includes base wages and bonuses, along with a prorated portion of signing bonus. The cap ensures competitive balance by eliminating great disparities in pay.
Quarterbacks had the highest average cap value in 2002 ($1.55M), with the defensive ends ($1.15M) and tackles ($1.02M) in pursuit. The values speak to a defensive emphasis on bringing "balance to your pass rush," New England coach Bill Belichick says.
NFL teams do more than talk about the pass rush. They put their money where their mouth is. In Michael Strahan's case, that was $20.6 million in signing bonus and salary for the 2002 season, making the New York Giants defensive end the league's highest-paid player, according to a USA TODAY database study of NFL payrolls.
Strahan topped runner-up Donovan McNabb, the Philadelphia quarterback (and his frequent target), by almost $6 million.
The study, based on financial documents obtained by USA TODAY, also showed that teams shifted more of their salary-cap resources to defensive linemen. Of 11 position designations, six saw declines in their chunk of total team cap room from 2001, but two of the three showing the biggest gains were defensive tackles (13.7%) and defensive ends (8.8%), with quarterbacks sandwiched between (10.3%).
The statistical analogy holds true on the field as well, where the premium on pressuring the passer spreads the wealth from the pass-rushing ends to the interior linemen. The old joke about meeting at the quarterback is more true than ever.
"It's like corralling your prey," says agent Gary Wichard, whose sack-minded clients include 2002 league leader Jason Taylor (18 1/2) of Miami and rookie leader Dwight Freeney (13) of Indianapolis. "You have guys who are quick off the edge and 315-pounders in the middle, pushing the pocket. If the quarterback can't perform, you win. That's why these guys get paid."
That's also why NFL teams combined to draft a record 11 defensive linemen in the first round of the April draft.
"Pass rush is extremely important," Houston coach Dom Capers says. "Look at the guys who were taken last year. Julius Peppers (12 sacks for Carolina) and Freeney had a tremendous impact on their teams."
The salary cap is the financial ceiling on spending. Set at $75 million a team for the coming season, it includes base wages and bonuses, along with a prorated portion of signing bonus. The cap ensures competitive balance by eliminating great disparities in pay.
Quarterbacks had the highest average cap value in 2002 ($1.55M), with the defensive ends ($1.15M) and tackles ($1.02M) in pursuit. The values speak to a defensive emphasis on bringing "balance to your pass rush," New England coach Bill Belichick says.
