Reigning defensive player of the year James Harrison cashed in on his stellar season Monday – signing a six-year $51.75 million contract ($20 million guaranteed) with the Steelers. According to NFL.com, the deal makes Harrison the second highest-paid player in franchise history; quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is the highest. Harrison has seemingly come out of nowhere to become the All-Pro player he is today. After being undrafted, and struggling to make a pro roster (he was cut by both the Steelers and Ravens), Harrison found a home in Pittsburgh in 2005. It took him a couple of years, but in 2007 Harrison finally received significant playing time and responded with 8 ½ sacks. Harrison then followed up his 2007 gig by setting a Steelers record in sacks – 16, and helping lead the Steelers to another Super Bowl title.
Though many know Harry Kalas as the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies, fewer may know that Kalas was also the voice in the background of NFL Films. That’s why his death on Monday was felt around the National Football League, just like it is around Major League Baseball. Kalas’ recent NFL work included working with the likes of Cris Collinsworth, Jim Brown, Phil Simms and Warren Sapp on Showtime’s Inside the NFL. Kalas was reportedly found unconscious some time before the Phillies were to take the baseball field – he was taken to the hospital where he would later be pronounced dead. It is not currently known at this time the cause of death.
ProFootballTalk.com is reporting that former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford is pretty much a lock to become the first pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. The report states that Matthew Stafford has been talking to former Bulldog teammates – stating that he will receive more than $40 million in guaranteed money. Stafford also allegedly told his former teammates that it’s a “done deal.” No official statement has been made by the team holding the number one pick – the Detroit Lions, in fact just earlier today The Detroit News reported that the Lions are still mum on the number one pick.
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