Over the years, there have been plenty of sports contracts that athletes have been given that, for lack of a better word, were miserable. Sure, guys enjoy breakout seasons and get the attention of teams, but that doesn’t mean that they’re truly worthy of millions of dollars, right? One sport that seems to toss money around like it’s a game is the NFL, which is why I’m giving you the worst contracts ever signed in the history of the league.
Photo via YouTube
20. Percy Harvin – New York Jets
6 years, $64.2 million ($14.5 million guaranteed)
6 years, $64.2 million ($14.5 million guaranteed)
After being traded to the Seattle Seahawks prior to the 2013 season, wideout Percy Harvin was expected to bolster the offense and be a dynamic threat in various roles for the team. It never really came to fruition, as Harvin played in just two games—which did include the Super Bowl—as the team accomplished its goals without the speedy player. After clashing with teammates in 2014, Seattle shipped him and his massive deal to New York, believing they were better without him.
19. Mike Vanderjagt – Dallas Cowboys
3 years, $6 million ($3.31 million guaranteed)
When the Dallas Cowboys handed kicker Mike Vanderjagt a three-year deal worth $6 million in 2006, he was the NFL’s career leader in field goal percentage, so the thought was that he was worth the price tag. Unfortunately, the kicker’s time in Big D ended up being a dud, as he missed five attempts in 18 tries and was released after just 10 games, with the Cowboys paying him $3.31 million for that type of production.
Photo via YouTube
18. Javon Walker – Oakland Raiders
6 years, $55 million ($16 million guaranteed)
After being released in 2007 by the Denver Broncos because of injury, the Oakland Raiders took a major chance on wideout Jacon Walker, guaranteeing him $16 million over the life of his massive deal he signed in 2008. Playing in just seven games for the Raiders and making 15 catches, Walker was placed on injured reserve his first year and, after just two seasons with the club, was released in 2010, earning $21 million for playing just 15 total games.
17. Joe Johnson – Green Bay Packers
6 years, $33 million ($14 million guaranteed)
After earning two Pro Bowl trips as a member of the New Orleans Saints, defensive lineman Joe Johnson struck it big when the Green Bay Packers inked a deal that paid him $14 million guaranteed. For as much money as Johnson got, though, he sure didn’t produce, lasting just two seasons in Green Bay and totaling 12 tackles and two sacks in 11 games. Looks like he left his mojo in New Orleans.
Photo via YouTube
16. Shaun Alexander – Seattle Seahawks
8 years, $62 million ($15 million guaranteed)
One of the best runners of his era, former running back Shaun Alexander was always bound to make a lot of money—as he, consistently, signed one-year, franchise tags. So when the Seattle Seahawks re-upped with their star for eight years and $62 million, it was more as a thanks for what he had accomplished, and not for what he would. After coming off a superb 2005 season in which he won league MVP, Shaun A broke his foot in Week 3 and failed to ever return to his previous form, lasting just two seasons and making $15 million after the large deal.
15. Daunte Culpepper – Minnesota Vikings
10 years, $102 million ($16 million guaranteed)
Before every franchise quarterback earned a $100 million-plus deal, former signal-caller Daunte Culpepper was a rear commodity who was looked at as a special talent in the game. For that reason, the Minnesota Vikings signed him to a 10-year, $102 million deal with $16 million guaranteed in 2003. After one, exceptionally, good year in 2004, Culpepper’s number flamed out, blowing out his knee in 2005 and, ultimately, getting dropped from the roster, proving that, sometimes, bad luck comes at the worst times.
14. Adam Archuleta – Washington Redskins
7 years, $30 million ($10 million guaranteed)
It’s hard to believe that, after signing the largest deal for a safety in league history at the time, Adam Archuleta rode the bench for the Washington Redskins just months after they signed him in 2006. Lasting just one year in D.C., the Skins shipped him to the the St. Louis Rams in 2007, which started a trend of traveling to different teams for the player, before finally calling it a career in 2008 after being cut by the Oakland Raiders during training camp.
Photo via YouTube
13. Nate Odomes – Seattle Seahawks
4 years, $8.4 million ($2.2 million guaranteed)
Making two Pro Bowls for the Buffalo Bills in 1992 and ’93, the Seattle Seahawks hoped that cornerback Nate Odomes would solidify their secondary when they handed him a four-year, $8.4 million deal with $2.2 million guaranteed. It wasn’t mean to be, though, as Odomes busted hi knee during a charity basketball game after signing the deal, and, then again, injured the same knee in training camp the following year. With that, Odomes never played a down for the Seahawks.
Photo via Rick Stewart/Getty Images
12. Jevon Kearse – Philadelphia Eagles
8 years, $66 million ($16 million guaranteed)
One of the most dynamic defensive lineman ever, when healthy, former Pro Bowler Jevon Kearse was nicknamed “The Freak” thanks to his speed and agility. For that, the Philadelphia Eagles signed him to an eight-year, $66 million deal in 2004 that guaranteed him $16 million, making him the highest-paid defensive end in NFL history at the time. After totaling just 15 sacks in his first two seasons in Philly, Kearse was hit by the injury bug, missing most of 2006 and, ultimately, being cut by the Eagles in 2008.
11. Ricky Williams – New Orleans Saints
7 years, $68 million ($8.8 million guaranteed)
Here’s a tip for all future athletes—make sure you have a good agent representing you in contract negotiations, otherwise you may end up like former running back Ricky Williams. With rapper Master P serving as Ricky’s agent, the rookie superstar’s first contract called for him to earn just $3.8 million in his first year, with the deal loaded with, near-impossible, incentives. Contrary to Williams’ deal, fellow rookie runner Edgerrin James made $14.8 million that year, proving that some contracts are bad for the players, and not just the teams.
Photo via YouTube
10. Jerry Porter – Jacksonville Jaguars
6 years, $30 million ($10 million guaranteed)
A solid receiver, Jerry Porter had a lot of talent and, more importantly, learned from superstars Jerry Rice and Tim Brown while a member of the Oakland Raiders. With the Jacksonville Jaguars convinced Porter had the goods, they signed him to a six-year, $30 million deal in 2008, with $10 million in guaranteed cash. Appearing in just 10 games his first season with the Jags and making 11 catches, Porter never got a chance at an encore, as the team released him in 2009, less than a year to the date of his deal.
Photo via YouTube
9. Scott Mitchell – Detroit Lions
4 years, $21 million ($8 million guaranteed)
Former NFL quarterback Scott Mitchell never quite lived up to the hype that surrounded him during his playing days, proving that he was nothing more than just a glorified backup. After getting one deal that made NFL general managers scratch their heads, Mitchell earned another big contract in 1997, getting $8 million guaranteed from the Detroit Lions after he had his finest season the year prior. After a good ’97 season, Mitchell was replaced just two games into the 1998 season, making this investment rather poor over the long haul.
Photo via YouTube
8. DeAngelo Hall – Oakland Raiders
7 years, $70 million ($24.5 million guaranteed)
Trading a second- and fifth-rounder to acquire the talented cornerback from the Atlanta Falcons, the Oakland Raiders believed that teaming DeAngelo Hall up with fellow corner Nnamdi Asomugha would be the recipe for disaster for opposing teams. It wasn’t, as Hall struggled in the Raiders system, getting booted just eight games into his Oakland career.
7. David Boston – San Diego Chargers
7 years, $47 million ($12 million guaranteed)
Signed to the richest contract in team history at the time, flashy and enigmatic wide receiver David Boston earned a seven-year, $47 million deal from the San Diego Chargers before the 2003 season. Like others on this list, Boston clashed with coaches and failed to produce during games, being shipped to the Miami Dolphins after just one season. Making things worse, the beefed-up Boston was slapped with a four-game suspension for violating the league’s steroid policy in 2004.
Photo via Flickr/YouTube
6. Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears
7 years, $126.7 million ($54 million guaranteed)
It’s not that Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler isn’t a good quarterback—he absolutely is—but should he be the highest-paid player in the league? Absolutely not. Unfortunately, Cutler is just that, earning $18.5 million in 2014 for a team that struggled mightily, even benching their signal-caller for his inconsistencies. With Cutler, potentially, on his way out of town, the seven-year, $126.7 million deal he signed last offseason was a major mistake for the franchise.
5. Deion Sanders – Washington Redskins
7 years, $53 million ($8.5 million guaranteed)
Deion Sanders is a Hall of Famer who accomplished a ton during his playing career. But the seven-year, $53 million deal he inked with the Washington Redskins in 2000 was a bigger theft than any of the interceptions he had in his career. With money to splurge, the Skins thought that adding the dynamic star would bolster their team and fan base. It didn’t’ work, as Sanders failed to be the “Neon Deion” that Washington had hoped they were getting—yet they committed $8.5 million guaranteed to the guy for just one season.
Photo via Flickr/atlantafalcons
4. Larry Brown – Oakland Raiders
5 years, $12.5 million ($3.5 million guaranteed)
After intercepting two passes in the Super Bowl and earning game MVP honors for the Dallas Cowboys in 1996, cornerback Larry Brown was set for a big payday following the best performance of his life. The Oakland Raiders were the team that wanted to give him such cash. Guaranteeing him $3.5 million after a five-year, $12.5 million deal, Brown didn’t return the favor of such money, as he started just one game in two seasons for Oakland before being released.
Photo via YouTube
3. LeCharles Bentley – Cleveland Browns
6 years, $35 million ($12.5 million guaranteed)
Ah, yes, the life of being a Cleveland Browns fan. After LeCharles Bentley made a few Pro Bowls during his time with the New Orleans Saints, the Cleveland native and former Ohio State product wanted to return to his roots and help rebuild the Browns offensive line. Unfortunately, in his first 15 minutes on the practice field wearing an orange helmet, Bentley tore ligaments in his knee, forcing him to miss the season and, ultimately, end his career due to infections and such. With $12.5 million guaranteed, the Browns paid a big price for absolutely zero production.
Photo via YouTube
2. Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams
6 years, $78 million ($50 million guaranteed)
The last rookie top selection under the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement, St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford was the beneficiary of millions of dollars guaranteed to him before he even took a snap in the NFL. While Bradford did win the Heisman Trophy in college while at Oklahoma and had/has the skills to be a good NFL signal-caller, he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, finding himself on the shelf more than on the gridiron, making the money the Rams committed to him a big-time mistake.
Photo via Flickr/chrispusateri
1. Albert Haynesworth – Washington Redskins
7 years, $100 million ($41 million guaranteed)
Without a doubt, Albert Haynesworth getting $100 million from the Washington Redskins in 2009 was the worst decision a team has ever made on a player. While Big Al was a Pro Bowl-caliber player and a massive force in the middle of a defensive line, he had past instances of laziness and malcontent, making him a serious risk for any team that wanted to sign him. The Skins didn’t care, though, as they gave him the biggest contract to a defensive player in league history at the time, while Haynesworth struggled on the field and with the coaches, before being shipped out of D.C. after just a couple of seasons.
