Foster Resigned
 

Texans have reached a five-year deal with RB Arian Foster. -- John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL)

No word on numbers yet.

Awesome! I just came to the site to make a new post asking everyone if they were surprised with the lack of moves by the Texans thus far... Even with the Foster signing, I'm surprised we haven't heard anything in regards to players being cut or renegotiating. I figured someone would have been cut or have re-done their contract to "help the team" (ie., save their skin) at this point. Look no further than what the Steelers have been doing the last few weeks.

BTW, I always felt they could get Foster signed without having to use the F-Tag as long as they got close to Chris Johnson $$. That might be more than some would want to pay, but the fact is, that's the market for someone like Foster. He's clearly a top 4 RB, and arguably the #1 RB in the league.

Another note, I think this signing is a clear indication they're going to use that F-Tag on Myers or Mario. Most likely Myers, but I tell you, I will not be shocked if they somehow get Mario signed. Not sure how, but it will not shock me.

That's about 22 M if they tag Mario, which means not much left for anybody else and is one more reason why Mario is gone. If he was DeMarcus Ware or Jared Allen, but Mario isn't a "great" edge rusher, so why would we want to pay him record money when we have other players to sign like Myers, Breisel, Dreesen, and maybe get one or two second tier guys in FA ?
BTW, did any back ever get the kind of money that Chris Johnson did before Johnson himself got it ? I'm thinkin he blew the roof off of the "established" pay-scale for running backs ?

Arian Foster joins AP and CJ atop RB $$ ranks. $43.5M over 5 years, $20.75M guar, $30m in 1st 3 years of deal, $18M in 2012. #insideslant -- Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora)

Wow! $18 million in 2012??? So long, Mario.

While I do hope they release Mario, I don't know how you can be sure about your remark until you know how much of that 18 M is subject to proration over multiple years ?

I'd try to re-sign Myers, but losing Breisel and Dressen is no big deal, IMO. You can add Walter and possibly others to that list. On top of that, and I think barrett mentioned it in another thread (before the Foster deal, of course), if they cut Ryans, JJ and Leinart, they might have enough for Mario and Myers. Like barrett said, I'd rather over pay MW for 1-yr. at this point than overpay Ryans/JJ/Leinart and/or others.

As for Foster and the RB payscale, I think AP got more than Johnson. Foster is a top RB and is going to get his $ from someone and I'm glad it's the Texans.

Interesting contract structure. Congrats to Arian, he is deserving.

That said, I'll use this post to caution the optimism (just so I can be different). RB investments are a risky endeavor. Foster will be 26 when the season starts. There is probably a suitable replacement about to be undrafted (as was Foster).

Ok, back to the rampant elation... ;)

More details on Arian Foster: $12.5 million signing bonus -- Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider)

That probably puts his cap figure around $8MMish. Team is likely about $4MMish over with Myers, Brisel, and Dresden to go.

Peterson is signing a seven-year, $100 million deal with $36 million guaranteed, a league source tells PFT’s Mike Florio.

The contract means there’s a good chance that the 26-year-old Peterson will retire a Viking.

Peterson’s deal is the biggest to date for a running back, topping both the five-year, $43 million deal with $21 million guaranteed for DeAngelo Williams of the Panthers and the four-year, $53.5 million contract extension, with $30 million guaranteed, received by Chris Johnson of the Titans.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...e-on-new-deal/
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You're right popanot, good recall on your part.

Bless you, Arian.

Foster = not greedy.

;)

Overall, seems fair at this point for Arian and for Texans.

Happy for Arian and his family for sure.

If he continues at top RB in the league pace , he can negotiate up in 2014 when Texans should have more cap space.

Spoke with another NFL team who told me Arian Foster's cap hit will be 8 million this year and 8.25 next year & 9 million in 2014 -- Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein)

Bad thing is I didn't at all recall the DeAngelo Williams deal. How awful is that deal the Pathers made? Wow!

Contract Specifics
 

From PFT:

Somewhere, Matt Forte and Ray Rice are feeling pretty good right now.

On consecutive days this week, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and Texans running back Arian Foster received new contracts carrying large chunks of fully, non-phony guaranteed money. Lynch got $17 million fully guaranteed on a four-year deal, and Foster (per a source with knowledge of the contract) will pocket $20.75 million fully guaranteed on a five-year contract.

Specifically, Foster snagged a $12.5 million signing bonus, a $5 million fully guaranteed base salary for 2012, and $3.25 million in fully guaranteed base salary for 2013. (His total base salary in 2013 will be $5.25 million.)

In each year of the contract, Foster can earn up to $500,000 in per-game active roster bonuses. (Specifically, he makes $31,250 for each game that he suits up for action.)

His base salaries for 2014, 2015, and 2016 are $5.75 million, $6 million, and $6.5 million, respectively.

For accounting purposes, the cap numbers are $7.9 million in 2012, $8.25 million in 2013, $8.75 million in 2014, $9 million in 2015, and $9.5 million in 2016.

Not bad for an undrafted guy who has been in the league for only three years.

The disappearance under the 2011 CBA of the highest possible restricted free agent tender, which would have qualified the Texans for a first-round and third-round draft pick if Foster had left for a new team, likely had a role in getting the Texans to put so much money on the table. Previously, when Foster had no real leverage, the Texans paid him as little as possible — offering only the three-year veteran minimum for 2011 as a reward for leading the league in rushing in 2010.

Thanks to the risk that someone like the Patriots or the Packers or the Giants may have gladly given up a low first-round pick in exchange for one of the best young backs in the league, Foster got his money without having to write “pay me, Rick” or any other messages on his shoes.