Fully guaranteed rookie contracts are not the norm in the NFL. With the volatile nature of the league, and the significant flame-out potential -- what up, Jamarcus Russel -- teams have shied away from handing a rookie a contract that is guaranteed to be paid in full. In fact, one of the prime examples for not guaranteeing rookie contracts came in 1993, when the Seattle Seahawks handed No. 2 overall pick Rick Mirer a guaranteed contract.
Adrian Clayborn, like Mirer, received a fully-guaranteed contract, and we're not so sure this is going to work out well.
Adrian Clayborn not first rookie to have contract fully guaranteed. Back in 1993, No. 2 pick Rick Mirer had his contract fully guaranteed.
One can only assume Clayborn is doomed to the curse of Mirer. You know the curse: Under-performance, irrelevance, blinding frustration and, eventually, all-out mutiny.
In all seriousness, this is a side-effect of the new collective bargaining agreement. Rookie contracts are now all laid-out, and the only significant negotiations come when discussing guaranteed money. But still, there should be a Mirer rule that bans these kinds of guaranteed shenanigans.