Jets Snare LB Pace With Monster 6-Year $42 Million Contract

The New York Jets continue to spend big bucks in an effort to get back to the playoffs, this time reaching a 6-year $42 million deal with linebacker/defensive end Calvin Pace. According to agent Pat Dye Jr. of ProFiles Sports Management, the deal will include a $20 million signing bonus, and total guarantees of $22 million. The contract will pay Pace $26 million over the first 3 years, making him one of the NFL's highest paid linebackers in history, even though he has done little in the NFL to merit such a deal.

Pace was a 1st round pick by the Cardinals in the 2003 NFL Draft, and has spent time at defensive end and outside linebacker, starting 38 games in his 5 years with Arizona. Last year was his best season, when he notched 98 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception. For his career, Pace only has 186 tackles and 14 sacks, so $7 million per year seems pretty outrageous for limited production, especially if the Cardinals, whose defense isn't that great to begin with, didn't make a play to lock him up long term. If perenial Pro Bowler Lance Briggs could only get $6 million per year, there's no way Calvin Pace is worth that type of coin.