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$500,000-US bonus awaits Wake in NFL

B.C. knows it can't compete in bidding for outstanding defensive end

By Lowell Ullrich, The Province

January 9, 2009 9:00 AM

Monstrous defensive end Cam Wake, who played two CFL seasons almost in a league of his own, is about to completely outgrow its relevant salary structure.

It has been nearly two weeks since the two-time defensive player of the year with the B.C. Lions has been eligible to sign an option-year NFL contract, but time has had no downward effect whatsoever on his market value.

Wake has told friends the signing bonus being discussed at present is fast approaching the $500,000 US mark, a staggering sum by CFL standards that would more than ensure he will not simply be training-camp fodder. Some 12 NFL teams have shown varying degrees of interest, with the Tennessee Titans believed to be the club discussing the biggest offer.

The signing bonus might represent the amount the Lions have to spend under the CFL's salary management system in order to extend current contracts, sign all their remaining free agents and make upgrades for the coming season by plucking players off the open market.

But it won't all be spent on one player, even if Wake might deserve to become the highest-paid defender in league history after recording 39 sacks in 38 games.

Coach Wally Buono said after meeting with Wake and his parents during Grey Cup week in Montreal that he would not make an offer to the

26-year-old, because there was no way the club could be competitive. In addition to a signing bonus, Wake would make $310,000 US as rookie in the NFL. By the end of the month, when it is expected Wake will formally plot his future career path, the Lions almost certainly will be proven correct.

"Obviously we're never going to say we're not interested in re-signing him," Lions personnel co-ordinator Neil McEvoy said Thursday, "but they've got some firm offers that they are weighing against each other that I don't think we're going to able to [compete].

"Until he goes through the process, you really don't know what's going to happen. But he's getting top-two [second-round] draft-pick money."

The process was slowed to some degree due to several NFL head coaching firings last week, which coincided with the start of the option-year signing period. Among the teams that showed enough interest initially to bring Wake in for a recruiting visit were the Denver Broncos, who fired coach Mike Shanahan.

However, Wake switched agents Tuesday, dumping Brian Redden of Cincinnati for Paul Sheehy of Littleton, Colo., who has close to two dozen CFL clients and has previous success negotiating deals for NFL-calibre players.

Sheehy, who did not return several calls, concluded an agreement this week for another

26-year-old CFL player who had drawn NFL interest when standout receiver Jamel Richardson re-signed a four-year deal with the Montreal Alouettes. The Lions are not holding out hope they will reach a similar conclusion with Wake.

B.C.FAN wrote:That's serious coin for a CFL option-year player. Pass-rush specialists are valuable commodities in the NFL. It will be interesting to find out how teams plan to use him.