So maybe it took the Bengals so long to come to terms with first round pick Andre Smith not just because they’re...well, you know, the Bengals. Apparently, the Alabama tackle’s ballooning waistline had the folks in the Bengals’ front office a little nervous. ProFootballTalk reports:
Andre Smith’s Contract Tied To His Weight
[Smith’s] contract contains a provision that slashes in half Smith’s pay for each game in which he weighs in at 350 pounds or higher.
It’s technically a de-escalator of his base salary, a device that is permissible as long as Smith’s salary exceeds the league minimum for his specific level of experience. But it’s a dramatic and (as far as we can tell) unprecedented move to compel a player to maintain a certain weight.
Congratulations to the Bengals for showing a bit of prescience. The history of talented offensive linesman with weight problems is very poor (ahem, Mike Williams). As for Smith, this has to be easily the worst rookie contract anyone has signed since Ricky Wiliams had Master P representing him. Master P was a rapper. What’s your excuse, Alvin Keels?
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