Redding Gets Big Contract; Briggs, Samuel Don't

Last week, Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney signed the richest deal in NFL history for a defensive end. Actually, it was the richest for a defensive lineman, period.

Now comes Lions DT Cory Redding setting financial records as well.

Last year, Rod Marinelli moved Redding from defensive end to defensive tackle. The move was a good one.

On Monday, the Lions made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in football. Redding, the team's franchise player in 2007, agreed to a seven-year, $49 million contract that included $16 million in guarantees, including $13 million in signing bonus and roster guarantees.

Redding will receive a little more than $20 million over the first three years of his contract.

Now, he will be present for the start of camp and will work with Shaun Rogers in what should be one of the more dominating interior defensive lines in football.

The Redding deal tops the five-year, $33.24 million contract given to Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Redding was taken in the third round of the 2003 draft and started nine games as a defensive end as a rookie. In the past three years, he had 48 starts. Last year, he had career highs in tackles (47) and sacks (eight).

Also, neither New England cornerback Asante Samuel nor Chicago weakside linebacker Lance Briggs reached a contract agreement before Monday's 4 p.m. deadline for franchise players to sign multi-year deals. Now, the two standout defenders are limited by league rules to signing just a one-year tender.

The one-year tender for Samuel is $7.79 million, and for Briggs it is $7.206 million.

Once a player signs the tender, the money becomes guaranteed. A team can also rescind the qualifying offer, but there have been no indications the Bears or Patriots plan to do so.

There were seven veterans designated as franchise players this year. Three of those players -- Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney (six years, $72 million), New Orleans defensive end Charles Grant (seven years, $63 million) and Redding -- signed long-term contracts. Cincinnati defensive end Justin Smith ($8.64 million) and Seattle kicker Josh Brown ($2.078 million) signed the one-year tenders for their respective positions.