Hartwell a FALCON

BigChiefFan · 03-21-2005, 08:37 AM

LAS VEGAN HITS JACKPOT: Hartwell goes to Falcons

Linebacker says he signs $26 million guaranteed pact

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Ed Hartwell, shown sacking Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna in a 2002 game when he was with the Ravens, has joined the Falcons, who played in last year's NFC Championship Game.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Linebacker Ed Hartwell did not panic when seemingly every other NFL free agent had signed.

"I think I wanted to wait, and patience is a virtue," he said. "I wanted the right situation and the right team."

Hartwell, who went to Cheyenne High School and lives in Las Vegas in the offseason, said he found that fit Sunday. He said he has signed a six-year, $26.24 million guaranteed contract with the Atlanta Falcons that includes an $8 million signing bonus.

Guaranteed NFL contracts are virtually unheard of anymore because of the risk of injuries.

"It's a great agent," Hartwell said of Harold Lewis. "Other than the money, I'm excited to go to Atlanta. It's a great organization. Arthur Blank, the owner, is a great guy, and the head coach (Jim Mora) and defensive coordinator (Ed Donatell) on down. It's a great team on the verge of a Super Bowl run."

The Falcons went to the NFC Championship Game last season before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles.

They are most noted for an offense led by quarterback Michael Vick and running back Warrick Dunn. Atlanta's defense ranked in about the middle of the league.

"We never had the offense in Baltimore like they've had in Atlanta," said Hartwell, who spent all four of his NFL seasons with the Ravens. "They definitely have a lot of great players. If you put together that great offense with a great defense and play together as a team, it could be an unbelievably good future."

Hartwell signed to be an integral part of that future, and the Falcons obviously were interested in one of the NFL's most-noted free agents. ESPN ranked Hartwell (6 feet 1 inch, 250 pounds) as the league's No. 5 free agent.

He is coming off a season in which he made 96 tackles while playing in Ray Lewis' shadow. Hartwell's career high was 142 tackles in 2002.

Hartwell said 17 clubs expressed interest when the free-agent period began and told Lewis to organize the effort to pick the best one. Lewis previously said he set high contract standards to weed out the teams that weren't serious.

Though Lewis did not talks specifics, the asking price reportedly was $4 million annually. Hartwell made $1.348 million last season.

In the end, Hartwell said he chose Atlanta over Arizona, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City and Seattle. He said the offers were about $3.5 million to $5 million annually.

"I told my agent I didn't just want the highest payday," Hartwell said. "If one team offers $5 million and another $4.8 million, I wasn't going to automatically sign for $5 million because it wasn't just the money. I definitely wanted to go somewhere I would be happy. Atlanta is now my second home because Vegas is my first home."

|Zach| · 03-21-2005, 08:40 AM

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho.../26121496.html

**Lzen** · 03-21-2005, 08:40 AM

Good, I'm glad. If the guy expected guaranteed money like that, the Chiefs didn't need him. We've had enough FA failures.

Gaz · 03-21-2005, 08:40 AM

Oh NO!

What are we going to talk about now?

xoxo~
Gaz
Adrift.

|Zach| · 03-21-2005, 08:41 AM

Weird source to break that...I dont see it anywhere else.

**alpha_omega** · 03-21-2005, 08:41 AM

Guess that settles that!

King_Chief_Fan · 03-21-2005, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

Good, I'm glad. If the guy expected guaranteed money like that, the Chiefs didn't need him. We've had enough FA failures.

come on.......that is so typical. When ever we lose out on a good signing, someone says good.....and then sites their reason.

Give me one reason why you think this guy would have been an FA failure.

HC_Chief · 03-21-2005, 08:44 AM

About damned time.

Hammock Parties · 03-21-2005, 08:45 AM

NO!

**mlyonsd** · 03-21-2005, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaz

Oh NO!

What are we going to talk about now?

xoxo~
Gaz
Adrift.

Why the front office sucks and we didn't address all of our problems on defense in FA and BTW, our front office sucks.

Duh.

Frankie · 03-21-2005, 08:46 AM

Goodbye Mr Douglas,.. I meam... Hartwell. I hope you have a career like Hugh's too.

**Bwana** · 03-21-2005, 08:48 AM

Sweet! I didn't think old "48 hour Ed" knew how to use a fricken pen.

**RNR** · 03-21-2005, 08:48 AM

"I told my agent I didn't just want the highest payday," Hartwell said. "If one team offers $5 million and another $4.8 million, I wasn't going to automatically sign for $5 million because it wasn't just the money. I definitely wanted to go somewhere I would be happy. Atlanta is now my second home because Vegas is my first home."
I wonder if Atlanta just happened to offer the most

Gaz · 03-21-2005, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

Why the front office sucks and we didn't address all of our problems on defense in FA and BTW, our front office sucks.

Duh.

Good points.

You forgot to add that Gretz is a brown-nosing shill and that Dawes does not use his real name.

xoxo~
Gaz
Willing to hope that the Planet does not become a graveyard.

Eleazar · 03-21-2005, 08:51 AM

Dear lord... what are the moonbats going to bitch about around here now?

Looks like we're back into "CARL IS A CHEAPASS!" territory again.

03-21-2005, 08:37 AM
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	Hartwell a FALCON LAS VEGAN HITS JACKPOT: Hartwell goes to Falcons Linebacker says he signs $26 million guaranteed pact By MARK ANDERSON REVIEW-JOURNAL Ed Hartwell, shown sacking Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna in a 2002 game when he was with the Ravens, has joined the Falcons, who played in last year's NFC Championship Game. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Linebacker Ed Hartwell did not panic when seemingly every other NFL free agent had signed. "I think I wanted to wait, and patience is a virtue," he said. "I wanted the right situation and the right team." Hartwell, who went to Cheyenne High School and lives in Las Vegas in the offseason, said he found that fit Sunday. He said he has signed a six-year, $26.24 million guaranteed contract with the Atlanta Falcons that includes an $8 million signing bonus. Guaranteed NFL contracts are virtually unheard of anymore because of the risk of injuries. "It's a great agent," Hartwell said of Harold Lewis. "Other than the money, I'm excited to go to Atlanta. It's a great organization. Arthur Blank, the owner, is a great guy, and the head coach (Jim Mora) and defensive coordinator (Ed Donatell) on down. It's a great team on the verge of a Super Bowl run." The Falcons went to the NFC Championship Game last season before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. They are most noted for an offense led by quarterback Michael Vick and running back Warrick Dunn. Atlanta's defense ranked in about the middle of the league. "We never had the offense in Baltimore like they've had in Atlanta," said Hartwell, who spent all four of his NFL seasons with the Ravens. "They definitely have a lot of great players. If you put together that great offense with a great defense and play together as a team, it could be an unbelievably good future." Hartwell signed to be an integral part of that future, and the Falcons obviously were interested in one of the NFL's most-noted free agents. ESPN ranked Hartwell (6 feet 1 inch, 250 pounds) as the league's No. 5 free agent. He is coming off a season in which he made 96 tackles while playing in Ray Lewis' shadow. Hartwell's career high was 142 tackles in 2002. Hartwell said 17 clubs expressed interest when the free-agent period began and told Lewis to organize the effort to pick the best one. Lewis previously said he set high contract standards to weed out the teams that weren't serious. Though Lewis did not talks specifics, the asking price reportedly was $4 million annually. Hartwell made $1.348 million last season. In the end, Hartwell said he chose Atlanta over Arizona, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City and Seattle. He said the offers were about $3.5 million to $5 million annually. "I told my agent I didn't just want the highest payday," Hartwell said. "If one team offers $5 million and another $4.8 million, I wasn't going to automatically sign for $5 million because it wasn't just the money. I definitely wanted to go somewhere I would be happy. Atlanta is now my second home because Vegas is my first home."
Posts: 15,777

03-21-2005, 08:40 AM	#2
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5306768	http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho.../26121496.html
Posts: 53,439

03-21-2005, 08:40 AM	#3
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $2190692	Good, I'm glad. If the guy expected guaranteed money like that, the Chiefs didn't need him. We've had enough FA failures.
Posts: 41,357

03-21-2005, 08:40 AM	#4
Gaz Defense Homer Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rancho Gaz Casino cash: $10010793	Bother... Oh NO! What are we going to talk about now? xoxo~ Gaz Adrift.
Posts: 5,911

03-21-2005, 08:41 AM	#5
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5306768	Weird source to break that...I dont see it anywhere else.
Posts: 53,439

03-21-2005, 08:41 AM	#6
alpha_omega Supporter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liberty Casino cash: $1601251	Guess that settles that!
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03-21-2005, 08:44 AM	#8
HC_Chief That's just f***in' stupid Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: suburbia Casino cash: $3687107	About damned time. __________________ "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the war room!"
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03-21-2005, 08:45 AM	#9
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4670478	NO! __________________ Chiefs game films
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03-21-2005, 08:46 AM	#11
Frankie Banned Join Date: Jul 2001 Casino cash: $10004900	Goodbye Mr Douglas,.. I meam... Hartwell. I hope you have a career like Hugh's too.
Posts: 26,959

03-21-2005, 08:48 AM	#12
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139503647	Sweet! I didn't think old "48 hour Ed" knew how to use a fricken pen. __________________ Adventure is dangerous....but monotony can kill you.
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03-21-2005, 08:48 AM	#13
RNR America is great assholes~ Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: In some people's mind~ Casino cash: $10027990	"I told my agent I didn't just want the highest payday," Hartwell said. "If one team offers $5 million and another $4.8 million, I wasn't going to automatically sign for $5 million because it wasn't just the money. I definitely wanted to go somewhere I would be happy. Atlanta is now my second home because Vegas is my first home." I wonder if Atlanta just happened to offer the most __________________ The Trump campaign and Black Lives Matter movement are perfect for each other. Both sides filled with easily led and angry nitwits convinced they are victims~
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03-21-2005, 08:51 AM	#15
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	Dear lord... what are the moonbats going to bitch about around here now? Looks like we're back into "CARL IS A CHEAPASS!" territory again.
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