EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Calvin Johnson got the biggest contract in NFL history Wednesday, and he wasn’t even a free agent.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Calvin Johnson got the biggest contract in NFL history Wednesday, and he wasn’t even a free agent.
The All-Pro wide receiver’s eight-year deal through the 2019 season is worth $132 million, with $60 million guaranteed, surpassing the $120 million with $50 million guaranteed being paid to Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald.
“They were happy to get this thing done with, and I was happy as well,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t a lot of confrontation. We weren’t butting heads or anything. It was just something that we knew needed to get done.”
Another All-Pro, guard Carl Nicks, left New Orleans for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a five-year contract. Considered one of the NFL’s best pass blockers, Nicks is a two-time Pro Bowl player and was a key on the Saints’ record-setting offense.
Former 1,000-yard rusher Peyton Hillis is getting a fresh start in Kansas City after a drama- and injury-filled second season in Cleveland after rushing for 1,177 yards in 2010. Terms of the deal weren’t immediately disclosed.
Hillis won a nationwide fan vote to be the cover figure for “Madden NFL 12” last offseason, but then rushed for just 587 yards.
Meanwhile, the wait for prized free agent defensive end Mario Williams to decide whether to sign with the Buffalo Bills will last yet another day.
The Bills announced Wednesday night that Williams had left their facility and would return Thursday morning.
That means the former Houston Texans star pass-rusher will sleep on making up his mind by spending a second night in Buffalo.
In Detroit, Johnson lived up to his “Megatron” nickname with his spectacular receptions in 2011, catching 96 passes for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns in leading the Lions back to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Johnson are the only players in NFL history with at least 95 receptions, 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns in a season.
“Calvin’s one of those guys we’ve said this about a few guys that we have in our building whatever they pay him is not enough,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “He’s truly a special player.”
Tampa has been among the busiest teams in free agency, hardly surprising after the Bucs slumped from 10-6 to 4-12 last year. Nicks joined cornerback Eric Wright, who also signed Wednesday. Wright got a five-year deal, too.
On Tuesday, the Buccaneers added star receiver Vincent Jackson for five years and $55.55 million.
“We’ve made our mark for what we wanted to accomplish,” Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said.
Jacksonville finally got going in free agency, agreeing to terms with receiver Laurent Robinson, defensive tackle C.J. Mosley and backup quarterback Chad Henne. The Jaguars also re-signed defensive end Jeremy Mincey, filling the team’s most pressing needs on the second day of free agency.
Robinson agreed to a five-year, $32.5 million contract that gives the team a No. 1 receiver. The deal includes $14 million guaranteed.
Mincey signed a four-year contract worth $20 million. It includes $9 million guaranteed an $8 million signing bonus and a guaranteed salary of $1 million in 2012.
Indianapolis made receiver Reggie Wayne’s return official, and also signed defense end Cory Redding to a contract.
Wayne will get three years and $17.5 million in what likely is the last deal of his career. He’s likely to be the No. 1 target for Andrew Luck, who the Colts are expected to take with the top pick in the draft.
Redding enters his 10th NFL season with a fourth team. He also has played for Detroit, Seattle and Baltimore.
“Cory is a big and aggressive interior … player who is an ideal fit in this defense,” coach Chuck Pagano said.
Philadelphia agreed on a five-year contract with wideout and kick returner DeSean Jackson, who was given a franchise tag and would have cost any team signing him two first-round draft picks. Jackson held out last training camp because he wanted an extension and then had a mediocre season. He even was inactive for a game for being late for a team meeting. But he’s a game-breaker that coach Andy Reid wanted back.
“He has the speed and ability to score from anywhere on the field, and he has proven himself to be a big threat for our offense,” Reid said.
Eagles defensive end Trent Cole, who had 11 sacks last season, agreed to a four-year extension with Philadelphia.
Chicago agreed to a three-year deal with wide receiver Eric Weems, also a standout on special teams who could ease the kick returns burden on Devin Hester.
The previous day, the Bears traded with Miami for wideout Brandon Marshall and signed quarterback Jason Campbell.
Yet the Bears also brought back Josh McCown on a one-year deal. McCown joined Chicago late last season and appeared in three games, making two starts after Caleb Hanie struggled filling in for Jay Cutler.