Carr to sign $46.2 million Texans contract By JOHN McCLAIN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle NEW YORK CITY -- After NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announces quarterback David Carr as the first pick in Saturday's NFL draft, he will return to Houston that evening and sign his seven-year, $46.2 million contract at a Texans news conference. When he completes his responsibilities in New York, including his introduction on national television and a news conference at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Carr and his family will come to Houston with owner Bob McNair on his private jet. Early last week, Carr agreed to the deal that could be worth almost $60 million if he reaches his incentives, but the NFL Management Council didn't approve the language in the contract until Friday, according to league sources. Carr's deal, negotiated by Octagon agent Mike Sullivan, calls for a signing bonus of $10.92 million and a $3.08 million bonus to be paid March 1, 2003. Carr's base salary this year is $1.04 million. His base salaries in 2003 and 2004 will be $550,000 and $660,000. Over the first three years of the contract, Carr will earn $16.25 million, which eclipses Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick's rookie-record $15.3. Vick's contract was also negotiated by the California-based Sullivan. In 2005, Carr's base salary skyrockets to $5.5 million. The Texans have the option of buying back the last two or three years of the contract. If the Texans exercise the two-year option, Carr receives a bonus of $5.5 million and base salaries in 2006 and 2007 of $5 million and $5.25 million. If the Texans choose the three-year option, Carr receives a bonus of $8 million and base salaries of $5.25 million in 2006 and 2007 and $6 million in 2008.
