Udeze’s contract situation
July 1st, 2008 – 11:46 AM by Judd ZulgadCame across an interesting nugget of information about Kenechi Udeze’s contract while working on today’s story about the Vikings defensive end. Udeze was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in February and will undergo a bone marrow transplant in the coming days.
The Vikings announced in early May that they were placing Udeze on the reserve/nonfootball injury (NFI) list, opening an additional roster spot and ending any chance of him trying to play this season. The Vikings would not have been obligated to pay Udeze after putting him on the NFI, but the team informed him that they would pay his $807,500 base salary for 2008.
Now, here’s the interesting part. Because Udeze was entering the final season of his original five-year contract, under league rules he will “have his contract tolled” for the 2008 season. What this means is that Udeze’s contract won’t run at all this season and the final year now will be 2009.
“Isn’t that crazy?” said Udeze, who was recently informed of the rule by his agent. “It will be good because you can work up your resume again, who everybody that you’re healthy again.”
Udeze has made it clear he plans on being back on the football field in 2009.
Udeze also is very thankful to the Vikings for guaranteeing his salary when they were under no obligation to do so.
“I’d say anybody dealing with this, especially in my position being a professional athlete, they want to know where they stand,” Udeze said. “I feel like I’ve been playing at a reasonable level but I never felt like I’ve tipped the scales of what I can do. Nobody knows which way the organization is going to pull you or want you in the future or if they’ve just kind of had enough with you. I just told myself with everyday that I go out there, everybody sees that I do the best I can. When I found out the news [of the Vikings guaranteeing his salary] I was kind of taken back by it.”
63 Responses to "Udeze’s contract situation"
fIRST!!
(They should put the caps lock where it isn’t in the way of other letters.)
Vikes 24
Pukers 16
Good luck KU!!!
Kenny: Carnack?
honorable and classy move by wilf and the front office.
Judd - Clarification on “tolled” needed. Does that mean he won’t get the 807K this year?
V - I think it means he will get the money from the Vikes, but it won’t be considered one of his first five contract years. Means he will still be under contract next season, rather than it expiring at the end of this season. Right?
Yup, this is a pretty impressive act on the part of the Vikes. Looking forward to seeing him back in purple one day!
Ok got it. So he gets an extra year of salary outside his contract. But nothing’s guaranteed for 2009 - he could get cut. This is classy. Still don’t agree with giving TWill his game check last year for the missed game. Totally different situation.
Vikes 27
Pukers 3
Vikes were classy in the TWill case though. He reported that he dropped his check on the way to the bank and it blew away. They cut him a new one and agreed to do direct deposit for him. This never got into the news, but a classy move by the Vikes that never got the attention it deserved!
He said he “dropped it” and they believed him? ??
Brother! Sheesh! durrrrrrrrrrr.
Udeze has never earned what he was paid in previous sesons so why should this year be any different?
didn’t hear that before. Didn’t think companies did paper checks any more. Especially when your check is 5 or 6 figures.
Yea that really happened vikensen….. wow……
(ouch! i’ll pretend i didn’t read that one at 12:50)
OK. The answer to the Trick, er, I mean, Trivia Question everyone has been waiting for!
Who can give the score of the Vikes/Pack game before it is even played?
Answer: It has been the same for the 47 year history of the matchup! Before the game is played it is 0-0 ! ! !
Now you are all smarter than a fifth.
Well it’s the truth. Can’t you handle the truth?
His contract being “tolled” means it stops for this year. However, the Vikings ARE going to pay him.
If TWill says he dropped something, I know I would believe it.
And I thought “tolled” was what Fat Pat called the racing stripe he leaves in his shorts.
quit it bad blogger. LMAO !
kenny- You asked “who”….
Who is Dickie62.
This is what the Vikings should do. Take a wild guess as to which team is going to be the worst and trick them. Trade Mckinny to the Dolphins for their pick next year which will probibly be the first pick in the whole draft. Since he is a probowler also make them throw in Jason Taylor. Your thoughts!
I’m not so sure McKinnie’s a “Parcell’s guy”……whatever that means.
that would be dishonest, phil.
OK, new Trick Question:
WHAT will be the score of the Vikes/Pack game before it is even played?
I’m not playing anymore….
….you can’t fire me cause I quit! 
0-0
Wow Philiip, you’re a real trickster … Now go away…..
I am not really sure guessing the score of the season opener is a proper subject on AV.
ok buster sure thing
CRAZY:
You peeked. That’s cheating. For cheating you get penalized one of your first round draft choices. Which one do you want to give up, the sixth pick or the 99th pick in the first round?
Also, a fine of $500,000 is customary for cheating. I don’t want the money “tolled”, I don’t take checks over six figures, and your NFL team won’t bail you out of this one.
Direct Deposit will be OK!
what is a proper subject on AV?
just asking.
That would be a question for the blog Nazi’s.
Lunch
we got the new 2009 sl 550 in the shop today along with the clk 63 black edition. bad ass frickin cars…….being able to buy somethin’ like that must be nice.
ball park frank, diet coke
bought a flex fuel car. reports say optimum mileage is at E40. how much E15 and E85 should i put in to achieve an E40 blend?
don’t know isht about flex fuel cars gambler. i’d be lying to you if i tried to explain. california has not really got onboard with that yet. these spoiled nannys won’t give up their v8 german and jap cars to save their lives(or wallets).
I dated a flexible chick before, but a flexable car? Not sure the purpose.
It would be nice being able to buy something like this….
http://www.maybach-manufaktur.com/index.php?lang=en&country=int/
85 + 15 / 40 X 100 - 40 =…..&*@#%8*#@%
Ask someone else!
Oops…..thought it would link to the pics I was looking at.
If I could buy one of those, I would hope I am smart enough not to buy one of those…know what I mean?
Interesting lunch Kenny. You at a ball game or something? Got a laptop, have ya?
flexible fuel uses alcohol.
flexible chicks do too, i suppose.
when i use alcohol, my “performance” isn’t………….. optimal?
=…..&*@#%8*#@%
YEAH!
i’m at a ballgame with my laptop.
brother! sheesh! durrrrrrrrrrr!
(i think that’s funny)
Put down the pine tar!
And pickup & drink the Pine Sol.
lol at king. george brett sighting??
d’oh…..carwash kid just backed the 09 sl into another car. so much for that dude!
Nope. Just kennyrogers.
No lyin’ your way outta that one…..
king: he is cleanin’ his locker out as we blog.
that should buff right out
bwaaaaaaaak
he will never work in this town again……lmao!
…just another day in the life of a doormat. Guess a car means more than a kid. Sad….
For the record, Gambler, King is right. You asked “who”, and I answered Carnack. Now Carnack WOULD know the score of the opener before it is played and I deserve credit for the right answer. Are you going to do the right thing here, or NOT!?!?!
We were in a marina one time where a kid ran 35 gal of gasoline into the water instead of the fuel tank. He got his papers and was on his way in no time, too. Some mistakes just have to have a consequence I guess.
Did anybody check to see if the dude had a valid drivers licence?
you will have to file an appeal to the commissioner.
the guy who the car is sold to just showed up to take delivery of it. this is gonna get interesting.
coach: the car business is a cutthroat industry. it’s messed up, but that’s just the way it is.
not pants again?
I hear ya dre. Just sad, that’s all.
I don’t suppose it would help to tell the new owner, “Foutunately, no one was hurt, and we can all be thankful for that, right sir?!” 
So…. hiding behind the ole “appeal” thing, eh! What kind of a trivia question operation you running here, anyway?
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