Frerotte Finds Financial Security In $18 Million

Fighting back tears, his voice cracking with emotion, Gus Frerotte celebrated the landmark day sought by every working man: financial security for the rest of his life.

After three years of making the NFL’s minimum wage, the Washington Redskins Pro Bowl quarterback on Friday signed a four-year, $18 million contract that includes a $5 million signing bonus, a mammoth and long overdue raise for a player who has started 31 games over the last three years.

“You can’t fathom that much money,” said Frerotte, a seventh-round draft pick in 1994. “But what it is, it gives you security, and lets you be here for a long time, and lets you put your kids through school. I’m able to let (wife) Annie stay home and raise our children right.”

The deal includes yearly salaries of $750,000, $1.95 million, $4.5 million and $5.8 million, plus other clauses intended to deter the Redskins from trying to renegotiate the contract when the really big money kicks in after two years. Those clauses were the major sticking point over the final two weeks of negotiations.

Last season, Frerotte threw for 3,453 yards, had a statistical rating of 79.3 and played in the Pro Bowl after being selected as an alternate.