DeAngelo Hall it is not all about the Benjamins now
By Mike Dyce
Nov 22, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall (23) returns an interception in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys during a game on Thanksgiving at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
“I’ve been blessed,” DeAngelo Hall said in an interview on NFL Network. “I’ve been in this league a long time, I’ve made a lot of money – I got $8 million to play eight games in Oakland. So for me this time around it wasn’t about the money.”
What DeAngelo Hall is referring to is the 2008 NFL Season. In 2008, Hall got a $7 million signing bonus and made $1 million in base salary when the Raiders cut him midway through the season. And apparently $8 million was enough for Hall.
We’ve seen athletes go broke who’ve made far more than $8 million in their career. ESPN did a “30 for 30” movie about it. This can only mean that DeAngelo Hall has managed his money far better then any other athlete making that kind of money. Which by all means is not in the discussion of highest paid athletes.
In fact, he was cut again in March by the Washington Redskins and resigned with them for less money. And that doesn’t bother him at all be cause he’s made his ‘nest egg.’ He took less money because he believes in what the Redskins are doing.
“We started something here in Washington with coach [Mike] Shanahan,” Hall said. “That was the biggest thing I wanted to stress. I felt like my contract along with Haynesworth was the reason we were in the situation we were in. So for me it wasn’t about the money. I wanted to come back here, I wanted to finish something I started; I grew up in the Virginia Beach area, I’m a local kid, went to Virginia Tech so I wanted to be a part of this football team. I’ve been a part of it when we weren’t so good so to finally be on the cusp of being great, I want to be a part of that. I was willing to take that pay cut and get back on this football team and help us win.”
This season Hall signed a deal that gives him a $250K signing bonus, $1 million base salary and $1 million in incentives.