Associated Press
Drew Bledsoe signed the biggest contract in NFL history yesterday, agreeing to a 10-year, $103 million deal that virtually guarantees he will spend his entire career with the same team.
The deal surpasses the reported 10-year, $100 million contract signed by Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre only last Friday. It also gives Bledsoe a chance to do something Favre and most other athletes never could: stay with one team for their careers.
"I’ve expressed over and over again my desire to play my entire career with the New England Patriots," Bledsoe said. "It looks like that is a very real possibility."
Patriots owner Bob Kraft said Bledsoe has a chance to be remembered in Boston like Ted Williams, Bill Russell and Larry Bird, each having played his entire career in the city.
"I remember feeling sad when Bobby Orr left," Kraft said of the NHL Hall of Famer who left Boston for Chicago near the end of his career. "I saw this as an opportunity to sign one of the great Patriots for the rest of his career."
Bledsoe was scheduled to make $7.6 million this season, but his contract would have counted for $9.8 million under the salary cap.
The new deal, which runs through the 2010 season, saves only about $1.5 million under this year’s cap. But, unlike some other high-profile signings, the money is spread relatively evenly over the contract — without a balloon payment that could require another restructuring in a few years.
"I know a lot of our fans would like us to jump out into the free agent market and do something splashy," Kraft said. "But if it doesn’t make football sense, we’re not going to do it."
BRONCOS
 Beefing up: Denver was close to bolstering its offensive line for the second time in a week, offering a three-year contract to 6-foot-7, 297-pound tackle Ethan Brooks.
The $3.1 million offer came five days after the Broncos re-signed right guard Dan Neil to a multiyear deal.
Denver’s offensive line has been a focal point this off-season. Line coach Alex Gibbs retired; left guard Mark Schlereth is expected to retire; left tackle Tony Jones was released; and right tackle Matt Lepsis is an unsigned restricted free agent.
The Broncos also are looking to bolster their defense. Longtime Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett met with team officials yesterday. Lett helped Dallas win three Super Bowls in four years in the 1990s, but three drug-related suspensions in the past six seasons have hindered his value.
Cornerbacks Denard Walker and Walt Harris visited Denver earlier this week.
FOOTNOTES
Colts: Free agent offensive lineman Waverly Jackson agreed to a three-year, $1.5 million contract with Indianapolis. Jackson, who played guard and tackle for the Colts the past three seasons, was a restricted free agent who signed with the Cleveland Browns last week.
Titans: Free agent kicker Joe Nedney, who made 34 of 38 field goal attempts for Carolina last season, yesterday agreed to contract terms, which were not released. Longtime Tennessee kicker Al Del Greco was released by the Titans last week in a move team officials said was motivated by the salary cap.
Bengals: Cast aside by Washington after three disappointing seasons, defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield met with his hometown team to talk about a job. "For any NFL player, it’s a dream to come back home and play," Stubblefield said. "It’s where you were raised. You know everybody, know what’s going on. For me to see where the Bengals have come from and what they’re trying to build, that’s definitely a dream."
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