"It's not done yet," an industry source said late last night. "But it should happen."
Two years ago, Chicago center Olin Kreutz received a $7 million signing bonus, a record for a center. The seven-year, $28 million deal (which also included a $7 million bonus) Randy Thomas received from the Redskins last year set the standard for interior offensive linemen.
Woody's agent, Ben Dogra, will travel to Detroit today in hopes of finalizing the deal. Woody, who can play center or guard and is considered the best available offensive lineman in free agency, arrived in Detroit Wednesday and has spent the past two days meeting with Lions brass. He had a midday flight scheduled yesterday for Miami, but the Lions, annually one of the most aggressive teams in the early stages of free agency under president and CEO Matt Millen, extended Woody's visit.
The Dolphins offered to begin negotiations shortly after midnight Wednesday in an attempt to dissuade Woody from traveling to Detroit. Yesterday, Miami continued its long-distance courting of Woody, offering the 26-year-old a signing bonus upward of $8 million. But the Lions didn't let him get away.
Woody, the first of the Patriots' two first-round picks in 1999, out of Boston College, turned down a six-year, $22 million offer from New England that included a $6.6 million signing bonus and would have paid him roughly $10.1 million over the first three years of the deal. The Patriots informed him Feb. 18 they would allow him to enter free agency, which began Wednesday. With a $9 million bonus, Woody likely will make more than $10 million next season.
The Cardinals, Chargers, Cowboys, Falcons, and Giants also have expressed interest in the two-time Pro Bowl alternate, though no other visits had been scheduled.
If a deal with Detroit is consummated, which could happen as early as today, Woody will go from a team that has won two Super Bowls in three seasons to a franchise that has gone 10-38 during that span and finished last in its division each year. The Lions, 5-11 last season, finished last in rushing and total offense.
