In Your Eye

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Recently, the Vikings signed Seattle restricted free agent guard Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet that was designed to make it nearly impossible for the Seahawks to match it.
The "poison pill," as it has been called, stipulated that, if Hutchinson is not the highest-paid offensive lineman on the team, his entire contract ($49 million) would be guaranteed. The Seahawks contested the contract, but their appeal was denied.

Now, the Seahawks have signed Minnesota restricted free agent wide receiver Nate Burleson to a prohibitive offer sheet: 7 years, $49 million. But the truly ingenious (and vindictive) part of the contract is the poison pill (according to KFFL): "The deal also includes two poison pills guaranteeing the entire [contract] if he plays a certain number of games in the state of Minnesota, or if his average-per-year exceeds the average of the highest-paid running back on the team."

It's a stunning move, and one that does major damage to the way that restricted free agency works. Any team could mimic that move that Seattle made: write into the contract that some prohibitive clause (i.e. guaranteeing the contract) is activated if (essentially) the player stays with his original team. A Steelers-centric example: Washington has expressed some interest in Steelers CB Ike Taylor. Say that Taylor signs an offer sheet that guarantees his contract if, say, he plays four games in Pennsylvania, or if he wears a black helmet. It's a sneaky move, and brilliant. Of course, the team that loses a player will be compensated with a draft pick. But still.