RB Chris "Beanie" Wells (Arizona Cardinals)

[Buckskin86]

Cards buy a new Beanie
Posted by Mike Florio on August 1, 2009

Our own Aaron Wilson, phoning in from the Ravens' practice field at Westminster College in Middle-of-Nowhere, Maryland, reports that the Cardinals have agreed to terms with former Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells.

Per a league source, it's a four-year deal with a fifth-year option.

Wells is on his way to Arizona and he plans to get on the practice field today.

Cards buy a new Beanie | ProFootballTalk.com

[matcar]

YES! Let's get to practicing Beanie!!!

[ScriptOhio]

Last year's 30st pick (next to last in 1st round) got a five year, $12 million dollar contract of which $6 million was guaranteed. Beanie probably got a little bit more than that.

He's doing alright!

[Buckskin86]

Wells is in shape and ready to go

Coach Ken Whisenhunt wasn't crazy about Beanie Wells' insistence on travelling to Flagstaff in the wee hours Saturday, but the rookie was so excited to get to camp there was no talking him out of it.

Wells agreed to a five year deal late Friday night. After that, he was driven to Flagstaff, arriving at 3 a.m. He passed the conditioning test later in the morning. Wells has a hefty new contract but his wallet is the only thing that's fatter.

Wells said he weighed in at 224 after weighing 246 pounds on draft day and playing at 238 last year at Ohio State.

Wells said he feels quicker and faster, and the Cardinals coaches are impressed by his conditioning. "I'm really excited that he came in with his weight so low," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We'd asked him to lose it and he's done a great job with John Lott (conditioning and strength coach) and his teammates."

Receiver Larry Fitzgerald really looked after Wells, inviting him to stay at his home for much of the summer, and taking Wells to work out with him in Minnesota with numerous other current NFL players.

Wells will participate in this afternoon's practice, which starts at 3 p.m.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers: Wells is in shape and ready to go

[Buckskin86]

Beanie gets $9 million deal
Posted by Mike Florio on August 1, 2009

There's a fairly widespread belief in league circles that the best place to get a high-end running back is at the bottom of the first round of the draft. The player can be tied up for five years (at the top of round two it drops to four), and he's paid a relatively low amount, under the slotting process.

Then, if he becomes a star, the team can use the franchise tag for year six. For year seven, the player likely won't have enough left in the tank to justify a huge-money long-term deal.

The Cardinals, intentionally or not, have taken advantage of that reality with the 31st pick in round one.

A league source tells us that the contract signed by running back Beanie Wells carries a base value of only $9 million over five years. That's an average investment of $1.8 million per year for a guy who could become just what the Cardinals have needed at the tailback position.

The deal has a maximum package of $11.8 million, and guaranteed money (after the option bonus is exercised) of $6.345 million. The signing bonus will be $2 million.

So while Wells won't go hungry, he might soon find himself a member of the Anquan Boldin unhappy camper club, if Beanie becomes a star.

Five years (maybe six) is a long time for a guy to wait at a position where every hit takes a little tread off the tires -- and each hit could be the last one he ever takes.

Beanie gets $9 million deal | ProFootballTalk.com

[leroyjenkins]

Beanie is motivated, lean, and mean. Go earn that money Beanie!!

[OSU_D/]

But the lighter weight doesn't guarantee against injury, as Wells found out in his first practice. He suffered a left ankle injury during a simple run drill about halfway through practice and left the field on a cart with about 15 minutes remaining. Wells was able to walk after the injury and was to undergo X-rays Saturday night.

Lighter, faster Beanie hurt at camp

Its seems like it isn't serious, but this just isn't the start we had hoped for him.

Great job showing up in fantastic shape, though.

[Buckskin86]

A Twist In The Running Back Race
Notebook: Wells hurt in first practice while Hightower solid
By DARREN URBAN


Running back Beanie Wells tries to escape linebacker Gerald Hayes during Saturday's afternoon practice.

FLAGSTAFF ? At Beanie Wells? first practice, Tim Hightower looked sharp.

Hightower looked powerful and drew the oohs and ahhs of the crowd (estimated at between 4,000 and 5,000) on one cutback run during the session. Wells, meanwhile, started with the third-string (Jason Wright was taking the backup role behind Hightower) and had his session end early with an apparent left ankle injury.

Wells was carted from the field before the end of practice after his left leg was rolled up on during a play. His status for Sunday?s lone afternoon practice was unknown.

While Wells is hoping to compete with Hightower for the team?s starting job ? he said earlier in the day his plan is to become ?the number one guy? ? an injury would be a setback, especially considering Hightower is already the starter.

It could also change the dynamic of the rest of the backfield.

?We have a lot of guys fighting for spots,? coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

Official Site of the Arizona Cardinals

[naptownbuck]

Get well Beanie.

[Buckskin86]

Text from source close to #Cardinals RB #Beanie #Wells says he's got ankle sprain. Nothing long term. May even be back today.about 6 hours ago from web
YahooSportsNFL
Charles Robinson

Twitter / Charles Robinson: Text from source close to ...

[reagdog]

Thinking about going up to Flagstaff later this week and checking out Beanie first hand. I'll make sure I wear a UM shirt and see if he'll autograph it. Hahahaha!!!!!

[buckeyes_rock]

Originally Posted by reagdog

Thinking about going up to Flagstaff later this week and checking out Beanie first hand. I'll make sure I wear a UM shirt and see if he'll autograph it. Hahahaha!!!!!

Is that supposed to be funny? Better watch out, Beanie might stiff arm you into next Tuesday if you're wearing a scUM shirt! LOL!

[reagdog]

Originally Posted by buckeyes_rock

Is that supposed to be funny? Better watch out, Beanie might stiff arm you into next Tuesday if you're wearing a scUM shirt! LOL!

I'll tell him he can write scUM sucks on the shirt and do a shout out to BP. I'll then take a picture and post it on BP.

[Magua]

Originally Posted by reagdog

I'll tell him he can write scUM sucks on the shirt and do a shout out to BP. I'll then take a picture and post it on BP.

My question is this. Do you already own this scUM shirt? If so, you then have some explaining to do.

[reagdog]

Originally Posted by Magua

My question is this. Do you already own this scUM shirt? If so, you then have some explaining to do.

Yes I do. When I was about 23 years old, I worked for a small financial company and the owner (only 28 years old) was a Michigan native who attended ASU. He was still a big UM fan and his family has had season tickets for like 50 years. Any ways, we were having a good year and he took me and two other sales guys to Michigan for the Michigan vs. Notre Dame game. While we were tailgating, my boss said I had to buy a Michigan shirt to fit in with the rest of the tailgate and so I picked up a white Michigan t-shirt since he paid for my entire trip and I was a Michigan fan for the day.