Worst $100 Million Contracts in Sports
Bengals, Andy Dalton agree to $115 million extension.
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Cincinnati Bengals, Andy Dalton Agree to $115 Million Extension - On Monday, the Cincinnati Bengals shocked the football world by signing quarterback Andy Dalton to a six-year, $115 million contract extension. The fourth-year quarterback has led the Bengals to a 30-18 record and three straight trips to the playoffs, although he has yet to earn a post-season victory. Upon hearing the news Monday, ESPN NY radio went quarterback-by-quarterback and rated more than a dozen QBs better than Dalton. At 26, Dalton can either make the Bengals organization look brilliant or make them regret the extension. As long as Dalton's extension doesn't pan out like any of the following dudes. Take a look at other recent bad sports contracts. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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Allan Houston - Two years removed from helping lead the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals, Allan Houston was rewarded by the organization in the form of a six-year, $100 million extension. The deal started off well with the sharpshooter averaging just over 20 points per game in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, but then, Houston...we have a problem. And the Knicks had a bigger problem, as Houston's knees went bad and he was only able to play in a combined 70 games the following two seasons before having to abruptly retire in 2005. What's worse is the Knicks had to keep honoring his contract, paying him upwards of $20 million in each of 2006 and 2007. Nice guy, but his name still makes Knicks fans cringe.(Photo: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport via Getty Images)
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Albert Haynesworth - The worst free-agent signing in NFL history? Quite possibly. After Albert Haynesworth was named to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2008, the Washington Redskins signed the defensive tackle to a mammoth seven-year, $100 million contract with $41 million guaranteed in 2009. From the beginning of his Redskins tenure, however, Haynesworth was nothing but a big problem, coming to camp in poor shape and later claiming to be ill. He only wound up playing in 2009 and 2010. What a bust! (Photo: Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
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Mike Hampton - Let's keep it funky — Mike Hampton isn't worth $100 million with $100 million in his pockets. Yet, the Colorado Rockies rolled the dice and signed the pitcher to an eight-year, $121 million deal in 2000. The southpaw pitcher never delivered, mustering just a 14-13 record in 2001 and a dismal 7-15 mark with a bloated 6.15 ERA in 2002. Although he was traded to Atlanta and had a couple of good seasons with the Braves, Hampton never lived up to the contract. He didn't even come close. (Photo: Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
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Jermaine O'Neal - Don't get it twisted...Jermaine O'Neal is a solid NBA player, still serviceable at the age of 35. But was he ever $126 million good? Almost, but not quite. The power forward/center out of Eau Claire High School signed a seven-year, $126 million contract with the Indiana Pacers in 2003 and nearly averaged a double-double in points and rebounds the following four seasons in being named an All-Star from 2003-07. However, O'Neal was riddled with injuries the entire time, never able to put together a full season after inking the deal. If O'Neal stayed healthy, he could have lived up to the contract. Since he didn't, he didn't have a shot. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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