Wake's Contract Both Good And Bad
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Dolphins finished off a contract that was well overdue for the team's defensive star, outside linebacker/defensive end Cameron Wake.
The new contract for Wake is reportedly worth up to $49 million and considering how big of a role Wake has and will play in the team's defense; it should turn out to be a great deal for both sides.
"It feels really good. Really good. It's kind of like taking things to another level -- kind of like when I came down here from the CFL," Wake said. "You always try to get better. You always want to reach the next level and I've been trying to do that since the moment I stepped on the football field at Penn State. Having a situation like this…it's going through the journey."
Wake's story is well-known. He played at Penn State and after being cut by most NFL teams he went to the CFL and dominated as a pass rushing specialist. The Dolphins signed him and he quickly emerged into a full-time starter.
He's established himself as one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL and has improved each season in his pass coverage. Wake will most likely be playing his college position of defensive end in defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle's hybrid defense.
"What he [Coyle] has already brought to the table is huge in the meetings that we have had," Wake said. "It (the defense) looks very polished and a lot of guys are excited about it. We've always have been as a defense at the top of the list in making sure we do our job on the field."
But don't expect Wake to go out and spend a lot of his newly found cash.
"I want to stay humble with it. I have never been one of those guys. I am not looking at a helicopter or diamonds or big tiger (laughing) or nothing like that," Wake said. "Like they said, "wine money with beer tastes. I keep it pretty simple and hopefully (save money) for a rainy day in the future and hopefully for generations to come."
The questions that Wake will have to answer surround the fact that he is now 30-years-old and how much longer can he perform at a high level.
Wake's sack numbers dropped significantly from 2010 when he had 14 sacks to 2011 when he had just 8.5 sacks.
So, Wake will get $20 million in guaranteed money from the Fins, but he'll have to really earn the rest of that money past the age of 30.
