After going unselected in the April 24-25 NFL Draft, Kansas University quarterback Bill Whittemore has found a potential NFL team – the Atlanta Falcons.
Whittemore has agreed to a two-year contract contingent upon him making the Falcons roster, according to Whittemore’s agent, Tom Mills.
“They were about the only team left in the league that didn’t have four quarterbacks,” Mills said. “Most of the teams will go to camp with at least four.”
Atlanta currently has quarterbacks Michael Vick, Ty Detmer and third-round pick Matt Schaub on its roster. Though the Falcons are expected to carry only three quarterbacks in the regular season, they could put a fourth on their eight-man practice squad.
“We don’t expect him (Vick) getting much work in the preseason games, and that will create opportunities for the other quarterbacks,” said Mills of Vick, who missed much of last season after suffering a preseason leg injury. “Bill will have an opportunity to showcase his ability for the Falcons and the other teams in the league.”
Whittemore will report to the Falcons offseason training program May 16 and then will go to training camp in late July. Being invited to training camp makes Whittemore eligible for NFL Europe next season.
Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed, but the NFL rookie minimum is $230,000 and the minimum for second-year players is $305,000.
Whittemore had a tryout with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League last week, but talks had not progressed past that stage. Mills estimated Whittemore would have made $40,000 to $45,000 in Canadian dollars a year if he had played in the CFL.
Read Friday’s Journal-World and KUsports.com for a full story.
