Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards has been trying to get a new long-term football contract. He hasn’t gotten one yet.
And since he can’t sign any football contract during the lockout, Edwards has signed a boxing contract, instead.
According to Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Edwards has agreed to participate in two professional boxing matches. He’ll debut on May 20 at the Grand Casino Hinckley against an to-be-determined foe.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do in my life,” Edwards said. “I can’t put my eggs all in one basket, waiting for the NFL to settle the lockout. You never know when this lockout is going to end.”
Edwards isn’t just doing it for the paycheck. “There’s always going to be people tell you that you can’t do something,” Edwards said. “It’s up to you to make sure you prove them wrong by going out there and believing in yourself. I’m not trying to go out there just to say I tried it. I’m going out there trying to be the best.”
Edwards likely would have signed a big-money deal in 2010 with another team but for the quirks of the uncapped year, which made him a restricted free agent despite having four years of experience. An average player for most of his career, he exploded in the 2009 postseason, which would have put him in line for someone to overpay him.
Since Edwards currently isn’t under contract with anyone, he can honor the boxing contract even if the lockout ends. The dilemma he’ll possibly face will come if the lockout ends and a team wants to sign him but the team doesn’t want him to get into the boxing ring. Hopefully, his boxing contract provides him with some flexibility in that regard.
