There have been bigger free-agent additions than the San Francisco 49ers' acquisition of Bart Oates, but few have been as extraordinary.
The 49ers gained Oates, a three-time Pro Bowl center, not by offering him more money but by offering him less. Oates, 35, Friday agreed to a three-year, $1.2 million deal after turning down a three-year, $2.1 million proposal by the New York Giants.Unusual? Read on.
Oates played with the Giants nine seasons, never missing a game, and wanted to end his career with them. He lived in New Jersey. His children attend school there. He practices law there. There was every reason to stay.
Yet he left.
"It was the absolute right decision," said Oates. "I took a little bit less money for the chance to be on a championship team and a chance to play. . . . But the 49ers showed the commitment I was looking for early on. It wasn't just money."
Oates, who will start at center, agreed to a deal that will pay him $305,000 in base salary this year, $310,000 in 1995 and $315,000 in 1996. In addition, he received a $270,000 signing bonus, with $10,000 to $70,000 deferred to next year.
Oates earned $775,000 last year.
The addition of Oates allows the 49ers to move Jesse Sapolu, who played ahead of Oates at this year's Pro Bowl, to left guard. Sapolu replaces Guy McIntyre, who joined the Green Bay Packers on Thursday.
"Our offensive line could conceivably be better this year than it was last year now that we've got another Pro Bowler added to the mix," said 49ers President Carmen Policy.
Oates' decision to leave the Giants had everything to do with playing and playing with a winner. Though he started 15 of 16 games last year, he shared the center position with Brian Williams, who was expected to start this year with or without Oates around.
Then there's the chance for another Super Bowl.
"This was just something I couldn't pass up," Oates said. "The 49ers are strong in every area, and I think they have a better than fair shot at going all the way this year."
The Giants responded to Oates' announcement Thursday that he was leaving by upping their offer. The 49ers countered by "coming on real strong," as Policy termed it, but didn't change their offer.
"Our position was that if you want to be on the train to the Super Bowl you can be in the locomotive, not the caboose," Policy said. "It was like: `Hey, if you want to play, come here. This is a place where you can start."'
To reinforce that message, the 49ers enlisted some help. According to Tony Agnone, Oates' agent, the club had ex-defensive tackle Jim Burt, quarterback Steve Young and tight end Brent Jones telephone Oates.
"They recruited him," said Agnone.
Young and Oates played together at BYU.
"You know what this was really about?" asked Agnone. "The class of the organization, the ability to play in a Super Bowl, the ability to play and the ability to make sure Bart's career is on track. That's what it really was."
Oates is the fourth unrestricted free agent to join the 49ers this year, following linebackers Ken Norton and Gary Plummer and defensive end Richard Dent. All are projected as starters.