GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Jamal Anderson drove through the gates of Furman University in a stretch limousine -- an appropriate mode of transportation for the All-Pro running back.
After all, the former University of Utah star had just agreed to a five-year, $32 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons."Hey, big money!" screamed teammate Calvin Collins, spotting Anderson's behemoth of a car pulling up to the student dormitories where the Falcons are housed during training camp.
Anderson was a holdout during the first two weeks of camp, demanding a new contract that would make him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL. Nine months of negotiations finally came to an end Wednesday with nearly four hours of talks.
"It took concessions on both sides to get it done," Reeves said. "Now we're ready to move forward and put it behind us."
Anderson will get a signing bonus of $7.5 million, becoming the highest-paid player in Falcons history. He also agreed to move from Salt Lake City to Atlanta so he can take part regularly in the team's offseason workout program.
Anderson, who set a franchise record with 1,846 yards rushing and an NFL mark with 410 carries as Atlanta advanced to the Super Bowl last season, planned to join the team for a light workout Thursday at Furman.
He won't play in Friday night's first exhibition game against Detroit. Anderson said he will probably need about two weeks to reach peak condition.
"He's missed some time, but we know he can make it up because he's a veteran and the system hasn't changed," Reeves said. "He'll be ready for the season opener against the Vikings."
Anderson said he wanted to complete a deal by Friday, knowing that marks a month to go until the Sept. 12 contest against Minnesota, a rematch of last year's NFC championship game.
"A month is plenty of time to get ready," he said. "You really don't need to be in training camp for five or six weeks."
Anderson's whirlwind day began with an early morning appearance on an Atlanta radio station before he joined his agent, Jim Sims, for the 2 1/2-hour drive to Greenville. By the time the contract was announced at an early evening news conference, Anderson looked tired and frazzled.
"He's a bit shellshocked," Sims said.
Still, Anderson managed to display a bit of the wit that made him one of Atlanta's most popular athletes. He promised to unveil a new version of his "Dirty Bird" dance and joked that Reeves agreed to the deal when challenged to a boxing match.
"Unfortunately for Hollywood, I won't be able to do any feature films during the football season," the 26-year-old Anderson said. "But I'm happy it's over with. I want to play and it's great to see my teammates."
The sides had basically agreed on the length and value of the contract, but it took a face-to-face meeting to agree on the signing bonus and structure of the deal.
Anderson and Sims arrived at the hotel in their limo, while Reeves and general manager Harold Richardson pulled up a few minutes later in a green Buick.
Reeves, who has final say in contract matters, sat in on the talks for over an hour before returning to Furman for the afternoon practice.
Richardson remained behind to continue negotiating with Anderson and Sims. Finally, shortly after 5 p.m. EDT, the three men emerged from the meeting room and began the triumphant trek to Furman, about 15 miles away.
Anderson emerged from his vehicle at the player dormitories, pumping his arms in the air just as three of his offensive linemen -- Collins, Ephraim Salaam and Bob Whitfield -- pulled into the parking lot on a golf cart.
"When I saw him today, it was a great sight for sore eyes," linebacker Jessie Tuggle said. "To get in here now, it's still early, and I think the days he missed won't hurt him."
Anderson will become one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, according to his agent. He still trails Denver's Terrell Davis, who has a nine-year, $59 million deal.
Anderson, set to make $2.6 million in the final year of his current contract, refused to report for the start of training camp July 29 without a new deal. He has since accumulated $70,000 in fines -- $5,000 per day -- which Reeves said "will be settled among us."