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The one issue that is important to Canter—other than dollars—is length of contract. The Giants and Jets are willing to give Vernon a five-year contract. Jacksonville prefers a six-year deal. 

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But on the other hand, Vernon thinks it would be fun to try a new life, income tax be damned. New York is the big city. Jacksonville is, well, Jacksonville. “I’ve been in Miami all my life, 25 years,” says Vernon. “It was like, I know New York is probably a little more faster paced, but I am a city guy myself and I think it will probably be a little better for me than Jacksonville. I don’t know if I would have been comfortable in Jacksonville, just with the whole environment. It’s a beautiful city. I’ve been there, I’ve played there twice, but I just don’t know if I would have been comfortable over there.”

But by 3:30 p.m., the offers get closer. Jacksonville dropped the sixth year. The Giants, Jets and Jags are all at five years. Now it is getting interesting.

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As decision time nears, Jacksonville’s best offer, in cash, is $12 million less than New York’s in the first year, and $17 million less in the first two years. That’s big to Canter. Five-year deals in the NFL aren’t totally guaranteed. And the Giants are willing to give $41 million in the first two years of the contract. Though Jacksonville’s total dollars are close, the early years are weighted heaviiy in the Giants’ favor.