NFL FOOTBALL
Purcell and Ilaoa agree to NFL pacts
Former Hawaii football players Mel Purcell and Nate Ilaoa agreed to contracts with their NFL teams yesterday.
Purcell, who was chosen in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns, agreed to a contract for $1.75 million over four years with an escalator clause based on playing time that would raise it to $2.3 million.
Purcell is expected to compete for a backup spot at defensive end with second-year man Alvin Smith of Oregon State and fellow rookie Chase Pittman of LSU. Pittman was taken a round after Purcell.
Ilaoa also agreed to a four-year deal and will get $1.71 million with an escalator clause that would raise it to $2.16 million. Although he is listed on Philadelphia's depth chart as a fullback, the seventh-round pick is expected to compete with former Louisiana Tech standout Ryan Moats for the Eagles' final spot in the backfield.
"Its not about competing with Moats or whoever, its about just going out there and competing period," Ilaoa said. "I just want to get there and let the tough part rest with the Eagles, make it hard for them to cut me."