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Giant Surprise: How Vernon’s $85 Million Deal Went Down

In seven dizzying hours, Olivier Vernon went from having an uncertain future to signing the richest contract for a defensive end in NFL history. The newest New York Giant and his agent David Canter share the details

Wilfredo Lee/AP

With additional reporting by Kalyn Kahler of The MMQB.

On the craziest opening day of free agency since 2009, when Washington paid big bust Albert Haynesworth like he was Peyton Manning, the contract that shocked the NFL world Wednesday was handed to a quiet kid born in Miami, who played high school football in Miami, and who played college football at Miami, and who played his first four pro seasons with Miami.