Remember Chris McAlister? Sure you do. He was one of the most effective coverage cornerbacks in the NFL for the past decade. He helped anchor a Ravens defense that was considered the best in the league for many years and brought a Lombardi Trophy to Baltimore. McAlister last played in 2009, but it would appear that he has been taking financial advice from Mark Brunell and Latrell Sprewell since his departure. Either that, or he’s lying.
As Shutdown Corner outlined for us, McAlister signed a seven-year, $55 million contract with the Ravens in 2004. Like any other contract, there was some bonus money included that he never earned and it should also be noted that the Ravens released him after year five of the deal. However, between a signing bonus, roster bonus, and base salary, he had to have made somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 million on that particular contract. Plus, McAlister was paid $6 million by the Ravens the season before.
It would be tough to imagine he blew through all that money. According to court documents obtained by TMZ.com, McAlister now claims to be broke. The former corner is wrapped up in a child support battle with his ex-wife, Marlene.
“I have been unemployed since 2009. I have no income,” McAlister told the court. “I live in my parents’ home. My parents provide me with my basic living expenses as I do not have the funds to do so.”
Either McAlister has sold his Super Bowl ring by now, or he has fabricated a “woe is me” story to avoid hefty child support payments. Could he really have blown that much money in a short amount of time? It has certainly been done before, but the more likely scenario is that his lawyer has advised him to hide his money, spend a little time at his parents house, and remain unemployed until this dispute is straightened out.
