Well, for starters you don’t let one of the few good horses you actually have go.
It’s definitely a gamble. However I don’t think any of the other big names mentioned as comparables have contracts up after this coming year and unless he had a some rediculous season this year (ala Manning and Brady TD record seasons) he could not realistically command money above what they are making.
Actually I believe they did include a clause directed toward at least some dangerous activities (as I heard mention without any real specifics). However unless the NFLPA has changed drastically the clause is much much milder than what I proposed (i.e., possibly forfeiting a portion of the signing bonus but still retaining past pay, along the lines of what Vick is on the hook to ATL).