A former Maryland Terrapin was one of the first players to cash in on NFL free agency that opened today. Former Cincinnati Bengal-new Minnesota Viking Madieu Williams, a safety, reportedly landed a $33 million, six-year deal with the Vikes. An estimated $17 million of the contract is reportedly guaranteed. While Williams, 26, is certainly a solid football player, the contract that puts him near the top of heap at his position just illustrates that if a player is better-than-average and the timing is just right, the rewards can be enormous.

Williams is considered a sure tackler but not a big hitter. When healthy, he was among the most productive defenders for Marvin Lewis' Bengals. A thigh injury ended his 2007 season a few weeks early. He finished '07 with two interceptions and seven passes defensed. He has eight career interceptions since being drafted in the second round in 2004.

Williams, who was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, moved to Maryland as a child and attended Towson before transferring to Maryland where he made the team as a walk-on but soon earned a scholarship.