Happy Bobby Bonilla Day! I understand that that may seem out of place in a story about the Falcons, but let me explain.
Long before the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets began their deferred payments to Bobby Bonilla in 2004 and 2011, respectively, Falcons great Bill Fralic and his father negotiated a similar deal.
Before the Falcons selected him at No. 2 in the 1989 NFL Draft, Fralic sought advice from his father. Thanks to that advice, he successfully negotiated a provision in his rookie contract that paid him $150,000 per year for the rest of his life.
Fralic Served as the Inspiration Behind the Term ‘Pancake Block’ During His College Years
Fralic was a dominant force on the football field long before joining the likes of Bobby Bonilla. During his time in high school, Fralic earned a reputation as not only one of the best linemen in the state, but one of the best athletes in Pennsylvania.
He earned the title as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Boys Athlete of the Year in 1981. Just two years earlier, future NFL Hall-of-Famer Dan Marino had earned the inaugural honor.
Players like Marino, Joe Montana, Tony Dorsett, Fred Biletnikoff and Jack Ham may have more name recognition. But, Fralic earned his spot among them as one of the greatest players in Pennsylvania high school football history.
Following his dominant high school career, Fralic made an immediate impact at the University of Pittsburgh. Playing alongside future Hall-of-Famers Dan Marino and Jimbo Covert, he helped lead Pittsburgh all the way to No. 1 in the country during his freshman season.
Unfortunately, a late-season blowout loss against No. 11 Penn State knocked them out of National Championship contention. They bounced back well, though, defeating No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, finishing 4th in the final AP Poll.
Fralic earned All-American honors in each of his final 3 seasons, according to his bio on the University of Pittsburgh retired football jerseys page. He was also the only underclassman of the four Lombardi Award finalists as a junior in 1983.
Fralic remains the only offensive lineman to finish in the top 10 in Heisman voting twice. He finished 8th as a junior in 1983 and 6th as a senior in 1984. His elite production in college led Atlanta to select him at No. 2 overall, agreeing to a Bobby Bonilla-esque contract.
During his senior year, “in an effort to find a tangible tool for Fralic’s accomplishments,” the University of Pittsburgh Sports Information Office created the “Pancake.” The “Pancake” served as “a statistical barometer for each time Fralic put an opposing defensive lineman on his back,” according to the University of Pittsburgh.
According to Matt Keddie of the Pro Football Researchers Association, Fralic was so revered by the Pitt football program that they didn’t even wait to retire his number until after he graduated. They retired his number 79 at halftime of his final collegiate game in 1984.
Fralic’s Bobby Bonilla-Esque Contract Paved the Way for Today’s NFL Free Agent Contracts
By the time he entered the league as the No. 2 overall pick in 1989, Fralic knew he needed to secure long-term financial stability. Thanks to a piece of advice from his father, he successfully negotiated with the Falcons to include a clause that paid him $150,000 for the rest of his life, on top of his salary.
During his 9 seasons in the NFL, Fralic earned 4 Pro Bowl nods. All 4 came during his first 5 seasons in Atlanta. He also earned 2 First-Team All-Pro nods and 1 Second-Team All-Pro nod.
Following his retirement, he earned a spot on the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team for the 1980s.
Despite his stellar play in Atlanta, Fralic was one of the first NFL players to take advantage of free agency. He joined the Detroit Lions on a 3-year deal, nearly doubling his base salary to $1.6 million for 1993.
Following a solid season in 1993, the Lions reportedly asked him to take a salary cut. But, he refused and requested to be waived instead. Fralic had structured his contract to include over 1/3 of his money in reporting and roster bonuses.
Several teams showed interest, but Fralic told reporters he was certain about his decision, according to the LA Times Archives. His Bobby Bonilla-esque agreement with Atlanta likely factored into that decision. Fralic had already ensured a level of financial security after his playing days.
Following his retirement, Fralic rejoined the Falcons family as a color commentator from 1995-97. He also returned to his alma mater in the same role from 2004-2010.
Tragically, Fralic did not live to see the end of his 40-year stipend with the Falcons. He passed away from cancer shortly after his 56th birthday in 2018.
He left quite the legacy as one of the greatest offensive linemen in college football history, the originator of the pancake block and a Falcons legend.
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