FORT COLLINS, Colo.—With coach Sonny Lubick and offensive line coach Darrell Frank by his side, Clint Oldenburg signed his contract with the New England Patriots.
The fifth-round draft pick said his non-guaranteed deal is worth $2.5 million and includes a $141,000 signing bonus.
“I wanted to sign my contract here because this is the place I got my opportunity to become a college football player,” Oldenburg, who graduated in December with a degree in journalism, said Monday. “I felt like by signing here I could honor Colorado State.”
Oldenburg, of Gillette, Wyo., said the only guarantee is his signing bonus, which he plans to put in the bank. He also plants to drive his familiar 1996 pickup truck to and from work.
“I’m not going to make this about the money,” he said. “I just want to play football.”
Oldenburg already has participated in three mini-camps and enters training camp as a third-team guard. The Patriots, said agent Kevin Van Ry, plan to use Oldenburg at several positions on the line.
Lubick said he’s not surprised Oldenburg visited the school to sign his professional contract.
“This was something special for Clint; he has always been appreciative of what he had here,” Lubick said. “That’s hard to find in this day and age. Clint knows where he comes from—that’s just who he is. I’m really proud of him.”
