I was reading through a quick interview that The Big Lead did with Rick Reilly yesterday where they quoted him as saying the money ESPN paid him is "redonkulous", and I began to ask a few folks what they thought he was making now at the leader. Well that answer is out, and it's a ton of money....

$10 million over 5 years.

So how did ESPN get the highest paid writer ever? They just doubled his yearly salary. Not only does ESPN cover the Yankees more than any other team....they're turning into them! Good lord that's a lot of money...

Reilly was said to be the highest paid writer in the history of Sports Illustrated parent Time Inc., with a $1 million annual contract that covered five years.

SI was said to be willing to go as high as $1.5 million a year - or $7.5 million over the life of the next five-year contract - to keep him happy. But with Time Inc. unable to offer Reilly a TV network gig, he was a goner - jumping at the reputed five-year, $10 million package offered by ESPN.

"It's tough leaving SI after 23 years, but I just had this itch I had to scratch," he said, speaking of his urge to do TV.