Players Association

[matt1073]

I know that most people consider that Cassel will be tagged then traded a given, but could the players association step in and not allow Cassel to be tagged with the intent to trade him. I guess they could argue that the pats are violating the spirit of the franchise tag, and would have to keep him if he was tagged. Just a random thought tell me what you think.

 

[Willie55]

What I think is the team is feeding Curran the line of bull that Brady is still messed up so they can franchise Cassel on the lines that they weren't sure what Brady's status is without them facing the possibility of losing future draft picks because of Goodell.

 

[Patsrock]

I know that most people consider that Cassel will be tagged then traded a given, but could the players association step in and not allow Cassel to be tagged with the intent to trade him. I guess they could argue that the pats are violating the spirit of the franchise tag, and would have to keep him if he was tagged. Just a random thought tell me what you think.

I don't think the NFLPA would have a problem withthem doing it this way. My reasons are:

1. Cassel gets 14 million if he is tagged and not traded.

2. Cassel will get equal or more if tagged and then traded and gets a new contract.

 

[PatDaPatriot]

This is the system that that player's association bargained for...

 

[BPF]

I know that most people consider that Cassel will be tagged then traded a given, but could the players association step in and not allow Cassel to be tagged with the intent to trade him. I guess they could argue that the pats are violating the spirit of the franchise tag, and would have to keep him if he was tagged. Just a random thought tell me what you think.

This has been covered in three other threads. I don't see any way the NFL or the Player's association can prohibit the Pats from deisgnating Cassel a franchise player if they so choose. The Player's association ageed to the franchise tag back in 1993 and again when the cba was most recently renewed in 2006. The league would be setting a bad precedent if they ever invalidated a franchise tag. The more likely scenario is the case heading to an arbitrator at the request of the player and his agent in a case where they felt that the Pats weren't negotiating in good faith but I don't see that happening. Cassel is currently making around $520K and he is on verge of making millions, at least $14 mil, because of the coaches and a team who developed him and took a chance on him even though he hadn't played a down since high school.

I know the franchise tag usually isn't something that makes most players or their agents happy but it's part of the process of free agency as currently negotiated. It does limit player's options on the open market and gives most, not all, of the negotiating control to the team, which is what the Pats should be looking for so Cassel doesn't wind up with a divisional rival or they lose him for less compensation then he is worth in a league hungry for talent at the QB position.

 

[Jackson 2]

I know that most people consider that Cassel will be tagged then traded a given, but could the players association step in and not allow Cassel to be tagged with the intent to trade him. I guess they could argue that the pats are violating the spirit of the franchise tag, and would have to keep him if he was tagged. Just a random thought tell me what you think.

I believe the only way this could be a realistic problem would be if Cassel were to file a formal complaint. Even then, he and his agent would have to prove the Patriots true intention was to trade him all along. The Patriots need to, and undoubtedly will, work with Cassel and his agent. But who knows what will happen when $$ comes into play.

 

[GroganCountry]

Simple answer...

Number 1, the Union would only file a grievance IF the player requests it. And number 2, it has never happened since the origination of the franchise tag.

 

[billdog3484]

this is problably why the patriots are feeding that baffoon curran wrong information. if there is speculation that brady is injured, the players association wont be able to argue. getting franchised at 14M guaranteed isnt a bad deal either though

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I know the franchise tag usually isn't something that makes most players or their agents happy but it's part of the process of free agency as currently negotiated.

Does the agent get his typical 2-3% if a player is franchised? He didn't negotiate the contract as the amount is set by the CBA so why should he get anything?? I remember reading something along these lines that the agent gets much much less if a player is franchised so obviously it is in the agent's interest to get a new contract....
3% of $15 million is $450K so we're not talking chump change...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Does the agent get his typical 2-3% if a player is franchised? He didn't negotiate the contract as the amount is set by the CBA so why should he get anything?? I remember reading something along these lines that the agent gets much much less if a player is franchised so obviously it is in the agent's interest to get a new contract....
3% of $15 million is $450K so we're not talking chump change...

The NFLPA might have its own internal rules about that, but I don't think it is mandated as part of the CBA.

 

[jmt57]

Does the agent get his typical 2-3% if a player is franchised? He didn't negotiate the contract as the amount is set by the CBA so why should he get anything?? I remember reading something along these lines that the agent gets much much less if a player is franchised so obviously it is in the agent's interest to get a new contract....
3% of $15 million is $450K so we're not talking chump change...

I don't know for a fact but since it is a new contract it would stand to reason that the current agent gets his cut. If it didn't work that way I'm sure we would have had agents screaming and talking their players in to holding out in the past.

 

[spacecrime]

Even then, he and his agent would have to prove the Patriots true intention was to trade him all along.

No, no more than the Pats would have to prove they wouldn't.

It won't go to court where proof is required.It would go to an arbitrator who would rule on it, and his ruling would be based on what he believed to have been the case.

If the Brady set-back rumors are true, the Pats will franchise him as insurance. In this case the Players Association would have no gripe because the Pats won't be trying to trade him.

If the Pats franchise him and then trade him on March 1, Goodell wouldn't need the Players Association. He could step in, negate the trade and fine the Pats a draft pick. Pats would have the same recourse they had the last time.

Don't tell me that Goodell doesn't have the power to do this, or the inclination.

He has both.

Simple answer...


it has never happened since the origination of the franchise tag.

No team ever had their hand slapped for stealing signals before, either, even though many teams did it and are still doing it.

 

[Miguel]

Does the agent get his typical 2-3% if a player is franchised? He didn't negotiate the contract as the amount is set by the CBA so why should he get anything?? I remember reading something along these lines that the agent gets much much less if a player is franchised so obviously it is in the agent's interest to get a new contract....
3% of $15 million is $450K so we're not talking chump change...

NFL union keeps maximum agent fee
"the union did pass a reduction of fees from 3 percent to 2 percent in the case of contracts involving a franchise or transition player playing under a one-year tender. The second time the player is franchised or transitioned, the fee drops to 1.5 percent, and the third time, the fee falls to 1 percent."

 

[PJM]

As was pointed out to me in another thread this is similar to the Jared Allen case last year and the union did nothing then. I doubt they'd go with a formal complaint but don't be shocked if there are a few carefully placed quotes or columns along the lines you suggest. The CBA is up in the air and any Union worth its salt should be storing up alleged grievances for the negotiating table. I suspect reforming the franchise tag would be a useful bargaining chip.
The only complaint they could really make is that rather than Cassel being able to go on the open market and get a better team or contract he will have to negotiate with the one or two teams that meet the Pat's asking price. For a guy who many people expected to be cut at the start of the year that's not a terrible act of oppression.