Rapoport: Patriots do not work with Condon

[Fencer]

Twitter

I love Condon. But the Patriots do not work with him.

 

[jmt57]

That may be the case in the past, but with the rookie wage scale that will be put into place - and make no mistake, it is about 99% sure of happening once the two sides agree to a new CBA - it will make what agent is representing a draftee essentially irrelevant.

The choice of an agent won't be an issue until it is time for a player's second contract, and I doubt that is enough of a reason for the Patriots to not draft a player.

 

[DaBruinz]

JMT - You know that if there is a loophole, though, Condon will find it and exploit it.

That being said, this isn't the first time that Rappaport has mentioned this about Condon. I would be interested in finding out Reiss' take..

 

[MaineMan]

Let's say that BB has Watt graded at 8.8 (on a 1-9 scale) and no other prospect for 3-4 DE grades out higher than 6.7. And Watt falls to the Pats at #17. How long does anyone think that this "The Patriots do not work with Condon" thing is going to last? As long as it takes to get to the podium with Watt's card?

I can't help but think that Kraft is too rational a businessman to allow one rough negotiation from seven years ago to diminish his current and future business without making at least an attempt to work things out.

 

[yopats]

Let's say that BB has Watt graded at 8.8 (on a 1-9 scale) and no other prospect for 3-4 DE grades out higher than 6.7. And Watt falls to the Pats at #17. How long does anyone think that this "The Patriots do not work with Condon" thing is going to last? As long as it takes to get to the podium with Watt's card?

I can't help but think that Kraft is too rational a businessman to allow one rough negotiation from seven years ago to diminish his current and future business without making at least an attempt to work things out.

I have seen conflicting reports on the rookie wage scale.. check out this article..

NFL.com’s Albert Breer explains: “Teams are operating with the feeling they might have to pay the same freight as in the recent past, which would be the case if an injunction to lift the lockout is granted and the 2011 season is played without a CBA in place,” Breer writes.

 

[Dufflebagz]

Wait, Cromartie isn't on the Pats.....OH!!! Condon, ok, I gotcha!

 

[crowell33]

That may be the case in the past, but with the rookie wage scale that will be put into place - and make no mistake, it is about 99% sure of happening once the two sides agree to a new CBA - it will make what agent is representing a draftee essentially irrelevant.

The choice of an agent won't be an issue until it is time for a player's second contract, and I doubt that is enough of a reason for the Patriots to not draft a player.

All due respect, I think there is at least a 50/50 chance that this draft class is eventually signed under the existing rules.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

If there is a wage scale the smart players will (I hope) dump the blood-sucking leeches....and the agents can go back to ambulance chasing

 

[mgteich]

I agree.

Watt's agent is not irrelevant.

The patriots may or may draft Watt if they have a chance. However, they will have lot of options in addition to drafting a much lower rated DE. The patriots would not do that.

All due respect, I think there is at least a 50/50 chance that this draft class is eventually signed under the existing rules.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I agree.

Watt's agent is not irrelevant.

The patriots may or may draft Watt if they have a chance. However, they will have lot of options in addition to drafting a much lower rated DE. The patriots would not do that.

If the rookie wage scale had been in place PRIOR to the draft, I think things would have been different, but since their is no wage scale, I see no reason for BB to alter what he does.

Therefore I doubt he drafts a Condon client.

 

[MaineMan]

If the rookie wage scale had been in place PRIOR to the draft, I think things would have been different, but since their is no wage scale, I see no reason for BB to alter what he does.

Therefore I doubt he drafts a Condon client.

AFAIK, the problem wrt Watson's holdout in 2004 had nothing to do with salary; it was about the contract length. The Pats wanted Watson to sign for six years (which was still permissible back then), Condon was fighting for a five-year deal. That's moot now, since (as I understand it) only players drafted in the top sixteen may be signed to six-year deals. Players drafted #17 through #32 may only be signed to five-year deals. If Watt falls to the Pats at #17, there may not be all that much to worry about, rookie wage scale or not.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

AFAIK, the problem wrt Watson's holdout in 2004 had nothing to do with salary; it was about the contract length. The Pats wanted Watson to sign for six years (which was still permissible back then), Condon was fighting for a five-year deal. That's moot now, since (as I understand it) only players drafted in the top sixteen may be signed to six-year deals. Players drafted #17 through #32 may only be signed to five-year deals. If Watt falls to the Pats at #17, there may not be all that much to worry about, rookie wage scale or not.

Never said pay or contract length was or was not part of any past problems with Condon, but did imply that as part of the rookie wage scale, years of contracts by rounds would be part of the deal.

 

[patchick]

only players drafted in the top sixteen may be signed to six-year deals. Players drafted #17 through #32 may only be signed to five-year deals. If Watt falls to the Pats at #17, there may not be all that much to worry about, rookie wage scale or not.

That's true as far as it goes, but I suspect that they'd have to trade up to get Watt. And trading up into 6th-year negotiation territory for a Condon client is a legitimate concern, alas.

 

[mgteich]

And if a rookie wage scale is agreed to by next Thursday this will not be an issue. If there is no rookie wage scale by the time Belichick drafts at 17, then I don't see him drafting Watt.

Never said pay or contract length was or was not part of any past problems with Condon, but did imply that as part of the rookie wage scale, years of contracts by rounds would be part of the deal.

 

[patfanken]

If the rookie wage scale had been in place PRIOR to the draft, I think things would have been different, but since their is no wage scale, I see no reason for BB to alter what he does.

Therefore I doubt he drafts a Condon client.

If we assume that in at some time these 2 sides stop making it personal, throw the lawyer out and make a deal, the rookie salary scale is GOING to be part of it. Its an issue BOTH sides want. They just have to work out the details. So whenever the new CBA comes to pass and these rookies get to negotiate a contract there is an overwhelming chance that there WILL be a rookie wage scale which will limit the amount of money a rookie makes, on one side, and will limit the length of that contract by which round the player is drafted, on the other side.

Now any agent's impact on the negotiating process of the first contract is going to be greatly limited, thus having Tom Condon as an agent shouldn't impact whether the Pats take him.

BTW- I find it kind of interesting that Tom Condon has become the "great satan" of the Boston professional football franchise. He is fairly close to my era. He was an excellent player with the Boston College Eagles. He played in the NFL for 10 year (OL) including a year with the Pats (85). Maybe working for Billy Sullivan for a year soured him on the Pats lol.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

We might do well to think how the NE v. Condon issues extend beyond the basic rookie negotiations themselves. Condon was a close confidant of Gene Upshaw and had considerable input into various NFLPA v. NFL issues which I believe created some friction from NE's perspective.

Condon is not just an agent, he's a super agent with impact far beyond anything he does directly for his clients. It is what it is, I am at least mildly suspicious of any speculation which purports no friction between the two parties, there is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest an antipathy exists; it's fair to consider the divide with some skepticism, but it's equally valid to note the speculation is not occurring in a vacuum.

 

[patfanken]

We might do well to think how the NE v. Condon issues extend beyond the basic rookie negotiations themselves. Condon was a close confidant of Gene Upshaw and had considerable input into various NFLPA v. NFL issues which I believe created some friction from NE's perspective.

Condon is not just an agent, he's a super agent with impact far beyond anything he does directly for his clients. It is what it is, I am at least mildly suspicious of any speculation which purports no friction between the two parties, there is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest an antipathy exists; it's fair to consider the divide with some skepticism, but it's equally valid to note the speculation is not occurring in a vacuum.

Close to Upshaw is not an exaggeration Box, I'm pretty sure that Condon was the head of the fledgling NFLPA prior to Upshaw for a couple of years. I read a brief Bio on him and it said he was representing players while he was still playing for the Chiefs and Pats.

I'm not disputing that his influence goes beyond being an agent. I'm questioning his impact on representing a rookie player that the Pats want in the draft, given a rookie wage scale.....which IS going to happen.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That's true as far as it goes, but I suspect that they'd have to trade up to get Watt. And trading up into 6th-year negotiation territory for a Condon client is a legitimate concern, alas.

Actually, I can pretty much say that the Patriots wouldn't even try.

Remember that Mayo, who was the #10 pick overall, was signed to a five-year deal, not a six-year.

 

[the wrothbroughterer]

There really is nothing quite as official and conclusive as an 11 word Twitter post.

 

[jmt57]

Regardless of Condon's power and connections, I'm still of the opinion that there will be a rookie wage scale. The player's side did not have a problem with the idea; the opposition had to do with how to divy up that additional money.

The owners may be flexible on a few points, but one I don't see them bending on is the rookie wage scale. It will either be in place, or there will be no football this year.

With that in mind I'll stand (apparently alone) that Condon or any other agent will not affect the Pats decision on whom they draft next week.