Many players already have visits scheduled?

[The 12th Man]

I read that at least nine players already have visits scheduled with certain teams. How do they get away with this? I remember same thing happened last year too. Why doesn't the NFL try to crack down on this more. Seems like they just turn and look away. Seems like an unfair advantage. I would like to see some draft picks taken away from teams this year. I know BB would never do something like that. Just frustrates me a bit.

 

[ChoWZa]

I read that at least nine players already have visits scheduled with certain teams. How do they get away with this? I remember same thing happened last year too. Why doesn't the NFL try to crack down on this more. Seems like they just turn and look away. Seems like an unfair advantage. I would like to see some draft picks taken away from teams this year. I know BB would never do something like that. Just frustrates me a bit.

Source?

They could have scheduled meetings at midnight ?

 

[The 12th Man]

Source?

They could have scheduled meetings at midnight ?

Browns | Steinbach to visit team Friday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 23:04:18 -0800

Tony Grossi, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports free agent OG Eric Steinbach (Bengals) will visit the Cleveland Browns Friday, March 2.

Buccaneers | Steinbach will visit team Saturday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 22:57:48 -0800

Jim Flynn, of PewterReport.com, reports free agent OG Eric Steinbach (Bengals) will visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, March 3.

Bills | Whittle will visit team Friday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 22:43:52 -0800

Judd Zulgad, of the Star Tribune, reports free agent OG Jason Whittle (Vikings) will visit the Buffalo Bills Friday, March 2.

Broncos | Graham to visit team Friday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 22:23:59 -0800

Mike Reiss, of the Boston Globe, reports free agent TE Daniel Graham (Patriots) is scheduled to visit the Denver Broncos Friday, March 2.

Seahawks | Dielman to visit team Friday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 22:13:09 -0800

Mike Sando, of the Tacoma News Tribune, reports free agent OG Kris Dielman (Chargers) is expected to visit the Seattle Seahawks Friday, March 2.

Considering that the sources are mainly newspapers for each city, how could the papers get the info so fast and have it available on the internet. I believe the Graham one was announced only 17 minutes or so after midnight. No way that's possible. Also, I'm not sure on the time zones and how that affects the rule because wasn't even 11 pm in the Pacific time zone when Seattle papers new about Dielman coming to visit?

 

[ChoWZa]

Browns | Steinbach to visit team Friday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 23:04:18 -0800

Tony Grossi, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports free agent OG Eric Steinbach (Bengals) will visit the Cleveland Browns Friday, March 2.

Buccaneers | Steinbach will visit team Saturday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 22:57:48 -0800

Jim Flynn, of PewterReport.com, reports free agent OG Eric Steinbach (Bengals) will visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, March 3.

Bills | Whittle will visit team Friday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 22:43:52 -0800

Judd Zulgad, of the Star Tribune, reports free agent OG Jason Whittle (Vikings) will visit the Buffalo Bills Friday, March 2.

Broncos | Graham to visit team Friday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 22:23:59 -0800

Mike Reiss, of the Boston Globe, reports free agent TE Daniel Graham (Patriots) is scheduled to visit the Denver Broncos Friday, March 2.

Seahawks | Dielman to visit team Friday
Thu, 1 Mar 2007 22:13:09 -0800

Mike Sando, of the Tacoma News Tribune, reports free agent OG Kris Dielman (Chargers) is expected to visit the Seattle Seahawks Friday, March 2.

Considering that the sources are mainly newspapers for each city, how could the papers get the info so fast and have it available on the internet. I believe the Graham one was announced only 17 minutes or so after midnight. No way that's possible. Also, I'm not sure on the time zones and how that affects the rule because wasn't even 11 pm in the Pacific time zone when Seattle papers new about Dielman coming to visit?

I was wondering about the timezones as well.. then figured it was splitting hairs.. I'm under the impression FA started at 12AM EST.

 

[The 12th Man]

Source?

They could have scheduled meetings at midnight ?

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/grahams_plan.html

Here's the Graham one, I guess someone else already posted this on another thread. Make sure to note the time on the bottom.

 

[pats63]

What about us I now it is way to soon....We make good moves BB&SP we trust...

 

[marcus]

The players agents are VERY happy to call their newspaper reporter contacts very quickly.
these stories help to generate more interest in their clients and potentially a bidding war.

 

[dryheat44]

I read that at least nine players already have visits scheduled with certain teams. How do they get away with this? I remember same thing happened last year too. Why doesn't the NFL try to crack down on this more. Seems like they just turn and look away. Seems like an unfair advantage. I would like to see some draft picks taken away from teams this year. I know BB would never do something like that. Just frustrates me a bit.

I don't see what's wrong with scheduling a visit before FA period opens. All you're doing is making an appointment. If the player's current team makes a last-minute offer, appointments can be cancelled.

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't see what's wrong with scheduling a visit before FA period opens. All you're doing is making an appointment.

I don't think there's anything wrong with it at all. Now, a contract signed one minute after FA starts - that would be a problem.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it at all. Now, a contract signed one minute after FA starts - that would be a problem.

Yup - and of course we all know those negotiations are happening as well.

Graham knew what the Broncos were prepared to offer when the Patriots made their offer to him.

Seems to me that there is no stopping quiet behind the scenes discussions between team representatives and agents.... and that all teams have the same advantage/disadvantage in that regard.

Unless there was something suggesting teams were gaining an unfair advantage there's no reason for the NFL to crack down on anyone - again, not that they could.

 

[dryheat44]

Yup - and of course we all know those negotiations are happening as well.

Graham knew what the Broncos were prepared to offer when the Patriots made their offer to him.

Seems to me that there is no stopping quiet behind the scenes discussions between team representatives and agents.... and that all teams have the same advantage/disadvantage in that regard.

Unless there was something suggesting teams were gaining an unfair advantage there's no reason for the NFL to crack down on anyone - again, not that they could.

Yep. If they weren't going to take action after the Lawyer Milloy/Redskins affair where Milloy admitted to tampering, they're not going to take action.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it at all. Now, a contract signed one minute after FA starts - that would be a problem.

I remember back in '74, I guess it was, that the Bruins left Eddie Westfall and Johnny "Pie" MacKenzie unprotected in the expansion draft. The team was so deep, they really had little choice. I mean, these 2 were the most "expendable".

Well, after that was announced, Harry Sinden goes public and proclaims, "Johnny shouldn't feel badly about this" and blah-blah-blah.

The very next day MacKenzie's agent announced he'd signed a contract with a WHA team (Toronto, I think).

That was simply an impossibly fast turnaround. No one can do a contract that fast in professional sports. So obviously, there was another dynamic at work - i.e., he'd had his agent contact them (the WHA team) some time beforehand and work a contract out. Not that there was anything illegal done in this case - he was obviously planning to jump.

For the record, the New York Islanders took Westfall (which everyone knew they would do).