Calvin Johnson signs $64 mil deal, $27 mil guaranteed

[spacecrime]

Am I the only guy who thinks that rooking money is out of control?

That since a third of first round rookies never live up to their hype, the money is a huge risk?

I hope the Pats do not find themselves with a #2 or #1 pick. If they do I hope they trade down.

edit:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2959620

 

[danny88]

Am I the only guy who thinks that rooking money is out of control?

That since a third of first round rookies never live up to their hype, the money is a huge risk?

I hope the Pats do not find themselves with a #2 or #1 pick. If they do I hope they tradee down.

The NFL is the biggest sport in America. Makes billions and billions. Some baseball players make 20 million a year. it is only a matter of time before NFL players start making huge money.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Does that make him the highest paid wide receiver?

 

[Miguel]

Does that make him the highest paid wide receiver?

Probably not.
Harrison probably is.

 

[JoeSixPat]

It's tough to define "out of control" - I suppose it depends on whether you are comparing this historically to the NFL, of which we are in a transition period given the new CBA, or comparing it to other sports, for which are all FULLY guaranteed.

I know one thing for sure - having the #1 pick in consecutive years can actually HURT a team by putting them in salary cap hell - even though the "worst go first" philosophy is designed to help teams.

Indeed, I think it makes more sense for the worst team to decide WHERE they want to pick in the draft order, rather than forcing them to go first, and forcing them to pay #1 salary in a year when no other NFL team believes there's value for the dollar at #1 - or #2 - #5 for that matter given the cost-benefit analysis of what one must pay them.

It's a radical idea but I think it makes sense.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It's actually a good idea.

 

[Seymour93]

Well the four letter network says Calvin Johnson is Hall of Fame bound. $64 million is totally worth it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=halloffame/nfl31-40

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

It's tough to define "out of control" - I suppose it depends on whether you are comparing this historically to the NFL, of which we are in a transition period given the new CBA, or comparing it to other sports, for which are all FULLY guaranteed.

I know one thing for sure - having the #1 pick in consecutive years can actually HURT a team by putting them in salary cap hell - even though the "worst go first" philosophy is designed to help teams.

Indeed, I think it makes more sense for the worst team to decide WHERE they want to pick in the draft order, rather than forcing them to go first, and forcing them to pay #1 salary in a year when no other NFL team believes there's value for the dollar at #1 - or #2 - #5 for that matter given the cost-benefit analysis of what one must pay them.

It's a radical idea but I think it makes sense.

That is an interesting idea, but couldn't a team just do what the Vikes did a few years ago, take all their time effectively moving back 2 -4 slots?

 

[RayClay]

27 million guaranteed sounds like a lot, but top WR picks never fail.[/Lions]

 

[JoeSixPat]

That is an interesting idea, but couldn't a team just do what the Vikes did a few years ago, take all their time effectively moving back 2 -4 slots?

I read at some point the Comissioner made it clear he would not allow that to happen anymore - yet in a year where teams aren't interested in trading up because they don't think the value is there, picking #1 could be a penalty more than an asset.

I guess for now it simply means that teams that absolutely want to trade down could do so if they accepted less than full value for the trade. And I guess simply choosing to pick, say 4th without a trade for less than full value isn't necessarilly better than that.

I still think it would be a good rule to have if need be. It would hardly ever be used except in a sitution where, a team simply fails to get better, having the #1 or #2 pick year after year and simply needs to spend their cap space on quantity quality guys rather than overpriced rookies year after year, locking them into cap hell, especially if the rookies don't live up to their potential.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

i think he will be good...but what 27 mill guarenteed?? i think thats a little high..i was expecting around 20 mill..but hey...thats just me

 

[spacecrime]

The NFL is the biggest sport in America. Makes billions and billions. Some baseball players make 20 million a year. it is only a matter of time before NFL players start making huge money.

Mmmm, but I was talking specifically about rookies. It seems whenever a top ten rookie pick signs his first contract, he becomes the highest paid player at that position.

I thought of this last year when Vernon davis signed his name and became the highest paid TE in the league. Was he really worht more than Todd Heap, Tony Gonzales, Antonio Gates, Daniel Graham, Aglae Crumpler, etc?

Speaking generaly, the NFL is not the biggest sport in America in terms of income, of course. Baseball and baskeetball play a lot more games, rake in more loot, and have smaller rosters. That's why they can afford more $$$ for top players.

 

[Frezo]

I read at some point the Comissioner made it clear he would not allow that to happen anymore - yet in a year where teams aren't interested in trading up because they don't think the value is there, picking #1 could be a penalty more than an asset.

I guess for now it simply means that teams that absolutely want to trade down could do so if they accepted less than full value for the trade. And I guess simply choosing to pick, say 4th without a trade for less than full value isn't necessarilly better than that.

I still think it would be a good rule to have if need be. It would hardly ever be used except in a sitution where, a team simply fails to get better, having the #1 or #2 pick year after year and simply needs to spend their cap space on quantity quality guys rather than overpriced rookies year after year, locking them into cap hell, especially if the rookies don't live up to their potential.

One confusing side effect is that teams might play harder in December so as to not be burdened with the 1st pick. Boy, that sounds weird.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Am I the only guy who thinks that rooking money is out of control?

That since a third of first round rookies never live up to their hype, the money is a huge risk?

I hope the Pats do not find themselves with a #2 or #1 pick. If they do I hope they trade down.

edit:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2959620

In terms of my fan appreciation for established players, it's a ripoff, but it's one the NFLPA seems comfortable with, no doubt helped by friendships with the agent's lobby. The owners aren't squawking loud enough yet...and if you think about it, Detroit tried hard to trade out of that slot. If the price of first round rookie talent hadn't been as high, the bidding war for a shot at one of these kids would be just as obscene as the money the kids and agents pocket. As long as we're talking about kids with great gifts, I guess I'd rather see them raking in the cash then some loser like Oakland grabbing additional picks to rebuild their Dreith Empire - ask me again if the Kraft family ever loses control of this outfit.

 

[Isaac]

That is an interesting idea, but couldn't a team just do what the Vikes did a few years ago, take all their time effectively moving back 2 -4 slots?

Yes, I am surprised this doesn't ever happen on purpose at the top of the draft. I had always heard the Vikings passing wasn't intentional. JoeSix said the commish spoke against this, I hadn't heard that, but I don't know what he could do anyway. Once a team's time expires, they next team is up, and the original team can put their card in any time they want. Unless they change the rules, it's an option.

 

[PonyExpress]

Johnson is worth it. I'm starting to like Detroit. The offense was very potent late last season as they adjusted to Martz, driving the ball at will against the Pats, wrecking the Cowboys in Dallas. Tatum Bell will break out this year, and become a star. Kitna will hold them back with his atrocious late game decision making. The D will be a bit better. I really like Stanley Wilson, the D-Line is better than people think, and Ernie Sims showed some signs. They have a chance to surprise. Stanton will be the starter in a couple years and the Lions will be a team to reckon with. This year I can see them 8-8, with Kitna blowing a few key games.

 

[PATRIOT64]

I never understood why Detroit pays WRs ridiculous money but never go out on the FA market like we did and actually bring in some defensive talent instead all cap money is gone..This is holding the Lions back,Millen is a moron.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

I never understood why Detroit pays WRs ridiculous money but never go out on the FA market like we did and actually bring in some defensive talent instead all cap money is gone..This is holding the Lions back,Millen is a moron.

Well, the NFL needs morons too......if for nothing else, to make Belichick the genius. In reality you can't have one without the other.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Johnson is worth it.

I know they play different positions - but everyone's eyes popped when Nate Clements got a $22 million signing bonus. And that's for a veteran who's proven something.

So now we're giving rookies who haven't done a damn thing - not to mention at the WR position that's checkered at best - $27 million in a bonus and its worth it?

So what's smarter - spending your money on proven veterans and finding value in the mid to late 1st round and throughout the draft or putting all your eggs in one basket with a good chunk of the salary cap going to an unproven rookie.

This couldn't have anything to do with why the Lions are perernnial losers, could it?

 

[PonyExpress]

Yes, I know they play different positions - but everyone's eyes popped when Nate Clements got a $22 million signing bonus. And that's for a veteran who's proven something.

So now we're giving rookies who haven't done a damn thing - not to mention at the WR position that's checkered at best - $27 million in a bonus and its worth it?

When a team picks a player in the top 10, they are announcing their belief that the prospect will be a multi-year probowl player. The salary they pay him is commensurate with that expectation. Usually more than half of the teams are wrong, and deserve ridicule. In the case of Calvin Johnson, I happen to agree with the Lions. Johnson is special.