I've been expecting this - Rookie Deals

[PatsSteve1]

From Riess's Football Notes:

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2007/08/19/tag_can_be_a_touchy_subject/?page=4

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell figures to score points with veteran players for his thoughts regarding rookie contracts. Speaking to Detroit media on a training camp visit with the Lions last week, Goodell acknowledged his concern. "It's difficult when a rookie comes into a locker room and has [a significant] signing bonus," he said. "It's difficult [for] the veterans to provide that kind of leadership that's so important on teams. Money changes that dynamic a little bit." Goodell said he planned to speak with player union head Gene Upshaw. His point was that the NFL wasn't looking to save money but redirect the dollars "to players who have earned that on the field through their accomplishments and leadership."

They need an NBA-like rookie pay scale.

 

[SaCaCh]

Lets hope so, this could not come too soon.

 

[DaBruinz]

I agree. I saw that and a smile crept over my face. Its definitely going to upset Condon. But I don't care. He's a scumbag. It will be interesting to see how Upshaw takes it. Personally, I wish the players would oust that SOB and replace him with someone who truly works for ALL the players. Upshaw is nothing but a self-serving scumbag IMHO.

 

[AirForcePatFan]

There is NO REASON for a UNPROVEN ROOKIE to be making more money than a PROVEN VETERAN... That's all I'm saying...

 

[Deus Irae]

There is NO REASON for a UNPROVEN ROOKIE to be making more money than a PROVEN VETERAN... That's all I'm saying...

There are plenty of 'proven veteran' players who go in the tank after getting the big dollar contracts...

 

[BelichickFan]

It's been a no brainer for years. Obviously the owners don't want to waste their money on sh!t but the players should also be in favor of more of the salary cap being available for the veterans.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

The NBA actually has the right idea. Or even baseball with the arbitration system can set an example. Adopting a new system can punish maybe the top 10-15 draftees but help everyone else. A player who becomes a star could be better compensated by either A) earlier free agency, or B) an arbitration-type system where the team retains control but the player gets paid more in line with performance rather than the terms of his rookie deal.

The reason why I can see this being resolved is that the resolution can easily be in the best interest of veterans and most rookies.

 

[zippo59]

The NFLPA will ahve to want it in order for it to get done.

 

[DaBruinz]

It's been a no brainer for years. Obviously the owners don't want to waste their money on sh!t but the players should also be in favor of more of the salary cap being available for the veterans.

Something that Miguel pointed out was that, in fact, more of the money is going to the veterans, at least on a % basis.

Personally, they need to just cap the ridiculousness. There's no reason why the #1 over-all pick should be getting a $35 million signing bonus while the last guy in the 1st round only gets a couple mill, if that.

They need to balance the slots better and allow more money to guys in the other rounds.

 

[DaBruinz]

The NFLPA will ahve to want it in order for it to get done.

Considering that there are at least 1952 players (not including those on the IR) that pay union dues and at most 256 of them are rookies (13%), I would think that they could get an over-whelming majority to agree to slot the salaries better.

 

[zippo59]

Considering that there are at least 1952 players (not including those on the IR) that pay union dues and at most 256 of them are rookies (13%), I would think that they could get an over-whelming majority to agree to slot the salaries better.

You would think so but if that were the case why hasn't the union brought it up before?

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

You would think so but if that were the case why hasn't the union brought it up before?

I will just take a WAG here ( wild a** guess) but I think that it could have something to do with the relationship between the agents and the leadership of the NFLPA and their perceived fear of losing the 3% of the rookie contracts. Yet, they wouldn't they simply make it up on the proven veterans who would be getting that money instead??? Perhaps if they had that salary cap for rookies, they wouldn't be making it rain in strip clubs.......

 

[upstater1]

From Riess's Football Notes:

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2007/08/19/tag_can_be_a_touchy_subject/?page=4



They need an NBA-like rookie pay scale.

I've been saying this for awhile. I'm glad the commissioner agrees with me.

Here's one way to sell it to the union. Use a soft cap when you're signing your own players. Allow teams to offer their players 10% more than the average of the top 5 players at their position, or heck, just all their players without exception, and that 10% does not count against the cap. This would give more money to veterans, and teams would be rewarded for not only drafting well, but for teaching well. Fans would be rewarded because of continuity. Vets would make more money. Etc.

 

[upstater1]

Something that Miguel pointed out was that, in fact, more of the money is going to the veterans, at least on a % basis.

Personally, they need to just cap the ridiculousness. There's no reason why the #1 over-all pick should be getting a $35 million signing bonus while the last guy in the 1st round only gets a couple mill, if that.

They need to balance the slots better and allow more money to guys in the other rounds.

You can't give more bonuses to guys in other rounds because of the likelihood they'll bust and be cut. Remember Jon Burch? Kraft would be out a lot money for that kind of drafting stupidity.

For me, it's proper that the rookies get a small percentage. They haven't proven anything yet. Give them 3 year contracts and establsh incentives so that players stay with their teams after the three years are up.

 

[JoeSixPat]

The NFLPA will ahve to want it in order for it to get done.

I think they have a vested interest in that the less money that goes to rookies the more money that comes to the Veterans who hold the cards in the NFLPA

The agents have a lot to lose - if there's a strict rookie cap formula there's little reason for agents - though I'd still suggest they have a role to play in incentive laden contracts for the later 1st round picks and beyond.

It's primarilly the Top Ten picks that get the inordinate amounts of guaranteed money without earning it - and that's where the problem lies. I think it would be fair, if we're expecting Top Ten picks to see less money that we allow them to hit free agency earlier - 5 year contracts maximum.

This is a win win in that it protects teams from expending increasingly outrageous amonts of money for rookies who might never do anything - but allows those rookies to hit free agency sooner -hence giving the agents a bite at the apple sooner too.

The rest of the rookie picks in the late 1st and rest of the rounds aren't the problem.

 

[patriot lifer]

It's been a no brainer for years. Obviously the owners don't want to waste their money on sh!t but the players should also be in favor of more of the salary cap being available for the veterans.

The one problem we can all foresee is that if rookie contracts go down in value (mainly the top 16), then rookies and their agents will increasingly push for shorter contracts. This way they get out of their rookie contracts and step up to the big veteran dollars. We can think of all the top 16 players this past draft who already were pushing for 5-year deals so that they may enter into their first big veteran contract. Apparently the prospect of these big veteran contracts has an appeal, and if the gap between rookie and veteran pay increases...well, naturally they don't want six- or even five-year deals. This may not happen to every top 16 draftee, but the owners could have more Revis' on their hands who want shorter deals. Imagine yourself an amazing athlete entering the draft like Calvin Johson, and you feel you're getting the shaft in pay (and you're a Lion ). I know I'd want to be out and done with that contract after four years (and probably out of Detroit).

Of course if the league wants to keep the length of the contracts up (5-6 years), they just have to regulate the values of shorter contracts to keep them commensurate. Otherwise we could have early first round rookies running around with 4-year deals. And billionaires will not stand for that!

 

[patriot lifer]

I think it would be fair, if we're expecting Top Ten picks to see less money that we allow them to hit free agency earlier - 5 year contracts maximum.

let's do that, plus remove the franchise tag and the one year early entry into free agency

 

[PatsSteve1]

You would think so but if that were the case why hasn't the union brought it up before?

Why hasn't the comissh brought it up before? Why haven't veteran players complained more? They do have a rookie pool that was agreed to by the league and union, it just doesn't work as it should have been intended. Most contractual deals are done at negotiation time, not in between. Maybe they have discussed it before but couldn't agree on how to do it.

 

[PatsSteve1]

let's do that, plus remove the franchise tag and the one year early entry into free agency

Actually if the owners agreed to give up the tags, they'd likely want a year added to FA. Trying to get rid of tags and institute a lower rookie pay scale involves give and take here. The NFLPA isn't going to agree to something that means less money overall to players and the owners aren't going to agree to lose players sooner. Each side has things they want to protect.
It may not all be as easy as it sounds.

 

[DaBruinz]

You can't give more bonuses to guys in other rounds because of the likelihood they'll bust and be cut. Remember Jon Burch? Kraft would be out a lot money for that kind of drafting stupidity.

For me, it's proper that the rookies get a small percentage. They haven't proven anything yet. Give them 3 year contracts and establsh incentives so that players stay with their teams after the three years are up.

I don't care if its bonuses or just a slight increase in their salary... The structure is absurd and if a top 5 pick busts, like Gallery did, then it screws the team for years.