zippo59
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Scott Pioli said:There was never an offer sheet executed, or talked about with the Miami Dolphins. When free agency started, as time went on, we were talking to the agent, getting an idea of where we thought the market was going to be, understanding that there were a couple of different options. Really, the only conversations that took place between me and [Dolphins GM] Randy Mueller were trade discussions. I gave Randy a call and asked him if they would be willing to consider trading the player. From that point on, there was never an offer sheet executed, there was never an offer sheet talked about. Somehow, somewhere, there is this great myth out there that we created an offer sheet that was worth $38 million. I don’t know where this stuff starts, but the conversation never really went there. I called Randy and the trade was made within a matter of hours.
But according to Pioli, there was never an offer sheet or a plan for one. It was a straight trade of a player.
1. The terms of the trade make it clear that giving Welker an offer sheet was in the Patriots best interests, as determined by the Patriots.
2. There were extensive media reports to the contrary.
3. Welker's agent is going to say that he discussed the offer sheet with the Patriots.
If you're the NFL do you seriously walk into the hearing and claim:
"We were never considering giving Welker an offer sheet"?
Its a bad strategy for three reasons:
1. The terms of the trade make it clear that giving Welker an offer sheet was in the Patriots best interests, as determined by the Patriots.
2. There were extensive media reports to the contrary.
3. Welker's agent is going to say that he discussed the offer sheet with the Patriots.
Here is
I'm not sure what the NFLPA will say about offer sheets, considering this was a trade of a player's rights. I don't think the Patriots care whether he was a RFA or not.
Here is Pioli's statement
At the time Pioli made these statements, I called BS. But rereading his statement now, he sures gives the impression that he was aware of the potential problem.
My apologies to Pioli for accusing him of disingenuous BS, when he was actually being quite smart.
Wow.
Nobody mentioned anything about 'extensive media reports' before.
That changes EVERYTHING - we should probably offer one of our 1st round picks back to the NFL as a peace offering.
Then Pioli should consider suing the Raiders on the same grounds of 'extensive media reports' to get randy Moss from the Raiders - and their 1st rounder too - personally I have no sympathy for the Raiders - its their fault that these media reports surfaced, and I really wanted Moss.
When will teams finally learn that the media play such an integral part in the legal aspects of a contract and its existence?
Under the terms of the CBA, the Patriots could get Welker by using a poison pill for the same money, and only a 2nd round draft choice. By entering into this trade, and then signing Welker, the Patriots proved that they found those terms desirable.How so? The Pats made it clear they looked at this transaction as a straight trade (see Pioli's comments above). They wanted the player, they traded for him. End of story.solman said:The terms of the trade make it clear that giving Welker an offer sheet was in the Patriots best interests, as determined by the Patriots.
[Commenting on the utility of the media reports]
Which means nothing in court. I guess you could call in reporters and ask them where they got the information, but I doubt they give up their sources.
[Commenting on my claim about what Welker's agent would say]
Exactly how do you know that? Even if he were to say that, it is his word against theirs and really doesn't accomplish much.
Exactly what is the NFLPA's basis? If there was never an offer sheet executed, I fail to see how they can say any violation occurred.
The NFLPA can't say what the Pats intentions were.
What this is more likely about is the union's displeasure with AD's deal smacking of he took less to play here. As a player you are not supposed to take a deal that makes you happy, you're supposed to demand a deal that fuels the market.
Probably it will all come to naught, but it looks like a pretty fair thing for the NFLPA to cry foul on.
Realistically, this was not an ordinary trade. The Pats and Dolphins worked together to sidestep the RFA process. Looking again at the CBA passage solman helpfully posted:
"There may be no consideration of any kind given by one Club to another Club...in exchange for a Club’s decision to submit or not to submit an Offer Sheet to a Restricted Free Agent..."
The fact that there was no formal offer sheet doesn't matter. The union can argue that Miami agreed to negotiate a trade if the Patriots would not submit an offer sheet and would sweeten the pot above the straight RFA level. The Patriots agreed to cough up the extra pick in order to not submit the RFA offer sheet, and the get the player quicker and cleaner. If that's how it went down, it does seem to be a no-no.
The only person who truly stands to lose anything is Welker's agent. His cut is based on the value of the entire contract. Big difference between $38 million and $18 million. Who complained to the players' association?
It's not Welker's agent. It the players union, the NFL Agents Association, looking to accuse the owners of collusion for NOT using poison pill contracts. Their position is that the owners all agreed not to use poison pills -- collusion. The Welker deal is their best vehicle for stirring it up, because the media reported an offersheet that was never signed.