The NFL Has an Age Problem

[patfanken]

really interesting read. A couple things.

1. I wonder how much the old bloated rookie deals forces teams to hold on to veterans longer, since there were higher cap penalties. Now, teams can swallow up just about any busted pick without long term penalties. If Sam Bradford gets drafted in 2012, is he even in the league anymore?

2. With the change in the game, qbs are becoming more and more important. It used to be that 3-5 guys would get paid and then there would be a 2nd tier and a third tier. Now, there is one shifting tier. The qb play hasn't improved (quite likely deteriorating) but more and more guys are being paid. That hurts every other position, especially running back since if you couldn't find a qb, you paid for a rb to lighten the load. Now, you spend a second rounder.

3. Why this is less of an issue for the Pats is Brady is the best teammate in the last twenty years and has consistently left money on the table for them. It's really that simple. Belichick is great at getting out earlier than later, but Brady's pay over the last 15 years has guaranteed at least one extra above average veteran on the team every year. That is such an incredible advantage for the team, and really unmatched elsewhere.

Why do people keep saying this. Tom Brady got paid. I read recently that no other QB put more money in his pocket in recent years than Tom Brady (note: Rodgers is scheduled to make Tom #2 next year). What makes the Brady deal so team friendly is that Tom took most of his money up front. So instead of Brady's deal killing the Pats cap and cash flow in his so called "declining" years, like Brees and Manning, it makes it much more flexible for the team to do its business.

Brady is the GOAT, so there will always be a case to say he "could have gotten more", but the fact is that Tom Brady did very well financially playing for the Patriots, and the stories that circulate around that he is vastly underpaid are mostly myths. And like all myths, I find them entertaining, but untrue.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

Why do people keep saying this. Tom Brady got paid. I read recently that no other QB put more money in his pocket in recent years than Tom Brady (note: Rodgers is scheduled to make Tom #2 next year). What makes the Brady deal so team friendly is that Tom took most of his money up front. So instead of Brady's deal killing the Pats cap and cash flow in his so called "declining" years, like Brees and Manning, it makes it much more flexible for the team to do its business.

Brady is the GOAT, so there will always be a case to say he "could have gotten more", but the fact is that Tom Brady did very well financially playing for the Patriots, and the stories that circulate around that he is vastly underpaid are mostly myths. And like all myths, I find them entertaining, but untrue.

Actually, it is.

he's been one of the top 5 qb cap hits once since 2010. And he was 5th. He's been out of the top 15 more times than top 5. That's remarkable.

He has gotten paid, but always to the benefit to the team. He has never poisoned their books like the mannings, roethlisberger, flacco or Brees, even for a single season.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

funny, first nfl source cited was a Raven, of the pay Flacco a lot of money, damn everyone else

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Based on the headline, does "Age" enter the list of the top 10 problems the NFL* has?

 

[Dr Pain]

A very good article. Make you appreciate the cheap Patriots spreading it around more than the other teams who pay those 6 super stars. It would be interesting to see the median pay per team as this would best represent which teams spread it around best and which were the most out of balance.

 

[Dorito Dink]

@borg what exactly did you "dislike" about my post?

 

[WhoaDirty]

The NFL's "age problem" extends to its expanding casual fan base of flaky ADD twentysomething fantasy football twerps who drink light beer and whine about getting calloused thumbs from texting all day long on their smartphones.

What's wrong with light beer?

Anyone know if veteran salaries have increased across the board since rookie salary rules were changed a few years back?

 

[BradyFTW!]

The NFL's "age problem" extends to its expanding casual fan base of flaky ADD twentysomething fantasy football twerps who drink light beer and whine about getting calloused thumbs from texting all day long on their smartphones.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I think one of the main reasons for this trend is pretty clear: the veteran minimum. Veterans have to be significantly above replacement level just to justify their minimum salary versus against a player on his first contract.

Even the 'cap-dumb' teams are pretty decent about cap management when compared to the league standard 10-20 years ago. There's a reason why Belichick used to be able to grab more really good players off the TC cuts than are available now, and it's because teams aren't as dumb about cap management as they used to be. Part of that is understanding that a rookie who can play for significantly under the vet minimum is worth keeping over a vet who's only marginally better than him.

The solution: either lower the veteran minimum or raise the rookie minimum, or both. In either case, you'll see an increase in average age by allowing veterans to compete with rookies on an even salary playing field.

 

[RobertWeathers]

What's wrong with light beer?

Anyone know if veteran salaries have increased across the board since rookie salary rules were changed a few years back?

A Bud Light, Coors Light or a Mich Ultra is a great chaser plus if you are eating a ton you can drink several of those things and not get full.

 

[BradyFTW!]

What's wrong with light beer?

Anyone know if veteran salaries have increased across the board since rookie salary rules were changed a few years back?

It's especially funny because I'm used to 'young people' getting ripped on for not drinking macro brew light beers, and instead sticking with craft beer. Apparently the stereotypes are hitting from both sides now.

Personally I'm all about craft beer, but if I'm going to be tailgating then it's Bud all the way. I can drink a dozen of those and feel fine, can't say the same for anything Allagash or Ballast Point is brewing.

 

[1960Pats]

A very good article. Make you appreciate the cheap Patriots spreading it around more than the other teams who pay those 6 super stars. It would be interesting to see the median pay per team as this would best represent which teams spread it around best and which were the most out of balance.

I remember discussing Belichick with some of my fellow AOLes back when he first took over in 2000. After a couple of years we could see that the Pats goal was to spread the wealth and be deeper than most teams. As long as there's a salary cap it seems like the best route to take. It certainly worked for BB and the Pats.

 

[Tunescribe]

What's wrong with light beer?

It's a ridiculous concept.

 

[1960Pats]

I don't care how old or young the Pats are. I don't care if their team motto is Just Win Baby or Just Win Gramps, as long as they continue to be competitive. They already gave me more than enough back for all those years, so winning it all isn't as crucial for me as it might be for some others.

 

[WhoaDirty]

It's a ridiculous concept.

Tell me more.

 

[Tunescribe]

Tell me more.

OK. Light beer is a waste of otherwise good water.

 

[Jlaff]

Craft beers, microbreweries and hints of apricot in your beer is for hippies.

 

[mgteich]

I think one of the main reasons for this trend is pretty clear: the veteran minimum. Veterans have to be significantly above replacement level just to justify their minimum salary versus against a player on his first contract.

Even the 'cap-dumb' teams are pretty decent about cap management when compared to the league standard 10-20 years ago. There's a reason why Belichick used to be able to grab more really good players off the TC cuts than are available now, and it's because teams aren't as dumb about cap management as they used to be. Part of that is understanding that a rookie who can play for significantly under the vet minimum is worth keeping over a vet who's only marginally better than him.

The solution: either lower the veteran minimum or raise the rookie minimum, or both. In either case, you'll see an increase in average age by allowing veterans to compete with rookies on an even salary playing field.

The cap hit for vets is much lower than the vet minimum compensation.

 

[Joker]

welp...I guess I have finally jumped the shark. I mean, EXPLAIN the difference between beer and watered down beer? Jeezus krist....look, I'm a straight shooter and too blunt sometimes for my own good BUT..if you drink "lite" beer you're a SUCKER. End of story. No sequel.

The best advance in beer during MY lifetime is an establishment's ability to serve COLD lager at or below 28 degrees fahrenheit. Even Pabst Blue Ribbon is palatable. which I once thought impossible.

If any of you are confused about my rigid stance on this subject, perhaps a short trip to Ireland and stops at the Smithwicks and Crean's breweries will get your heads straight. If you can make it to Dingle and the Crean brewery, you just may NOT come back.

 

[Deus Irae]

Joker, If I wasn't already enjoying some Earl Grey, that picture would have led me to a couple of pints of Guinness.