Football NFL wants to divert $300 million from first-round contracts - Page 3

Mr. Laz · 04-13-2011, 02:23 PM

NFL wants to divert $300 million from first-round contracts
Associated Press

Published: April 13, 2011 at 03:24 p.m.
Updated: April 13, 2011 at 03:37 p.m.

NEW YORK -- The NFL's proposal to the players for a rookie compensation system would divert about $300 million a year from first-round draft picks' contracts to veterans and player benefits.

More than $525 million went to first-rounders in guaranteed payments in 2010. So nearly half of that total would wind up as veterans' salary or benefits under the proposal, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The league's offer would free more than $1.2 billion by 2016 and slow the growth rate of guaranteed payments to first-rounders, which the documents show increased by 233 percent since 2000. All contracts for first-round picks would become fixed at five years.

Such quarterback busts as JaMarcus Russell ($32 million), Matt Leinart ($12.9 million), David Carr ($15 million) and Joey Harrington ($13.9 million) received huge guaranteed payments that totaled $367 million in the past 10 drafts.

Draft Do-Overs: 2006

The Cardinals' selection of QB Matt Leinart
at No. 10 is one of many do-overs that NFL
teams would like to have in the 2006 draft,
NFL.com senior analyst Pat Kirwan writes.
More ...

Of course, Eli Manning ($24 million), Philip Rivers ($17.9 million) and Matt Ryan ($34.7 million) have not done too badly for their teams.

Guaranteed money paid to top 10 selections since 2000 reached nearly $2 billion. Guaranteed payments for all first-rounders were at $3.5 billion.

During talks for a new collective bargaining agreement, the league also proposed eliminating holdouts by reducing the maximum allowable salary if a rookie isn't signed when training camp begins. The NFL also suggested eliminating holdouts for all veterans by prohibiting renegotiations of contracts if a player holds out in the preseason.

The compensation system would not include a rookie wage scale and would allow for individual contract negotiations. Contracts would have a fixed length of four years for players chosen in the second through seventh rounds and would not affect salaries for those rounds, the league said.

The league and the NFLPA were not immediately available for comment.
Several agents said the proposals place unfair limitations on players entering the league.

"Five years and reduced pay is basically restricting players," said Ben Dogra, whose clients include Patrick Willis and Sam Bradford. "Roughly 68 percent of the NFL is comprised of players with five years or less of NFL experience.

"Even players from essentially picks 11 to 32 in the first round are good financial deals for the teams. If a player becomes a starter or an integral part of the team under the current system, the NFL teams have the player under a rookie deal that is favorable to the team."

Peter Schaffer, who represents Joshua Cribbs and Hakeem Nicks, called such a system "scouting insurance" for teams making bad selections high in the draft.

"It also makes the rookies more valuable when you reduce the amount you are paying to the young guy," Schaffer said. "This will eliminate the veteran middle class because teams can have younger players who are making less and are under fixed contracts."

A modified salary system for rookies was a negotiating point for a new CBA until talks broke off March 11 and the NFLPA dissolved as a union. The owners locked out the players hours later.

The two sides are scheduled for court-mandated mediation in Minneapolis beginning Thursday.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

**cabletech94** · 04-13-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I think 3 years is a reasonable amount of time for a player to prove whether he's a bust or not.

so that means THIS is castle's year?

**J Diddy** · 04-13-2011, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

The key imo is that the money doesn't leave the players ... it is just moved to the veteran players.

notice how the only people this article had to speak against it were agents.

My thoughts exactly. They're pissing their pants. The first round cash cow's going away.

**Renegade** · 04-13-2011, 07:20 PM

So will they (the owners) just give bigger signing bonuses than they do now to Rookies? I can't remember if a bonus counts against cap or not.

milkman · 04-13-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I think 3 years is a reasonable amount of time for a player to prove whether he's a bust or not.

Since the average career is about 3 years, 3 years on the initial contract is more than reasonable.

Marcellus · 04-13-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Two quick examples for each

For Rookies:

Careers average less than one contract in length. Lowering that money lessens their earnings. While not as drastic for the top players because of guarantees and the like, the same concept will apply, and it's just a matter of which year it happens.

If average careers are less than the contract length then they are busts and don't deserve the big money.

**notorious** · 04-13-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotherLover

My thoughts exactly. They're pissing their pants. The first round cash cow's going away.

Easy money. The bar is already set, so negotiating isn't very tough.

MagicHef · 04-13-2011, 08:56 PM

Does it seem a little weird to anyone else that the only people that don't have a say in the rookie wage scale are the, uh, rookies?

Marcellus · 04-13-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Does it seem a little weird to anyone else that the only people that don't have a say in the rookie wage scale are the, uh, rookies?

Nope.

Just Passin' By · 04-13-2011, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyCoffey

what I did in college was irrelevant to my professional career too, What I did in the Army didn't give me more experience pay when I started my professional career.

You made different choices, and they're inapplicable to the world of professional sports.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyCoffey

They didn't get paid in College, boo hoo. don't like that rule change it. As for the NFL, getting millions of dollars to not even practice yet is and has always been a dumb waste of money. Just my 2 cents.

WTF are you talking about? They're getting the money in the NFL, and you're the one bitching for change, not them.

Just Passin' By · 04-13-2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

If average careers are less than the contract length then they are busts and don't deserve the big money.

Deserve has nothing to do with it. They're getting paid based upon potential, just like everyone else is in a first job. The difference is that they can't choose where to apply and work, while pretty much everyone else can. Given that the biggest losers in this scenario would be the top players in the first round, it's pretty clear that they'd have been able to shop their services in a free system.

Marcellus · 04-13-2011, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Deserve has nothing to do with it. They're getting paid based upon potential, just like everyone else is in a first job. The difference is that they can't choose where to apply and work, while pretty much everyone else can. Given that the biggest losers in this scenario would be the top players in the first round, it's pretty clear that they'd have been able to shop their services in a free system.

I don't know what job you are in but first jobs typically don't pay top dollar for potential.

You work your way up. Your whole argument is flawed.

Just Passin' By · 04-13-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I don't know what job you are in but first jobs typically don't pay top dollar for potential.

You work your way up. Your whole argument is flawed.

Go check out what first jobs for top end graduates pay. The average starting salary for a Harvard Law Graduate in 2008, for example, was about $155,000.

http://www.law.harvard.edu/current/sfs/index.html

Marcellus · 04-13-2011, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Go check out what first jobs for top end graduates pay. The average starting salary for a Harvard Law Graduate in 2008, for example, was about $155,000.

http://www.law.harvard.edu/current/sfs/index.html

Harvard Law vs NFL rookie? If you want to compare go ahead.

What do you think that $155,000 a year compares to a graduate from Harvard Law in their prime? Half or a 3rd of their annual salary and probably not even that.

Great example to make my point.

Just Passin' By · 04-13-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Harvard Law vs NFL rookie? If you want to compare go ahead.

What do you think that $155,000 a year compares to a graduate from Harvard Law in their prime? Half or a 3rd of their annual salary and probably not even that.

Great example to make my point.

Not really, given that professional athletes are basically at the pinnacle of the salary world. You seem to be trying to equate NFL players to factory workers, and you're also overlooking the fact that there's already a rookie cap in the NFL.

Also, Peyton Manning and Brady, among others, will be making more money than Sam Bradford, so your progression argument is really a non-starter.

Marcellus · 04-13-2011, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Not really, given that professional athletes are basically at the pinnacle of the salary world. You seem to be trying to equate NFL players to factory workers.

Also, Peyton Manning and Brady, among others, will be making more money than Sam Bradford, so your progression argument is really a non-starter.

Look I am not the one who used starting salaries of Harvard Law graduates, you did. And compaired to their field which is relevent, they don't make the big money compared to experienced equals do out of college.

Harvard Law is elite. The NFL is elite. The comparison applies.

You aprovided the example not me. No sure where your factory worker comment applies.

I am not saying rookies shouldn't be paid well, they should not be top of their proffession straight out of school before ever playing an NFL game.

To use your example, an attorney straight out of school wont be the top paid Guy in court making more than the judge 99% of the time.

That's pretty logical.

04-13-2011, 02:23 PM
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	NFL wants to divert $300 million from first-round contracts NFL wants to divert $300 million from first-round contracts Associated Press Published: April 13, 2011 at 03:24 p.m. Updated: April 13, 2011 at 03:37 p.m. NEW YORK -- The NFL's proposal to the players for a rookie compensation system would divert about $300 million a year from first-round draft picks' contracts to veterans and player benefits. More than $525 million went to first-rounders in guaranteed payments in 2010. So nearly half of that total would wind up as veterans' salary or benefits under the proposal, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. The league's offer would free more than $1.2 billion by 2016 and slow the growth rate of guaranteed payments to first-rounders, which the documents show increased by 233 percent since 2000. All contracts for first-round picks would become fixed at five years. Such quarterback busts as JaMarcus Russell ($32 million), Matt Leinart ($12.9 million), David Carr ($15 million) and Joey Harrington ($13.9 million) received huge guaranteed payments that totaled $367 million in the past 10 drafts. Draft Do-Overs: 2006 The Cardinals' selection of QB Matt Leinart at No. 10 is one of many do-overs that NFL teams would like to have in the 2006 draft, NFL.com senior analyst Pat Kirwan writes. More ... Of course, Eli Manning ($24 million), Philip Rivers ($17.9 million) and Matt Ryan ($34.7 million) have not done too badly for their teams. Guaranteed money paid to top 10 selections since 2000 reached nearly $2 billion. Guaranteed payments for all first-rounders were at $3.5 billion. During talks for a new collective bargaining agreement, the league also proposed eliminating holdouts by reducing the maximum allowable salary if a rookie isn't signed when training camp begins. The NFL also suggested eliminating holdouts for all veterans by prohibiting renegotiations of contracts if a player holds out in the preseason. The compensation system would not include a rookie wage scale and would allow for individual contract negotiations. Contracts would have a fixed length of four years for players chosen in the second through seventh rounds and would not affect salaries for those rounds, the league said. The league and the NFLPA were not immediately available for comment. Several agents said the proposals place unfair limitations on players entering the league. "Five years and reduced pay is basically restricting players," said Ben Dogra, whose clients include Patrick Willis and Sam Bradford. "Roughly 68 percent of the NFL is comprised of players with five years or less of NFL experience. "Even players from essentially picks 11 to 32 in the first round are good financial deals for the teams. If a player becomes a starter or an integral part of the team under the current system, the NFL teams have the player under a rookie deal that is favorable to the team." Peter Schaffer, who represents Joshua Cribbs and Hakeem Nicks, called such a system "scouting insurance" for teams making bad selections high in the draft. "It also makes the rookies more valuable when you reduce the amount you are paying to the young guy," Schaffer said. "This will eliminate the veteran middle class because teams can have younger players who are making less and are under fixed contracts." A modified salary system for rookies was a negotiating point for a new CBA until talks broke off March 11 and the NFLPA dissolved as a union. The owners locked out the players hours later. The two sides are scheduled for court-mandated mediation in Minneapolis beginning Thursday. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
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04-13-2011, 07:20 PM	#33
Renegade Just Lurking Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ozark Mountain Country Casino cash: $1247904	So will they (the owners) just give bigger signing bonuses than they do now to Rookies? I can't remember if a bonus counts against cap or not.
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04-13-2011, 08:56 PM	#37
MagicHef The Seated Villain Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle Casino cash: $2050247	Does it seem a little weird to anyone else that the only people that don't have a say in the rookie wage scale are the, uh, rookies? __________________ With a sack in 61% of his games, SB MVP Von Miller is the most consistent pass rusher in NFL history.
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