what is the rule for franchising players when it comes to positions like RT and LT? if you franchised Albert, wouldn't you have to pay him RT money or trade him, not LT money?

Bookends for 5 years?

KC could offer Albert a 2 year extension right now for 9 million guaranteed.

Why would he agree with that? Especially if the team is going to move him to a position where he's going to get paid significantly less.

It's not about the contracts in the end. It's about Albert actually staying here. If we move him away from LT, he's as good as gone.

Yeah, let's burn every possible bridge we can with one of the few promising young players we have...

If we're tinkering with the idea of burning the Dorsey pick, why not go balls out and burn the Albert pick as well?

Why would he do it? He got about 9 million as a bonus when he signed. He would be weighing doubling his money right now, or running the risk he won't get hurt or his play won't decline at the end of 5 years.

Because Albert actually played at a high level.

Most of these guys don't approach it that way. It's about ego. He's a LT now and if the team tries to screw him, he's gonna be pissed.

I was kidding.

I'm not giving up on Dorsey, yet, either.

Ego is part of it. A much larger part is money. It's a tough position to be in. 9 million now, or wait 5 more years with a much bigger risk.

$9 million? Who gives a **** about $9 million?

The guy will be paid as one of top tackles in the league at a time when there's probably a Rookie Pay Scale in place, virtually guaranteeing him of huge dollars.

And what agent in his right mind would advise a client to do what you're suggesting?

Answer: No one.

How does a rookie pay scale affect a player entering his 2nd contract?

It frees up a dickton of cap room.

Isn't there already a cap that teams have to fit all rookies into?

Do you really think a rookie cap is going to save a lot of money? Assuming one is ever adopted it'll be based on what is paid now, with small increases each year. They aren't ever going to go back on guaranteed money.

The NFL is almost certain to have an NBA style rookie cap.

So for example, let's say the number overall pick receives $10 million dollars in guarantees. The second overall pick would receive a fraction of that (say $9.9 million) and so on throughout the draft.

What will happen is that teams will have an exorbitant amount of money for veterans on their second contract (as it should be).

In that case, Albert would clean up.

The owners have pretty much vowed to lock out the players until an agreement like this has been reached.