Chris Johnson can't play for $550K

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

He does have leverage. He can hold out and while the team doesn't have to pay him, think about how much money they lose in disgruntled fans pissed off at the team for not paying him.

And again, just because "that's the system" doesn't make it a good one. And your example of Jamarcus is a classic example. You shouldn't be rewarded by your draft status. Once you're in this league, you should be rewarded by play on the field. And the fact that Jamarcus has sweet incentives that makes him difficult to cut while Johnson can be cut today pretty much for free tells you how broken the system is.

If you're talking about Albert Haynesworth, fine. He had a chance to negotiate a fair contract and he's not living up to it. If you're talking about a rookie who was slotted clearly incorrectly, that's a different story. And I'm not just talking dollars. I'm talking about guaranteeing his contract even if he gets injured. What union would EVER let an employer back out of a contract for an injury experienced ON THE JOB?

And by the way, the Titans didn't waste $7M in bonus. They got MVP-level play for 2 seasons. That's an enormous bargain.

I agree change is warranted but it can't be one sided.

Teams should have the ability to make all rookie contracts incentive based regardless of pick. You suck you make less. You excel you make more.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I agree change is warranted but it can't be one sided.

Teams should have the ability to make all rookie contracts incentive based regardless of pick. You suck you make less. You excel you make more.

That would make it next to impossible to manage a salary cap (if there is a salary cap).

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That would make it next to impossible to manage a salary cap (if there is a salary cap).

Yea I thought about that.You have to be under the "base" cap number at the beginning of the year and if young players (still under rookie contract) excel you pay them more at the end like a bonus.