halloween 65

Whats not to get?

SaintFanInATLHELL

The fact that it's all simply leverage in a negotiation as opposed the "naked money grab by the selfish greedy bum" that many seem to make it out to be.

The tag is leverage by definition to both sides. It's leverage for the player because it's a massive cap hit to the team immediately. It's leverage for the team because it prevents the player from truly being a free agent and getting the opportunity to market on the open market free of constraints.
Usually the tag is an annoyance that pisses both sides off enough to get them to come to the table and each concede enough to get a deal done.

The wrinkle with the grievance is that it finally sets the true value of the tag. Honestly the NFLPA winning the grievance will put the Saints in a tough spot because they have to have that extra $5 million on the books immediately which IIRC they do not have. That's the leverage necessary to create the concessions to get the deal done quickly. OTOH if the NFL wins, that negates that leverage and forces JG and Sexton to come to the table ready to give up some part of the guaranteed money, years (shorter is better for the player), and front end salary, which is more likely to be paid, in order to get the deal done, get the huge signing bonus, and the security of a longer term contract.

In any case the average salary was always going to be somewhere between the $7 million and the $12 million of the two tags. While I agree that JG doesn't deserve receiver money (because he is not actually a receiver), he does deserve to be paid as the best TE in the NFL. So the final contract should come in above Gronk's contract extension along with increase based on the fact that Gronk's extension was 2 years ago and the rising salary cap.

Finally I chuckle at the "nobility" of only asking for a fair and honest wage. As someone said earlier in this thread, we are in a capitalistic society. You are worth whatever value you can get for your services. Only a fool would turn down a potential increase "because I'm really not worth that much."

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

Seer1

Please, let this thread die!!!

Marlboro Man

The thing that's really hurting Graham is his disappearing act in the playoffs and during important games during the season. You play wort 7MIL. you get paid 7 Mil. It is what it is.

Marlboro Man

The question that Jimmy needs to ask himself is, do I just want to make a boatload of money, or make a great deal of money and win a championship and leave a legacy.

AsylumGuido

Don't even go there. That is the most lame argument ever. You ask every single player in the league and to a person they will answer it "make a boatload of money", as they very well should. The vast majority of NFL players never even have the opportunity to get the big contract. Of the few that do, the vast majority of those will only have a single shot at one. You would have to be an absolute moron to pick legacy over financial future. Especially as a young player. I might be able see it it for a veteran who has already gotten multiple big deals and only has a year or two left. And probably not even then.

Danno

Perhaps, if the difference is great. But if the difference isn't all that substantial (10 million/season versus 11 miilion/season) than I'd certainly consider that a valid consideration.

Carl Nicks left for about a 10% increase over what we were offering. For 10% I'd definitely consider the circumstances over raw dollars every time.

Now if it was a 20% to 40% difference... see ya!

AsylumGuido

Yup. Nicks made the very decision that every player will make and it is impossible for me to blame him.

SaintFanInATLHELL

Not every player. I do believe that I read that Tom Brady in fact took a substantial paycut to stay with the Patriots.

Of course that's a singular example of a player whose legacy is cemented and has nothing else to prove. And of course even with a paycut, it's still a ton of money.

SFIAH

AsylumGuido

Yup. That was the one caveat that I gave, the long-time vet who has already had multiple big time deals and wants another chance. That describes Brady to a tee.