Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

It happened so fast and basically on draft night there was nothing that could been done.

smart move after day one saying if he is not drafted by the third he would not sign and sit out.

Round 1 for craps and giggles lets use or pick guesstimate
13 Saints Andrus Peat $10 mill +/-

- There is also an inherent difference between draftees picked within rounds 1-2 and those between 3-7.

- Rounds 1-2 salaries guaranteed

- “25% Increase Rule” - prohibits a rookie’s base salary plus bonus from increasing by more than 25% each year of their contract.

- first round players have exclusive fifth-year options

- players drafted between rounds 3 and 7 who are only eligible for a proven performance escalator (PPE).
Proven Performance Escalator allows players selected later in the draft to receive additional compensation assuming they participate in at least 35% of their team’s defensive or offensive plays during the first 3 years of their deal.

- The 4-year minimum base salaries for players in this year’s draft are as follows: $435,000 (Year 1), $525,000 (Year 2), $615,000 (Year 3), $705,000 (Year 4).

So each rookie drafted will get a 4-year deal,

whereas undrafted rookies are only eligible for 3-year contracts.

Now here is the kicker

***The league’s collective bargaining agreement also bars teams from giving rookies option bonuses, option exercise/non-exercise fees, as well as voidable years and salary advances… all of which are available to veterans.

2015 NFL Draft 1st Round Rookie Salary Projections - Forbes

UDFA

NFL limits their contracts to 3 year terms and puts a salary cap pool on all undrafted free agents a little bit over $75,000. While teams can exceed that amount they rarely do because then it hurts what they can pay their drafted players. That being said this is a big day where having a good agent shows its worth.

teams like the Patriots who give a small signing bonus and also guarantee base salary as a way to avoid the $75,000 limitation. Knowing these systems is important to getting the largest guarantee possible. so....

A team is limited to around $88,000 for UDFA signing bonuses

$1.5 million is approximately the value of the UDFA contract over three years.

Now a team can guarantee as much of that $1.5 million as they please. but most guarantee nothing. in this case they will

SO ........

So by not getting drafted Collins in the long run he will come out ahead or break even with players drafted.

More importantly he can actual receive a veterans contract benefits structure as early as 3 years before any first rounder in the draft. Year two of an UDFA contract is an option year were a team can redo that players contract. Thus by passing the PPE restrictions placed on all draft picks.

Even if held to a 3 year deal he still gets a full pro contract a full year before any picks in rounds 3 - 7 and a year before the picks in rounds 1 and most of round 2.

Now A team will have an incentive to extend the contract after two years if he is good and keep him testing the FA market. Because after the 3rd year, his is a restricted free agent. If the team tags him as such, they can assign a compensation value to another team's offer sheet (1st round pick...etc). His current team will have first right of refusal if he signs another team's tender.

The players insensitive to sign an extended contract after two years is?

Insert kicker here:
***The league’s collective bargaining agreement also bars teams from giving rookies option bonuses, option exercise/non-exercise fees, as well as voidable years and salary advances… all of which are available to veterans.

He has arrived at his pay day while all the other rookies are still waiting for from his draft class. He would be cashing in a full two years before any pick in round 1 and full 3 years before everyone else.

In Collins case if the saints gamble pays off they have there starter on the cheap for the last two years of this cap structure for the saints. Or at least the pick value attached to him in 2018. Odds are a first no less than the 2. Then again every one ends up busted. Collins is out of football and the saints wasted 1.75 mill over 3 years. Gotta spend money to make money and this is gambling without a doubt. I would gladly roll the dice on this one.

So depending on how you look at it given the way things worked out he has a risk to take and baring major injury stands a chance to actually be ahead of the game at the right time with the saints. The cap should be a mute issue in 2017. we have too many aging vets coming to the end of their contract that year that will be FA. to name a few

Drew Brees
Brodrick Bunkley
Marques Colston
David Hawthorne
Max Unger
Kenny Vaccaro
Ramon Humber
Justin Drescher
Terron Armstead
John Jenkins
Kasim Edebali

All those so called experts IMO are not telling the whole story or just do not get it. Only a couple of times have I heard this talked about.

If I was Collins and I had a to pick, I would do the same thing.

1 - Suck it up take the lesser contract guaranteed 3 yrs 1.75 mill + Bounus

2 - Insure the hell out of yourself. Lloyd's of London here I come

3 - If all goes as planned Cash in at the end of year two ahead of everyone else.;)

4 - Enjoy the kicker: By all odds you are coming out cash wise ahead everyone else in your draft class.

***The league’s collective bargaining agreement also bars teams from giving rookies option bonuses, option exercise/non-exercise fees, as well as voidable years and salary advances… all of which are available to veterans.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Collins has also passed a polygraph.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Have We Signed Him Yet?

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

I am not sure if the cap gods align any better for Collins than here with saints. we have to be high up on the short list.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

I think he ends up in Tampa.

The need a OT more than the Saints. So he will get OT money there easier than here. We would want him as a guard.

Taxes elsewhere will swing it imo

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Heard on the radio this morning (103.3) that Collins first scheduled NFL visit is with the Cows over at Valley Ranch.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Who to say he is not the starting RT in two for the saints?

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

I love it that he passed the polygraph but I read that it was an independent
test and not a kopper's graph. which makes it irrelevant either way.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Lets hope the police or Saints fans and not Cowboy fans. Keep the report under wraps until the Saints get it. lol.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

we would think loomis and payton have there own investigators on the job. we have to get a shot at his services if found not whatsoever involved. especially for the cheap price to sign him as a free agent, for a few years anyway.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

I don't see Collins wearing a Saints uniform.

Hope I'm wrong.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Financially, it would be interesting if he signs and as an UDFA gets a better deal after 2 years instead of 3 if he was drafted. This could have future draft ramifications. It's a gamble, but skipping the draft, if you can prove you are elite after two years you get a better deal. You also can shop and play for what team you like instead of being stuck if I understand it correctly.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

He and Rex Ryan could be in trouble for meeting too soon. If so, both are idiots. They only had to wait 4 days.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

I think he goes to play tackle.
Id be trying to push to him that he starts at guard but if he can beat out either Peat or Armstead he will get the chance to play. Also by saying play as a guard for two years and show yourself at pro bowl level and a established star. When it comes to contract time somebody will pay you as a the highest paid guardin the league AND more because you can play tackle.

An O-Line with Peat-Armstead eitherside of Collins-Unger-Evans is nasty

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Just look at the money we paid Evans and were prepared to pay Nicks.

There's no consensus that he'll be a stud OT, but pretty much everyone agrees he'd be a stud OG.

Evans is gone in a couple years so he could step right in to the LG position at 10 to 11 mill per season!!!

Also, if he did come here who's to say he couldn't beat out Armstead/Strief/Peat anyway?

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

He's a big Cowboys fan. Why? He is from La and they have sucked for over a decade.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Elite guards can make as much as tackles these days. The monetary discrepancy that was once there, it's much of a big deal anymore. You have a clear shot at a starting guard position La'el... hell you could even beat out one of our tackles for a starting position there.

Stay your ass home and be a Saint!

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

I don't think he'll be coming aboard. Just don't get that feeling. Hope he does but I don't see it happening.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Report: Miami Dolphins are one of top three teams on La'El Collin | ChatDolphins.com

This new posted a few mins ago makes me ill. The thought of him in ATL makes me want to vomit. Or worse. It's worse than my avatar.

According to Michael Cauble, Sports Director for WBRZ in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, La'El Collins has narrowed his list of teams to play for to five and the Miami Dolphins are in his top three. The other teams on his list, in no particular order, are the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons. Collins and his agent will formally meet with the Dolphins within the next 24 hours, according to Cauble. This was all revealed on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Cowboys have signed La'el Collins, according to a source.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

At least not as bad as ATL.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

What the hell Dallas needs a O lineman for?

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

we are idiots

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

If it weren't for the salary cap, the Dallas Cowboys would be the NY Yankees of football...

Jerry would out-bid for every player and claim how great he is for putting a team together...

Not so smart when the playing field is somewhat level...

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

You are assuming we didn't try to sign him? Or are you speaking of LSU grads?

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

I see what you did there...

:brood:

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2...evil_smirk.png

Yes Clarice... you did didn't you.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Don't men marry their sisters in Alabama...or is that Georga? Oh,never mind...same difference.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Where's Georga? Is that in Louisiana?

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

I think that's the capital of Alabama. Louisiana is more prestigious than that...we have the Saints,remember?

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

You know what I found curious about the press conference...

Collins: "I got a call from Mr. Jones a couple nights ago, & we had a long talk ... First time I thought someone had seen me for who I am."

Personally, I didn't want the guy, but wasn't there some tampering rules violated Mr. Goodell?

Or do the rules not apply to New York teams and big market teams like them cowboys?

Keep saying it, NFL should be pressed as they extort municipalities for public funding and know one attempts to hold them accountable...

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

http://m.quickmeme.com/img/37/375d52...424401475b.jpg

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Might not be that far off ....:bng:

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

La el is dead to me Cowboys are the devil.

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

The way La'el Collins is talking, he and Jerry have been buddies for a while...

Bears further scrutiny...

Jerry Jones, he's from Arkansas right?

Re: La'el Collins, What Do We Know?!?
 

Hmmm ... sounds like tampering to me. Nah, not Jerry, :neutral:.