The Fujitas - "The game that used and abused them"

saintfan · 03-24-2011, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Memnoch_TP

I would agree with your point if the contracts that they are cornered into signing weren't so one sided. If the owners were obligated to honor a contract as well, I would agree more. As it is, 4 years is 4 years for the players, but the owners can sign that contract and then cut you before the ink dries.

And there are more specific cases I can't fault the players for either. Like Vincent Jackson. The best WR his team has had in years, hugely talented, highly successful, one of the most productive players on the team... But he had no star power when he signed his contract, and got a scrub contract and then played like an all-pro. I don't blame him for finally saying "Screw this, the kicker makes 3 times more money than I do, my 3rd string backup makes twice the money I do, pay me!".

I'm totally with you there. When the unions were created they were sorely needed. Now they are a big part of what is hindering this country. Naturally, there are still unions that are exceptions to this, but for the most part...

What you or I get to do is totally irrelevant. It should not, and does not, have any bearing on the NFL players and owners because neither your nor I are as indispensable to our bosses as the NFL players are to the NFL.

Lets discuss contracts. I know, you know, the owners know, and the player is well aware (through his agent if he's not savvy enough on his own) how things work. They negotiate these contracts with that in mind. It isn't like they get blind-sided. They aren't cornered into a damn thing. In my opinion that is ludicrous. Wouldn't either of us like to sign on with employer "X" and get half-a-mil before we stepped foot in the door? Damn skippy.

The fact is just about every damn one of them is over payed right out of college - and yes, even the league minimum guys. Even the league minimum guys are making enough to maintain two (or more) residences. Even the league minimum guys are through with their pay in to social security before the season even starts, and before they've played a down. Even the league minimum guys can afford to buy their cars outright. Even the league minimum guys go to work in first-class facilities and enjoy Cadillac heal care plans most people can only dream about. The rest of them sign deals worth many millions of dollars before they play their first down in the NFL. Yes, some guys out play their deals. You know what? I out performed my hiring position with Google. In three years I was promoted twice, but I had to wait until the promotion period before I could 'negotiate'. That's how it works in the 'real' world. Why should the NFL be excluded from the real world?

If these players think they're gonna out play their deals, then they should write a renegotiation clause into their contracts. If the owners go for it great, but if they don't, well, that's great too. The player is free to not sign, not play, and not get wealthy. Of course the players don't do this, because it's too risky. They might suck. This is why they hold out (and hold teams ransom) for every last penny they can get. It happens every summer, and it'll happen again this summer assuming there is actually any football.

The owners have to be able to protect themselves too. The players don't seem to get this. The owners have a right to make money too. Lots of it. They are the owners. That's the way it works.

03-24-2011, 01:58 PM	#10
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Originally Posted by Memnoch_TP I would agree with your point if the contracts that they are cornered into signing weren't so one sided. If the owners were obligated to honor a contract as well, I would agree more. As it is, 4 years is 4 years for the players, but the owners can sign that contract and then cut you before the ink dries. And there are more specific cases I can't fault the players for either. Like Vincent Jackson. The best WR his team has had in years, hugely talented, highly successful, one of the most productive players on the team... But he had no star power when he signed his contract, and got a scrub contract and then played like an all-pro. I don't blame him for finally saying "Screw this, the kicker makes 3 times more money than I do, my 3rd string backup makes twice the money I do, pay me!". I'm totally with you there. When the unions were created they were sorely needed. Now they are a big part of what is hindering this country. Naturally, there are still unions that are exceptions to this, but for the most part... What you or I get to do is totally irrelevant. It should not, and does not, have any bearing on the NFL players and owners because neither your nor I are as indispensable to our bosses as the NFL players are to the NFL. Lets discuss contracts. I know, you know, the owners know, and the player is well aware (through his agent if he's not savvy enough on his own) how things work. They negotiate these contracts with that in mind. It isn't like they get blind-sided. They aren't cornered into a damn thing. In my opinion that is ludicrous. Wouldn't either of us like to sign on with employer "X" and get half-a-mil before we stepped foot in the door? Damn skippy. The fact is just about every damn one of them is over payed right out of college - and yes, even the league minimum guys. Even the league minimum guys are making enough to maintain two (or more) residences. Even the league minimum guys are through with their pay in to social security before the season even starts, and before they've played a down. Even the league minimum guys can afford to buy their cars outright. Even the league minimum guys go to work in first-class facilities and enjoy Cadillac heal care plans most people can only dream about. The rest of them sign deals worth many millions of dollars before they play their first down in the NFL. Yes, some guys out play their deals. You know what? I out performed my hiring position with Google. In three years I was promoted twice, but I had to wait until the promotion period before I could 'negotiate'. That's how it works in the 'real' world. Why should the NFL be excluded from the real world? If these players think they're gonna out play their deals, then they should write a renegotiation clause into their contracts. If the owners go for it great, but if they don't, well, that's great too. The player is free to not sign, not play, and not get wealthy. Of course the players don't do this, because it's too risky. They might suck. This is why they hold out (and hold teams ransom) for every last penny they can get. It happens every summer, and it'll happen again this summer assuming there is actually any football. The owners have to be able to protect themselves too. The players don't seem to get this. The owners have a right to make money too. Lots of it. They are the owners. That's the way it works.
	C'mon Man...