RockyMountainSaint

You don't say. Perhaps performance has a little something to do with it.

Sedrick Ellis acknowledge buyer’s remorse from CBA | ProFootballTalk
When the new labor deal implemented a rookie wage scale, the league and the union sold the greatly reduced pay for incoming players by explaining that the windfalls that previously went to unproven players will go to veterans.

For the most part, that hasn’t happened. Especially this year, where free agency has been more tepid than ever.

“I think from talking to a lot of other guys . . . the players in free agency are not quite seeing the money that was promised by cutting down the rookie salaries when they came into the league,” free-agent defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday night. “A lot of the big deals have been cut down, and a lot of the players who are going to be expecting big money either got cut or let go in some manner.

“And I think that’s what you’re seeing when people are saying [there's] a little buyer’s remorse. It’s because we’re expecting a lot more money on the veteran end, and it’s just been hard. We haven’t seen as much of it as we thought we would have.”

While the CBA now requires teams to spend 89 percent of the unadjusted cap on a four-year rolling average, that translates in 2013 to only $109.47 million per team.

Actually, nothing must be spent this year, because the teams have the next three years to make up the difference. Even then, 11 percent of each year’s spending limit can be pocketed by the teams.

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ClintSaints

One of the reasons is that there seemed to be a lot more decent free agents this year, so of course, the money is going to be diluted if that's the case. Plus there were quite a few teams who were close to the cap to begin with so that's going to depress the market as well.

Personally, I can't say I'm a fan of the salary cap but whatever. It sure would be nice to pick up someone like a Dwight Freeney or a James Harrison for cheap!

FinSaint

Well, the new rookie salary scale has nothing to do with Ellis, who was paid handsomely - 5yr/$33.5M - and did not perform to that level of salary.

If anything, Sedrick should look in the mirror and realize that it was players like himself, who were picked high and never produced to that level, which helped usher in this lowering of rookie wages.

In any case, this new arrangement is more logical whether it really works or not - paying players the big contracts after they've played out their rookie contracts and proven themselves outside of the collegiate world.

dizzle88

Agreed finsaint

Sed should take a look at himself, man that holdout was dumb and he never even developed into half the player he was in college, do not re-sign him, its time to move on

It speaks volumes when an undrafted free agent that went to the CFL (Tom Johnson) makes a bigger impact than the top 10 pick and supposed "second coming of warren sapp"

xan

There's hope for you in economics, paduan. The force may be with you.

xan

And not to pile on to Sed, but, DUDE, you were below average for 4 years. Big money follows big performances. If you really wanted the big money, you had to play for it.

SaintnDE

agree, I hate to keep bashing the guy, bur REALL?!?

maybe a little deflation of the head and some humility will do him some good.

SmashMouth

The comments after the article are hilarious...

Rugby Saint II

True Dat!

SaintsBro

Some of it is also that the Great Recession that has been hammering the rest of the country has only just now finally come to affect the world of pro football in the last couple of years. Recessions and economic downturns affect different industries at different times, same way as they will affect different states or regions of the country at different times. Some fields were hit early and some later, and now it's pro football's time. Other than QB escalation hysteria, I predict you are not going to see as many big humongous salaries or huge paydays for free agent players, for the next few years, I think it's on a downturn, because it's peaked out and the money just isn't there. It's going to "readjust" like the way the stock market readjusts when it goes too artificially high.