NFL - Are you ready for some Football - Draft and Off Season

[-Jrabbit]

The phrase about increases in "...the cost of generating the revenues..." sounds like a reference to the unprofitability of the NFL Network to me.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Though I'd hate it if it happens, I'd laugh my ass off at the owners if this turns out to end up in a year long strike.

[-Jrabbit]

First signing of a first-rounder...

Falcons agreed to terms with No. 3 pick Matt Ryan.
NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports it's a six-year deal worth a maximum value of $72 million. $34.75 million is guaranteed.
That's more than JaMarcus Russell got last year. Still this is an upset, considering Ryan's agent is well known for holding players out of camp. The effect of holdouts can be overrated, but it's crucial for a rookie signal-caller. Ryan will still need a huge camp to overtake Chris Redman as the Week 1 starter, but we expect him to take over during the season.
Source: Profootballtalk.com

Also...

Cowboys agreed to terms with Marion Barber on a seven-year, $45 million deal, with $16 million guaranteed.
Source: Dallas Morning News

Great deal for the Boys.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Its amusing because the NFL probably has the best labor deal of any of the three major sports (from the POV of the owners).

Indeed... and they seem to think they will get a BETTER deal this way.

I suppose the players do make out pretty well (also), though. How does their deal compare for the average (non-superstar) player compared to MLB/NBA? Particularly taking into account non-salary measures (like pensions, injury payments, etc.)?

How many other leagues have injury settlements, for example?

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
First signing of a first-rounder...


Also...


Great deal for the Boys.

Good deal indeed. Makes you wonder what they're thinking about that 1st round RB of theirs (considering $6.5m/year is a lot to pay a backup RB) ... or if Jones is gambling on the uncapped year(s) and figures to work out the money then (when he can spend whatever he wants).

Matt Ryan signing was probably a mistake - $35m up front is just too muhc for a QB. If that's what it takes to sign a high-pick QB, I don't want the Bears taking one ever... imagine if McNown got that much up front. $6m a year in cap room you can't get back - and if you cut him, you lose it all in one year (meaning you can't really cut him before 4 years or so are up, or lose more cap space than you can reasonably afford, especially if you are in position to have to cut a high draft pick QB). Sounds like they were scared off by the agent and gave in too early... though again with the uncapped year maybe it's not a real concern.

[Lord Avalon]

Well, maybe there will be a rookie salary cap in the new CBA.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by snoopy369


Good deal indeed. Makes you wonder what they're thinking about that 1st round RB of theirs (considering $6.5m/year is a lot to pay a backup RB) ... or if Jones is gambling on the uncapped year(s) and figures to work out the money then (when he can spend whatever he wants).

Time will tell. Two different styles of running. Injury is always a concern. If Barber went down, I can't even think of who would be behind him, and I'm a fan.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Indeed... and they seem to think they will get a BETTER deal this way.

I suppose the players do make out pretty well (also), though. How does their deal compare for the average (non-superstar) player compared to MLB/NBA? Particularly taking into account non-salary measures (like pensions, injury payments, etc.)?

How many other leagues have injury settlements, for example?

Well, IIRC, the NFL is the only one of the major three without guarenteed contracts, which is HUGE. Their pensions aren't all that hot either compared with, say, baseball.

Injury settlements are necessary if you don't have guarenteed contracts, really. Because if a player gets injured, his team can just cut him and get out of their contract.

[Ming]

While the NFL does have a good labor agreement compared to the other major sports, there is a big concern by the owners with rookie contracts. The contract Ryan signed is a classic example of just how silly this all is. I think they would like to put caps in place for drafted players.

[Imran Siddiqui]

They probably do have to realize then they are going to have to give up quite a bit in return. The players, I'm sure, realize what a pro-owner deal the previous deal was.

We could be looking at a strike if the owners think they are getting the same, but with more restrictions on players.

[Ming]

They maybe able to get away with a salary cap, if they make significant strides in raising the overall cap and minimums, meaning more dollars to current union members.

This way, the people getting screwed are not current union members. It's not like this would be the first time that current players screwed the rookies so that they could benifit.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, they may do that, but they'll want to reevaluate the rest of the contract as well.

[Lord Avalon]

Goodell to fine teams for player misbehavior

ATLANTA (AP) -The NFL* put more teeth in its personal conduct policy on Tuesday when commissioner Roger Goodell announced he would fine teams whose players were suspended for disciplinary reasons.

"We want to continue to emphasize personal conduct and personal responsibility,'' he said at the end of a one-day league meeting. "One way to do it is to hold teams responsible for the conduct of their players.

Goodell instituted a tougher policy during the 2006 season, his first as commissioner, after a series of arrests, nine alone affecting the Cincinnati Bengals.

Two Bengals, wide receiver Chris Henry and linebacker Odell Thurman, received lengthy suspensions - Thurman for two years. Both were cut by the team after being reinstated.

Goodell also said he would meet soon with another major offender, cornerback Adam "Pacman'' Jones, who was suspended for all of last season following a series of run-ins with the law. Jones was traded last month from Tennessee to Dallas and has petitioned for the right to work out with his new team, something he will need permission from the league to do.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/wires/05/20/2020.ap.fbn.nfl.meetings.conduct.0410/index.html

*I didn't know the N stood for Nanny.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Oh man, the Bengals are going to go bankrupt!

[Theben]

Vanderjagt returning to CFL with Toronto Argonauts


Kicker Mike Vanderjagt, abruptly cut by the Cowboys during the 2006 campaign after signing a big-money (for an idiot kicker) deal in the offseason, has been unable to find work in the NFL since then. And so he's apparently giving up.

Vanderjagt reportedly will sign with the Toronto Argonauts, returning to the team for which he played through 1997, before jumping to the Indianapolis Colts according to Profootballtalk.com.

Vanderjagt, who kicked West Virginia University, is the most accurate kicker in NFL history. But he also has a history of missing key kicks, including the one he put into the Gatorade bucket against the Steelers to punctuate a stunning 2005 divisional playoff loss.