Drew Rosenhaus, is seeking the richest contract in the NFL (1 Viewer)

[Otis]

Hell, Olandis Gary was a stud for a season.

Do you really think that Olandis Gary was a stud for a season on the same order of Frank Gore's 2006? Gore just had one of the greatest 40 rushing seasons of all time. He was an absolute stud. Olandis Gary wasn't in the same league as Gore's 2006 season.

 

[Otis]

I won't argue with anyone that says the 49ers have all the leverage here or that Gore has an ugly injury past. But the people saying "Gore has only done it for one year" are crazy.How many RBs can you name that have had a season like Gore and then not been awesome? You've got two guys: Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson, and neither were bad. How many guys have had a season like Gore and went on to be awesome? Sanders, Simpson, Tomlinson, Smith, Payton, Brown, Dickerson, Faulk, Holmes.We're looking at the downside of Gore's career being Jamal Lewis, the middle being something like Mercury Morris or James Brooks, and the upside being a HOF RB.He's got no negotiating power and an ugly injury sheet, but the one year wonder talk makes no sense at all.

 

[stevegamer]

He can sit and report with 4 to 6 games left to advance his pension

Sure, he can report late and sit the bench, then get a nominal salary offer which the 49ers can probably match. Or he can play, tear it up again and break the bank. Good thing you're not his agent.Drew Rosenhaus is posturing for next year and at how many of YOU are biting.

I don't see how the economics justify Gore playing under his current contract.If he sat out the year, reported late and recorded zero carries 2007, he would easily get an offer which would include a $10M signing bonus/6+ year deal. I don't see how that's nominal. If he gets hurt, he'd make little money the rest of his career. He can literally do nothing outside of work out and get $10M coming to him in 12 months. The market for a stud 25 year old RB with no wear and tear would be incredible.

Just my

Okay, deep breath. Ignoring his major injury history and that he has had one season healthy as the main RB since HS there are the following:1. The part in bold italics above is an oxymoron - he can't sit out the year & report late. He won't get zero carries if he does report, and if he sits out the whole year, he won't get service time. If he shows up the 49ers should play him, and if you & he thinks he's going to get paid to just show up when he wants & just work out, you're nuts.

2. The bolded part is wrong - he's not getting $10M as a RFA when he didn't play the season before. He won't be 25 when becomes a UFA - under the sit out and not play scenario - he becomes a UFA at death, but more likely after 35, when the 49ers would release him.

Bottom line, it's more sensation-crap from Rosenhaus. What I'd do is very simple if I was in charge of a NFL team - I'd make sure that all my data on players included agents, and Rosenhaus clients (possibly barring the utter fringe players) wouldn't even get a phonecall.

 

[ILUVBEER99]

Gore is a top 5 RB talent in the NFL, but everything fell into place for him last season and i doubt he ever has a season like that again.

Norv Turner's offense is one of the best a RB can hope to be in...he's gone.

Gore also stayed healthy for the first time since he was a toddler.

Gore is a big time risk and giving him a huge deal before he can prove his health last season wasn't a fluke could set the niners franchise back years.

From Gore's point of view he better get something done soon, one more major injury and no team will want to touch him unless he comes dirt cheap.

 

[Bri]

Drew Rosenhaus, is seeking the richest contract in the NFL

That seems like an offseason annual ritual to me

 

[Otis]

But ask yourself this: what do the Niners prove by taking a hard line?

I wouldn't call declining to make Gore the richest player in the NFL "taking a hard line."I'm sure the Niners will offer him more than $450K. The question is whether Rosenhaus is serious about his demand.

This is the point. He will not be playing for $450k and the Niners would not ask him to. They will offer him a nice new contract based on what he did last year. He does have a great attitude and the organization loves him. I also don't see Gore being the greedy type and holding out for more than he deserves. By all accounts he's just not that kinda kid. (and hopefully Rosenhaus doesn't turn him).Will be interesting. Bottom line is he is one of the best runners in the league (maybe the bext next to Tomlinson) and should be paid accordingly. Does he deserve the richest contract in the NFL? No, and hopefully Rosenhaus isn't serious about that.

 

[derek19]

This is what the 49ers get. They really put themselves in a precarious position by signed Clements and Lewis to so much money. Mutiny is upon them.

Lewis Contract:

His deal is structured the way that he has all roster bonuses, and not actual guaranteed money, in a sense, Michael Lewis is on a 1yr guaranteed deal, with a 1yr roster bonuses in years 2 and 3, so if he doesnt work out this year, we cut him before his roster bonus($3.5m) is due and we save that 3.5m and his remaining salaries.

Breakdown of Lewis' Deal

-SS Michael Lewis- 6yr/$30m, $10m in Roster Bonuses(Includes $100k Workout Bonuses in all 6 years; gets $3.5m Roster Bonus in 07 and 08, $3m Roster Bonus in 09; No Roster Bonuses in 2010-2012; $4.195m in 07, $4.205m in 08, $5m in 09, $4.205m in 2010, $5.795m in 2011 and $6.8m in 2012.)

Clements Contract:

2007:

600,000k Base Salary

10,000,000m Roster Bonus

500,000k Workout Bonus

11,100,000m Salary

2008:

3,383,334m Base Salary

2,000,000m Bonus

500,000k Workout Bonus

5,833,334m Salary

2009:

3,516,666m Base Salary

2,000,000m Bonus

500,000k Workout Bonus

6,016,666m Salary

2010:

6,000,000m Base Salary

2,000,000m Bonus

500,000k Workout Bonus

8,500,000m Salary

2011:

7,250,000m Base Salary

2,000,000m Bonus

500,000k Workout Bonus

9,750,000m Salary

2012:

9,000,000m Base Salary

2,000,000m Bonues

500,000k Workout Bonus

11,500,000m Salary

2013:

10,770,000m Base Salary

500,000k Workout Bonus



11,270,000m Salary

2014:

15,480,000m Base Salary

500,000k Workout Bonus

15,980,000m Salary

Clement will never see the bolded salary....

 

[Snotbubbles]

Wow don't go out on a limb with that prediction.

The Clements deal will probably be restructured around 2010 or 2011. He's 27 now by then he'll be 31-32 and probably on his last legs. By 2012-2014 he'll be 33-35 well past his prime.

Deion Sanders who was arguably one of the best CBs to ever play wasn't really effective after about 32. I bet Clements plays about 3 or 4 years for SF and then is out of the league or nothing more than a nickel corner.

 

[redman]

Go get that money for your clients Drew!

Best in the business.

Actually Drew is mostly hype. His contracts are usually flashy big numbers, but come up far short in terms of guaranteed money.Just look at Stallworth's deal, basically got a 1 year, 3.6mil contract. He should have fetched far more in just guaranteed money alone. A back loaded contract that the client never see's doesn't do them much good.

TO lost truckloads of money. Drew should have told him to shut up and play hard. Instead he told him he was underpaid and he'd get him a new contract. When really he just created a PR nightmare and TO lost most of his endorsement deals. Drew came to TO after the SB, telling him he’d get him a big bucks deal that he deserved. Woops.

I also think he failed Javon Walker trying to play hardball with the Packers. Again he told Javon he'd get him a new deal, he was vastly underpaid, and he'd get him the money. He misses training camp, comes in and gets injured (which might, or might not be related).

Drew runs around parking lots at stadiums promising the moon, and usually coming up far short. He'll go steal players who just signed deals telling them what a horrible job his former agent did and he'll get them their rightful payday.

While he's not a horrible agent, he's no where close to the best in the business.

That's why he has such a good relationship with the Redskins, who also like to backload contracts. Everyone oohs and aahs and clucks disapprovingly when the Redskins have signed someone to a seven-year $Bazillion contract, but when the last three to four years won't count anyway the reality is that the contract tends to be very much in line with the market. It just grabs headlines.

 

[Snotbubbles]

That's why he has such a good relationship with the Redskins, who also like to backload contracts. Everyone oohs and aahs and clucks disapprovingly when the Redskins have signed someone to a seven-year $Bazillion contract, but when the last three to four years won't count anyway the reality is that the contract tends to be very much in line with the market. It just grabs headlines.

The whole point of back-loading the contract and having huge roster bonuses is to get the team to either re-negotiate or release the player. It's all in the signing bonus. The more chances you get at them the more money you are guarenteed.

 

[redman]

That's why he has such a good relationship with the Redskins, who also like to backload contracts. Everyone oohs and aahs and clucks disapprovingly when the Redskins have signed someone to a seven-year $Bazillion contract, but when the last three to four years won't count anyway the reality is that the contract tends to be very much in line with the market. It just grabs headlines.

The whole point of back-loading the contract and having huge roster bonuses is to get the team to either re-negotiate or release the player. It's all in the signing bonus. The more chances you get at them the more money you are guarenteed.

Exactly. It's why you look for the big balloon payments to figure out the effective length of the deal rather than the face value of the contract. If the big roster bonus follows Year 3, then it's going to probably be a 3-year contract in effect. The other stuff is just fluff, and it makes the agents look good because they can claim to have signed a contract that has several more years and tens of millions of dollars more to it than will actually be the case.

 

[Bevo]

I won't argue with anyone that says the 49ers have all the leverage here or that Gore has an ugly injury past. But the people saying "Gore has only done it for one year" are crazy.How many RBs can you name that have had a season like Gore and then not been awesome? You've got two guys: Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson, and neither were bad. How many guys have had a season like Gore and went on to be awesome? Sanders, Simpson, Tomlinson, Smith, Payton, Brown, Dickerson, Faulk, Holmes.We're looking at the downside of Gore's career being Jamal Lewis, the middle being something like Mercury Morris or James Brooks, and the upside being a HOF RB.He's got no negotiating power and an ugly injury sheet, but the one year wonder talk makes no sense at all.

How many of those guys that you mention had an injury history that compares to Gore's. I know that the Fantasy thought is that you can't predict injuries but I suspect that the Niners will take a long hard look at that piece of the puzzle despite the Fantasy mantra.

 

[stevegamer]

I won't argue with anyone that says the 49ers have all the leverage here or that Gore has an ugly injury past. But the people saying "Gore has only done it for one year" are crazy.How many RBs can you name that have had a season like Gore and then not been awesome? You've got two guys: Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson, and neither were bad. How many guys have had a season like Gore and went on to be awesome? Sanders, Simpson, Tomlinson, Smith, Payton, Brown, Dickerson, Faulk, Holmes.We're looking at the downside of Gore's career being Jamal Lewis, the middle being something like Mercury Morris or James Brooks, and the upside being a HOF RB.He's got no negotiating power and an ugly injury sheet, but the one year wonder talk makes no sense at all.

How many of those guys that you mention had an injury history that compares to Gore's. I know that the Fantasy thought is that you can't predict injuries but I suspect that the Niners will take a long hard look at that piece of the puzzle despite the Fantasy mantra.

I don't remember Payton, Sanders, Dickerson, Tomlinson, or Simpson being seriously injured - Brown was before my time, but it doesn't look like got hurt. Faulk & Holmes got hurt at the end of their careers. Gore may have a worse injury history than all of those guys would if you combined 'em.Anderson & Lewis did have some injuries in the NFL. Interesting to see what's happens with Gore.

 

[Da Guru]

Gore has had one good year.

 

[Otis]

Gore has had one good year.

Good??

 

[Domination]

Gore should feel lucky after the injury history he has had, and the fact that he has only been productive on that level for one year, to get a contract that would have him in the Top 10 for RBs. Not even close to top in the league.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Gore has had one good year.

What's McGahee had, 8 good games? And he got this:

McGahee agreed to a five-year contract plus two option years worth about $40.1 million, including $15 million in bonus money, according to an NFL source.

 

[*****]

I, for one, am hoping Gore gets his big contract sooner than later. He always seemed like an exceptionally good guy and I recall that his family has suffered extreme hardship in the past. He has been exceptionally resiliant in the face of his injuries and other challenges and he never gave up. I'd like to see him cash in on his dream.

I don't think he'll get or he deserves the biggest contract in the NFL but I have a feeling Drew is setting the bar high so that the starting place for negotiations begins at a high level--even if the final contract is not the biggest contract in the NFL this helps his client.

 

[Da Guru]

Frank Gore has three years left on his contract.

SF would be foolish to do anything this year. Would not be good business.

 

[Z-Dog]

Frank Gore can't afford to sit out this season. He knows it, Drew Rosenhaus knows it, the 49ers know it. This will be a huge story next year but right now it's nothing. Bad blood = bull####. The aforementioned parties also know this is a business. Another year of similar output and it's a different story. Hell, Olandis Gary was a stud for a season.

why can't Gore sit out the season?the wear and tear isn't worth 450K.

Sure, he could. As could any player. But in the end, I think it hurts him a lot more long term. He had one excellent season. And equally important, he stayed healthy. As the article said, for the first time since HIGH SCHOOL that he could do that. No NFL team is going to take a risk on signing him to a monster contract until he can prove consistency (in staying productive and healthy). If he can do it for a second straight season, or maybe very close (like only miss a game or two at most), THEN perhaps the 49ers should look into signing him long term.If he sits out, he proves what? That he stayed healthy and productive for one season, and then sits on his butt doing nothing? What GM in their right mind would want to deal with that? What GM in their right mind is going to even entertain a contract even close to what Drew Rosenhaus says?

Hey, were you watching this offseason? You know, the one in which Visanthe Shiancoe, backup TE, got something like $18 million? The one in which average guards got Hutchinson money? If Gore was on the market he would've been paid, and how. If Gore sits out he proves that he's not going to play for $450k. That's it. What GM in his right mind would want to deal with that? I'd say virtually all of them. Gore did something last year that was historic. I'll bet there's a long line of GMs who'd be happy to pay the man. But ask yourself this: what do the Niners prove by taking a hard line? That they're jerks who want to shaft their best players? That even though they had the most money under the cap they will only pay free agents, not their own draft picks? That hard work, sacrifice, and toughness are not rewarded in San Francisco?

Once a player signs a contract, it's done. I don't care if Gore manages to become unstoppable and scores 40 TDs, leading the 49ers to a Superbowl win. The team is under no obligation to sign him to a new contract and the player should live up to the contract.If the shoe was on the other foot (Gore has a huge contract, gets hurt, can't play ever again), do the 49ers get to say "we want to renegotiate your contract and get back that guaranteed money we gave you a few years back"? Of course not.I do recognize the value of "good business" with your players, but there is no obligation to pay someone extra for doing their job that they're already paid to do. It's why there's a contract in the first place.Personally, and this is a bit more extreme, but I feel that if a player holds out, the year they sit should push back the contract a year. Meaning, if Gore sits out in 2007, his $450,000 he was to earn this year becomes his salary for 2008... and his salary for 2008 becomes the salary for 2009... and so on. Players should not be allowed to sit out of a season when they've signed a contract unless they can show legal fault on behalf of their employer.It's a business.

I don't want to get into the whole "players signed a contract" issue. It's a smokescreen and it's entirely meaningless.You think this is a business? Good, that means you want to think pragmatically. And if you think pragmatically you know two things:1. Guys who think they are worth more but aren't getting paid don't work as hard. That's true in the real world, and it's true in the world of football. 2. Underpaying key performers has a bad effect on everyone in the locker room. Paying FAs but not draftees has a similar bad effect.3. Contract or no, Gore can (and likely will) hold out if he isn't paid. You may think he's wrong to do so, but it doesn't change the fact that he simply won't be on the field.Finally, you're stupid on the rules. If Gore had an injury and could never play again, the club would reach an injury settlement with him - in other words, they would alter his original contract. If he retired early, the would have to return the pro-rated portion of his signing bonus. So basically, these things don't work the way you think they do.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Once a player signs a contract, it's done. I don't care if Gore manages to become unstoppable and scores 40 TDs, leading the 49ers to a Superbowl win. The team is under no obligation to sign him to a new contract and the player should live up to the contract.If the shoe was on the other foot (Gore has a huge contract, gets hurt, can't play ever again), do the 49ers get to say "we want to renegotiate your contract and get back that guaranteed money we gave you a few years back"? Of course not.

When you say "once a player signs a contract, it's done" do you mean to say that Nate Clements who just signed an 8 year-$80million deal will see all of that $80million? Really in the NFL all you have are a series of 1 year contracts. You see teams all the time going back to players and asking them to renegotiate their contracts at lower costs. If you're gonna have the standpoint of "once a player signs a contract, it's done" shouldn't the team be held to that as well?

 

[Otis]

Frank Gore has three years left on his contract.SF would be foolish to do anything this year. Would not be good business.

Depends how you look at it. It's also not good business to screw over stars on your team and make them unhappy by making them play for less than they deserve. A good way to piss off your players (including the guy who just broke your franchise's rushing record) and perhaps even fans.The same way that a guy like Anquan Boldin gets a sizeable new contract after his big rookie season, Frank Gore will get a new contract from the Niners. It will be deserved and everyone will be happy. Will it be the richest NFL contract ever? No.

 

[wannabee]

Otis=Drew ??????????

 

[Sinrman]

Frank Gore can't afford to sit out this season. He knows it, Drew Rosenhaus knows it, the 49ers know it. This will be a huge story next year but right now it's nothing. Bad blood = bull####. The aforementioned parties also know this is a business. Another year of similar output and it's a different story. Hell, Olandis Gary was a stud for a season.

why can't Gore sit out the season?the wear and tear isn't worth 450K.

Sure, he could. As could any player. But in the end, I think it hurts him a lot more long term. He had one excellent season. And equally important, he stayed healthy. As the article said, for the first time since HIGH SCHOOL that he could do that. No NFL team is going to take a risk on signing him to a monster contract until he can prove consistency (in staying productive and healthy). If he can do it for a second straight season, or maybe very close (like only miss a game or two at most), THEN perhaps the 49ers should look into signing him long term.If he sits out, he proves what? That he stayed healthy and productive for one season, and then sits on his butt doing nothing? What GM in their right mind would want to deal with that? What GM in their right mind is going to even entertain a contract even close to what Drew Rosenhaus says?

Hey, were you watching this offseason? You know, the one in which Visanthe Shiancoe, backup TE, got something like $18 million? The one in which average guards got Hutchinson money? If Gore was on the market he would've been paid, and how. If Gore sits out he proves that he's not going to play for $450k. That's it. What GM in his right mind would want to deal with that? I'd say virtually all of them. Gore did something last year that was historic. I'll bet there's a long line of GMs who'd be happy to pay the man. But ask yourself this: what do the Niners prove by taking a hard line? That they're jerks who want to shaft their best players? That even though they had the most money under the cap they will only pay free agents, not their own draft picks? That hard work, sacrifice, and toughness are not rewarded in San Francisco?

As others have pointed out -- the 49ers hold all the cards here. He has a major injury history. There's no way to dodge this. Also, he proves that he's not going to play for $450k? He signed a contract! Sure, players hold out all the time, and Gore could very well do that, too. However, someone like him, who definitely has future stud written all over him (I never said I doubted that), would not do himself any justice by sitting out. He would serve himself best to play out this year, show some consistency, and THEN start demanding "the highest contract ever."

 

[todd2006]

Frank Gore can't afford to sit out this season. He knows it, Drew Rosenhaus knows it, the 49ers know it. This will be a huge story next year but right now it's nothing. Bad blood = bull####. The aforementioned parties also know this is a business. Another year of similar output and it's a different story. Hell, Olandis Gary was a stud for a season.

why can't Gore sit out the season?the wear and tear isn't worth 450K.

Sure, he could. As could any player. But in the end, I think it hurts him a lot more long term. He had one excellent season. And equally important, he stayed healthy. As the article said, for the first time since HIGH SCHOOL that he could do that. No NFL team is going to take a risk on signing him to a monster contract until he can prove consistency (in staying productive and healthy). If he can do it for a second straight season, or maybe very close (like only miss a game or two at most), THEN perhaps the 49ers should look into signing him long term.If he sits out, he proves what? That he stayed healthy and productive for one season, and then sits on his butt doing nothing? What GM in their right mind would want to deal with that? What GM in their right mind is going to even entertain a contract even close to what Drew Rosenhaus says?

Hey, were you watching this offseason? You know, the one in which Visanthe Shiancoe, backup TE, got something like $18 million? The one in which average guards got Hutchinson money? If Gore was on the market he would've been paid, and how. If Gore sits out he proves that he's not going to play for $450k. That's it. What GM in his right mind would want to deal with that? I'd say virtually all of them. Gore did something last year that was historic. I'll bet there's a long line of GMs who'd be happy to pay the man. But ask yourself this: what do the Niners prove by taking a hard line? That they're jerks who want to shaft their best players? That even though they had the most money under the cap they will only pay free agents, not their own draft picks? That hard work, sacrifice, and toughness are not rewarded in San Francisco?

Once a player signs a contract, it's done. I don't care if Gore manages to become unstoppable and scores 40 TDs, leading the 49ers to a Superbowl win. The team is under no obligation to sign him to a new contract and the player should live up to the contract.If the shoe was on the other foot (Gore has a huge contract, gets hurt, can't play ever again), do the 49ers get to say "we want to renegotiate your contract and get back that guaranteed money we gave you a few years back"? Of course not.I do recognize the value of "good business" with your players, but there is no obligation to pay someone extra for doing their job that they're already paid to do. It's why there's a contract in the first place.Personally, and this is a bit more extreme, but I feel that if a player holds out, the year they sit should push back the contract a year. Meaning, if Gore sits out in 2007, his $450,000 he was to earn this year becomes his salary for 2008... and his salary for 2008 becomes the salary for 2009... and so on. Players should not be allowed to sit out of a season when they've signed a contract unless they can show legal fault on behalf of their employer.It's a business.

I don't want to get into the whole "players signed a contract" issue. It's a smokescreen and it's entirely meaningless.You think this is a business? Good, that means you want to think pragmatically. And if you think pragmatically you know two things:1. Guys who think they are worth more but aren't getting paid don't work as hard. That's true in the real world, and it's true in the world of football. 2. Underpaying key performers has a bad effect on everyone in the locker room. Paying FAs but not draftees has a similar bad effect.3. Contract or no, Gore can (and likely will) hold out if he isn't paid. You may think he's wrong to do so, but it doesn't change the fact that he simply won't be on the field.Finally, you're stupid on the rules. If Gore had an injury and could never play again, the club would reach an injury settlement with him - in other words, they would alter his original contract. If he retired early, the would have to return the pro-rated portion of his signing bonus. So basically, these things don't work the way you think they do.

With the new contract, this is a dead issue. However, to clear up a few points, I'd like to reply to your reply to my reply.1. People (men or women) with self-respect and good character don't let their salary affect their work performance. If Gore, for instance, fussed and complained, do you think the 49ers would resign him to a money contract? No, Gore would get labeled and end up bouncing around like Barlow.2. They aren't underpaying Gore under the original contract. It's a contract that Gore signed (he didn't have to sign the contract) and keep in mind that the 49ers were taking a chance on a guy with serious injuries in the past. 3. If Gore were to hold out, the 49ers would play hardball with him. I don't think a 3rd year player has the right to hold out anyway. Finish the term of the contract that you signed.Personally, and I'm a 49er fan more or less, I think the new contract is a mistake. I realize the Niners didn't have much of a choice in the matter given the hype surrounding the team this year, but I don't think Gore is a top 5 RB in the league. He's not a top 5 RB I'd build my team around... probably not top 10. I don't think people are giving enough weight to Gore's past injuries. Quote me for 10 months from now. --Gore doesn't make it through 2007 without missing 2-3 games due to his injuries--

 

[BassNBrew]

well deserved.. kid earned it

the richest contract in the NFL

maybe the worst post in shark pool.. Righetti earned it

 

[Drew RosenhausFan]

This guy's knees are held together with rubber bands and silly putty. I am awesome

 

[Otis]

Frank Gore has three years left on his contract.SF would be foolish to do anything this year. Would not be good business.

Depends how you look at it. It's also not good business to screw over stars on your team and make them unhappy by making them play for less than they deserve. A good way to piss off your players (including the guy who just broke your franchise's rushing record) and perhaps even fans.The same way that a guy like Anquan Boldin gets a sizeable new contract after his big rookie season, Frank Gore will get a new contract from the Niners. It will be deserved and everyone will be happy. Will it be the richest NFL contract ever? No.