How much would it hurt an NFL team (1 Viewer)

[GroveDiesel]

So here we are a week before training camps. I believe that there are currently two 1st round picks signed. It's the annual game of chicken between NFL teams and agents. I didn't get a chance to read the article, but I saw one headline at FoxSports that said that Cleveland's first 3 picks are all expected to holdout of the start of training camp.

Now these two sides have had several months to get these done. It's pretty clear that agents use holding out of training camp as leverage to get what they want.

My question is, how much would it hurt an NFL team to tell the agent that their offer is final and that the player's two options are to sign that contract by the start of training camp or try their luck in next year's draft? Obviously it would hurt the team if they essentially lose out on a draft pick, but it would hurt the player a ton too. It's not like most of these guys already have plenty of money to live off of during that year. And the odds are pretty good that they'd be picked at a lower spot after being out of football for the year. Add in one less year of money making in the NFL and for top players you could be looking at a loss of $10M-$15M probably.

 

[Harry Beanbag]

Sounds good and all but you also need to look at the team need. In the case of the Raisers, they need JaMarcus Russell. Are they willing to enter the season with McNown as their guy with no hope of getting the stud rookie in there?

Sure the player stands to risk and potentially lose a lot but the teams are just as desperate to win. Think of the impact on season tickets and merchandise that a team could lose out on if their No. 1 guy they trotted out on draft day can potentially go to another team a year later. I am a SD Charger season ticket holder and the day after the draft they were selling Craig Davis jerseys on their website. I did not buy one but I am sure there were people who did. How mad will those fans be if they have a jersey from a guy who holds out for an entire year and then gets drafted by the Broncos next season? A lot more moving parts here than just the game of chicken of which you speak.

 

[tomarken]

In principle I totally support the idea. It annoys me that players and owners and agents all try to nickel and dime each other, when they're all making millions of dollars to play a game.

No team would ever do this though, it would cost them too much in too many ways. It would hurt the team, piss off a lot of fans, etc. I'm a 49ers fan and despite my statement above, I don't think I'd be happy if SF tried to pull this. I still want to see them do everything they can to field a competitive team, and if negotiating with agents is part of the game they have to play to do so, then so be it.

 

[ImTheScientist]

The NFL needs to find a way to do something similar to what the NBA does.

 

[waylander]

The NFL needs to find a way to do something similar to what the NBA does.

I agree. They should set a contract for each draft position and then increase it by a small percentage every year or so, based on how the salary cap rises. It would cripple a lot of agents, at least for that first rookie contract but I really don't think agents are looking out for the best interest of the league or the fans.

 

[Despyzer]

My question is, how much would it hurt an NFL team to tell the agent that their offer is final and that the player's two options are to sign that contract by the start of training camp or try their luck in next year's draft?

This is the ultimatum that A.J. laid down with Philip Rivers. Sometimes it works.

 

[GroveDiesel]

The NFL needs to find a way to do something similar to what the NBA does.

Now that's the true solution. I find it ridiculous that guys that haven't played a down in the NFL make a lot more money than guys that are proven performers. It's very surprising to me that the NFLPA allows this to continue. It would be in the best interests of CURRENT players for rookie contracts to be slotted contracts for a lot less money. That would leave more money for the guys that have earned their keep in the NFL. The AVERAGE veteran football player really is the one that loses out. Of course, PFT has surmised that the reason the system continues to stay in place is that the current system favors agents that primarily represent big name rookies. There are certain agents that manage to signup a large percentage of the big name rookies each year and get them these huge contracts. Gene Upshaw, the head of the NFLPA, is represented by one of these agents and is friends with several more.