Mawae blackballed? (1 Viewer)

[Sammy Traveller]

Pro Football Talk

Kevin Mawae thinks he's being blackballed

Posted by Mike Florio on April 28, 2010 9:58 PM ET

Veteran center Kevin Mawae became a free agent on March 5. Nearly two months later, he still doesn't have a team.

So what gives? Mawae thinks that he possibly is being held back not just by his age (39), but also by the fact that he's the president of the NFL Players Association.

"I am unemployed and hoping someone will call," Mawae told 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. "It's kind of befuddling to me that I just came off my eighth Pro Bowl and a 16-game season and I can't get one phone call.

"Alan Faneca gets cut two days ago and yesterday he signs a contract with another team," Mawae said. "And not to take anything away from him, we have the same agent, we're friends. But something tells me that there is something going on beside me just being 39 years old.

"I've said in the past that I hope our management and the owners can look past the fact that I am president of the PA. But right now it's not looking that way. I'm looking for a job. I've made no secrets about wanting to be back here in Tennessee and I've yet to receive a call from anybody."

The problem in Tennessee is that he'd be returning as a backup, and the Titans possibly are concerned about having the new leader(s) of the offensive line undermined by a backup who'd potentially try to run the show. Then there's the issue of money; Mawae hasn't said that he's willing to take the veteran minimum. Thus, there's a chance that he wants more than what anyone is willing to offer.

Still, we're not prepared to rule out the possibility that Mawae is being blackballed. We're not sure, however, that publicly complaining about the perception helps his cause. Indeed, we think it's now less likely that a team will offer him a contract.

That said, the better approach for the union would be to elect as NFLPA president a guy who is young enough and good enough to be indispensable to his current team, and irresistible to any other. In hindsight, then, maybe Mawae's better move would have been to let Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth take over. And we wonder whether NFLPA Executive Director De Smith or Mawae's agent explained to the player the risk that securing a second term as NFLPA President could make him less attractive as a free agent.

Then again, Mawae likely is smart enough to figure that one out without having to be told it.

 

[Getinthemix]

Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that he is 39, could it? Nah.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that he is 39, could it? Nah.

he's old and while he can still play I doubt that him being the Union pres or whatever would stop a team from signing him

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that he is 39, could it? Nah.

yep a pro bowl center, obviously no team needs that

 

[FUBAR]

Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that he is 39, could it? Nah.

he's old and while he can still play I doubt that him being the Union pres or whatever would stop a team from signing him

Kevin Mawae thinks he's being blackballed

Posted by Mike Florio on April 28, 2010 9:58 PM ET

Veteran center Kevin Mawae became a free agent on March 5. Nearly two months later, he still doesn't have a team.

So what gives? Mawae thinks that he possibly is being held back not just by his age (39), but also by the fact that he's the president of the NFL Players Association.

He even admits his age is a big factor. Although nobody is "blackballed" because of age any more than people are blackballed for lack of talent.I agree though, if a team thinks he'll be an asset, they'll sign him. I think he should be able to play well another year but it's not unreasonable to have concerns.

 

[Reaper]

1) AGE - Guy, you're 5 years older than Faneca and many say he's toast.

2) SYSTEM - I think Mawae is a very specific type of Center for a specific OL scheme - Much more so than fitting a G like Faneca in a system.. Teams like to build out from their Center- the center is usually the OL leader and a guy you want around for a while, again for a specific OL scheme.

3) MOUTH - Union President or not - Mawae is a locker room MOUTH. A lot of GMs and coaches building a younger team IMO really don't want a guy who thinks he's the king of the locker room coming in for a year or 2 - That's not being Blackballed - I'd rather not have some loud mouth working next to me either. You made that Bed, buddy.

It's also tough to have such a presence on your team as a back up.

 

[pollardsvision]

Denver would be a great spot for him. They look for great leadership out of their back-ups.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Maybe if the union hadn't bargained for a vet minimum of $820,000 for a player as old as Mawae, he'd be signed to a team by now? Would you rather have Mawaee for one year at $820,000 or a young guy at $285,000 who is slightly worse but also has future potential?

 

[Big 'N Tasty]

Maybe if the union hadn't bargained for a vet minimum of $820,000 for a player as old as Mawae, he'd be signed to a team by now? Would you rather have Mawaee for one year at $820,000 or a young guy at $285,000 who is slightly worse but also has future potential?

Typical union...it could be auto workers, NFL players, or wherever...they price themselves out of the market, and then cry foul when they don't get hired.

 

[Mark Wimer]

I think that he'll get a job when the training camp injuries start to weigh in - for the vet minimum, probably.

He's just gonna have to be patient. That happens when you're 39 and have a rep of being difficult. See Terrell Owens for another example of an aging veteran with a rep who is having to play the waiting game this offseason...

 

[Da Guru]

1) Age - Guy, you're 5 years older than Faneca and many say he's toast.2) I think Mawae is a very specific type of Center for a specific OL scheme - Much more so than fitting a G like Faneca in a system.. Teams like to build out from their Center- the center is usually the OL leader and a guy you want around for a while, again for a specific OL scheme.3) Union President or not - Mawae is a locker room MOUTH. A lot of GMs and coaches building a younger team IMO really don't want a guy who thinks he's the king of the locker room coming in for a year or 2 - That's not being Blackballed - I'd rather not have some loud mouth working next to me either. You made that Bed, buddy.It's also tough to have such a presence on your team as a back up.

Teams are not going to bring in a mouth that could disrupt things on a short term deal. If he was 5 years younger and could give the team 2-3 years I am sure he would be signed by now.

 

[brewer]

Maybe if the union hadn't bargained for a vet minimum of $820,000 for a player as old as Mawae, he'd be signed to a team by now? Would you rather have Mawaee for one year at $820,000 or a young guy at $285,000 who is slightly worse but also has future potential?

I bet Mawae ends up on a team and I bet he gets about double the minimum. There are times when the minimum comes into play, I highly doubt that this is one of them.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Maybe if the union hadn't bargained for a vet minimum of $820,000 for a player as old as Mawae, he'd be signed to a team by now? Would you rather have Mawaee for one year at $820,000 or a young guy at $285,000 who is slightly worse but also has future potential?

I bet Mawae ends up on a team and I bet he gets about double the minimum. There are times when the minimum comes into play, I highly doubt that this is one of them.

The fact that he's openly #####ing about no team showing interest in him makes me think there won't be a market to cause the one team that wants him to pay him more than the minimum. But maybe you're right, especially once injuries hurt some teams.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

kind of surprised McDaniels hasn't taken a look at him with theier need at center/backup....his personality seems in line with McDaniels approach and you would think he could temper Mawae back enough to allow him to fit in without being a distraction.....not sure if the scheme fits his game or not, but he would probably be serviceable.....

 

[Warhogs]

It does seem that a player occasionally does get blackballed. I remember Leroy Hoard seemed to get blackballed if I remember correctly. If I recall he had a couple of nice years and then suddenly nobody even gave him a chance? Am I thinking correctly or has my 40+ year old mind failed me?

 

[healthpellets]

i'm still confused about how Matt Jones was out of football last year when crap WRs were getting picked up.

 

[John 14:6]

Vikings could use a center...

 

[Joe Bryant]

I'm a little surprised he even said anything. To me, it's very similar to the "could Roethlisberger be acting this way because of brain damage" thing. Whether the intention is there or not, it gives the impression that you're taking the responsibility off of yourself and putting it onto something outside of yourself.

I would guess that on the list of negatives teams see on Mawae, Player Rep President is way down the list.

J

 

[nlgb1]

Denver would be a great spot for him. They look for great leadership out of their back-ups.

bahahaahhaahahaha best post ive seen in quite some time...

 

[fatness]

Washington is signing lots of available veterans and they're terribly weak on the offensive line. Rabach has been sub-par at center for the last 2 years. Maybe they'll sign Mawae.

 

[TheWheel]

He answers his own question. He is old. Anything after that is him trying to make himself not look old. He certainly isn't getting a job now. If he gets signed, anything that doesn't go his way he is going to blame on some conspiracy. Father Time blackballed him, not the 32 teams who don't need a 40 year old cry baby.

 

[Phurfur]

This guy is a moron! What would be accomplished by blackballing the president of the NFL Players Association?

 

[SSOG]

This guy is a moron! What would be accomplished by blackballing the president of the NFL Players Association?

It'll probably force him to step down as president of the NFLPA. I mean, I'd imagine that there's some sort of language written in that says in order to be the leader of the NFL players association, then you actually have to be an NFL player. If the owners didn't want to deal with Mawae, they could refuse to sign him in order to force him out.With that said, I think it's far more likely that it's just because he's 39. He might be able to play at a serviceable level this year, but it's not like a team can build around him... so why not devote those resources to someone you CAN build around? Mawae would be useful for a team that thought it could compete this year but who was still in need of a center... but outside of maybe Tennessee, I can't really think of any teams that match that description.