WR Brandon Aiyuk, SF (3 Viewers)

[eighsse2]

That's just kind of how it goes ... If he's worth double his pay why did he sign a contract for that amount

Exactly. And they're actively trying to pay him double that amount. And he keeps moving the goal posts. Ship him off to PA and let him play in the snow, and good riddance. We've reached the point where he's doing more harm than good.

Things like this make me wish there were a way to -- somehow without making the league terrible -- have ONLY one year contracts. Every year you go to the team who want$ you the mo$t. Like an auction or something. That would seem very fair, but I and everyone else would hate players moving teams every year. Somehow there could be some sort of incentive to keep your players.

 

[massraider]

He stopped following 49ers on social media. Clearly they are done

 

[massraider]

Oh wait, that was Deebo a few years ago.

My bad.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Things like this make me wish there were a way to -- somehow without making the league terrible -- have ONLY one year contracts. Every year you go to the team who want$ you the mo$t. Like an auction or something. That would seem very fair, but I and everyone else would hate players moving teams every year. Somehow there could be some sort of incentive to keep your players.

I like the idea of shorter contracts but that’s pushing it to the extreme.

The current system is hopelessly broken though. They thought they’d fixed it, but then players and agents figured out the loophole of the “hold in”.

Now it’s a joke. Contacts are meaningless both ways. Teams can tear up a contract, players can slug about.

NFL needs to fix this somehow. I don’t know the solution, but there has to be one, because having chaos a week before the season starts every year is brutal.

If nothing else I’m sure it drives Vegas nuts because O/U on team wins and player props are thrown into chaos.

 

[sm8680]

I'd rather have Deebo than Mr. AiYuk in fantasy. I'm only reading and posting in this thread due to the absurdity.

 

[eighsse2]

I'd rather have Deebo than Mr. AiYuk in fantasy. I'm only reading and posting in this thread due to the absurdity.

You switched to some kind of grey instead of back to white after the Yuk joke. #juststatingfacts

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I'd rather have Deebo than Mr. AiYuk in fantasy. I'm only reading and posting in this thread due to the absurdity.

In the offseason in a 16-team IDP league I dealt Cook + Aiyuk for Pittman + Stevenson, and quietly acquired Deebo for future draft picks.

And the longer this drags on, the happier I am that I did. It was tough enough waiting for Lamb in 1 league, and Chase in another (not resolved, but doesn’t seem to be as volatile of a situation)

As such my only interest in here has been as a Niners fan, and at this point I’m just so over it. I wish Pretty Rickey had been right.

 

[sm8680]

I'd rather have Deebo than Mr. AiYuk in fantasy. I'm only reading and posting in this thread due to the absurdity.

In the offseason in a 16-team IDP league I dealt Cook + Aiyuk for Pittman + Stevenson, and quietly acquired Deebo for future draft picks.

And the longer this drags on, the happier I am that I did. It was tough enough waiting for Lamb in 1 league, and Chase in another (not resolved, but doesn’t seem to be as volatile of a situation)

As such my only interest in here has been as a Niners fan, and at this point I’m just so over it. I wish Pretty Rickey had been right.

Nice moves.

 

[phandango]

Things like this make me wish there were a way to -- somehow without making the league terrible -- have ONLY one year contracts. Every year you go to the team who want$ you the mo$t. Like an auction or something. That would seem very fair, but I and everyone else would hate players moving teams every year. Somehow there could be some sort of incentive to keep your players.

Goodell: "The NFL is no longer a dynasty league. We're moving to redraft, with the possibility of having one or two keepers per season."

 

[Tau837]

This is getting stupid. Ship him off to PIT already. Sick of this dude.

You can't blame a guy for wanting to be paid his market value. The market has spoken and he is literally set to make at least 50% less than what he is worth as a Niner. I really don't know how they keep him since I would think that 10-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams has to be a signing priority over Aiyuk.

That's just kind of how it goes ... If he's worth double his pay why did he sign a contract for that amount

It was a rookie contract he had no choice in. If he wanted to play he had to sign.

 

[Jail]

This is getting stupid. Ship him off to PIT already. Sick of this dude.

You can't blame a guy for wanting to be paid his market value. The market has spoken and he is literally set to make at least 50% less than what he is worth as a Niner. I really don't know how they keep him since I would think that 10-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams has to be a signing priority over Aiyuk.

That's just kind of how it goes ... If he's worth double his pay why did he sign a contract for that amount

It was a rookie contract he had no choice in. If he wanted to play he had to sign.

That apparently is not enough for some people. No choice where he is drafted. Contract is slotted with very little wiggle room. He's now finished and outproduced said contract, but is forced into a 5th year option that the team has all the power to decide.

Finally he tries to exert some control in his career, but no....just shut up and play.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Finally he tries to exert some control in his career, but no....just shut up and play.

That’s a gross mischaracterization of what happened here.
• immediately after the SB loss, while his team is still stinging, his GF posts to IG. “Cya SF, it’s been real” message.
• this is followed soon after by the 49ers attempting to offer Aiyuk an extension reportedly worth 24M a year. After which, Aiyuk says (again on social media), “they don’t want me.”
• 49ers continue to negotiate an extension. And again, to a player who is already under contract. Reportedly they got to $26M, and ARSB got paid.
• Aiyuk asks for a trade.
• 49ers again accommodate the request. They reportedly find 3 teams interested in Aiyuk, willing to pay him and who have capital/assets the 49ers are interested in.
• Aiyuk reportedly balks at $30M/year from the Patriots.
• 49ers are still in talks with CLE & PIT, when CLE bails. Reportedly there was a potential offer of Cooper + pick(s) for Aiyuk. Don’t know why CLE bailed but they did.
• that reportedly left PIT, and at the same time, SF came back to the table with a larger offer, reportedly worth $29M a year.

That’s very close to what Lamb received, and IIRC, more than what ARSB received.

So no, this wasn’t “shut up and play.”

This has been a long, drawn out exercise in futility, where it comes off like Aiyuk & his agent have moved the goal posts several times, asked for things they got, then decided they didn’t want them, and refused a trade that would have paid him $30M a year.

By all accounts that’s not at all “shut up and play”. That’s just where we happen to be with cut downs coming in the next 36 hours (or less? Is it tomorrow?)

please do correct me if I have any of the above wrong - I did it from memory, but I’m pretty sure that’s the gist of it.

 

[BassNBrew]

Suit up and play.

 

[VikingFrog]

Things like this make me wish there were a way to -- somehow without making the league terrible -- have ONLY one year contracts. Every year you go to the team who want$ you the mo$t. Like an auction or something. That would seem very fair, but I and everyone else would hate players moving teams every year. Somehow there could be some sort of incentive to keep your players.

Goodell: "The NFL is no longer a dynasty league. We're moving to redraft, with the possibility of having one or two keepers per season."

And just to double things up, we’re changing to SuperFlex as well.

 

[Lansdowne]

Brandon Aiyuk’s IG story after seeing the Amon-Ra St. Brown signing:

x.com

twitter.com

Back the truck up

Hah sweet. "Show me the moneeeeeeey!"

I was looking for this Aiyuk clip, and forgot that this was all the way back in April. But yeah waited for all these WR’s to get paid so he could try to reset the market himself.

Adam Schefter
CeeDee Lamb is now the eleventh receiver to sign a lucrative contract this offseason:

CeeDee Lamb:
Justin Jefferson: 4-years, $140M
DJ Moore: 4-years, $110M
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 4-years, $120.01M
A.J. Brown: 3-years, $92M
Jaylen Waddle: 3-years, $84.75M
Nico Collins: 3-years, $72.75M
DeVonta Smith: 3-years, $75M
Michael Pittman: 3-years, $70M
Calvin Ridley: 4-years, $92M
Jerry Jeudy: 3-years, $52.5M

Still potentially to come:
Ja’Marr Chase
Brandon Aiyuk

x.com

x.com

 

[Soulfly3]

loser.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Finally he tries to exert some control in his career, but no....just shut up and play.

That’s a gross mischaracterization of what happened here.
• immediately after the SB loss, while his team is still stinging, his GF posts to IG. “Cya SF, it’s been real” message.
• this is followed soon after by the 49ers attempting to offer Aiyuk an extension reportedly worth 24M a year. After which, Aiyuk says (again on social media), “they don’t want me.”
• 49ers continue to negotiate an extension. And again, to a player who is already under contract. Reportedly they got to $26M, and ARSB got paid.
• Aiyuk asks for a trade.
• 49ers again accommodate the request. They reportedly find 3 teams interested in Aiyuk, willing to pay him and who have capital/assets the 49ers are interested in.
• Aiyuk reportedly balks at $30M/year from the Patriots.
• 49ers are still in talks with CLE & PIT, when CLE bails. Reportedly there was a potential offer of Cooper + pick(s) for Aiyuk. Don’t know why CLE bailed but they did.
• that reportedly left PIT, and at the same time, SF came back to the table with a larger offer, reportedly worth $29M a year.

That’s very close to what Lamb received, and IIRC, more than what ARSB received.

So no, this wasn’t “shut up and play.”

This has been a long, drawn out exercise in futility, where it comes off like Aiyuk & his agent have moved the goal posts several times, asked for things they got, then decided they didn’t want them, and refused a trade that would have paid him $30M a year.

By all accounts that’s not at all “shut up and play”. That’s just where we happen to be with cut downs coming in the next 36 hours (or less? Is it tomorrow?)

please do correct me if I have any of the above wrong - I did it from memory, but I’m pretty sure that’s the gist of it.

You keep harping on a player under contract, but NFL contracts are not guaranteed. They're one year contracts with the right to renew for both parties. I also find it disingenuous to say that a player on a rookie deal is "under contract" since their contract has been slotted and that player has little, to no, leverage to negotiate a contract on terms that they want. It's as close to legal duress as you can get without crossing the line. Don Vito Corleone would be proud of the NFL when it comes to rookie contracts. To boot, these contracts are longer than the average NFL players careers and only around 30% of all players see a second contract.

You say Aiyuk/his agent have moved the goalposts. No, the market isn't something that's set in stone. It changes every time a new player signs. If you don't want to get left handing out the biggest bag, you need to get in early and get it done. If you start out your negotiations with a low-ball offer, oftentimes, you insult the party you're negotiating with. Aiyuk's agent seems to have had a good grasp of where the WR market was going to go (and eventually went), and the SF 49ers didn't. If their initial $24M offer would have been a market setting offer or close to it, Aiyuk is probably signed. Give him an AJ Brown deal 3/$96M. Instead, SF insults the guy by giving him a deal that wouldn't even place him in the top 10 of WR. Total misread of the market and where it was going. Now, you're left giving the guy a contract you should have offered in the first place.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Finally he tries to exert some control in his career, but no....just shut up and play.

That’s a gross mischaracterization of what happened here.
• immediately after the SB loss, while his team is still stinging, his GF posts to IG. “Cya SF, it’s been real” message.
• this is followed soon after by the 49ers attempting to offer Aiyuk an extension reportedly worth 24M a year. After which, Aiyuk says (again on social media), “they don’t want me.”
• 49ers continue to negotiate an extension. And again, to a player who is already under contract. Reportedly they got to $26M, and ARSB got paid.
• Aiyuk asks for a trade.
• 49ers again accommodate the request. They reportedly find 3 teams interested in Aiyuk, willing to pay him and who have capital/assets the 49ers are interested in.
• Aiyuk reportedly balks at $30M/year from the Patriots.
• 49ers are still in talks with CLE & PIT, when CLE bails. Reportedly there was a potential offer of Cooper + pick(s) for Aiyuk. Don’t know why CLE bailed but they did.
• that reportedly left PIT, and at the same time, SF came back to the table with a larger offer, reportedly worth $29M a year.

That’s very close to what Lamb received, and IIRC, more than what ARSB received.

So no, this wasn’t “shut up and play.”

This has been a long, drawn out exercise in futility, where it comes off like Aiyuk & his agent have moved the goal posts several times, asked for things they got, then decided they didn’t want them, and refused a trade that would have paid him $30M a year.

By all accounts that’s not at all “shut up and play”. That’s just where we happen to be with cut downs coming in the next 36 hours (or less? Is it tomorrow?)

please do correct me if I have any of the above wrong - I did it from memory, but I’m pretty sure that’s the gist of it.

You keep harping on a player under contract, but NFL contracts are not guaranteed. They're one year contracts with the right to renew for both parties. I also find it disingenuous to say that a player on a rookie deal is "under contract" since their contract has been slotted and that player has little, to no, leverage to negotiate a contract on terms that they want. It's as close to legal duress as you can get without crossing the line. Don Vito Corleone would be proud of the NFL when it comes to rookie contracts. To boot, these contracts are longer than the average NFL players careers and only around 30% of all players see a second contract.

You say Aiyuk/his agent have moved the goalposts. No, the market isn't something that's set in stone. It changes every time a new player signs. If you don't want to get left handing out the biggest bag, you need to get in early and get it done. If you start out your negotiations with a low-ball offer, oftentimes, you insult the party you're negotiating with. Aiyuk's agent seems to have had a good grasp of where the WR market was going to go (and eventually went), and the SF 49ers didn't. If their initial $24M offer would have been a market setting offer or close to it, Aiyuk is probably signed. Give him an AJ Brown deal 3/$96M. Instead, SF insults the guy by giving him a deal that wouldn't even place him in the top 10 of WR. Total misread of the market and where it was going. Now, you're left giving the guy a contract you should have offered in the first place.

I keep saying he is under contract because he is. It’s relevant because the 49ers have gone above and beyond to accommodate him, despite that.

But you seem much more focused on a false narrative, so we will have to agree to disagree.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Finally he tries to exert some control in his career, but no....just shut up and play.

That’s a gross mischaracterization of what happened here.
• immediately after the SB loss, while his team is still stinging, his GF posts to IG. “Cya SF, it’s been real” message.
• this is followed soon after by the 49ers attempting to offer Aiyuk an extension reportedly worth 24M a year. After which, Aiyuk says (again on social media), “they don’t want me.”
• 49ers continue to negotiate an extension. And again, to a player who is already under contract. Reportedly they got to $26M, and ARSB got paid.
• Aiyuk asks for a trade.
• 49ers again accommodate the request. They reportedly find 3 teams interested in Aiyuk, willing to pay him and who have capital/assets the 49ers are interested in.
• Aiyuk reportedly balks at $30M/year from the Patriots.
• 49ers are still in talks with CLE & PIT, when CLE bails. Reportedly there was a potential offer of Cooper + pick(s) for Aiyuk. Don’t know why CLE bailed but they did.
• that reportedly left PIT, and at the same time, SF came back to the table with a larger offer, reportedly worth $29M a year.

That’s very close to what Lamb received, and IIRC, more than what ARSB received.

So no, this wasn’t “shut up and play.”

This has been a long, drawn out exercise in futility, where it comes off like Aiyuk & his agent have moved the goal posts several times, asked for things they got, then decided they didn’t want them, and refused a trade that would have paid him $30M a year.

By all accounts that’s not at all “shut up and play”. That’s just where we happen to be with cut downs coming in the next 36 hours (or less? Is it tomorrow?)

please do correct me if I have any of the above wrong - I did it from memory, but I’m pretty sure that’s the gist of it.

You keep harping on a player under contract, but NFL contracts are not guaranteed. They're one year contracts with the right to renew for both parties. I also find it disingenuous to say that a player on a rookie deal is "under contract" since their contract has been slotted and that player has little, to no, leverage to negotiate a contract on terms that they want. It's as close to legal duress as you can get without crossing the line. Don Vito Corleone would be proud of the NFL when it comes to rookie contracts. To boot, these contracts are longer than the average NFL players careers and only around 30% of all players see a second contract.

You say Aiyuk/his agent have moved the goalposts. No, the market isn't something that's set in stone. It changes every time a new player signs. If you don't want to get left handing out the biggest bag, you need to get in early and get it done. If you start out your negotiations with a low-ball offer, oftentimes, you insult the party you're negotiating with. Aiyuk's agent seems to have had a good grasp of where the WR market was going to go (and eventually went), and the SF 49ers didn't. If their initial $24M offer would have been a market setting offer or close to it, Aiyuk is probably signed. Give him an AJ Brown deal 3/$96M. Instead, SF insults the guy by giving him a deal that wouldn't even place him in the top 10 of WR. Total misread of the market and where it was going. Now, you're left giving the guy a contract you should have offered in the first place.

I keep saying he is under contract because he is. It’s relevant because the 49ers have gone above and beyond to accommodate him, despite that.

But you seem much more focused on a false narrative, so we will have to agree to disagree.

There isn't a false narrative. An NFL contract is not like a contract in the real world. As I said in my post, a contract in the NFL is a one-year deal with options for both sides at the end of each year to either continue, terminate or renegotiate. If they were real world contracts then when the 49ers sign players (i.e., Matt Brieda to a 1 year, $1.2M deal) they'd be bound to play those players, the full value of the contract, yet they're not.

 

[Lansdowne]

Waiting until training camp to do these contracts is a risky practice and can backfire like it appears to have done for the 49ers this time. Trent Williams knows his worth and is holding out until he gets a pay raise, and he’s doing it now before he’s left out of whatever the 49ers were looking to pay Aiyuk and Purdy. Frankly I think regardless of their Super Bowl ambitions, the prudent move would’ve been to have traded Aiyuk back in April when it was evident that they weren’t willing to pay what he’s looking for.

Now it’s become a game of chicken. I think at this point the 49ers have to call Aiyuk’s bluff. “This is our offer, you can take it or you play out your current contract. We’re not trading you.” And if he’s a sunk cost for 2024 then at least the team isn’t investing big money long term in a player who doesn’t want to be there anymore. It would also behoove them to get Pearsall up to speed since, let’s face it, he was their hedge against Aiyuk the moment they drafted him.

 

[Big Nate]

Finally he tries to exert some control in his career, but no....just shut up and play.

That’s a gross mischaracterization of what happened here.
• immediately after the SB loss, while his team is still stinging, his GF posts to IG. “Cya SF, it’s been real” message.
• this is followed soon after by the 49ers attempting to offer Aiyuk an extension reportedly worth 24M a year. After which, Aiyuk says (again on social media), “they don’t want me.”
• 49ers continue to negotiate an extension. And again, to a player who is already under contract. Reportedly they got to $26M, and ARSB got paid.
• Aiyuk asks for a trade.
• 49ers again accommodate the request. They reportedly find 3 teams interested in Aiyuk, willing to pay him and who have capital/assets the 49ers are interested in.
• Aiyuk reportedly balks at $30M/year from the Patriots.
• 49ers are still in talks with CLE & PIT, when CLE bails. Reportedly there was a potential offer of Cooper + pick(s) for Aiyuk. Don’t know why CLE bailed but they did.
• that reportedly left PIT, and at the same time, SF came back to the table with a larger offer, reportedly worth $29M a year.

That’s very close to what Lamb received, and IIRC, more than what ARSB received.

So no, this wasn’t “shut up and play.”

This has been a long, drawn out exercise in futility, where it comes off like Aiyuk & his agent have moved the goal posts several times, asked for things they got, then decided they didn’t want them, and refused a trade that would have paid him $30M a year.

By all accounts that’s not at all “shut up and play”. That’s just where we happen to be with cut downs coming in the next 36 hours (or less? Is it tomorrow?)

please do correct me if I have any of the above wrong - I did it from memory, but I’m pretty sure that’s the gist of it.

You keep harping on a player under contract, but NFL contracts are not guaranteed. They're one year contracts with the right to renew for both parties. I also find it disingenuous to say that a player on a rookie deal is "under contract" since their contract has been slotted and that player has little, to no, leverage to negotiate a contract on terms that they want. It's as close to legal duress as you can get without crossing the line. Don Vito Corleone would be proud of the NFL when it comes to rookie contracts. To boot, these contracts are longer than the average NFL players careers and only around 30% of all players see a second contract.

You say Aiyuk/his agent have moved the goalposts. No, the market isn't something that's set in stone. It changes every time a new player signs. If you don't want to get left handing out the biggest bag, you need to get in early and get it done. If you start out your negotiations with a low-ball offer, oftentimes, you insult the party you're negotiating with. Aiyuk's agent seems to have had a good grasp of where the WR market was going to go (and eventually went), and the SF 49ers didn't. If their initial $24M offer would have been a market setting offer or close to it, Aiyuk is probably signed. Give him an AJ Brown deal 3/$96M. Instead, SF insults the guy by giving him a deal that wouldn't even place him in the top 10 of WR. Total misread of the market and where it was going. Now, you're left giving the guy a contract you should have offered in the first place.

I keep saying he is under contract because he is. It’s relevant because the 49ers have gone above and beyond to accommodate him, despite that.

But you seem much more focused on a false narrative, so we will have to agree to disagree.

There isn't a false narrative. An NFL contract is not like a contract in the real world. As I said in my post, a contract in the NFL is a one-year deal with options for both sides at the end of each year to either continue, terminate or renegotiate. If they were real world contracts then when the 49ers sign players (i.e., Matt Brieda to a 1 year, $1.2M deal) they'd be bound to play those players, the full value of the contract, yet they're not.

He is under contract with SF, $14M for 2025 (SF picked up his 5th year option last year). There is a cost to terminating his contract ($14M guaranteed and that full amount as a cap hit) that isn't in the best interest of the club. But in the real world you can terminate any contract too - there is usually a cost as well to get out from a contract - i.e. paying it out in full or what is left.

So yes, he is under contract right now. He has a contract with SF to play for this year. SF holds his rights - he can't play for another team.

Is SF going to cut him and if they do what do they owe him as the exercised his 5th year option already last year.

 

[Tau837]

His $14M salary is guaranteed. He isn't getting released, because that $14M would become a dead cap hit spread across the 2024 and 2025 caps, and SF would gain nothing. There is no cap hit to SF if he is traded; that would be a $14M cap savings.

 

[Big Nate]

His $14M salary is guaranteed. He isn't getting released, because that $14M would become a dead cap hit spread across the 2024 and 2025 caps, and SF would gain nothing. There is no cap hit to SF if he is traded; that would be a $14M cap savings.

Yes, these are the current terms of his contract. My question was rhetorical to the guy saying he isn't under a contract. Thanks for explaining it very succinctly.

 

[Soulfly3]

in a perfect world, he gets a worse offer than he started with and is forced to accept it.

what an absolute bird.

 

[Big Nate]

in a perfect world, he gets a worse offer than he started with and is forced to accept it.

what an absolute bird.

Honest question - do you hate every player who tries to get max value for their next contract or just him?

 

[Chaka]

Things like this make me wish there were a way to -- somehow without making the league terrible -- have ONLY one year contracts. Every year you go to the team who want$ you the mo$t. Like an auction or something. That would seem very fair, but I and everyone else would hate players moving teams every year. Somehow there could be some sort of incentive to keep your players.

Goodell: "The NFL is no longer a dynasty league. We're moving to redraft, with the possibility of having one or two keepers per season."

And just to double things up, we’re changing to SuperFlex as well.

Sokath, his eyes uncovered!!!

 

[BassNBrew]

in a perfect world, he gets a worse offer than he started with and is forced to accept it.

what an absolute bird.

Honest question - do you hate every player who tries to get max value for their next contract or just him?

Not if they plan to use those monies on their weed addiction.

 

[Chaka]

I also find it disingenuous to say that a player on a rookie deal is "under contract" since their contract has been slotted and that player has little, to no, leverage to negotiate a contract on terms that they want

The NFL is the only system in America where new potential employees do not have at least some ability to choose their employer.

As a country we would go berserk if we tried to mandate this kind of anti-capitalist hiring system in any other industry.

BURN IT DOWN!!!

 

[Big Nate]

in a perfect world, he gets a worse offer than he started with and is forced to accept it.

what an absolute bird.

Honest question - do you hate every player who tries to get max value for their next contract or just him?

Not if they plan to use those monies on their weed addiction.

What the heck - where did this "addiction" comment come from? Maybe you didn't need to post it. Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I also find it disingenuous to say that a player on a rookie deal is "under contract" since their contract has been slotted and that player has little, to no, leverage to negotiate a contract on terms that they want

The NFL is the only system in America where new potential employees do not have at least some ability to choose their employer.

As a country we would go berserk if we tried to mandate this kind of anti-capitalist hiring system in any other industry.

BURN IT DOWN!!!

I would love to be drafted by a corporation as a project manager (my last life) for $14M in guaranteed money.

Hell, for $14M I’d give handles behind 7-11 for a year.

Now I just do it for free!

 

[beef]

I just traded Godwin for Aiyuk. I do think Godwin could be in for a solid year if he does play the slot more though.

 

[Chaka]

I also find it disingenuous to say that a player on a rookie deal is "under contract" since their contract has been slotted and that player has little, to no, leverage to negotiate a contract on terms that they want

The NFL is the only system in America where new potential employees do not have at least some ability to choose their employer.

As a country we would go berserk if we tried to mandate this kind of anti-capitalist hiring system in any other industry.

BURN IT DOWN!!!

I would love to be drafted by a corporation as a project manager (my last life) for $14M in guaranteed money.

Hell, for $14M I’d give handles behind 7-11 for a year.

Now I just do it for free!

And if you could get $25+ million on the open market, would you be so happy?

The answer is no, despite what you may think you think now.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

And if you could get $25+ million on the open market, would you be so happy?

Clearly you recognize my talents.

It’s all in the wrist, my friend.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

And if you could get $25+ million on the open market, would you be so happy?

The answer is no, despite what you may think you think now.

Also, not saying that. Niners have made several offers to Aiyuk - one for $26M, one for $28M, reportedly one for $29M

What’s there to be unhappy about? We’re way past your hypothetical “but if you’re worth $25M?” question.

It’s time. Today is cut-down day. He’s had his month+ to find out his value on the open market, and now it’s time to make a big boy choice. Does he want to play football for $29M a year? Great - sign the F’n extension.

 

[Birdie048]

I just traded Godwin for Aiyuk. I do think Godwin could be in for a solid year if he does play the slot more though.

Agreed ... the Slot is $$ for Godwin, my only concern is the new OC might have more run schemes ... with 2 reliable RB on the field .. might equate to same # of targets, but more short yardage stuff

 

[Rubi]

And if you could get $25+ million on the open market, would you be so happy?

The answer is no, despite what you may think you think now.

Also, not saying that. Niners have made several offers to Aiyuk - one for $26M, one for $28M, reportedly one for $29M

What’s there to be unhappy about? We’re way past your hypothetical “but if you’re worth $25M?” question.

It’s time. Today is cut-down day. He’s had his month+ to find out his value on the open market, and now it’s time to make a big boy choice. Does he want to play football for $29M a year? Great - sign the F’n extension.

How much of this do you think is his agent,how much is him?

 

[Gally]

The NFL is the only system in America where new potential employees do not have at least some ability to choose their employer.

Actually every NFL player has chosen their employer.......it's the NFL. When you choose to work for a company (NFL) sometimes they decide that you need to work in the Cleveland office and tell you that you have to move there if you want to stay employed. If you decide not to work in that office your choice is to choose a different place to work.

Also, only the 200+ players drafted every year have no choice in which office of the NFL corporation they will have to work. Anyone not drafted can then go to individual offices within the corporation and decide which office they want to work for. So not everyone in the NFL was left without a choice.

There is also the choice to not work for the NFL. They have that choice too.

 

[pinkstapler]

I also find it disingenuous to say that a player on a rookie deal is "under contract" since their contract has been slotted and that player has little, to no, leverage to negotiate a contract on terms that they want

The NFL is the only system in America where new potential employees do not have at least some ability to choose their employer.

As a country we would go berserk if we tried to mandate this kind of anti-capitalist hiring system in any other industry.

BURN IT DOWN!!!

I'm guessing there's a healthy amount of sarcasm/comedy in this post lol, but just to clarify for anyone taking it super serious; professional athletes live in a completely different world then the majority of the rest of us in the working class, and their situation (rightfully so IMO, more power to them) is miles and miles and MILES better than ours. I'd gladly give up my choice of employer if I could have a guaranteed part of my salary, their medical coverage, a union that bargains for my rights and privilages, retirement "pension" as well as medical, etc. etc. As it is now for me, and probably 95% of people out there, we are at will employees who aren't in a union and can be let go with 0 notice and 0 reason at any time and don't have to be given any type of severance, quickly lose that medical coverage, have no pensions, often mediocre/expensive health insurance and maybe a nominal 401K contribution match.

I'm not in the camp who hates players playing the game to get their paycheck. Similarly though, I'm not part of this recent weird "eat the rich" movement where the definitions on what is rich is about as well defined as the ATFs definitions of what is an "assault rifle". They are all playing the same game; just comes down to how they choose to play it.

But I also will never for one second feel bad for players not being able to "choose their employer". That's never how the system was designed and would argue if anything, they have more power over their employer than was ever intended, typically based around how good they are at their job. Otherwise Eli would have been doing his derp face on the Chargers sidelines. Saying it is a privilege to be a pro athlete and reap all the benefits of that career doesn't negate the fact it takes a lot of hard work and effort (and luck IMO) to get to that point. They can both be true, and are, again IMO.

 

[massraider]

I keep saying he is under contract because he is. It’s relevant because the 49ers have gone above and beyond to accommodate him, despite that.

I think this is an assumption, rather than a fact.

We don't know what the offers look like

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

How much of this do you think is his agent,how much is him?

I think he has bad representation. This has been ham-fisted from the jump.

A report came out like 2 weeks ago that Aiyuk’s team hadn’t yet actually articulated their demands.

Like, what?! That was amid trade demands / talks. The 1st step of negotiating is generally to figure out what you’re asking for. Mindboggling.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I keep saying he is under contract because he is. It’s relevant because the 49ers have gone above and beyond to accommodate him, despite that.

I think this is an assumption, rather than a fact.

We don't know what the offers look like

That there were offers, and later attempts to honor his trade requests, were both above and beyond to accommodate a player under contract.

That’s a fact, not an assumption. Belichick would have told him to pound sand.

 

[eighsse2]

We've had the "choose their employer"/"anti-capitalist" debate before. I don't know the answer for sure, but I still don't think the NFL is comparable to that. The NFL is the "corporation", or whatever, and they mandate how their "franchises" operate to a certain extent, and how contract lengths and pay scales are limited. I think that is pretty normal.

 

[Chaka]

The NFL is the only system in America where new potential employees do not have at least some ability to choose their employer.

Actually every NFL player has chosen their employer.......it's the NFL. When you choose to work for a company (NFL) sometimes they decide that you need to work in the Cleveland office and tell you that you have to move there if you want to stay employed. If you decide not to work in that office your choice is to choose a different place to work.

Also, only the 200+ players drafted every year have no choice in which office of the NFL corporation they will have to work. Anyone not drafted can then go to individual offices within the corporation and decide which office they want to work for. So not everyone in the NFL was left without a choice.

There is also the choice to not work for the NFL. They have that choice too.

But the NFL isn't their employer and they will fight you to the death in court to prove that (even if we all know they are the employer).

They are 32 separate businesses, they try to define themselves loosely as a...what is it? Trade union? I forget and don't want to look it up. Whatever, essentially the same thing as the Broccoli Growers of America working together to further the interest of Big Broccoli and keep down Big Cauliflower.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

We've had the "choose their employer"/"anti-capitalist" debate before. I don't know the answer for sure, but I still don't think the NFL is comparable to that. The NFL is the "corporation", or whatever, and they mandate how their "franchises" operate to a certain extent, and how contract lengths and pay scales are limited. I think that is pretty normal.

Also players come up knowing that is the system, and dedicate their lives to getting into it.

None are innocent lambs led to the slaughter. This is the career path they’ve chosen. They’re blessed with talent & dedication to be the best at what they do.

They are working to get into that system their entire young lives.

Not like Joe Middle Class, who got a degree in accounting & sends his resume to 12 companies looking for an interview. And even if it were, those gigs also have salary parameters “commensurate with experience” as they say.

Not like regular employees on the free market march in, kick their feet up on the employer’s desk and demand outrageous contracts with any sort of success.

It’s a terrible analogy.

 

[Chaka]

And if you could get $25+ million on the open market, would you be so happy?

The answer is no, despite what you may think you think now.

Also, not saying that. Niners have made several offers to Aiyuk - one for $26M, one for $28M, reportedly one for $29M

What’s there to be unhappy about? We’re way past your hypothetical “but if you’re worth $25M?” question.

It’s time. Today is cut-down day. He’s had his month+ to find out his value on the open market, and now it’s time to make a big boy choice. Does he want to play football for $29M a year? Great - sign the F’n extension.

Leaked details of deals likely don't tell the whole story. I said yesterday when CeeDee signed his deal that the only reason for the delay was the Cowboys were probably trying to do one of their silly 7-10 deals and CeeDee's people weren't having it.

Cash may or may not be the issue with Aiyuk's contract, the structure, like when he can shoot for another deal, is probably the sticking point.

 

[massraider]

We've had the "choose their employer"/"anti-capitalist" debate before

Yeah, it's so boring.

I keep saying he is under contract because he is. It’s relevant because the 49ers have gone above and beyond to accommodate him, despite that.

I think this is an assumption, rather than a fact.

We don't know what the offers look like

That there were offers, and later attempts to honor his trade requests, were both above and beyond to accommodate a player under contract.

That’s a fact, not an assumption. Belichick would have told him to pound sand.

In my opinion, above and beyond is what MIN, MIA, DAL and countless others have done: they've signed their guy. So, we have a different definition, that's all. If they offered him 35 guaranteed, with a 32 mill average, I would agree with you.

49ers and Aiyuk don't seem angry or upset with either one, I am not sure why OTHER people are unhappy.

It's dragged out, but other players sign right before the season, this happens ALL the time

 

[Chaka]

We've had the "choose their employer"/"anti-capitalist" debate before. I don't know the answer for sure, but I still don't think the NFL is comparable to that. The NFL is the "corporation", or whatever, and they mandate how their "franchises" operate to a certain extent, and how contract lengths and pay scales are limited. I think that is pretty normal.

They're not. And they will sue you to Hell and back to stop you from saying that.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Leaked details of deals likely don't tell the whole story. I said yesterday when CeeDee signed his deal that the only reason for the delay was the Cowboys were probably trying to do one of their silly 7-10 deals and CeeDee's people weren't having it.

Cash may or may not be the issue with Aiyuk's contract, the structure, like when he can shoot for another deal, is probably the sticking point.

I don’t disagree. But again, at some point over the last ~8 weeks, some sort of middle ground should have been met. At least in the last week.

Aiyuk is not JJ, nor is he CeeDee. A case could maybe be made if I squint a little that he’s ARSB, but even as a Niners fan I’m not ready to anoint him that.

He had a freakishly efficient season. Some of that was due to the talent around him. He’s also a very good WR.

I put him just below ARSB, and would be fine paying him at that scale. Team Aiyuk seems to want him to be paid like JJ or Lamb, and that’s just not gonna happen.

So where do you go from there?

It’s like a dynasty trade I was tryna work. I was giving up Puka. My leaguemate was offering a hurt Hock. We had a verbal discussion about Puka for Hock+Worthy. I spent some time working through it and decided ok, I’ll take that chance. Ran it though charts & calcs, discussed it on the value topic, and then I put it up thinking it was a done deal based on our convos. He counters asking for my LB1 on top. Well, that killed that deal. Just no middle ground when someone’s got unrealistic demands.

You're probably correct that it has to do with years and likely guaranteed $ as well.

But we’re 13 days from the 49ers playing the Jets on MNF. Something has to give. At some point you’re not going to get everything demanded. Figure it out.

 

[Gally]

The NFL is the only system in America where new potential employees do not have at least some ability to choose their employer.

Actually every NFL player has chosen their employer.......it's the NFL. When you choose to work for a company (NFL) sometimes they decide that you need to work in the Cleveland office and tell you that you have to move there if you want to stay employed. If you decide not to work in that office your choice is to choose a different place to work.

Also, only the 200+ players drafted every year have no choice in which office of the NFL corporation they will have to work. Anyone not drafted can then go to individual offices within the corporation and decide which office they want to work for. So not everyone in the NFL was left without a choice.

There is also the choice to not work for the NFL. They have that choice too.

But the NFL isn't their employer and they will fight you to the death in court to prove that (even if we all know they are the employer).

They are 32 separate businesses, they try to define themselves loosely as a...what is it? Trade union? I forget and don't want to look it up. Whatever, essentially the same thing as the Broccoli Growers of America working together to further the interest of Big Broccoli and keep down Big Cauliflower.

That's semantics. The NFL is the employer. It's more like McDonalds. Each franchise has their own ownership but everyone works for McDonalds. The NFL has the added complication that if the franchises (teams) start folding the entire corporation will fail. It is in the NFL's best interest to have 32 strong franchises otherwise the league will end. So each team doesn't exactly want to put other teams out of business. Because without the other teams there is no business. The NFL corporation makes sure all teams are healthy because it has to.

 

[BassNBrew]

in a perfect world, he gets a worse offer than he started with and is forced to accept it.

what an absolute bird.

Honest question - do you hate every player who tries to get max value for their next contract or just him?

Not if they plan to use those monies on their weed addiction.

What the heck - where did this "addiction" comment come from? Maybe you didn't need to post it. Maybe I'm missing something.

Soulfly was Josh Gordon's big fan and would have supported him getting max value.