You're a free agent, where do you go? (1 Viewer)

[Bri]

Supposing you're a free agent.

I assume opportunity to play would be paramount for most, but maybe it's money. Then what? Coaching? The players that will be your teammates? How about your personal life-family moving to this new location?

Supposing you're a free agent, please post a ranking of what you think would be involved in making your decision, which would have the most influence to least influence.

Thanks

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Opportunity

Organizational Quality/Clarity/Philosophy (includes coaches, also recent history of how

players were treated, scheme, stability)

Money

Chance to Win a Ring (at a certain point in your career, this one moves up to the #1)

Getting along well with position coach and teammates at the same position

Quality of the city

Cool uniforms

 

[Workhorse]

Who pays me the most money.

Everything else.

The NFL is a brutal business. First and foremost, if I'm going to lay my body on the line in the most physically demanding and potentially debilitating team sport, I'm going to make damned sure that my family is well-taken care of financially. Period. I always get a kick out of fans who decry players for going for the big bucks rather than giving "hometown discounts", particularly my fellow Patriot fans. Get real. The vast majority of fans, if put in the same situation, would do the exact same thing. The average career of an NFL player is so short and the rules allow teams to dispose of players who are injured. If I'm a player, I'm getting paid when I can. End of story.

 

[3nOut]

I think for me it would depend on what point in my career I was in, and of course I would want to be a starter.

First contract, you have no choice unless you like elway or Eli.

Second contract, . I have to take care of my family. If its a close decision, I'd look at location.

Third contract, if I'm lucky enough, or have a good enough/smart enough agent to get a third contract, would depend on how much I made in my second contract or if I already won a Superbowl. If I made good money in my second contract but no SB, I would probably prefer to go to a contender. If I had been on a SB winner in my first or second contract team, I'd probably go where the money is. I think deep down, all athletes are competative enough to want to win a championship but are realistic and realize that most athletes don't even get a chance. They know if every team wins one championship each, it would take 32 years for everyone to get a ring (if a few teams repeat every so often, it would be even longer). With careers lasting only 5-10 years, odds are you aren't going to win one (so go where the money is).

 

[Road Warriors]

For a first payday, I think money would top the list, but probably not for every last dollar. I think I would be willing to take 5-10% less to go to a good situation, a combination of opportunity, quality team, and quality city.

For a subsequent payday, I think my discount number for situation may rise to 20%, but at that point situation would mean picking from only the top tier teams. In today's NFL, that probably means IND, SD, NE. Teams that have not only are top teams now, but have strong leadership and a track record of staying competitive.

 

[Wu-banger]

Assuming you are referring to the first FA contract situation....

In most sports money would not be the biggest factor for me.. but in the world of NFL contracts , you need to get the most gaureented money ASAP.

You can't rely on the good faith of the organization to reward you or support you if you get injured.

They will cut your butt in a second.

 

[Kirby]

A Florida team... No state income tax and warm beaches.

 

[gianmarco]

The cheerleaders (esp. if you're Fitzgerald)

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Depends on the position.

If I am a defensive lineman -- I think you would be a genius to go to the Titans.

You have Haynesworth and Kyle Vandenbosch taking up all the attention. They get double and triple teamed and you get to go 1 on 1 with the right side of the line. You'll look like a much better player than you really are.

Take Travis Laboy. Please. (Heh, I'll be here all week.) He and Odom combined for 14 sacks last year as 1 defensive end opposite Phat Albert and KVB. I would almost guarantee you that they don't combine for that at their new destinations.

On the other hand, I bet you that Kearse will have pretty good numbers. I'm saying he'll be only a 15-25 play a game DE, mostly pass rush times. A run stopping end and a big DT are what the Titans need. You'll come in, put up numbers, and then parlay it to get paid...somewhere else.

P.S. Laboy will be out of the league within 2 years due to concussions. He has had...6 of them as a pro. Odom, I think, will be a "solid" but not great DE elsewhere.

Why Nashville?

-- everybody that comes here loves it

-- even after the careers they make their home here

-- NO income tax

-- You can live in the same gated community as Carrie Underwood

 

[JohnnyU]

Anywhere but the Patriots. I wouldn't want to be associated with a cheating organization

 

[David Yudkin]

ANyone saying that money is not an object is really not aligned with the real NFL. Unless you are already set for life, money will be the prime consideration. From there, playing for a contender or whatever else might motivate someone might be a consideration if the money offered is close.

But I highly doubt that the average FA would take half as much to go to a better team, better coach, reunite with former teammates, etc.

I don't think any of us are in the same situation, but careers are short and injuries are common, so you need to make as much as you can as quickly as you can. Once you get to the point where you pretty much are set, then you can start talking about discounts and forgoing bigger contracts.

 

[Rounders]

I remember reading a while back that the average lifepsan of a NFL player is 4 years. If true, money would be the ONLY consideration in my book.

With the abuse my body would take, show me the money!! Now if I was finacially secure, then the opportunity to win a title is first and foremost.

 

[Interseptopus]

Green Bay. Because GB fans invented tailgating and there's no other types like them- just plain awesome

No but GB would be intriguing given the youth. Dallas as well. Any young team that looks to be on the rise. I wouldn't want to take money to play for a crappy team and just waste my talent. I like winning too much