The three year rule

[keds]

According to Big Bill players have to start showing something at their position by year three. When he says that I think he really means that if a player doesn't show something by year three their chances of ever starting become very slim but I don't think it applies to staying on the roster as a backup. If the three year rule really were enforced then J Collins, Lynn Scott, Dixon and others wouldn't be here anymore, right?

With the salary cap you obviously can't have many highly paid experienced backups so while coaches say they need to see something from players they do make exceptions.

My point is that coaches make exceptions to a lot of their rules and usually apply their rules differently to different players. If there is no one better than Lynn Scott this year at safety we may see him on the roster again. Tony Dixon has proven little yet still may hang around on the roster. Maybe this rule should be changed to the four year rule as rookies tend to sign longer than three year contracts.

[Eddie]

I think the 3 year rule applies more to the higher round draft choices. Undrafted rookie FA's aren't really expected to make big splashes, and their salaries are usually very low anyway. So the expectations are much lower.

But for guys like Antonio Bryant and Andre Gurode, it's show time. If Gurode plays pedestrian-like, he's finished as a starter.

Then again, for someone like Tony Dixon who was taken in the 2nd round, he's already shown he's not capable of starting.