How do you keep a player motivated after he gets his big payday?

[Red Dragon]

The age-old problem: A young player plays fantastically in hopes of landing a huge payday, but then once he does get that fat contract, he becomes instantly lazy and only half the player he once was.

What other methods can you possibly use to motivate such a guy?

 

[MarcusRock]

Age-old problem? You mean age-old urban legend because it's what folks who hate the money paid out want to believe. Same with the "contract year" fallacy.

 

[AbeBeta]

The age-old problem: A young player plays fantastically in hopes of landing a huge payday, but then once he does get that fat contract, he becomes instantly lazy and only half the player he once was.

What other methods can you possibly use to motivate such a guy?

Seems like this is more about you trying to promote some sort of lazy stereotype than actual reality.

 

[JoeKing]

The age-old problem: A young player plays fantastically in hopes of landing a huge payday, but then once he does get that fat contract, he becomes instantly lazy and only half the player he once was.

What other methods can you possibly use to motivate such a guy?

Word the contract so it's conditional.

 

[Big D]

The age-old problem: A young player plays fantastically in hopes of landing a huge payday, but then once he does get that fat contract, he becomes instantly lazy and only half the player he once was.

What other methods can you possibly use to motivate such a guy?

These players exert more energy in a day than you do all year but they're lazy.

 

[Manster68]

The age-old problem: A young player plays fantastically in hopes of landing a huge payday, but then once he does get that fat contract, he becomes instantly lazy and only half the player he once was.

What other methods can you possibly use to motivate such a guy?

You, or anyone doesn't do anything.
This is totally up to the player.
The best example of this comes from another sport.

Red Auerbach, President and General Manager of the Boston Celtics from the late 1960s into the 1990s (after Head Coaching the Celtics to 8 straight NBA Championships and 9 in 10 years), was totally handcuffed when it came time to renew Larry Bird's contract in 1983. Red had nothing to negotiate with - Larry did everything. So Auerbach made Larry the highest paid player at that time.

How did Larry Bird respond in the summer of 1983?

Larry Bird was NBA League MVP in 1984, 1985, & 1986 and won NBA Championships in 1984 & 1986 (and was 2 wins shy against Magic Johnson's Showtime Lakers from 3 Championships in a row in 1985).

Again, it is up to the individual. General Managers are rolling the dice.

 

[plasticman]

Competition.

A fat salary can also be a liability if they can find a player with the same productivity. In fact, you might say that the player is competing against his contract. If he does not play up to the standard represented by his contract, he could find himself living on just the bonus.

 

[RaZon]

As we know a lot of these guys came from humble beginnings and if not for their athletic ability there was no college no football. And while they might see a little $$$$ in school it will be nothing compared to that first NFL contract, so BOOM in a whole new world they knew nothing about, now they can do all those things they never had the $$$$ to do, so they start thinking about other things than just football. Those horizons are now further out there, a whole different galaxy is opened up to them.

Once these guys get a taste of the good life they will want more, they never ever want to go back to how things used to be so they make damn sure they will never happen by putting all they have into $$$$$$ football $$$$$$$. They now have that car, hell get ya a truck, hell get mom a car, get brother Ray a car.

Obviously a few exceptions but the vast majority of NFL players want that long career and that future more $$$$$$$ contract ....powerful motivation there. And as all footballers know there is nothing like going to war with your buddies, yep, you are in that foxhole together, everyone relying on everyone else to get this win. Nothing better than that ride home after a win, nothing sucks more heading home after a loss. But either way you will never forget this time in your life, it really is the best of times and ya wish they could last forever. No rush to give this up.

 

[CWR]

Most stay motivated. Most have a sense of pride and legacy. There are small fractions who stop putting it on the line, but those guys are not the norm.

The problem is paying for past production doesn't yield future results.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Age-old problem? You mean age-old urban legend because it's what folks who hate the money paid out want to believe. Same with the "contract year" fallacy.

How many hours in a week do you think it takes to maintain a body that can just play in the NFL let alone thrive. Its funny what some people call lazy

 

[CWR]

You, or anyone doesn't do anything.
This is totally up to the player.
The best example of this comes from another sport.

Red Auerbach, President and General Manager of the Boston Celtics from the late 1960s into the 1990s (after Head Coaching the Celtics to 8 straight NBA Championships and 9 in 10 years), was totally handcuffed when it came time to renew Larry Bird's contract in 1983. Red had nothing to negotiate with - Larry did everything. So Auerbach made Larry the highest paid player at that time.

How did Larry Bird respond in the summer of 1983?

Larry Bird was NBA League MVP in 1984, 1985, & 1986 and won NBA Championships in 1984 & 1986 (and was 2 wins shy against Magic Johnson's Showtime Lakers from 3 Championships in a row in 1985).

Again, it is up to the individual. General Managers are rolling the dice.

That point through the Jordan era is my favorite time in basketball. Larry legend was a lot of freaking fun. Sorry but when the compare today's flip flopping, draw a foul league to the bitter rivalries and characters of that time its not even close in my book. AND Jordan is the GOAT, anything less is blasphemy.

 

[T-RO]

You can never 'coach up' motivation in a player! That comes from within. All you can do is filter out those who don't have internal motivation.

How to filter out the bad?
1. You need to discern while a player is under contract: what motivates him...does he really love ball?
2. Gather info from teammates. They usually see it.
3. Someone not orbiting the facilities, not highly connected with his teammates...danger!
4. Does the guy obviously HATE to lose?
5. Is he eager to be coached to continually get better?

 

[Hadenough]

The age-old problem: A young player plays fantastically in hopes of landing a huge payday, but then once he does get that fat contract, he becomes instantly lazy and only half the player he once was.

What other methods can you possibly use to motivate such a guy?

Having a culture that preaches winning and sacrifice for the team. You have to be smart about who you pay too. A guy like Cooper as good as he can be at times never should of been brought here. But since this organization is all about marketing he was a good move to sell Dak Jerseys.

 

[RaZon]

Good gawd...no one wants to honestly answer the question, or hides behind crap narratives? Some of you are shameless frauds.

Here is a start:
1. You need to discern while a player is under contract: what motivates him...does he really love ball?
2. Gather info from teammates. They usually see it.
3. Someone not orbiting the facilities, not highly connected with his teammates...danger!
4. Does the guy obviously HATE to lose?
5. Is he eager to be coached to always get better?

Do you really think anyone goes around all worried about stuff like that? You will pick up on who a guy is early on he will show you.

 

[T-RO]

A guy like Cooper as good as he can be at times never should of been brought here.

No. No. NO!

Trying to judge a player by "rah-rah" or facial expression is incredibly stupid. Neanderthal stupid.

You need to measure the fire within.

 

[RaZon]

No. No. NO!

Trying to judge a player by "rah-rah" or facial expression is incredibly stupid. Neanderthal stupid.

You need to measure the fire within.

Give me a guy who is into the game, he's alive, he's vocal, he's loud and showing his emotions, this is needed. A fire blazing deep inside means nothing to a "team".

 

[T-RO]

Do you really think anyone goes around all worried about stuff like that? You will pick up on who a guy is early on he will show you.

Players are multi-million-dollar investments. If coaches and execs don't evaluate their investments...they go broke in the business of team building.

Players are going to kiss a coach's *** and the owner's ***...and the ones you've got to worry about most...kiss *** the best.

You've got to dig deeper.

 

[T-RO]

Give me a guy who is into the game, he's alive, he's vocal, he's loud and showing his emotions, this is needed. A fire blazing deep inside means nothing to a "team".

You have zero awareness of personality types.

You would be such a $ucker for extroverted players.

Zack Martin is the exact opposite of what you describe...but is our best player. You just utterly dismissed, diminished, devalued and disrespected our best player! Congrats, bro!

 

[nate dizzle]

No. No. NO!

Trying to judge a player by "rah-rah" or facial expression is incredibly stupid. Neanderthal stupid.

You need to measure the fire within.

Measure the fire within...

 

[RaZon]

Players are multi-million-dollar investments. If coaches and execs don't evaluate their investments...they go broke in the business of team building.

Players are going to kiss a coach's *** and the owner's ***...and the ones you've got to worry about most...kiss *** the best.

You've got to dig deeper.

You don't have to dig at all just watch a player after a loss, that will tell you all you need to know.