Braylon Edwards Mimics Merriman

[Doomsday101]

It is a business yet it is still a game, neither one of these guys were harmed and both went in round 1 they should be happy someone though that highly of them. As for teams until they pull the trigger when they are on the clock they do not owe anyone anything and are not obligated what so ever. Once that player is part of the team they rewarded with contract most people will never see in a life time. You want to feel sorry for them then be my guest as far as I'm concerned it just shows the immaturity of many of these kids coming out of college.

 

[Zaxor]

It is a business yet it is still a game, neither one of these guys were harmed and both went in round 1 they should be happy someone though that highly of them. As for teams until they pull the trigger when they are on the clock they do not owe anyone anything and are not obligated what so ever. Once that player is part of the team they rewarded with contract most people will never see in a life time. You want to feel sorry for them then be my guest as far as I'm concerned it just shows the immaturity of many of these kids coming out of college.

Dooms I understand where you are coming from man...but these teams are telling these kids we are taking you at this spot...not...we are THINKING ABOUT taking you at this spot...Granted some of these guys are spoiled rotten but wrong is wrong and I still believe we need to see better business ethics throughout the world

Peace

 

[Doomsday101]

Dooms I understand where you are coming from man...but these teams are telling these kids we are taking you at this spot...not...we are THINKING ABOUT taking you at this spot...Granted some of these guys are spoiled rotten but wrong is wrong and I still believe we need to see better business ethics throughout the world

Peace

Well we disagree until it is on paper and both parties sign it, it means nothing.

 

[Hostile]

Dooms I understand where you are coming from man...but these teams are telling these kids we are taking you at this spot...not...we are THINKING ABOUT taking you at this spot...Granted some of these guys are spoiled rotten but wrong is wrong and I still believe we need to see better business ethics throughout the world

Peace

Zaxor, I appreciate what you are trying to say, but it just isn't realistic at all. Teams have to evaluate every aspect of a draft pick. too much is riding on it. That would include how they react to situations. It is a fact of life.

 

[Zaxor]

Zaxor, I appreciate what you are trying to say, but it just isn't realistic at all. Teams have to evaluate every aspect of a draft pick. too much is riding on it. That would include how they react to situations. It is a fact of life.

Again I understand Hos...but the teams do not need to promise them anything but they do and then they back off...it is a dirty business practice...I really can't see the problem with a team telling a prospect that we are interested but we are also looking at other canidates...it gives away nothing to a opposing team or to the player...but if Edwards can be believed they even had him on the phone at the draft telling him he was their pick...The Dolphins did not need to play that deceit and it showed very little respect for a human being...

Peace

 

[AsthmaField]

While it's true that some people's moral compass points more strongly to the North... Player's need to look in the mirror if they think their's is true North, because it is influenced by the skewed magnetic field that are sport's agents.

Merriman, in particular should understand his symbiotic relationship with the Poston's and their less than fully functional moral compass, taints his holier-than-thou stance considerably and makes his self-pity and self-righteous anger seem senseless.

 

[Hostile]

Again I understand Hos...but the teams do not need to promise them anything but they do and then they back off...it is a dirty business practice...I really can't see the problem with a team telling a prospect that we are interested but we are also looking at other canidates...it gives away nothing to a opposing team or to the player...but if Edwards can be believed they even had him on the phone at the draft telling him he was their pick...The Dolphins did not need to play that deceit and it showed very little respect for a human being...

Peace

Let me try and explain it this way.

I am the GM of the Dolphins. Today is April 19, 2005. I am wanting a RB and a WR. I hear that a RB might be available in the 2nd so I decide to take the WR.

On April 22, 2005 my new Head Coach comes and tells me he wants the RB and that there is a WR he prefers in the 2nd.

Decisions that appear set in stone can quickly change.

I would also like to point out that we have no idea what owrding the Dolphins GM used. If he said, "we're considering taking you with the #2 overall pick," then he is nowhere near out of line. The player read it wrong. If however he said, "look for Real Estate in Miami and get ready to invest," then he is out of line.

I tend to think the Dolphins were probably not as dishonest as Edwards is maintaining. he had his hopes up.

 

[tyke1doe]

I too appreciate Zaxor's zeal and desire for honesty.
I think Zaxor's point is that even though the NFL draft is like a poker game, it doesn't have to be that way, especially if there's another way.

I think the poker analogy, while appropriate, doesn't fit exactly. When you're playing poker, all participants in the game know that's the way the game is played, i.e., you bluff to win. In this case, the teams may know this, but the players don't necessarily.
Now whether they SHOULD is another matter, and I find it quite naive of Edwards that he doesn't understand this type of bluffing happens during the draft, especially at the top of the draft.

The other point is that no one really knows what was said between Edwards and the Dolphins' organization. Remember, Edwards wants to be picked as high as he can because that means more money in his pocket. Of course, he's going to be upset because the Dolphins passed on him. That's the difference between feeding his family and starving, if you list to Terrell Owens.

As far as Edwards complaining about lying, remind me of his "integrity" when his contract is two years from being up and he's holding out because he feels he deserves a new contract, even though he's given his word he'd play under the contract he signed.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Like I stated in this thread it can be done easily with out lying

simply tell him we like you at this position but there is another prospect we like also..It does not tip your hand to other teams and does not make you out a liar...

Zax... We're not sure that Miami didn't say something like that, are we? We haven't heard their side of the story on this. They could well have said, "We really like you and we think we're going to select you" or something similar, and Edwards interpreted it as some kind of guarantee.

And as anyone who's taken business law or contracts in law school knows, Edwards took no action reasonably relying on what the Dolphins said anyway... So he has no complaint. Except, as pointed out above, that he lost some money and has to play where it snows. Boo hoo.

Edit - Hos said a lot of what I was thinking as I was posting.

 

[Zaxor]

While it's true that some people's moral compass points more strongly to the North... Player's need to look in the mirror if they think their's is true North, because it is influenced by the skewed magnetic field that are sport's agents.

Merriman, in particular should understand his symbiotic relationship with the Poston's and their less than fully functional moral compass, taints his holier-than-thou stance considerably and makes his self-pity and self-righteous anger seem senseless.

Good point

I think Hos, Dooms and others look at the hypocrisy of the situation and say that if you act like an *** you should expect to get treated like one...

I look at with more of a 2 wrongs don't make a right way... I realize that my way is more of a pipedream but if you really believe in something you stand up for it...so I gave it my best effort but I grow weary of this thread

so I said my part and now shall from this thread depart...

Peace

 

[KDWilliams85]

You slay me. That is just beyond ridiculous.

Can I have a nifty suit of armor and a sword made of fire?

 

[KDWilliams85]

Can I have a nifty suit of armor and a sword made of fire?

Oh my... I hath slain myself.

Anyway...

Posturing is a little different. Posturing is no admission of commitment. In Poker, you have no denials or acknowledgement. If you posture with commitment, that does make you dishonest and a liar. Hence, you'd have a right to be mad. An example would be like getting left at the altar.

It's business... I can understand that... but a GM shouldn't blithely commit or make a comment that would indicate such a move. You could have an eight year feud a lah Randy Moss.

 

[jay cee]

Dude, are you an agent ? Get real.

What is the difference in the signing bonus and contract for pick 12 vs. 22 ? I can't give you the exact dollars but I'd venture to guess its in the millions.

Merriman went number 12 to SD. If SD knew that he would fire his agent after the draft and hire the Potstons think he would have gone at 12 ? Maybe, but I doubt it. We passed on Merriman because someone sniffed out that this kids was ready to pull the bait and switch.

You defend him because he was trying to (and suceeded in SD) to fool teams as to who the team will be dealing with as an agent. Now Merriman is not even in camp.

As far as Edwards was concerned, he is just crying because he wanted to be picked and slotted higher in the draft, gaining him more money.

Have you ever been on a job interveiw competing with 10 people for one job ? Maybe you got the job or someone else did. But I bet MOST of the people who did interveiw were told that they were a strong candidate, but 9 people walked away without the job offer.

While I'm on a rant, I don't like the fact that every kid must make the little leauge team now. I didn't and was cut. I was upset, but life goes on. Every kid must play in Little leauge baseball. Again, I didn't (Thank god for football...lol). Now they don't even keep score in games because they don't want to hurt any little fellers feelings. Well, there goes the motivation to do and get better.

I drank water from a garden hose and streams in the woods, I'm still alive. Kids now have to have "Bottled water". I didn't have 200 cable TV channels to choose from as a kid. So we went outside and played. I didn't have video games (I have to admit, my neighbor had pong) or computers to chat on, we had a rotary phone.

Kids in general are whiners (Mine included) because society these days is structered like a bad Dr. Spock movie. Give them what they want so they don't whine.

Life is full of disapointments. He wants to be treated "Like a man". Well, men are judged in my book how they handle disapointments. You pick yourself up and move on...Or you crawl in a fetal position and whine and complain.

Merriman and Edwards are acting like TO on the Feagles. Making millions for playing a game. Shockey is complaining here in NY that he had to stay in and block more last year because the Giants O-line was decimated with injuries. I guess that lowered the amount of pass's he could catch, lowering his stat numbers and bargining position when he is up for a new contract. Hello, its a team sport. Or it used to be. Whining because they think they should have 10 million instead of 9 million.

You may suffer the fools, I don't.

good post jarv, I agree with most of it. But I disagree with that last statement.

IMO, anyone that continues to watch sports (and I'm assuming that everyone that posts on a sports forum, does watch), does indeed suffer the fools.

 

[jay cee]

While we're at it, let's just outlaw playfakes.

I mean, deception is involved, and that's dishonest.

Come on............

My wife and I are in the market for a mini-van (yes, I've finally given in to the inevitable). When I ask what the price is on the van and they tell it to me, is that really going to be the price? No.........I'm going to try to talk them down as low as possible. The price I pay on the van may be more than someone else, or less.

They'll also use other customers against each other. I've been told so many times that other folks are seriously looking at the care I'm looking at, in the hopes of pressuring me into buy the care before someone else does.

Are the car dealers being underhanded? No, that's just a part of it.

Posturing is a part of the process in all businesses.

I don't think that analogy quite fits. It seems to me that buying a car is a contest between you and the dealer, that makes you and the dealer adversaries.

You don't HAVE to tell a player that you plan on drafting him.

These players don't look at the teams as adversaries. That is until it becomes time to sign the contracts.

But here is what I really find odd, a 3 or 4 page thread of guys whining about a player whining because the team that promised to draft him reneged.

What's up with that?

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

You watch & see if this comment was totally taken out of context & blown out of proportion. I live in NE Ohio, and I think I'm a pretty good judge of character, and Braylon is not to be lumped into Merriman and his type.

I'm sure Braylon was asked if he felt the Dolphins lied to him, & he just answered honestly. You notice he didn't make these statements right after the draft, and he quickly noted that he got over it as soon as the Browns picked him. He truly loves where he is, & has been a model cititzen.

No sour grapes here, just a young man with character honestly aswering a question. I know that Saban called Savage before the Fins' pick, looking for more picks. Savage would have nothing of it, being an experienced warrior for his tender age.

Please don't mix BR in w/SM. They have little, if anything in common.

 

[calico]

So if your boss said hey Calico If this project goes through you will get a raise and it goes through and the boss changes his mind your cool with that...

I think misleading and lying to people is a punishable offense and will probably win the lying sack of dung a warm spot in hell...

what is hard with telling a prospect look we are very interested in you but we have another prospect at this spot who we are also looking at be ready when it comes our time to pick we may just be calling your name

no lie is told...how you people can defend deceit is beyond me...do not allow others to cloud your ethics

Well, if there was a history of it happening at my work place, like there is in every draft for every sport, then I would not go blindly into something. I would say "hey, great," but I would not hold my breath and then complain to people about it afterwards. I would have prepared myself for the situation. But that is the main problem. Most of these athletes have sub par educations and do not prepare themselves for the future or any possible disappointments. Then they drop to their knees, tear their shirts in anger and claim they are "soul-jas" who get no respect.

 

[Alexander]

Please don't mix BR in w/SM.

{dirty imagination at work}

 

[AsthmaField]

So if your boss said hey Calico If this project goes through you will get a raise and it goes through and the boss changes his mind your cool with that...

Completely different than what we're talking about here. That's like promising to re-work a player's contract at the end of a season, not saying you'll hire him.

A better analogy is: After an interview the boss tells you that he's going to hire you and then he actually hires one of the other guys he interviewed.

I do agree that the boss should say something like, "I really liked your interview, and as things stand right now you'd probably be my choice. You're the frontrunner."

That way he isn't committing 100% and if he goes in another direction, technically it isn't a lie.

 

[Bizwah]

What did Jesus do at the sight of all the dihonest business practices at the church...

The main problem here was the businesses were at the temple.

You dismiss it in the name of business... How about a hired killer...hey its just business right? lying, cheating and misleading others... while not against state law is against God's law...You really ought to think twice about what is and what is not acceptable business behaviour... If we (as that collective society) do not look down on poor business practices it will only get worse...We (again as that collective society) talk about setting examples for our children..but what example do we really set if we condone or even worse practice such immoral ethics...

It is not okay to lie cheat or mislead with the intent to harm whether that harm comes through emotionally, spiritually or physcial...sometimes lies are spoken to encourage the weak or sick...those are know as white lies.. but they too can leave scars...it is sometimes better to not say anything if you have to lie

That so many find it acceptable behavior is a testament to how very low our generations have sunk... for instance would you expect George Washington to lie to you ... no of course not... but you wouldn't find it surprising to know that George W. Bush did now would you...

the same can go with probably most of your Grandparents' grand parents you wouldn't expect them to have done something immorally reprehensible but were they alive today it might not surprise you

And because character and ethics do count whether in business or private. I took the time to type this in hopes that it might effect one heart...and that one heart will change the person and he will pass the gift on so that eventually a nation will change

Peace

I dislike immoral businesses. I detest dishonesty. But I just don't see dishonesty in this instance. In a business where selecting players depends on the success of your team, secrecy is of the utmost importance.

What do you think about the spy business? There's plenty of deception there. Should we send the names of our spies to other countries? After all, aren't we being dishonest?

Keep in mind the fact that we're all hearing one side of the story here. No one other than the teams involved and the players know exactly what was said. You're simply rushing to judgement........and making a mountain of a molehill.

 

[Bizwah]

I don't think that analogy quite fits. It seems to me that buying a car is a contest between you and the dealer, that makes you and the dealer adversaries.

You don't HAVE to tell a player that you plan on drafting him.

These players don't look at the teams as adversaries. That is until it becomes time to sign the contracts.

But here is what I really find odd, a 3 or 4 page thread of guys whining about a player whining because the team that promised to draft him reneged.

What's up with that?

It's the offseason.......we're bored.