DMN Blog: Jay Ratliff's OK with being a bargain... for now

[Alexander]

Jay Ratliff's OK with being a bargain ... for now
10:50 AM Tue, Mar 03, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
During our chat yesterday, I reminded Jay Ratliff that a year ago he was motivated to prove that the Cowboys didn't make a mistake by signing him to a five-year, $20.5 million contract.

Ratliff more than proved that point, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. He might be the biggest bargain on the team, which is clearer than ever after his good buddy Chris Canty signed a six-year, $42 million deal with the Giants. Ratliff would command more than that on the open market.

But Ratliff, a former seventh-round pick who was thrilled to pocket an $8 million signing bonus during his first season as a starter, certainly isn't complaining about his contract.

"You always want to outperform your contract," he said. "You want to be financially secure and everything. That way you can relax and play your best on the football field. But, to be honest, I try not to let the money get into my head. For me, it's about trying to do my best and getting better every year."

After a pause, Ratliff added, "But I would be willing to renegotiate."

Ratliff laughed when he said the last line. However, if he has another Pro Bowl campaign, he'd be well within his rights to make that a serious request.

 

[TheCount]

Jay Ratliff's OK with being a bargain ... for now
10:50 AM Tue, Mar 03, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
During our chat yesterday, I reminded Jay Ratliff that a year ago he was motivated to prove that the Cowboys didn't make a mistake by signing him to a five-year, $20.5 million contract.

Ratliff more than proved that point, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. He might be the biggest bargain on the team, which is clearer than ever after his good buddy Chris Canty signed a six-year, $42 million deal with the Giants. Ratliff would command more than that on the open market.

But Ratliff, a former seventh-round pick who was thrilled to pocket an $8 million signing bonus during his first season as a starter, certainly isn't complaining about his contract.

"You always want to outperform your contract," he said. "You want to be financially secure and everything. That way you can relax and play your best on the football field. But, to be honest, I try not to let the money get into my head. For me, it's about trying to do my best and getting better every year."

After a pause, Ratliff added, "But I would be willing to renegotiate."

Ratliff laughed when he said the last line. However, if he has another Pro Bowl campaign, he'd be well within his rights to make that a serious request.

Would he? He just signed his contract.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Rat is a perfect example of why 7th round picks should not always be taken lightly.

If he makes the Pro Bowl again he should get his deal redone.

 

[DasTex]

Rat is a perfect example of why 7th round picks should not always be taken lightly.

If he makes the Pro Bowl again he should get his deal redone.

Agree on the 7th round picks, but disagree on the deal being redone. He's signed for 5 years at $20 million - thats not chump change.

Players should play out the contract they sign.

 

[DallasEast]

Please keep all players, who have previously become disgruntled with their contracts after one season, as far away from Ratliff as possible.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

Agree on the 7th round picks, but disagree on the deal being redone. He's signed for 5 years at $20 million - thats not chump change.

Players should play out the contract they sign.

Nope.

Not if owners can cut a player whenever they want.

Football contracts arent guaranteed. NFL players have limited time to maximize their revenues in the league.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I'd give him a reworked contract if he indeed out performs it over the next few seasons.

 

[DallasEast]

Nope.

Not if owners can cut a player whenever they want.

Football contracts arent guaranteed. NFL players have limited time to maximize their revenues in the league.

What about contracts which certain players have negotiated for themselves which contain guaranteed monies upfront? Maybe every player can't insure that they can play until the end of their signed contracts, but certain players have made sure that they won't be released empty-handed either.

 

[Cowboysfan22]

Jay Ratliff's OK with being a bargain ... for now
10:50 AM Tue, Mar 03, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
During our chat yesterday, I reminded Jay Ratliff that a year ago he was motivated to prove that the Cowboys didn't make a mistake by signing him to a five-year, $20.5 million contract.

Ratliff more than proved that point, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. He might be the biggest bargain on the team, which is clearer than ever after his good buddy Chris Canty signed a six-year, $42 million deal with the Giants. Ratliff would command more than that on the open market.

But Ratliff, a former seventh-round pick who was thrilled to pocket an $8 million signing bonus during his first season as a starter, certainly isn't complaining about his contract.

"You always want to outperform your contract," he said. "You want to be financially secure and everything. That way you can relax and play your best on the football field. But, to be honest, I try not to let the money get into my head. For me, it's about trying to do my best and getting better every year."

After a pause, Ratliff added, "But I would be willing to renegotiate."

Ratliff laughed when he said the last line. However, if he has another Pro Bowl campaign, he'd be well within his rights to make that a serious request.

Canty doesn't deserve 7 million a year that's just rediculous.

 

[xWraithx]

Canty doesn't deserve 7 million a year that's just rediculous.

that's impossible because that's not even a word

 

[speedkilz88]

An extension as some point would make sense, but probably in another year or two.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Nope.

Not if owners can cut a player whenever they want.

Football contracts arent guaranteed. NFL players have limited time to maximize their revenues in the league.

Exactly. If the owners are not bound to keep a player all the way through the deal they signed with them then the players shouldn't be held to some other standard.

That's not even the way it works at a regular job. When you get hired you get hired at a certain amount for a certain job. Does that mean a person shouldn't be asking for any raises, despite doing above and beyond what management expected, cause they agreed to a particular wage?

Please.

 

[DallasEast]

Exactly. If the owners are not bound to keep a player all the way through the deal they signed with them then the players shouldn't be held to some other standard.

That's not even the way it works at a regular job. When you get hired you get hired at a certain amount for a certain job. Does that mean a person shouldn't be asking for any raises, despite doing above and beyond what management expected, cause they agreed to a particular wage?

Please.

I don't believe that most regular jobs can be compared to a professional football player's. Most employees working regular jobs are compensated via salary or hourly wages. NFL players do not sign contracts which are guaranteed throughout the life of the contract, but they can have guaranteed monies included which are paid upfront. In essense, they are sometimes paid huge sums before even taking a snap. There aren't many regular jobs in the real world that can equal that sort of immediate, short-term financial gain.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I don't believe that most regular jobs can be compared to a professional football player's. Most employees working regular jobs are compensated via salary or hourly wages. NFL players do not sign contracts which are guaranteed throughout the life of the contract, but they can have guaranteed monies included which are paid upfront. In essense, they are sometimes paid huge sums before even taking a snap. There aren't many regular jobs in the real world that can equal that sort of immediate, short-term financial gain.

No, there aren't, but that's not the point. The NFL, and playing football, is their job. This is the system that is in place for people in that profession. To assume that someone then has to simply play out their entire contract, before getting paid more, while the owners can cut them at any time they feel like is weird to me.

The owners are not obligated to pay them for the life the contract, at the rate they signed them to, and so the players shouldn't be held so some different standard where they've got to work out the entire contract.

 

[speedkilz88]

No, there aren't, but that's not the point. The NFL, and playing football, is their job. This is the system that is in place for people in that profession. To assume that someone then has to simply play out their entire contract, before getting paid more, while the owners can cut them at any time they feel like is weird to me.

The owners are not obligated to pay them for the life the contract, at the rate they signed them to, and so the players shouldn't be held so some different standard where they've got to work out the entire contract.

You let his point just fly over your head. The owners pay a huge signing bonus and guaranteed money to have the right to end the contract at their discretion.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

MacMahon trying to stir up crap again.

Ratliff laughs at that last line, like any of us laughing and saying "I'd be willing to take a raise right now", and Timmy writes the headline as if Ratliff is some disgruntled ingrate.

I ask again: Does any city out there want to make a wholesale swap of sports media? Anyone at all.

 

[adbutcher]

I love how our friends from the media is trying to stir the pot there. Like Rat did not realize this immediately after Canty signed his large *** deal.

How could we get Rat to sign such a deal in the first place? Isn't Jethro the worst GM in the history of football, a regular Al Davis incarnate?

 

[TellerMorrow34]

You let his point just fly over your head. The owners pay a huge signing bonus and guaranteed money to have the right to end the contract at their discretion.

That's fine. I get what he's saying. I just think it's silly and naive to believe that someone is going to continue to take the pay they signed for 2 or 3 years ago (This is obviously not the case with Ratliff who just signed his just over a year ago) when they've played above and beyond what they were signed for.

Owners and managers in regular jobs have the right to terminate your employement at any time as well but that doesn't stop people from asking for, and rightfully so, raises.

 

[DasTex]

You let his point just fly over your head. The owners pay a huge signing bonus and guaranteed money to have the right to end the contract at their discretion.

Exactly.

 

[adbutcher]

MacMahon trying to stir up crap again.

Ratliff laughs at that last line, like any of us laughing and saying "I'd be willing to take a raise right now", and Timmy writes the headline as if Ratliff is some disgruntled ingrate.

I ask again: Does any city out there want to make a wholesale swap of sports media? Anyone at all.

You beat me to the same sentiment.

The lock down continues....