DMN Blog: Jets GM has history with poison pill

[Mr Cowboy]

Jets GM has history with poison pill
5:49 PM Wed, Apr 08, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

All indications are that the Cowboys want to keep Miles Austin. The Jets, however, could make that extremely difficult to do by inserting a "poison pill" provision into their contract offer to Austin.

That's a fairly common NFL practice with restricted free agents. For example, the Jets could offer Austin a long-term deal that would become totally guaranteed if he plays more than five games any season in the state of Texas. (See Nate Burleson's contract offer from the Seahawks in 2006.)

Dirty pool? Perhaps, but Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum definitely isn't above using such tactics.

From Dave Hutchinson of the New Jersey Star-Ledger:

In fact, it was Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum who is regarded in many circles as the man who fathered the idea. In 1998, Tannenbaum, then a little-know salary cap whiz, put together a brilliant six-year, $36-million offer sheet to then-Patriots running back Curtis Martin that included a "poison pill" that forced the Patriots to let him go.

That clause was a provision in which Martin could become an unrestricted free agent the following season if the Patriots matched the offer, allowing him to leave New England without the Patriots receiving a dime. Also, the deal included a $3.3 million roster bonus that would've wrecked the Patriots' salary cap.

New England let Martin go and he went on to become the most prolific running back in Jets' history.

 

[jswalker1981]

I don't think I would sign an offer sheet from a team that operates like that. I know I would be upset if Jerry or Stephen tried that with a player. It seems like cheating.

 

[TheCount]

Why are practices like this even allowed?

 

[theogt]

Why are practices like this even allowed?

While they're technically allowed, I don't think Goodell would let it happen. The problem is you can't exactly word a rule to disallow it. How do you define a poison pill? It could take any number of forms.

 

[punit328]

that sounds like something Parcells or Belichick would do, not the sweet innocent Jets.

 

[TheCount]

Why'll they're technically allowed, I don't think Goodell would let it happen. The problem is you can't exactly word a rule to disallow it. How do you define a poison pill? It could take any number of forms.

"Any form of ******-baggery involving player contracts is expressly prohibited and will be punished to the fullest extent."

 

[theogt]

"Any form of ******-baggery involving player contracts is expressly prohibited and will be punished to the fullest extent."

Works for me.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

That's a fairly common NFL practice with restricted free agents. For example, the Jets could offer Austin a long-term deal that would become totally guaranteed if he plays more than five games any season in the state of Texas. (See Nate Burleson's contract offer from the Seahawks in 2006.)

Wow. Timmy stole my exact example. :laugh1:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=23
http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=53

You still suck, Tim.

 

[sonnyboy]

Why'll they're technically allowed, I don't think Goodell would let it happen. The problem is you can't exactly word a rule to disallow it. How do you define a poison pill? It could take any number of forms.

It's easy. But all Goodell needs is the authority to review contracts for just this type of BS.

The Jets can offer Miles any type of poison pill they want, he still has to sign it!

If he wants to play for the Jets he will. If he wants to play for the Cowboys, all he has to do is have his agent give Jerry the chance to match the dollar offer before he signs something with a poison pill we can't match.

 

[1fisher]

It's easy. But all Goodell needs is the authority to review contracts for just this type of BS.

The Jets can offer Miles any type of poison pill they want, he still has to sign it!

If he wants to play for the Jets he will. If he wants to play for the Cowboys, all he has to do is have his agent give Jerry the chance to match the dollar offer before he signs something with a poison pill we can't match.

That's what I was thinking.... Can't Miles just say "Nah, I think I'll stay in Dallas, thanks but no thanks, Jets"

 

[Jenky]

Poison pill us please.. I went to the Jet's forum http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=44196 and most of their fans don't even want him..not for that price.

 

[CATCH17]

Wow. Timmy stole my exact example. :laugh1:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=23
http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=53

You still suck, Tim.

Oh these guys definetely read the board.

Stolen right from you.

 

[theogt]

Wow. Timmy stole my exact example. :laugh1:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=23
http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=53

You still suck, Tim.

I thought the example sounded familiar.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Jerry and Stephen would fly up to New York and kick some Jet arse if they tried to poison pill us.

Jerry and Stephen dont play that!!!!

 

[Q_the_man]

Wow. Timmy stole my exact example. :laugh1:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=23
http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=53

You still suck, Tim.

And u stole if from who? :bang2:

Actually Nate Burleson's contract poison pill clause was that if he plays more than 5 games in Minnesota his contract would become guaranteed. so I'll say you stole it to from Nates poison pill contract..........

Not to be out-foxed, however, Seattle responded by returning the favor. They signed Minnesota restricted free agent Nate Burleson soon after and included an even more radical poison pill. That clause said that if Burleson played more than 5 games in the state of Minnesota during any one year of the contract (which he would do if the Vikings matched the offer) the contract (worth $49 million in total) would also become instantly guaranteed, just like with Hutchinson.

 

[Idgit]

Wow. Timmy stole my exact example. :laugh1:

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=23
http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2720631&postcount=53

You still suck, Tim.

*Unless* you're actually Tim Macmahon, and you only pretend to be stupid under your by-line.

 

[BIGDen]

It's easy. But all Goodell needs is the authority to review contracts for just this type of BS.

The Jets can offer Miles any type of poison pill they want, he still has to sign it!

If he wants to play for the Jets he will. If he wants to play for the Cowboys, all he has to do is have his agent give Jerry the chance to match the dollar offer before he signs something with a poison pill we can't match.

Exactly what I was thinking. If he wants out, he'll sign a contract that the Cowboys couldn't match. If he wants to stay, he'll take the Jets best offer and present it to the Cowboys to match prior to signing it. I still say Dallas should have given him a first round tender. They gave Proctor and Bowen 2nd round tenders and they're expected to be back-ups. Austin may be a starter. Why not tender a little more money and basically guaranteee that nobody will touch him? And if they do, you've got a 1st rounder. I felt like this was going to happen when I saw the list of RFAs.

I hope he stays. He's entering his prime. He has all the tools and he's a hard-working, class act.

 

[TNCowboy]

Hutchinson wanted out of Seattle, badly. By all accounts, Austin wants to stay in Dallas.

I doubt he'd sign a deal like that unless the Jets make him a ridiculous offer and told him sign it now or it's dead.

If that were the case, it would probably be a deal Dallas wouldn't match anyway.

 

[adbutcher]

I thought the example sounded familiar.

Nice to see that our honorable journalist is not above plagiarizing.

 

[AbeBeta]

While they're technically allowed, I don't think Goodell would let it happen. The problem is you can't exactly word a rule to disallow it. How do you define a poison pill? It could take any number of forms.

He did force the Pats and Fish to make a deal to avoid a poison pill -- so the Jets can expect that if they do go that route that they would end up giving more than a 2nd rounder