General question on Poison Pills in the NFL *Merge*

[BigDave95]

Here are the poison pills that were in Nate Burleson's contract:


• All $49 million would become guaranteed if Burleson plays five or more games in the state of Minnesota in any season of the contract. The Vikings, of course, play home games in Minneapolis, at the Metrodome.
• The second provision would guarantee the full contract if Burleson is paid more on average per year than all of the Minnesota running backs combined. At least for now, the averages of the Vikings' tailbacks fall well shy of the $7 million average of the Burleson offer sheet.
http://clickbank.com/cs/?4b8bd679EH3Q364R

 

[peplaw06]

Pretty sure Team A cannot counter Team B's poison pill with a poison pill.

Team A only has the right to match.

This is more a question regarding the unrestricted free agency procedure. But say Team A makes an offer on Team B's UFA with a poison pill included. Does Team B ONLY have the right to match the offer, or can it say offer the UFA ten more dollars and remove the poison pill??

I would think that's a rather easy way to avoid the poison pill, but if Team B only has the right to match and can't continue negotiating, then I understand why they don't do that.

 

[iceberg]

I'm pretty sure the NFL doesn't allow it anymore but I don't know if they made it a formal rule.

i would think it's not allowed - i hated the act but you had to give it up to the guy who thought it up 1st.

some sneaky people out there in the world.

 

[Eskimo]

i would think it's not allowed - i hated the act but you had to give it up to the guy who thought it up 1st.

some sneaky people out there in the world.

Of course, such people are called lawyers.

If only there were no lawyers, there would be no need for lawyers - quite a racket they have going.

 

[iceberg]

I would'nt put it past Parcells to try something like this to get Miles.

i'm not a huge parcells fan but he's not known for pulling that on people and usually is very respectful of it.

 

[zrinkill]

i'm not a huge parcells fan but he's not known for pulling that on people and usually is very respectful of it.

I agree with that.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

This is more a question regarding the unrestricted free agency procedure. But say Team A makes an offer on Team B's UFA with a poison pill included. Does Team B ONLY have the right to match the offer, or can it say offer the UFA ten more dollars and remove the poison pill??

I would think that's a rather easy way to avoid the poison pill, but if Team B only has the right to match and can't continue negotiating, then I understand why they don't do that.

Once the player signs an offer sheet, he's off the market and can no longer negotiate a deal. The original team has to match the deal or except the compensation.

FWIW, Hutchinson obviously didn't want to remain in Seattle. Once the deal was agreed on, and not signed, all Hutch had to do was tell Seattle offer me the same deal, and they would've signed him. Him and his agent knew Seattle wouldn't match the contract with the poison pill, so there was nothing to gain, unless he just wanted to play in Minnesota instead of Seattle.

I hope this isn't the case with Miles Austin, if he rather play in Miami or some where else, we won't be able to stop him from leaving, unless we're willing to garuntee his deal

 

[mmillman]

Seattle got a player from Minnesota with a ridiculous contract provision in it as revenge. I think it was Burleson, not sure. Regardless, Minnesota wound up with a future hall of famer and Seattle didn't get much.