Vic: They get a per diem expense. It’s common to see the rookies in the stadium cafeteria sneaking food and drink into their bags to help them make it through the long weekends. These are kids who, in some cases, are going to get rich in the next 2-3 weeks, but their pockets aren’t bulging now. Do you think they might be anxious to sign a contract? Now put yourself in the position of a team negotiating to sign their rookie class to contracts. Are you going to cave early or are you going to press your advantage and see how much food and drink they can steal from your cafeteria before they cave in? People ask me all the time why teams wait so long to sign their rookies. It’s an endurance test and the teams have the resources to last longer. In subsequent contracts, however, the players often have the drop on the teams. It’s professional football. It’s about the money. Frankly, I like it that way
