PFT:a-simple-solution-to-the-rookie-stalemate

[cowboyjoe]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/11/a-simple-solution-to-the-rookie-scale-stalemate/

Posted by Mike Florio on July 11, 2011, 1:41 PM EDT

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By all accounts and appearances, the rookie wage scale remains the biggest issue that currently is preventing the NFL and the players from striking a deal. The stalemate arises in part from the league’s insistence that teams should be permitted to sign first-round picks for up to five years, and from a proposed schedule at the top of the draft that would pay Panthers quarterback Cam Newton only $34 million over five years. (We’ve actually heard the base deal will be as low as $25 million over five years.)

The league has dug in, in large part because the league surely believes that the players eventually will cave. And it’s easy to argue that they should. The ability to sign first-round picks for up to five years doesn’t mean that they all will sign five-year deals. The same dynamic that has resulted in teams holding the first few picks grossly overpaying in the hopes of getting the players into camp will get those teams to agree to four-year contracts, if that’s what it takes to get the top picks signed

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I still think they should have a 4 year contract for 1st round picks....

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I still think they should have a 4 year contract for 1st round picks....

Or a 4 year dela with fixed terms for years 1-3, and adjustable terms based on performance in year 4. Then 5 year delas could be an extension of the 4 year dela where year 5 is voidable, or can be accepted by extending the adjustable year-4 terms into year 5.

 

[Future]

I don't understand why the players wouldn't want a cap just as much as owners. All I know is that if I'm Tom Brady, and Cam Newton is about to make more money than me, I'm not real happy.

 

[DFWJC]

Nice to see they may get some sanity into rookie pay scales.

I too think 4 years makes sense. There are two sides to the story obviously; that would be when players like Chris Johnson outplay their rookie contracts by 500+% but are locked in....yet bozos like JaMarcus Russell become tycoons.

Just a side note--you KNOW Sam Bradford is glad he came out last year. Wow, he would have lost 30-40 million even if he was again the top pick.

In any case....I'm so glad to are greatly reducing the guaranteed dollars to rookies, as that was a huge issue. Pass it on to the proven players!