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POSTED 4:27 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 5:04 p.m. EDT, August 16, 2007
COMMISH PLANS TO ADDRESS FIRST-ROUND WINDFALLS
As NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell approaches his one-year anniversary, it occurs to us that we have agreed with virtually every decision that Goodell has made.
And we think we're going to agree with most of his decisions in year two. Especially if one of them is to try to address the ongoing problem regarding the payment of enormous windfalls to rookies who have never worn an NFL helmet except when trick-or-treating.
This year, for example, safety LaRon Landry received more guaranteed money than any safety in the history of the league, simply because his name was the sixth one called on draft day.
"It's a concern," Goodell said in a Thursday interview with the Detroit media. "I think it's a concern also for other reasons that are less obvious that came out when we talked to the players this year. It's difficult when a rookie comes in to a locker room and has that kind of a signing bonus. It's difficult [for] the veterans to provide that kind of leadership that's so important on teams. Money changes that dynamic a little bit. We'll talk to Gene [Upshaw]. We're not trying to save the dollars, we just think the dollars should go to players who have earned that on the field through their accomplishments and leadership. It's a system we have and we'll do the best we can with it right now.''
The only problem, as we see it, is that the union needs to want change, too, or else the union will expect some type of a concession from the league.
But both sides should want it. For the league, it will lessen the financial risk that arises from having (and using) a high draft pick. As JaMarcus Russell tries to break the bank in Oakland, for example, is the worst team in the league from a year ago really getting any better?
For the players, it provides more money in the future to current members of the union, at a cost only to guys who aren't in the union yet. Like a guy who suddenly favors a military draft the day after he becomes too old to be drafted, players already in the league have no reason to object to limitations on the money to be paid to guys who aren't there yet. The fact that the extra money would flow through to the current players gives such an approach even more appeal.
The reality is that the agents who pull the strings of the union don't want to give up their percentage of the lottery prizes that are paid out each and every year. And until the players stand up and demand that something be done, the NFLPA will continue to ignore the problem.
COMMISH PLANS TO ADDRESS FIRST-ROUND WINDFALLS
As NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell approaches his one-year anniversary, it occurs to us that we have agreed with virtually every decision that Goodell has made.
And we think we're going to agree with most of his decisions in year two. Especially if one of them is to try to address the ongoing problem regarding the payment of enormous windfalls to rookies who have never worn an NFL helmet except when trick-or-treating.
This year, for example, safety LaRon Landry received more guaranteed money than any safety in the history of the league, simply because his name was the sixth one called on draft day.
"It's a concern," Goodell said in a Thursday interview with the Detroit media. "I think it's a concern also for other reasons that are less obvious that came out when we talked to the players this year. It's difficult when a rookie comes in to a locker room and has that kind of a signing bonus. It's difficult [for] the veterans to provide that kind of leadership that's so important on teams. Money changes that dynamic a little bit. We'll talk to Gene [Upshaw]. We're not trying to save the dollars, we just think the dollars should go to players who have earned that on the field through their accomplishments and leadership. It's a system we have and we'll do the best we can with it right now.''
The only problem, as we see it, is that the union needs to want change, too, or else the union will expect some type of a concession from the league.
But both sides should want it. For the league, it will lessen the financial risk that arises from having (and using) a high draft pick. As JaMarcus Russell tries to break the bank in Oakland, for example, is the worst team in the league from a year ago really getting any better?
For the players, it provides more money in the future to current members of the union, at a cost only to guys who aren't in the union yet. Like a guy who suddenly favors a military draft the day after he becomes too old to be drafted, players already in the league have no reason to object to limitations on the money to be paid to guys who aren't there yet. The fact that the extra money would flow through to the current players gives such an approach even more appeal.
The reality is that the agents who pull the strings of the union don't want to give up their percentage of the lottery prizes that are paid out each and every year. And until the players stand up and demand that something be done, the NFLPA will continue to ignore the problem.
