Are The Mannings Above The Law?

[Reddog]

Let me start by saying I have no problem with the way Peyton has conducted his pursuit of a new team. Like most everything he does, he has done it with professionalism and excellence. Pulling the puppet strings of the media through his brother Cooper or whoever else was able to play them to the point of them looking like fools. Let’s face it, before this, I had blind respect for Adam Schefter. He had no idea what he was talking about. So up until now I am fine with how they have played the game, however, if things progress as I suspect they will with Bud Adams I think there may be cause for concern.

That brings me to the question; Do the Mannings act in a way that is above the law or the spirit of the law? When Eli was drafted by the Chargers the power play the Manning Patriarch, Archie, pulled when refusing to sign if drafted number one by Dan Diego and orchestrating the trade with the giants was our first glimpse at what they are capable of.

Bud Adams is a loud mouth and foolish. Regardless of what he wanted or planned, he should never have revealed the concept of making Manning a Titan for life. I can easily see them working a deal around the spirit of the salary cap rules where unwritten successorship could transfer to the Mannings through Archie and Cooper. Archie, Eli and Peyton have enough cash and clout in the corporate sponsorship and investment world to buy the team at a discounted rate somewhere in the future. Hell, why not give Cooper a front office job now? There are no rules or regulations that would keep a team from hiring one of the Mannings (Archie or Cooper) or even selling a share of the team to them now.

While this would clearly violate the spirit of fairness designed into the salary cap, it would be easily masked. It makes absolute sense that this first family of the NFL would naturally gravitate toward ownership when their playing days are over. Their Manning Football Academy is an asset that corporations like the shoe and apparel companies have been trying to buy for years and the Mannings have had no interest in letting it out of the family.

All said, none of this would surprise me. At the end of the day I hope he does go to the Titans because it would be easier to justify why he didn’t come here and way better than facing him as a 49er or stomaching the arrogant jackasses of the Denver media. I hope Tebow and his terrible mechanics leads them to an AFC championship and then leaves when his contract is up. The Mannings eventually become the Titan owners, Bud Adams is buried in a Gold Plated Cadillac with Steer horns on the hood and Peyton becomes Governor of Tennessee. Whatever! I will still be drinking the Cardinals Kool-aid.

 

[JeffGollin]

Nothing illegal, but I have a built-in bias against so-called heavy- hitters - the Steinbrenners and Jerry Jones of the world who like to throw their weight around.

I don't view the Mannings as any different.

It's a free country but I don't have to send them any Christmas cards.

 

[Reddog]

Nothing illegal, but I have a built-in bias against so-called heavy- hitters - the Steinbrenners and Jerry Jones of the world who like to throw their weight around.

I don't view the Mannings as any different.

It's a free country but I don't have to send them any Christmas cards.

What makes them different then the Steinbrenners and Jerry Jones of the world besides the fact that they aren't owners (yet) is beyond money thay have the currancy of active contributing stars in the NFL. Makes for a much more intersting game of monopoly when you can manipulate the rules with team changing leverage like that.

 

[Garthshort]

You guys (Reddog and Jeff) make a good point about the Mannings, especially how they tried to "wreck" the Draft. I remember that Draft, when Eli and Archie, acted in such a selfish way, was the exact time I heard that Pat Tilman, who acted in such a selfless way, was killed.

 

[football karma]

I suspect a general "you are above the law" card is part of the package presented by Tennessee.


It's like a get out of jail free card, but better because with the above the law card, they just skip the jail part.

 

[RonF]

Knowledge is power, always has been, always will be. The Mannings play to win and are not afraid to walk away from the deal if it doesn't suit their needs. That self-confidence is hard to beat and most importantly, the teams need Manning much more than he needs them. Peyton is in the drivers seat and he knows where he wants to play and what it will cost to get him. He knows how to play the game and that is gold.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Athletes, the masters of the 4 minute ditty for the radio and actors are not much of brain trust when you get down to it, actually a lot of them are not very bright, fortunately for them society is not either and they become stinking rich because society needs an escape from the doldrums of everyday life. I hear ya RonF. If your thinking he knows all along where he is going and is using that towards how he gets signed, then that knowledge is some power in the free agent game but then it is hardly some advanced form of intelligence which such a statement is usually used for. Most us would possess that knowledge put in Manning's position. The Manning's power come from the fact that Dad was a NFL QB and his son's are seen as elite QBs, that is his power.

 

[JAB]

Bud Adams is a loud mouth and foolish. Regardless of what he wanted or planned, he should never have revealed the concept of making Manning a Titan for life. I can easily see them working a deal around the spirit of the salary cap rules where unwritten successorship could transfer to the Mannings through Archie and Cooper. Archie, Eli and Peyton have enough cash and clout in the corporate sponsorship and investment world to buy the team at a discounted rate somewhere in the future. Hell, why not give Cooper a front office job now? There are no rules or regulations that would keep a team from hiring one of the Mannings (Archie or Cooper) or even selling a share of the team to them now.

Actually there are rules in place regarding such situations. The NFL isn't ignorant to such ideas. If you are to sell shares to an active player or his immediate family or make them a part owner in any manner that money counts toward your salary cap.

They're a lot of different legal ramifications for taking actions you're suggesting above. The NFL has policies to help safeguard against circumventing the system in that manner. If you're going to hire a family member to your organization that has an active player and pay him in a manner or give him a job that is inconsistent with what they're qualified for an overpay them they're going to investigate you and they're going to bring the hammer down. There's nothing to stop them from having a handshake deal in giving him a job or buying some of the team after he retires but there's nothing they can do beyond that, while he is an active player without a serious inquiry and very serious consequences.

Trust me, if we can think of it they already have. You can’t set up a company that you own to give a player an endorsement deal to help boost his salary to get him on your team. You also can’t do that for anyone in his family. It would be a complete nightmare and the league has thought of all these things and they would definitely investigate any situation that the NFL feels you’re trying to circumvent their agreement with the players Association and rules that are in place. The ramifications of circumventing those policies knowingly with intent would make spy gate and bounty gate seem like a good idea.

 

[Reddog]

Actually there are rules in place regarding such situations. The NFL isn't ignorant to such ideas. If you are to sell shares to an active player or his immediate family or make them a part owner in any manner that money counts toward your salary cap.

They're a lot of different legal ramifications for taking actions you're suggesting above.

"unwritten" successorship could transfer to the Mannings through Archie and Cooper" is the key point.

I have been around the corporate world long enough to have seen many off the books transaction in private companies where there is no wake left. However it is justified and however wrong, it happens and Adams is exactly the kind of guy that flips off the world to do them. As for the employee part, both Cooper and Archie are as qualified as Matt Millen and many other front office types are. Cooper is as much a winner as his brothers.

The NFL doesn't have the autority, motivation or resources to delve into every non football related transaction an owner makes and would be no more sucessful then the IRS are at tracking down these guys. How do you think it is that billionares can pay marginal tax rates that are a fraction of the rest of us? Thats why they are billionares.

Not to "grassy Knoll" this thing too much, but justfor fun, Cooper Manning is a Partner in an Energy Investment Banking firm with offices in New Orleans and Houston and Bud Adams originally made his fortune in the petroleum business, Adams is chairman and CEO of Adams Resources & Energy Inc., a Houston based wholesale supplier of oil and natural gas.

Oh and by the way Archie finished his Career with Bud Adams and the Houston Oilers. Sounds like a Grisham novel I know. Ok while I'm at it, In the 1992 novel The Pelican Brief, author John Grisham (who hails from Manning's college home of Oxford, Mississippi) named one of the book's minor characters (a U.S. Supreme Court Justice) Archibald Manning, in honor of Archie Manning. So all this to say, John Grisham is the reason we didn't get Manning.

 

[40yearfan]

"unwritten" successorship could transfer to the Mannings through Archie and Cooper" is the key point.

I have been around the corporate world long enough to have seen many off the books transaction in private companies where there is no wake left. However it is justified and however wrong, it happens and Adams is exactly the kind of guy that flips off the world to do them. As for the employee part, both Cooper and Archie are as qualified as Matt Millen and many other front office types are. Cooper is as much a winner as his brothers.

The NFL doesn't have the autority, motivation or resources to delve into every non football related transaction an owner makes and would be no more sucessful then the IRS are at tracking down these guys. How do you think it is that billionares can pay marginal tax rates that are a fraction of the rest of us? Thats why they are billionares.

Not to "grassy Knoll" this thing too much, but justfor fun, Cooper Manning is a Partner in an Energy Investment Banking firm with offices in New Orleans and Houston and Bud Adams originally made his fortune in the petroleum business, Adams is chairman and CEO of Adams Resources & Energy Inc., a Houston based wholesale supplier of oil and natural gas.

Oh and by the way Archie finished his Career with Bud Adams and the Houston Oilers. Sounds like a Grisham novel I know. Ok while I'm at it, In the 1992 novel The Pelican Brief, author John Grisham (who hails from Manning's college home of Oxford, Mississippi) named one of the book's minor characters (a U.S. Supreme Court Justice) Archibald Manning, in honor of Archie Manning. So all this to say, John Grisham is the reason we didn't get Manning.

Great post Rd. You should consider writing.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

"unwritten" successorship could transfer to the Mannings through Archie and Cooper" is the key point.

I have been around the corporate world long enough to have seen many off the books transaction in private companies where there is no wake left. However it is justified and however wrong, it happens and Adams is exactly the kind of guy that flips off the world to do them. As for the employee part, both Cooper and Archie are as qualified as Matt Millen and many other front office types are. Cooper is as much a winner as his brothers.

The NFL doesn't have the autority, motivation or resources to delve into every non football related transaction an owner makes and would be no more sucessful then the IRS are at tracking down these guys. How do you think it is that billionares can pay marginal tax rates that are a fraction of the rest of us? Thats why they are billionares.

Not to "grassy Knoll" this thing too much, but justfor fun, Cooper Manning is a Partner in an Energy Investment Banking firm with offices in New Orleans and Houston and Bud Adams originally made his fortune in the petroleum business, Adams is chairman and CEO of Adams Resources & Energy Inc., a Houston based wholesale supplier of oil and natural gas.

Oh and by the way Archie finished his Career with Bud Adams and the Houston Oilers. Sounds like a Grisham novel I know. Ok while I'm at it, In the 1992 novel The Pelican Brief, author John Grisham (who hails from Manning's college home of Oxford, Mississippi) named one of the book's minor characters (a U.S. Supreme Court Justice) Archibald Manning, in honor of Archie Manning. So all this to say, John Grisham is the reason we didn't get Manning.[/QUOTE]

 

[Lorenzo]

I will say this. there is a sense of entitlement that certain people have depending on who they are or what type of background that they have. this is alive and well in just about every aspect of life. however, what seperates peyton and eli is that unlike most children of great players, they have stepped out of the shadow of one another. they all have set their own legacy. as far as i'm concerned these guys have earned the right to be where they are by what they do on the field when it matters most. plain and simple....

 

[JeffGollin]

... as far as i'm concerned these guys have earned the right to be where they are by what they do on the field when it matters most. plain and simple....

no...No...& NO!

People who have become successful on their own have earned the right to be respected for their accomplishments and spend the money they received as rewards for their efforts as they deem fit.

And they may be legally allowed to throw their weight around.

But that doesn't necessarily mean they're good people or that you, I or anyone else have to think so. Actions/behavior have consequences - legal or otherwise.

 

[Lorenzo]

no...No...& NO!

People who have become successful on their own have earned the right to be respected for their accomplishments and spend the money they received as rewards for their efforts as they deem fit.

And they may be legally allowed to throw their weight around.

But that doesn't necessarily mean they're good people or that you, I or anyone else have to think so. Actions/behavior have consequences - legal or otherwise.

what have these guys done wrong??? I don't get it? I am a cowboys fan, I have every right to dislike Eli manning, but removing the emotions out of the scenario. The manning qb's are pure class and the best of the best in today's NFL. and I attribute archie manning to their success because it appears that he provided them with a strong foundation that enabled them to achieve greatness. I cannot fault archie for acting on their behalf to ensure that they went to the right place to be successful. I call this being a great father....not being above the law. If you could pull some strings for your son to help him I'm sure you would...

if you want to talk criminal let's look at the real criminals. like cedric benson or brandon marshall. these are the guys you should be throwing stones at because they break the law and they keep getting away with it because they can help a team win games.

I may be misunderstanding you jeff, and you have every right to be upset that peyton did not choose AZ. but I think if manning did sign with the cardinals, this would not be an issue for you.

 

[Darkside]

I think this whole post and thread is bunk. If we were never in the Manning sweapstakes, if we'd never even considered him, this post wouldn't even be made. This post doesn't even happen if we get him. It only occurs when we don't get him. Therefore I label it as stupid.

 

[Lorenzo]

I think this whole post and thread is bunk. If we were never in the Manning sweapstakes, if we'd never even considered him, this post wouldn't even be made. This post doesn't even happen if we get him. It only occurs when we don't get him. Therefore I label it as stupid.

 

[Lorenzo]

I think this whole post and thread is bunk. If we were never in the Manning sweapstakes, if we'd never even considered him, this post wouldn't even be made. This post doesn't even happen if we get him. It only occurs when we don't get him. Therefore I label it as stupid.

I agree with you 100%. this is just hating if you ask me. and I dislike that term more than I hate players because I think the term hate in sports is thrown around too much. I think you could actually replace the word hate, with respect. you typically don't hate another person in sports unless they are really good. in this case both manning qb's are first ballot HOF players. I really dislike eli manning when he plays the cowboys, but I have all the respect in the world for the guy. he does his talking on the field. he(and peyton) are everything you would want in a QB if you ask me.

I guess I should have posted this rant in the "I hate" peyton manning thread. my fault

 

[JeffGollin]

what have these guys done wrong??? I don't get it? I am a cowboys fan...if you want to talk criminal let's look at the real criminals...I may be misunderstanding you jeff, and you have every right to be upset that peyton did not choose AZ. but I think if manning did sign with the cardinals, this would not be an issue for you.

Suggest you read my post more carefully. I repeat - The Mannings did nothing criminal, but that doesn't mean I have to like them.

I also disagreed with your statement that someone who has accomplished something on the field has the right to throw their weight around. Again - they can do whatever they want but I don't have to like it.

To sum - I have more respect for how a successful person behaves AFTER he or she is successful.

 

[Darkside]

Suggest you read my post more carefully. I repeat - The Mannings did nothing criminal, but that doesn't mean I have to like them.

I also disagreed with your statement that someone who has accomplished something on the field has the right to throw their weight around. Again - they can do whatever they want but I don't have to like it.

To sum - I have more respect for how a successful person behaves AFTER he or she is successful.

And I ask where were your hate posts for the Manning family prior to Friday, or this week, or this month? You can hate who you want--hate on man, more power to you. But to get so emotional over a week's worth of time is borderline ridiculous. He's one player in a whole Cardinals history of players. One of many we didn't get. Some of whom have actually done time for crimes. But you hate on this one family because we didn't sign one of the sons? LOL. Hilarious. Like they're the Godfather or the Cosa Nostra or some sh*t.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Still not clear to me what LAW was broken in fact or spirit?

 

[Jersey Girl]

I think you guys are ganging up on Jeff here for things he hasn't said. He can have a lack of respect for someone and not hate them.

I get where he is coming from. I don't particularly care for the way the Mannings do business in general (though I dislike Archie most). Was I willing to overlook that to get a Hall of Famer QB? Hells yeah. Reminds me of how my sister got over the T.O. Dallas star celebration once he signed with her team.

 

[Reddog]

I don't think the post had anything to do with hating the Mannings. I actually respect and appreciate their success if not all their tactics. The post merely begs the question, are they uniquely qualified to do things others are not because of what they have accomplished and the fact that three of them have done so in their own right? Might they, as the proverbial rich, get richer by leveraging a final contract into an equity position with the Titans and Bud Adams. I think there are some fascinating prospects that would be difficult for the league to control.

 

[Lorenzo]

Suggest you read my post more carefully. I repeat - The Mannings did nothing criminal, but that doesn't mean I have to like them.

I also disagreed with your statement that someone who has accomplished something on the field has the right to throw their weight around. Again - they can do whatever they want but I don't have to like it.

To sum - I have more respect for how a successful person behaves AFTER he or she is successful.

I acknowledge that I may have misunderstood you. I still do not see the problem with Eli or Peyton's actions before or after their success. to me they represent pure class in the NFL at its finest. that's my opinion and it doesn't change based on which team peyton chooses etc. If you see it differently I respect your opinion.

 

[Lorenzo]

I think you guys are ganging up on Jeff here for things he hasn't said. He can have a lack of respect for someone and not hate them.

I get where he is coming from. I don't particularly care for the way the Mannings do business in general (though I dislike Archie most). Was I willing to overlook that to get a Hall of Famer QB? Hells yeah. Reminds me of how my sister got over the T.O. Dallas star celebration once he signed with her team.

I disagree with Jeff's opinion on the mannings, but I agree that he has the right to feel the way he does. It does appear that the manning family does have that "elite" persona that may rub people the wrong way. However, the way I see it is that if you are successful in life you earn the right to do what peyton is doing now. every year free agents do this. every year college and high school KIDS that are great do this in recruiting as well. this is how the business goes. when you are a commodity people want you and it is in your best interest to make the choice that benefits you the most. are you going to make everyone happy in the process? of corse not....

aside from that I am a cowboys fan and yes when T.O. came to dallas I rooted for him and he was a great player. having said that he was a jerk before, during, and after he left. I don't see peyton or Eli in that class.

 

[Jersey Girl]

aside from that I am a cowboys fan and yes when T.O. came to dallas I rooted for him and he was a great player. having said that he was a jerk before, during, and after he left. I don't see peyton or Eli in that class.

I wasn't putting them in the same class. I was saying that is easy to overlook things you don't like about a player when that player is good and playing for your team.