im sorry cards fans, but the NFL is a business

[Cardinals.Ken]

Very rarely does a NFL player play out there contract and there is a ton of precedence on the matter. If you get so upset that players don't play out there contract then you are watching the wrong sport my friend. But I digress from my basic premise.

Boldin is getting villainized on the boards because he is looking for a new contract and the fact is this is what the NFL has came to be. Im not saying Q has handled the situation perfectly but he has not missed any games and last time i checked the contract pays him to play games. As long as he is strapped up on September 13th ready to go against the Niners I'm good.

My thoughts exactly!

Look, anyone who has played a career season on Madden football knew this was coming. Good, and great, players are going to demand market value for their contracts based upon the previous season's performance. Every team that does as well as we did last year goes through this.

That is why, at least from a roster continuity standpoint, it is so important to win it all when you have the chance. With salary-cap restrictions in play, rosters can blow-up in a heartbeat.

As detestable as these tactics are from a fan's point-of-view, the money is out there to pay both Q and DD...it's just not going to be with the Cards.

 

[JeffGollin]

The NFL is a business (Hmmm. Belongs with "We take things one game at a time" in the NFL Hall of Cliches).

But if it's true - that the NFL is truly a business - it should not be forgotten that we are its customers.

By "we" I'm not referring to the small group of Cardinal crazies who congregate here, but the expanded (hopefully make that expanding) Cardinal Nation that includes spouses curious about what the QB's hands are doing down there near the center's crotch, public-spirited local citizens and, of course, kids (aka "the Cardinal future).

Skkorp is right when he says that winning is what keeps the business successful, but I can't help but wonder whether teams with bigger and more loyal fan-bases (like Dallas, the Giants or the Steelers) can weather two or three seasons of losing better than a team with a less established and loyal fan base (like, say, the Cardinals).

And I can't help but wonder whether external "events on the ground" (for example, mortgage foreclosures or a 9 - 10% unemployment rate) won't establish some sort of tipping point where Cardinal fans will become turned off by all this contract nonsense and the "business's customer base" will be in jeopardy. (And once you lose a customer, it's usually hard to get him/her to come back).

 

[chickenhead]

We might as well stop saying that players/agents want a new contract or want to renegotiate a contract, because what they want it a new signing bonus.

That's where the money is made, and I get that. Though I don't love negative tactics, I understand what's going on and can get over it. But it has to be understood that if this is the game, not everyone is going to win. There is a salary cap and teams are going to have to play hardball.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I'm over it. Lets just send Boldin and Dockett both to Carolina for Mushin Mohammed, Peppers, and a first day pick and be done with the whole thing.

They don't have any young WR's I like so Mohammed wolud be a good 1-2 year guy while Breaston and Doucet grow. I would even take Ryan Kalil in place of him and go with the Wr's we have.

A message might need to be sent and personally I would rather have Peppers then continuing to deal with this headache.

 

[Duckjake]

I'm over it. Lets just send Boldin and Dockett both to Carolina for Mushin Mohammed, Peppers, and a first day pick and be done with the whole thing.

They don't have any young WR's I like so Mohammed wolud be a good 1-2 year guy while Breaston and Doucet grow. I would even take Ryan Kalil in place of him and go with the Wr's we have.

A message might need to be sent and personally I would rather have Peppers then continuing to deal with this headache.

And what happens when Peppers and Mohammed have big seasons for us and demand new contracts?

Cardinals.Ken really sums it up. It's just the way things are in the NFL and we should be grateful that we have players who have performed well enough to want a new deal. Those players helped put on the greatest show any Cardinal fan has ever seen against the Eagles. We should cut them a lot of slack this off season. If they go 7-9 in 2009 and still bitch. Then cut 'em all.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Very rarely does a NFL player play out there contract and there is a ton of precedence on the matter. If you get so upset that players don't play out there contract then you are watching the wrong sport my friend. But I digress from my basic premise.

Boldin is getting villainized on the boards because he is looking for a new contract and the fact is this is what the NFL has came to be. Im not saying Q has handled the situation perfectly but he has not missed any games and last time i checked the contract pays him to play games. As long as he is strapped up on September 13th ready to go against the Niners I'm good.

so you're saying you "checked" his contract? lol. his contract obligates him to do more than just play in games. that's why minicamps and training camps are MANDATORY. practice is mandatory also. otherwise teams would not be capable of fining players for missing these activities.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Cardinals.Ken really sums it up.

Seriously though...

Both Q and DD are great talents on the field. Boldin is one of my all-time favorite players...a true warrior in pads!

As a Cardinal fan I want both to stay and perform as well as we know they are capable. But, this is a business and both are one injury away from moving to the broadcast booth (if they're lucky!)

They gotta get it while they can...Lord knows I would.

Reminds of of "North Dallas Forty" when Matuzak's character goes off on one of the coaches: "Every time we call it a game, you call it a business! Every time we call it a business, you call it a game! You're all a bunch of chickenshits!"

 

[Skkorpion]

Duck, I'm with you. Last year was a blast. We need to find a way to have that kind of success more often.

McFeeble, you are right. I have the same outlook. And the best vote on any kind of business is with your dollars. We now have an owner, Michael Bidwill, who seems to understand how to balance competing pulls on his business.

How about this stunner from the Jets on how to ream your fan base?
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=546436

I know the Jets owner has a new stadium cost to pay. I suspect doing it this way won't work.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

didn't the Cardinals cut several players from the team? I dont hear the same backlash for the FO not honoring there contracts.

Players get played to perform and players get paid to play a certain position...

One player earned 7 million for playing a handful of games, another player was set to make 5million to play in a situation we did not bring him in for, and a nother player was paid starters money even when relegated to the backup.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

My thoughts exactly!

Look, anyone who has played a career season on Madden football knew this was coming. Good, and great, players are going to demand market value for their contracts based upon the previous season's performance. Every team that does as well as we did last year goes through this.

That is why, at least from a roster continuity standpoint, it is so important to win it all when you have the chance. With salary-cap restrictions in play, rosters can blow-up in a heartbeat.

As detestable as these tactics are from a fan's point-of-view, the money is out there to pay both Q and DD...it's just not going to be with the Cards.

The problem is when they singed their extensions they were happy to get that current market value. The market changes each year so I guess contracts simply should not exist? Maybe the NFL should move simply move to merit based pay?

Dockett signed his extension in 06 and by 07 was asking for a new contract because he was a freaking alternate on the Pro Bowl list...

 

[Duckjake]

Duck, I'm with you. Last year was a blast. We need to find a way to have that kind of success more often.

McFeeble, you are right. I have the same outlook. And the best vote on any kind of business is with your dollars. We now have an owner, Michael Bidwill, who seems to understand how to balance competing pulls on his business.

How about this stunner from the Jets on how to ream your fan base?
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=546436

I know the Jets owner has a new stadium cost to pay. I suspect doing it this way won't work.

The extra financial obligation for non-PSL seat holders comes 16 months before the first regular-season game in September 2010 at the new $1.6 billion building.

That's FOUR University of Phoenix Stadiums!!!!

In addition construction costs are going down not up. eg a middle school here estimated at $29 million received several bids in the $22 million range just last week.

 

[DoTheDew]

so when you want a pay raise at work do you wear your tie on your head and claim to ahve carpel tunnel?

If it is to the point where you really believe you deserve more you first talk to your boss (as Q and DD did) then if that doesn't work, you seek new employment. In the NFL players can't simply quit and join a new team. They are bound to the team they are employed by. There is no "at will" employment in the NFL the way there is in the normal world. So the only options are 1. Cry to the media and 2. Demand a trade.

Now IMO they have no reason to be unhappy with their contracts, but they are and since they are so limited in what they can do about it, they are doing it tenfold.

 

[187]

If you don't like the pay, then I would suggest you don't sign the contract extension. I think it's that simple. The FO and coaches aren't fortune tellers, if you thought you were going to play this well after you signed the extension then you should have asked for more money. Shut your mouth and play, you'll get your extension when you have a year left on your contract. Dockett's situation is laughable at best, 3 years left and you already want more? I'm sorry buddy, it doesn't work that way.

 

[PoolBoy]

If you don't like the pay, then I would suggest you don't sign the contract extension. I think it's that simple. The FO and coaches aren't fortune tellers, if you thought you were going to play this well after you signed the extension then you should have asked for more money. Shut your mouth and play, you'll get your extension when you have a year left on your contract. Dockett's situation is laughable at best, 3 years left and you already want more? I'm sorry buddy, it doesn't work that way.

exactly. and especially with Dockett on board with that thinking, when he signed the deal was he expecting to suck? im so confused...

 

[DoTheDew]

exactly. and especially with Dockett on board with that thinking, when he signed the deal was he expecting to suck? im so confused...

Yea Dockett is a bonehead in this situation, but it is one of his rights as an American citizen to express it publicly. If Boldin, DD, or anyone else wants to complain about their contracts to their own peril then so be it. I won't care until their play on Sundays starts to suffer.

 

[Sandan]

No but I know many people including myself who have got offers from other companies to force the hand of the current employer into a raise.

I know many sales people will not push a big deal through and threaten to take them and his other clients with him to another company which is very similar to not playing.

As an employer I suggest one thing if you do that, make sure the offer is real as I will always let you walk rather than be blackmailed.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

The problem is when they singed their extensions they were happy to get that current market value. The market changes each year so I guess contracts simply should not exist? Maybe the NFL should move simply move to merit based pay?

Dockett signed his extension in 06 and by 07 was asking for a new contract because he was a freaking alternate on the Pro Bowl list...

I'm not saying that it's a great system, nor am I stating that it should be this way, but that's the nature of the beast my friend.

As a fan, I hate it!

If I were a player I'd do the exact same thing.

 

[Gee!]

Hmm...

Don't see Boldin in that picture. Wonder why...

Sorry Duck .. But its true.. We can make all these players heros if we want.. But the sad fact is they are mostly no different than any other FA that left.. Very few players really love playing for the Cards.. Aeneas Willimas, Larry Centers and Adrian Wilson come to mind.. But the rest could give a **** less about this franchise and have never had the time and money invested into this team.. And now since we almost did it, they go home at night with the mind set like look what we did.. They ALMOST won it.. Well, the fiercest competitor I ever saw, Michael Jordan, never settled for 2nd best and never wanted his due when he almost made it.. He kept proving folks wrong and let his game speak for him.. Its why I admire Adrian so much.. He has the same qualities as Mike.. Sure I love Q and Dockett.. But they have shown their heart is not pure.. They got in bed with the devil and now are getting poked in the ass every night when Drew calls them.. They funny part is, I bet they have special ringtones for when Drew calls and they run to the damn phone faster than they would on the field..

Its truely something to behold to see the greed of some people that cant take their bank account with them in death..