It Begins: Upshaw responds to commish about rookie salaries

[RugbyMuffin]

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story?id=09000d5d80914cca&template=with-video&confirm=true

I support the commishioners view, personally.

I would imagine veteran players would care more about the money they should be paid as well.

 

[blindseyed]

Upshaw: "We're not in the position to try to take money from anyone. Our job is to make sure you get as much (money) as you're entitled to and not be restricted by anything else. We have never agreed to such a system. I don't see us agreeing to such a system in the future."

Rookies shouldn't be 'entitled' to anything until they prove they can play in the NFL...period. And by the way, Gene. the only restriction these rookies will have is themselves. Do great, get paid for it, do crappy and get paid crappy.
I like what Goodell is proposing.

 

[abomb]

Upshaw should enjoy his job while it lasts.

 

[football karma]

You can see the cracks in the Union on this issue already --- a number of high profile NFL vets have come out and said that they think too much money goes to a select few rookies

The League message of "we want a rookie salary scale so we can give money to the vets" is a pretty attractive one from a current NFL player perspective

 

[moklerman]

I think a big part of any reconfiguration will be the protection these players would get when getting these smaller contracts. If they are permanently hurt during their rookie contract is the biggest obstacle to this change happening(IMO). I'm all for it, but I think there are some stumbling blocks that will make it a challenge to change.

 

[Buckybird]

I think a big part of any reconfiguration will be the protection these players would get when getting these smaller contracts. If they are permanently hurt during their rookie contract is the biggest obstacle to this change happening(IMO). I'm all for it, but I think there are some stumbling blocks that will make it a challenge to change.

What if me or you are disabled walking out our own door going to work? These guys know the risk, if they don't like go flip hamburgers at McDonald's. Pay the proven players the big money!!!

 

[moklerman]

What if me or you are disabled walking out our own door going to work?

I agree with you but I think the situations are different. The earning potential of an NFL player is astronomically different than most average people. Not to mention, I think the average NFL career is still around four years. If that's the case, a lot of these guys make all of their money on their first contract and are out of the game. Depending on how large the percentage is, it might create enough of an obstacle within in the union to cause difficulties in change.

 

[Buckybird]

If you get hurt and your FOOTBALL CAREER is over, then you get another job. I bet you right now it will happen.

 

[slanidrac16]

The players will whisper into Upshaws ear and explain to him as long as the same amount (or more) is spent on players salaries this would be better for the game.
1. There would be no holdouts.
2. The entire contract could and should be guaranteed to the rookies that are drafted.
3. The players that have performed would be rewarded.
4. Players might actually play an entire career with 1 team.
5. If the union agrees to this they will actually enhance their negotiating position with the owners.

That being said, I wouldn't have expected anything else from Upshaw.

 

[Sandan]

Disability insurance.

Players have it now as well

 

[moklerman]

If you get hurt and your FOOTBALL CAREER is over, then you get another job. I bet you right now it will happen.

With the commissioner so firmly behind the idea I think and hope it will happen as well. I just think there will be more opposition than some of us might think.

Guaranteeing rookie contracts is an interesting proposition but the greed of humans might ruin that idea. Guy gets his rookie deal and then tanks it just to get the money or something like that.

Is there disability insurance to cover what an NFL player makes?

 

[joeshmo]

The Rookie contract for the most part is not an issue at all. The issue lays with the top 10 picks who get crazy signing bonuses. Other then that for the most part all of the other rookies get paid base minimum salaries and OK signing bonuses.

Even the guys in the top 10 dont get paid as much as the media totals would lead you to believe. At least of a reported total is locked up in roster bonuses that you have to earn, incentives that you have to earn, and escalators that you have to earn. Most of it has to be earned and I have no problem with that. Example - Fitz went to two pro bowls his first 4 years which is a great accomplishment and he got paid for it, if he didnt make it he would not have earned $20 of that last two years of his deal that was then in place. Also look at Matt, other then his bonus to start off with he is not making all that much more money until he earns his escalators and incetives which account for a little more then half of his total 50 somthing Mill contract.

The onlything in my mind that needs to be fixed when it comes to rookies is a Gauranteed money or mostly signing bonuses that dont have to be earned. If they just did a rookie signing bonus slot system and keep the current rookie cap in place, I would be more then happy. Its up to the teams and the owners to then regulate themselves on how much in what I like to call "Show Me" money such as incentives, escalators, and roster bonuses they want to add.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I agree with you but I think the situations are different. The earning potential of an NFL player is astronomically different than most average people. Not to mention, I think the average NFL career is still around four years. If that's the case, a lot of these guys make all of their money on their first contract and are out of the game. Depending on how large the percentage is, it might create enough of an obstacle within in the union to cause difficulties in change.

Most of them have multi-million insurance deals on themselves.....at least the ones that are supposed to make the big bucks.

 

[WisconsinCard]

You can see the cracks in the Union on this issue already --- a number of high profile NFL vets have come out and said that they think too much money goes to a select few rookies

The League message of "we want a rookie salary scale so we can give money to the vets" is a pretty attractive one from a current NFL player perspective

Good point, and consider this. Rookies make up a small percentage of the NFL. So with the greater part (the vets) coming out as "winners" in this will make the larger percentage want to tell Upshaw that this is a good deal. Meaning 75 to 80 % of the union will gain from this deal and then want it to happen.

 

[SuperSpck]

One smaller ripple of a smaller cap number on players I'd like to see is the return of developmental time to players.
Too many of these kids are facing live fire too quickly as starters, based on their salary, not their ability. Ideally I'd like to see most draft picks not have to play, but have the ability to play, depending on how much the coaching staff feels they can handle.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Disability insurance.

Players have it now as well

So do the owners. If a player is injured and misses a certain amount of games(i'm not sure how many but i think he has to be put on IR), the owners have insurance that covers the players salary or at least a major portion of it.

 

[DakotaCardsFan]

Good point, and consider this. Rookies make up a small percentage of the NFL. So with the greater part (the vets) coming out as "winners" in this will make the larger percentage want to tell Upshaw that this is a good deal. Meaning 75 to 80 % of the union will gain from this deal and then want it to happen.

Remember, too, that a change to the rookie contracts would have no direct negative impact to anyone currently in the union. It would only effect future rookies who aren't in the league yet.

 

[AZ Native]

Great points. With the money paid to rookies now, a team can hardly afford to keep them on the bench and development them.

One smaller ripple of a smaller cap number on players I'd like to see is the return of developmental time to players.
Too many of these kids are facing live fire too quickly as starters, based on their salary, not their ability. Ideally I'd like to see most draft picks not have to play, but have the ability to play, depending on how much the coaching staff feels they can handle.