T.O. is in the paper and on ESPN daily. He wants a new contract, even though he signed a 7 years deal last off-season after successfully fighting the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens to make his way to Philadelphia. Now Owens is asking for new compensation terms, be it in the form of a restructuring or entirely new deal and a lot of people are asking themselves why.
Owens has never had trouble making friends, but seems to have a hard time keeping them, with public fallouts between himself and the entire city of San Francisco, upsetting the entire Baltimore Raven team, and now perhaps taking subtle jabs at Eagles QB Donovan McNabb saying to ESPN's Len Pasqurelii "I'm not the one who got tired in the Super Bowl".
Once again, the crux of all this squabbling comes down to green. And it's not the color of the jersey Owens wears, but the color of the currency he wants. Cash-value also has team balking at superstar running backs like Shaun Alexander and Edgerin James, who are apparently being offered for less than a first round pick. The Seahawks' new GM is even considering a 1 round pick from 2006.
Free agency has created competitive spirit in the NFL where any team can win the Super Bowl any year. This new horizon is an idea worth savoring, especially for teams that were for years known as the NFL's bottom rung. Free agency has also helped fans see the teams they love as a team itself, but with more trades on the horizon the NFL is starting to look more like the NBA year to year.
Contracts in the NFL are also not "contracts" in the truest sense of the word, as teams are able to cut players at any time and for any reason. This gives players like Owens, or former perennial hold-outs like Orlando Pace and Walter Jones justification to ask for more money.
One way to help bridge the muddy waters of mistrust between players and teams would be to take steps toward making contracts more beneficial to players. There are probably many ways to do this, which include:
More guaranteed money in contracts.
-or-
A new type of tag that would allow a team to choose one player as a Iconic or Team Player (Franchise really would have worked best, but is already taken). This designation would set the players contract in stone, unchangeable for either side, all monetary agreements to be paid in full. The length of the contract could be set anywhere above 3 years.
The last idea is far-fetched as it is double edged. If a player is injured or tires of the ownership or coaching staff, the will to perform at a high level is diminished. Contracts are void if a player retires before the end of the contract agreement, barring permanent injury.
These are negative aspects for the teams granting the contracts.
Positives for the teams include good P.R. The better a team image the higher appreciation and that could lead to increased revenue. Also, superstar free agents looking for a new home would also be looking very hard at teams who's tag had recently lapsed because of player retirement or non-renewal.
Negatives for the players would also include being stuck on a team they would rather not play for, but a positive would be that it is the holy grail of contracts. The players would also see that the team is rewarding that player for being a benchmark at his position which also shows the player loyalty from the team he plays for, something lacking severely in today's business.
.... OK, it's a crazy idea. But is there any way to build on something goofy like this and actually make it work? I'd be all for seeing a little more loyalty in the NFL these days as the mercenary effect seems to be hitting full swing.
I love the Cardinals, but I'd like to see the same face around here for about a decade too.
Owens has never had trouble making friends, but seems to have a hard time keeping them, with public fallouts between himself and the entire city of San Francisco, upsetting the entire Baltimore Raven team, and now perhaps taking subtle jabs at Eagles QB Donovan McNabb saying to ESPN's Len Pasqurelii "I'm not the one who got tired in the Super Bowl".
Once again, the crux of all this squabbling comes down to green. And it's not the color of the jersey Owens wears, but the color of the currency he wants. Cash-value also has team balking at superstar running backs like Shaun Alexander and Edgerin James, who are apparently being offered for less than a first round pick. The Seahawks' new GM is even considering a 1 round pick from 2006.
Free agency has created competitive spirit in the NFL where any team can win the Super Bowl any year. This new horizon is an idea worth savoring, especially for teams that were for years known as the NFL's bottom rung. Free agency has also helped fans see the teams they love as a team itself, but with more trades on the horizon the NFL is starting to look more like the NBA year to year.
Contracts in the NFL are also not "contracts" in the truest sense of the word, as teams are able to cut players at any time and for any reason. This gives players like Owens, or former perennial hold-outs like Orlando Pace and Walter Jones justification to ask for more money.
One way to help bridge the muddy waters of mistrust between players and teams would be to take steps toward making contracts more beneficial to players. There are probably many ways to do this, which include:
More guaranteed money in contracts.
-or-
A new type of tag that would allow a team to choose one player as a Iconic or Team Player (Franchise really would have worked best, but is already taken). This designation would set the players contract in stone, unchangeable for either side, all monetary agreements to be paid in full. The length of the contract could be set anywhere above 3 years.
The last idea is far-fetched as it is double edged. If a player is injured or tires of the ownership or coaching staff, the will to perform at a high level is diminished. Contracts are void if a player retires before the end of the contract agreement, barring permanent injury.
These are negative aspects for the teams granting the contracts.
Positives for the teams include good P.R. The better a team image the higher appreciation and that could lead to increased revenue. Also, superstar free agents looking for a new home would also be looking very hard at teams who's tag had recently lapsed because of player retirement or non-renewal.
Negatives for the players would also include being stuck on a team they would rather not play for, but a positive would be that it is the holy grail of contracts. The players would also see that the team is rewarding that player for being a benchmark at his position which also shows the player loyalty from the team he plays for, something lacking severely in today's business.
.... OK, it's a crazy idea. But is there any way to build on something goofy like this and actually make it work? I'd be all for seeing a little more loyalty in the NFL these days as the mercenary effect seems to be hitting full swing.
I love the Cardinals, but I'd like to see the same face around here for about a decade too.
