Quote:
Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
First off, the signing bonuses are a large share of the actual salary, so they're not so easily dismissed.
Second, what TM is basically arguing for is a redistribution of salary from players who do perform to those that don't. Guaranteed contracts inevitably lead to lots of money for injured players or non-performing players who are either cut or retained and played (look at some baseball rosters for examples of hte latter). That takes money away from the players who play well.
If the union is worried about unfairness, then they should mandate insurance against injury for everyone. But they've decided not to, and instead offer pensions only to people who have played over a certain number of years.
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Oh, stop. Don't put it on the players. If it was simply a matter of redistribution of player salaries, the owners wouldn't mind if the cba was copied straight up from MLB. Are you arguing that NFL players are in as favorable a position relative to owners as MLB players? I doubt it.
I believe that part of what makes the NFL so successful is the PARITY.* And one of the reasons why they can have that PARITY** is because teams can cut players and void their contracts. Teams often sign players to long contracts who have huge potential, giving them little guaranteed money. There is very little risk for the team, since if they perform to their potential, you've most likely got them locked in to a bargain, long-term contract. If they perform below potential, but are still workable players, you tell them to restructure. If they get injured or perform below what you can replace them with at a discount, you simply cut them.
If that player exceeds expectations, he is expected to honor the contract. Please explain to me how this makes sense for anyone but the owners. It's great for teams, because they have minimal risk. But it's a disaster for a great deal of players who come into the league, get injured and are thrown away. Demanding insurance is a red herring because it's simply a matter of assigning the cost of insurance. Either you ask for more money and do it yourself or it comes out of your salary and the team does it for you.
True value for the players would be giving them a better bargaining position w/r/t their contracts. And the NFL doesn't want that.
TM
*Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
**Did I say "Damn it" already?
