2010 and Beyond

Brandon Marshall is traded after signing his 1st round tender that pays a little more than $2million.  Signs w/Miami a 4 year deal at $47million, $24 guaranteed.  In 2011 that is.  What are we seeing?  A 4 year deal for the Miami Dolphins but a great idea for other franchises to consider.  But what about the CBA?  Fans have access to information, if they are interested enough.  In other words, I don't have enough fingers to count how many members in MHR that can pop up facts regarding contracts for every player in the league.  However, this is a hurdle yet to be overcome by both the Players Union and NFL Owners. 

This link above is a great example of one means of closing the gap in contract negotiations among rookies.  Rookies in the top 10 come to mind in fact.  Imagine Denver, picking at 11 this year, wanting to move up to say 5 w/the Redskins to draft a QB.  Well we have a 43 and a 45 and an extra 2nd next year.  Lets say the player of interest is ABC and he's definitely a McDaniels type of player that will turn things around in a hurry. 

Well Ross Tucker proposal makes a lot of sense in terms of what he talks about shortening contract lengths to two years w/an option for a third year.  So the ABC player's slot would once again have the value of the pick in itself and giving back control to teams actually looking to get the most value of any deal and picks in question all in the pursuit to improve their football team with out the worry money.

Money.  The root of all evil.  These kids love football.  If they could replace money with the adoring fans cheers, marketing opportunities, and a social status very few get to enjoy, they'd jump on it faster than Jerry Jones on an oil puddle stained in his image.

So what happens after 2010?  We all talk about which player isn't worth this much versus that player who made that much but isn't that for a team to decide?  I mean is Holmes going to be utilized the same way as Marshall or vice versa?  Who knows but I believe the model presented in the link would greatly curtail some of the demands we're seeing today in a world where a WR who averages in a span of three years: 100 catches, 7 TDs, 63 first down grabs can make $10million plus meanwhile Wes Welker is making significantly less for doing the exact same thing but from a slot position.

Now before we go into the styles of the player and how the dynamics vary shouldn't that matter to the style of system a player would fit into?  I mean Tebow is a great story no question but don't look further than Alex Smith, Meyer's first prodigy who has been in the NFL now for a good hot minute.  That system doesn't exist in the NFL anymore (run n shoot comes to mind) but its great at the college level and more importantly it provides more WRs ready to jump into the NFL.  If more teams adopt this scheme does this mean that WR price tags will drop off now that RBs can be found in any round?  Probably not but the idea of bringing a rookie for two years w/a third option at a more discounted contract would be a great means of having the parity before free agency became the circus it is today.

In closing I think this year is crucial if the NFLPU and NFL Owners can't find a middle ground.  If there is one common gripe between the two sides its the pay rookies make drafted that high.  Agents won't like it one bit but can you imagine the process in NFL development?  Won't have to keep a player around long waiting for that green light to go off.  I'm for the 2yr option for 3rd as a model and think it would help curtail many finances that are issues today and bring true value to the NFL draft and not some TMZ popularity contest.  Maybe this approach could carry over in MLB but I'm not holding my breath and besides 162 games is one long season that starts as early as February and ends as late as November (weather permitting).

 Side note, great win last night by as they win in the bottom of the 10th agianst the Mets.  I'm a Yankee fan so a Mets loss is equal to a Yankee win (when they don't win of course).