Was pondering the Leon Washington/ Patriots poison pill scenario. I decided to Google that junk to learn more about recent examples of said scenario. I came up with this article that expressed concern that Tanny would throw a poison pill contract at Miles Austin. http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/jets-gm-has-history-with-poison-pill.html All indications are that the Cowboys want to keep Miles Austin. The Jets, however, could make that extremely difficult to do by inserting a "poison pill" provision into their contract offer to Austin. That's a fairly common NFL practice with restricted free agents. For example, the Jets could offer Austin a long-term deal that would become totally guaranteed if he plays more than five games any season in the state of Texas. (See Nate Burleson's contract offer from the Seahawks in 2006.) Dirty pool? Perhaps, but Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum definitely isn't above using such tactics. From Dave Hutchinson of the New Jersey Star-Ledger: In fact, it was Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum who is regarded in many circles as the man who fathered the idea. In 1998, Tannenbaum, then a little-know salary cap whiz, put together a brilliant six-year, $36-million offer sheet to then-Patriots running back Curtis Martin that included a "poison pill" that forced the Patriots to let him go. That clause was a provision in which Martin could become an unrestricted free agent the following season if the Patriots matched the offer, allowing him to leave New England without the Patriots receiving a dime. Also, the deal included a $3.3 million roster bonus that would've wrecked the Patriots' salary cap. New England let Martin go and he went on to become the most prolific running back in Jets' history. I was pretty young when we scooped Martin up and had no clue this happened.:metal:
Just to clarify, this article was from 2009 when Austin was available for a 2nd rounder, not 2010 when it would cost a 1st and 3rd.
not that this has anything to do with that but i remember when everyone (myself included) was up in arms that we might consider giving up draft picks for austin. tanny looks really smart now.
I've had a few beers this morning, so I need clarification here. I don't understand the guaranteed thing in the state of Texas. What exactly is the "poison Pill"?
Who resulted in Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez, and Braylon Edwards. I'll live with the Mangini years for the possibility of what lies ahead
Poison pill is something that makes the contract extremely difficult, or downright stupid, for the RFA's current team to match. For example, Lets say we sign OJ Atogwe (this is just for an example, dont take it as fact), We're giving up the pick, but we sign him to a reasonable, say 4 years, 20 million dollar contract with alittle more then half guaranteed. Now, StL would match that on the spot to keep a guy like Atogwe, unless there was a clause (ie, Poison Pill) saying that if Atogwe played more then 3 games in St.Louis, his contract would terminate the following year, and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent
The poison pill is a clause in the contract that is unacceptable to the team that currently has the player. In other words, it makes the contract impossible for them to swallow, hence 'poison pill'. In this very crude example, if Austin played more than five games in the state of Texas (which he would if he remained with the Cowboys but would not if he joined the Jets) his entire contract would become guaranteed. I doubt the NFL would allow such an obvious thing as this to get through, but it's a moot point becuase the Jets made no such offer.
Here's another actual clause (or a rumor?) when Patriots took Welker away from Dulphins. Patriots signed Welker to whatever deal (lets say 4 years $20) and the contract said if Welker plays more than three games in Miami, his salary and bonuses will triple (4 year $60 mil). In order to keep Welker, Miami had to match the contract word by word and essentially retaining Welker for a 4 year $60 mil contract. That would be insane to do (atleast at that time). That clause is called the poison pill. You swallow it and you kill your salary cap situation or let a superstar become an UFA whatever. There is really nothing that can stop us from signing Atogwe. He is as good as a FA in the sense of poison pill and I have a feeling that is the route we'd take if we want him here.
Won't the NFL finally have to clamp down on this sort of buffoonery? It's really unprofessional and we'd hate it if we lost a free agent because of a clause like this.
the player has to agree to the contract. in those situations the player wants out of their current team no matter what. i'm sure most guys wouldn't mind staying with their current team if they get paid so they wouldn't agree to a contract with a poison pill in it.
didnt washington do this to us with chad morton??? and then a judge,who was a washington redskin season tix holder ruled against us in arbitration.....
