http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_tag#.22Poison_Pills.22 It's happened already, albeit with Transition tags.
Found this on wikipedia. The transition tag is currently at the center of a controversy regarding its potential usefulness in light of the contract offered by the Minnesota Vikings to Steve Hutchinson, an offensive guard who had received the transition tag following the 2005 season from the Seattle Seahawks. The contract was for $49 million over seven years, $16 million of which was guaranteed. However, the Vikings added a "poison pill": The entire $49 million contract was guaranteed if Hutchinson were not the highest paid offensive linemen on the team he signed with. Since Hutchinson's salary was less than that of the Seahawks' Walter Jones, an offensive tackle, his contract would have been guaranteed by the Seahawks, while the Vikings, having no offensive linemen averaging more than Hutchinson's proposed salary, would only be obligated to pay the guaranteed $16 million. The Seahawks filed a grievance with the NFL league office, claiming that the poison pill was illegal under the collective bargaining agreement in that the Seahawks would have to pay significantly more than the Vikings despite matching with the exact same contract. An arbitrator ruled in favor of the Vikings, and the Seahawks were essentially unable to match and received no compensation.
Perhaps teams are aware that if they tried it again it wouldn't get through - because from what I've read it hasn't happened since. Surely the NFL would have to eventually say enough in ridiculous cases like this?
Well I agree with you, but such tactics exist and they are with in the laws. I mean, you are not getting the player for free. You are still giving away fair compensation for them so its not like the old team loses a star outright. Now if the old team didn't tender good enough such as in Rams case, thats their loss.
That's what I don't understand in the Rams case. Why give a proven player the lowest tender? It's basically asking for the poison pill.
They had little choice... They didn't want to be stuck paying him $7mil this year, and who could blame them?
I still don't get it. They could have given him a low tender (original draft tender - 3rd rounder), and paid him $7 mil. Teams would have still shown some interest. If other teams weren't willing to part with a 3rd, offer a 4th round trade for him and send him packing while getting something. If they don't wanna get rid of him, chances are, other teams would have offered him a contract even with a 3rd round tender. Rams could have matched it it would have dropped his salary down to that contract. If it contained a poison pill, Rams would have received a 3rd round tender. If the Jets are interested in him, Rams will have to swallow the poison pill. Tanny has a business mind and he will do everything with in rules to get him, again, assuming we are interested in him.
Exactly! at first i thought the whole poison pill thing was ridiculous and an obvious loop hole that would soon be fixed. But if teams have the right to tender players to whatever picks they want, then I do not see why its such a terrible thing. I mean really, there are reports saying that the reason the Rams gave such a low tender was to get a third party to help contract negotiations. OJ or STL couldn't agree on figures.. so they are just waiting for a team to come in.. make an offer.. and if OJ accepts.. then the rams match and everything is over with.. but thats bullshit.. i would love OJ but have a realistic understanding of the contract he will demand. If possible im sure tanny will jump all over it.. but most likely we will be building through the draft.. which isn't a bad think by any means...
He is coming of an injury and may not pass a physical. It is entirely possible that he may not even get a contract offer. In that case the Rams get him on the cheap, very cheap.
The Patriots traded for Welker, didn't they? Though I suppose they could have done this first and then traded to avoid any dispute before the Dolphins had a shot to match.
Atogwe will get an offer. Maybe not from the jets but he absolutely will get at least one offer if not multiple. Teams like the Bears,Fins, Seahawks, Browns, Lions could all desperately use his services. I doubt his injury was that bad that the safety with the most turnovers of any safety since he started playing in 05 doesnt get a single offer.
Well I think it was a rumor how that was going to go down and the Miami said they'd be willing to trade Welker. Im not sure wtf those two shithead organizations were doing since the player was going to stay with in the division anyways.
