you saying that is what they count on. thats why it costs 300 something bucks now. people are willing to pay out the nose for it. i am simply pointing out that those complaining about guys making so much money are a HUGE part of the machine that makes them that much money.
Normally a UFA has 3+ years of experience; I don't know the specifics, but in the last labor agreement, the NFLPA somehow OK'ed some kind of provision that makes Mankins an RFA instead of a UFA. Found this online: We know this: Logan Mankins feels like he is one of the top guards in all of football, and he deserves to be paid like it. While he may feel cheated by the Patriots organization because he felt he should have been a free agent already, it is not the organization's fault. It is the fault of the NFLPA who negotiated for the uncapped year. Logan Mankins deserved to be paid as a top unrestricted free agent, but unfortunately for him, the rules changed. He is a restricted free agent and must abide by the rules. Nonetheless, Mankins feels the Patriots promised to reward him with a top dollar deal, and he has yet to be awarded with an appropriate contract in his eyes. So actually I'm not sure if he loses the year or not. Now you got me thinking...
He needs to be active the last 6 games to accrue a year towards free agency. So he can wait until week 10 to sign. UFA was at 5th on the CBA, as part of an agreement the union accepted, in an uncapped year, it moves to 6th season. Mankins was offered between 6.5 and 7 mil. per year. I'd like to be insulted like that.
Supposedly one of the reasons that Brady is upset about his contract is because the Patriots are using it to try and compel other players to sign below market value. When Brady signed for less than he could've gotten, he did it so the Pats could put a good team around him, not so they could turn around and tell guys like Logan Mankins "Brady was willing to sacrifice money for the team, why aren't you?" If that's true, it's actually sort of admirable on Brady's part (at least as admirable as holding out for money could ever actually be.)
The rookie contracts are stupid in comparison with other players who have earned their stripes. No one said it was stupid that sam Bradford or Tom Brady will make more money than them. I don't know how the rookie contracts were allowed to balloon like this, but it is a little off kilter. That said, really who cares? It's capitalism.
Peyton Manning is also going into the last year of his contract. Both of these guys will sign huge deals once the CBA gets sorted out and it's more clear what both sides are working with. This is just an example of lazy reporters stirring the pot when things are relatively quiet on the eve of training camp.
This should be an easy fix in the new CBA. Slot the rookies ala the NBA, and keep the 4 seasons before reaching UFA status. As a trade-off the owners have to dump the ridiculous "franchise" and "transition" tags.
