The contract game

Staley was the pick acquired from the Pats that year.

I heard you mention that Wilfork wouldnt except a deal like the oneSeymour excepted. What was Seymour's contract? And what number would the contract be today considering it was awhile ago? Any rumors to what he's asking for?

what

I've always felt a bird in hand is better than 2 in the bush.....as long as the Patriots are fair in their negotiations & the player isn't asking for some outragious number I think a deal can be worked out.....the problem is MONEY does wierd things to people....Wilfork for 5 years should cost no more than 35 million with 25 million in guarentees....he's a great nose tackle but he's also only a 2 down player.....If he truly wants to be a Patriot for life then he'd sign that........could he get more, probably, I guess we'll see where his heart truly lies......

I wonder if Staley is very active in investing. This is probably the best time to acquire as much money as possible, before we get out of this recession, and then take advantage of the economic growth we'll likely see very soon. If he waited for his contract to run out, he'd miss this opportunity to make more than even a later contract.

Good call.

What fans don't end up seeing in all of this is the give-and-take roles that the NFLPA and agents play, along with the teams themselves.

It's not in the interest of the NFLPA to have a player sign any contract that ISN'T setting a high standard for salaries, nor is it in the interest of an agent to have a player sign a contract that does not maximize commissions. The team, on the other hand, is often legitimately interested in retaining a player at a financial commitment that makes sense.

Unfortunately those sides don't always come together and in an example like Asante Samuel, there is fan outrage at player greed and team thrift. Interesting process, hopefully it works out for Vince Wilfork.

Add the element of stability. Granted, it is in the teams best interest to lock a player up while they are emerging but it is also in the players best interest not to run the risk of moving across the country at the end of their initial deal.

Mike
Narrow it down to whatever parameters you will, but has the NE organization "won" more risks (i.e players staying and performing) or have the players (leaving or re-signing at a later market value), say, over the last 10 years?

The desire to earn a huge payday, when a large one is available a little earlier is an impulse I just don't understand. I know it's about ego and perceived respect, but what earns more respect, winning championships or earning slightly more money? Signing for 18 million when you could get 24 later, but have to brave the chance of injury, seems like a smart move all around.

I sort of get the mindset of the player going for maximum money. The player has to think: How many paydays am I going to get? For most ordinary people, they'd be happy to take $18 million now rather than $24 a year from now. And while it's easy to take potshots at "feed my family" Ty Law and Asante Samuel, you have to remember that quite a lot of that payday goes to the government in taxes, the agent and management. I don't know the figure, but the player probably sees less than 50% of that payday.

And the player also has to think about what they're going to do after their playing days are done. How many of them have any skills to get anything other than an ordinary job? How many of them are so injured, they have massive medical bills and the inability to do most physical jobs? How many of them have family members that they're taking care of? And if the player spent any money unwisely, rather than investing it, that's even less that they have to look forward to.

So, yeah, going for the maximum amount, knowing that you have only a few chances at getting a payday can make a lot of sense. And that's not even getting into the ego thing of wanting to compare yourself to other players in the league, using paycheck as the measuring stick.

How players spend their money (and how much they actually end up with) is an area you don't see reported very often or very well, but I think it'd make for an interesting story, to see it reported from an angle other than how it affects the team's cap.

So, while I don't always like that some players go after every last dollar, I do understand it.

It's a fine balance. There will always be problems regardless of the situation because teams have the unilateral ability to terminate a contract. You will never hear a player who signed an early extension and subsequently either was injured or didn't play to the level expected complain that they were overcompensated. In an ideal world, the players would know and fully understand what they are getting themselves into.

I'm reminded of two things when thinking about waiting for free agency and extending early.

1. David Givens' career ending injury after signing a free agent deal (he'd played 3 years on a rookie contract and one year on an RFA tender) is a cautionary tale and reminder that your career could end unexpectedly early.

2. Tom Brady signing an early extension and understanding what he did. He has commented he was happy to sign that deal at the time and it shouldn't change now with salaries going up well above his even as people asked him (with years left on his contract) if he was going to seek an extension/renegotiation.

This is why the price goes up for the team the closer the player gets to free agency. They could have locked in Asante Samuel at very reasonable dollars the year before he hit free agency. Samuel's side offer would have been a steal for the Pats in today's market. Once the players are allowed to get to free agency, it makes very little sense for them to give home town discounts. If Wilfork goes through the risk of getting to free agency, his price is going to go up and will be gone. Many fans will call him greedy for taking a market deal. Nobody calls the team greedy now for offering him less than his market value.

I'm sorry, I just don't get it! I am a college grad, a professional, work 50 weeks a year, consider my self good at what I do, and feed my family. Vince's salary this year alone equeals 30 years of mine. I could also loose my job tomorrow, especially with this economy. He has a job, has a contract, and needs to get out there and do his job! Why try and bite the hand that feeds you? These people are so spoiled. I really feel there should be a position cap across the board, with performance incentives to make more $$$. That would stop this crap!
Oh and thanks Mike for the job you do. You truly go above and beyond!

Carl,
You are just jealous. So much envy out there. Sorry you make nothing every year. I don't feel sorry for you at all. We would all act like Vince if we were him... I know there are a ton of people like Carl that are just jealous. Get over it

It is more than the sum of dollars a player is fighting for when he tries to get a new contract done. You can feed you family equally well with 18 million dollars in the bank vs 24 million dollars. The marginal return on the extra dollar is not quite the same as the step between 18 thousand dollars vs 24 thousand dollars . The ego plays a big part, because he can point to himself as one of the highest paid players in that position. But when a crazy organization like the Washington Redskin threw insane money at a player, it brings inflationary pressure for the rest of the teams in the league. Pro football can become a bubble that may burst when the networks ,the ad buying corporations and the ticket buying fans can no longer afford to spend that kind of money?

#9,
Sorry dude, I'm not jealous! I have the utmost respect for Vince as a player as he keeps me entertained yearly. But there is a limit. I tend to want to give more respect to the fireman, police, teachers, EMS, ect... who go out every day and do their jobs and incidently, make less than I do.
You defend this, but I bet you are one of the ones complaining when the ticket prices go up! A fair wage for all players is in order but no matter how you look at it there is no "I" in team. I resent the disruption!

Yes, you are.. It's so clear. Typical liberal. I don't complain about tickets because I can afford season tickets. Been two all 4 SB this decade. Thanks for playing. Why do teachers deserve more??? Their product is terrible. You must live in Texas because there are a lot of cops making 6 figures in mass.. Don't even get me started on how much shady things go on with firemen in mass. Carl, just stop watching.. You get enough people to stop watching then their salary will go down.. Do I have to explain economics to you??? People are worth what people pay them. If they make less all that means is the owners or NFL get richer... Get a clue

#9
Sure am glad you can afford those tickets. Perhaps you could share with the rest of us. I don't need a lesson in economics as I have a Business Degree. The Nfl owners are in business to make money, just like your business and mine. Do you think if Kraft were loosing his shirt, there would be a New England Patriot team? I don't. And I have to disagree with your premise of people being worth what people will pay them. If that was the case, that would make Tom Brady the 6th most valuable QB in the NFl... Is that what you believe? Oh, and I really hope you never need a cop or a fireman.

#9

You are the reason most people West of I 95 hate obnoxious Boston sports fans.