dfosterf
15 years ago
Link 

Perhaps this article should go in the NFL section, but it is so intertwined with the Pack I decided to put it here.

Spending & winning are not the same
Heres proof that you cant always buy a title. Andrew Brandt
July 03, 2009

In the vast majority of cases, the answer to the question anyone is asking is, Follow the money. The bottom line is almost always the bottom line. My favorite line from press conferences where athletes sign big contracts is, It isnt about the money. Translation: Its all about the money.

However, there appears to be one metric in sports, especially in the NFL, where the answer may not be to follow the money. That statistic and its the most important one in sports is winning. Money can buy a lot of things, but it will not necessarily buy a championship or even a winning record in professional sports.

My colleague Michael Lombardi aptly described the importance of prudent and targeted spending Thursday in his column about the Buccaneers.

According to a report from Jason La Canfora of NFL Network showing all the cash commitments in the NFL from 2004-2008, the range of spending goes from the Cowboys at $567 million to the Bucs at $449 million, a range of $118M, or approximately $30M per season in disparity between the highest- and lowest-spending clubs.

Although I have numbers that are slightly different, the point is the same: Spending big and winning big do not correlate. Indeed, having managed player costs at the Packers during that time frame, we were third lowest in the league at $457M about $114M average per season -- and were an overtime away from the Super Bowl in a year (2007) in which we were the second lowest-spending team in the league.

Cash not cap -- numbers are the key numbers to focus on with teams and spending. Cap spending is something that teams manage in different ways; it does not reflect how much money teams are actually paying players. One of the biggest misperceptions that fans have about teams willingness to spend is that if they have a lot of cap room, they are not spending. That can be very far from the truth. A well-managed cap with plenty of room can coincide with having spent liberally to improve. I know that firsthand.

The lack of correlation between winning and spending is not a novel concept and one that has been proven for years. The proper way to build success in the NFL is to assemble and develop young talent that proves worthy of core contract extensions, ensuring continuity of key players at key positions on the roster. Selective and targeted acquisition of free agents is necessary to complement the existing talent base. However, continued spending on free agents, driving up player costs and pushing out players who have been coached and developed, is not a sound way to put together a team.

A large amount of spending league-wide is done in early March during the opening days of free agency. Thats when teams make a splash, when owners acquiesce or even encourage finding that missing link that will put the team over the top. Its a time when contract research is thrown away, as bidding by multiple suitors creates unprecedented levels of pay for top-echelon position players. This year alone, Albert Haynesworth, Bart Scott and Jason Brown set new benchmarks for their respective positions at defensive tackle, linebacker and center.

Free agency can work if theres a plan and a clear vision for the player.

The problem with free agency in football compared to baseball (where players hit, pitch and catch) and basketball (where players athleticism creates competitive advantages) is that football requires schemes and interdependency among 11 players on every play. Its not that easy to put a new piece into the mix as it is with other sports. Thats one reason why results from free agency are sketchy. Usually, teams that make noise in March do not make noise in January.

Free agency is also the price paid for not drafting well. In Green Bay, I remember having to chase and sign Hardy Nickerson because our draft choice slated for middle linebacker, Torrance Marshall, was not working out. I chased and signed Charles Woodson because our two high picks from two previous years, Ahmad Carroll and Joey Thomas, did not pan out.

Look at any big free-agent signing and chances are hes replacing someone the team had high hopes for at some point in the recent past.

As mentioned above, the four-year spread between the highest-spending team, the Cowboys, and the lowest-spending team, the Bucs, is less than $30M a year. In contrast, the New York Yankees are spending more than $200M on their 25 players this season, while the Florida Marlins playing in the same professional sports league are spending $36M. Thats a spread of $164M between the highest- and lowest-spending teams in baseball! And, as we all know, money hasnt bought much for the free-spending Yankees in recent years (although that fact doesnt seem to stop them).

The baseball situation above is what can happen without a salary cap. While there are year-to-year differences in spending between NFL teams, there is a self-regulating effect of the NFL salary cap that will not allow teams to have top-of-league spending every year (the Redskins have been big spenders in 2005, 2007 and 2009 but have had normal spending in the other years).

Bud Selig a member of the board of directors of the Packers -- would shake his head when he listened to my cap and cash presentations, knowing that there was no regulatory mechanism like a cap in baseball. Baseball teams have their own caps budgets but the inequality in spending was and is a problem in baseball. Selig loved the fact that the Tampa Bay Rays were in the World Series last year with a $44M payroll, proving the theme again that sound management rather than money buys championships.

The disparity in spending in baseball can be a cautionary tale for owners and players in football. Without a cap, there is neither a ceiling nor a floor on spending. There could be teams playing the role of the Yankees and Red Sox and teams playing the role of the Marlins and Rays. Time will tell, and that time may be coming.

Cash is king, and the cash numbers are out. What they show are two things: One, for the overriding goal of winning, sometimes you cant just follow the money. And two, the disparity in spending is a fraction of that of baseball, a potentially ominous statistic as we stare down the barrel of a year without a salary cap in 2010.

Enjoy the holiday. Happy birthday, America!

blueleopard
15 years ago
I remember all the flack we got when signing Woodson. I knew he would pan out. At that point in time, any veteran was better than keeping Ahmad Carroll around.
Danreb Victorio A Believer of Greg Jennings
bozz_2006
15 years ago
I was mad that we signed Woodson instead of Lavar Arrington. :thumbleft:
UserPostedImage
Bigbyfan
15 years ago

I was mad that we signed Woodson instead of Lavar Arrington. :thumbleft:

"bozz_2006" wrote:



Ouch 😉
blank
dhazer
15 years ago

Although I have numbers that are slightly different, the point is the same: Spending big and winning big do not correlate. Indeed, having managed player costs at the Packers during that time frame, we were third lowest in the league at $457M about $114M average per season -- and were an overtime away from the Super Bowl in a year (2007) in which we were the second lowest-spending team in the league.



That part bothers me he is bragging about being an ot away from the Super Bowl but yet doesn't bother to mention we ended up with 2 top 10 draft picks and made the playoff one year. I think your good teams are usually right in the middle, but then again i saw the other day that the cowboys had the longest streak of being in the playoffs. Also to talk about the draft we are coming up to what i predicted and that was we would be losing players because we have so many players contracts expiring at the same time.
Just Imagine this for the next 6-9 years. What a ride it will be 🙂 (PS, Zero should charge for this)
UserPostedImage
15 years ago
I do not blame Tampa Bay this off season as there was not much on the free agent market. The only thing the Bucaneers should have done was bring back Garcia.
blank
beast
15 years ago

i saw the other day that the cowboys had the longest streak of being in the playoffs.

"dhazer" wrote:



I'm not sure it's true but the other day I saw something about the Playoffs too. It said,

There are two teams that haven't won a playoff game since 2000.

The Lions and..... the Cowboys.



Not sure if true but anyways it's not about being in the playoffs... but winning in them.
UserPostedImage
Bigbyfan
15 years ago
The Cowboys haven't won a playoff game in 12 years.
blank
dfosterf
15 years ago
Dhazer gets his streaks confused.

I suggest bleach and use the hot water setting.
IronMan
15 years ago

but then again i saw the other day that the cowboys had the longest streak of being in the playoffs.

"dhazer" wrote:


The Cowboys have made the playoffs 3 times in the last 9 years.
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : WR who said he'd break Xavier Worthy 40 time...and ran slower than you
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Who?
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Texas’ WR Isaiah Bond is scheduled to visit the Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Falcons, Packers and Titans starting next week.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Spotting ball isn't changing, only measuring distance is, Which wasn't the issue.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : The spotting of the ball IS the issue. Not the chain gang.
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Will there be a tracker on the ball or something?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : uh oh
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : Too bad camera's can't spot the ball as well.
Mucky Tundra (1-Apr) : So will the chain gang be gone completely or will they still be around as a backup or whatever?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : The method for measuring first downs in the NFL will switch from chain gangs to camera-based technology in 2025, the league announced.
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : A big step in the right direction. Just put in the college system is very very good.
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : NFL has passed a rule that allows both teams to possess the ball in OT during the regular season
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : Touchbacks on kickoffs will now bring the ball to the 35-yard line.
beast (31-Mar) : It might of gotten more popular recently, but braiding hair (even men) in certain cultures goes back for centuries.
Martha Careful (30-Mar) : Is men braiding their hair a new style thing? Watching the NCAA men's tournament many players have done
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Ha. Well, it'd be nice for folks to reset their own password. Via validated email 😏
beast (29-Mar) : Monopoly was supposed to be an educational game, that show how evil capitalism was and how we should avoid it
beast (29-Mar) : Lol, I was thinking username would be better, as then I wouldn't have to keep an email up to date lol 😂
beast (29-Mar) : Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (29-Mar) : sure is
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Monopoly is a rip off of The Landlord's Game
wpr (27-Mar) : 28 days until the draft
earthquake (27-Mar) : Which seemed strange to my 9 year old self, that you could be a fan for a team other than the one you play for
earthquake (27-Mar) : Nothing eventful happened, other than it being clear that he was a bengals fan
earthquake (27-Mar) : And we went and hung out with him one afternoon, I must have been 9 or so
earthquake (27-Mar) : That’s wild, when I was a kid my friend lived in the same apartment complex in De Pere
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : Only career highspot was a 200 yard rushing game while playing for the Cardinals
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : He is a former Packer. Drafted out of Northern Illinois. Didn't do much in GB.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Despicable
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Former NFL. I think Packers too
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : NFL RB Leshon Johnson has been charged in a massive dog fighting operation, with the FBI seizing over 190 Pit Bulls
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Some real irony of a QB as short as Wilson playing for the Giants
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Giants country, let's be the tall beings of lore!
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Russell Wilson signs with the Giants.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (25-Mar) : I don't think there is a significant difference. I use a user name for many. Others email.
Martha Careful (25-Mar) : email
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : would it be better to use EMAIL or USERNAME to log into a site?
wpr (25-Mar) : Thanks Zero
Zero2Cool (24-Mar) : New forum has the ability to Thank a post now.
beast (24-Mar) : And the only time they have won the Championship in an even year, was the first time they did, in 2006.
beast (24-Mar) : Since 2007, there have been 10 odd numbered years, Wisconsin Women have won the Championship in 7 of those 10 odd numbered years.
buckeyepackfan (24-Mar) : Congratulations Lady Badger Hockey Team. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
Zero2Cool (23-Mar) : I don't think it's completed yet. it was just announced last month, right?
dhazer (23-Mar) : did netflix ever release the Packers documentary
Zero2Cool (21-Mar) : And it is glorious!
beast (21-Mar) : Unsigned FA QB Rodgers is supposedly in the Steelers building
Martha Careful (19-Mar) : But I don't own a car! So can I still use it in my apartment?
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : btw, new site auto updates
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : Woohoo!
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Jan 12 @ 3:30 PM
Eagles
Recent Topics
2-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

2-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

1-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

1-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

31-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

30-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

29-Mar / Random Babble / wpr

28-Mar / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / dfosterf

28-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

26-Mar / Random Babble / Mucky Tundra

25-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

24-Mar / Random Babble / packerfanoutwest

24-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

21-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

19-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.