The rookie slotting system, while needed, is realistically just a crutch for their lack of backbone.
"IronMan" wrote:
Thank you! +1.
"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:
I would go as far as to say, that if it takes a lockout to get there, somehow the rookie contracts have got to get under control. This has been mentioned on here a number of times in the CBA threads.
This is one of the primary reasons the owners opted out.. the money (a good percentage becomes dead) for the 1st round of the draft is absurd and out of line. Look, I don't think the owners are hurting that badly in the revenue department, but throwing this kind of money at a totally unproven commodity is ridiculous. Additionally it artificially drives up the veteran salaries at a higher pace and yearly causes contract riffs with players that suddenly are "underpaid" with respect to these snot nosed 1st round rooks.
Establish a rookie pool, with every pick given a percentage of the salary cap on their rookie deals, establish a "fair" threshold where the rookie can obtain unrestricted free agency and let them establish their market value on the field and earn their larger salary three to four years into their career. Even the running backs and their short career numbers would at least see one large contract. I would be willing to bet as well, that the number of draft busts would decrease in the first round or two as well.
Why tab the incoming rookie salaries to the cap? Simple, it would ensure that each year as the cap increases their salary would increase as well. Additionally, this would in a way protect all parties involved as their wages would be static, budgeted and level in respect to player costs.
Further more, it would increase the competitive balance in the league to a greater degree, as the draft would start to truly help the team that it was intended to help and free them from the financial waste of top 10 busts.
As far as the players go, it would create a larger veteran pool of cap and start balancing the contracts out again where proven players and stars earn proportionally more than these green rookies.
The ones that lose out are the agents of these inbound rookies, but they will have a change to see more of the contracts with the veteran players, however it would hurt their cash flow influx that they see every July and August.
But the trickle down effect into the college game would be helpful as well, basically these blood thirsty leeches wouldn't be lining the pockets of draft eligible juniors and seniors in the agent recruiting wars. Don't think it is there.. don't kid yourself.. it is, just most are smart enough to keep it under wraps. Just as dirty (by the rules) as the colleges handing out money.
So yes, this needs to happen for the good of the long term health of the game from the players, owners and fan perspective.
PS... I hope they give Raji a chance to get his legs under him, slowly get into the football hitting portions and avoid further delays to him hitting the field.
He is behind in the installs, but his body is also behind all the other cats that have been hitting and getting their bodies adjusted to the physical nature of the game again. People that say he hasn't missed out much are missing this aspect of the game, and if he or the team tries to rush the process, it is generally where an injury occurs and put him even further behind.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"