Feed The Young: Upshaw, Union Oppose Limits On Rookie Deals
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Upshaw Adamantly Opposed To
NFL Limits On Rookie Pay |
With the NFL salary cap “continually growing, the pay scale for rookies drafted in the first few picks is increasing as well -- at a pace seemingly uncomfortable for a number of franchises,” according to Jason Cole of YAHOO SPORTS. NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw: “Every year at this time, I hear it again. They don’t like how the rookies are paid. ‘They need some kind of pay scale.’ Well, I’m not going to agree to limit how the rookies are paid because it has a huge impact on veterans. I'm not going to agree to it.” Colts President & GM Bill Polian in February said of draft picks’ compensation, “We’re not paying based on the real talent level, but based on the fact that somebody just happens to have to go first or second or whatever.” However, Cole reported Upshaw is “against additional structuring because the union has already given teams a rookie cap within the overall salary cap, effectively putting limits on how much guaranteed money goes to rookie players.” Upshaw also is “concerned that keeping rookie salaries too cheap could price veterans out of jobs, especially those who make one of the varying minimum salaries.” Upshaw: “We don’t want to get into a position where the league is keeping four or five rookies because it’s cheaper than keeping one or two veterans.” However, Buccaneers GM Bruce Allen said rookie compensation has gotten to the point where “trading up isn’t worth the price, not just (from) what you have to give up, but in the salary you pay for that pick” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/21).
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Polian Says NFL Will Seek To Address
Growth Of Rookie's Contracts In New CBA |
ON THE RISE: USA TODAY’s Jarrett Bell notes the top 10 picks in the '07 NFL Draft signed contracts with guaranteed money averaging $18.7M -- a “launching point for negotiations for prime picks in this weekend's draft and the cause of much anxiety by team executives.” Polian said rookie deals are “rising at a rate that’s well above the level of inflation.” Bell notes rookie deals also are “lapping the pace of the NFL’s rising salary cap,” and the “slices committed to unproven rookies is among issues the league … will probably address as it seeks to revise its [CBA]” (USA TODAY, 4/24). But in Dallas, Rick Gosselin in an online chat noted the Dolphins signed OT Jake Long to a deal that is "not the customary 10[%] above the previous year's draft slot." Gosselin: "Frankly, the rest of the NFL is applauding [Dolphins Exec VP/Football Operations Bill Parcells] because all rookie contracts will fall in under Long's" (DALLASNEWS.com, 4/23).
PUTTING A CAP ON IT: In Dallas, Calvin Watkins wrote a rookie salary cap “could be a solution.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: “We do want to look at that. I think it’s important to veteran players. As a veteran player, you have proved your performance on the NFL field, and I think that should be rewarded. So when you see players come in that have not played in the NFL and it’s still unclear whether they can still play on a certain level in the NFL, I think that’s a fair point.” However, agent Ian Greengross said, “As a whole, I don’t see a salary cap for the rookies. You’re talking about picks one to eight that get high money. … What about the seventh-round guy who outperforms his contract?” Cowboys LB and union rep Greg Ellis added, “The structure has room for growth. … [But] we’re not too critical of the rookies getting that money up front, because they drive our salaries.” Stanford Univ. economics professor emeritus Roger Noll, who has consulted with several NFL teams and the NFLPA in the past, said, “You can cut the rookie salaries, but I don’t think it will affect very much. The owners can’t help themselves, and they go out and spend, spend, spend” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/20).
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