Fair Game: NFLPA's Smith Downplays Need For Rookie Wage Cap
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Smith Says No Dissension
Between Veterans, Rookies |
NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith appeared today on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike in the Morning," where he discussed the revised talk of a rookie wage cap in light of the Lions signing No. 1 draft pick QB Matthew Stafford to a six-year deal that could be worth as much as $78M. Smith said there is "no dissension between our veterans and our rookies" regarding large contracts for draft picks. Smith has been meeting with the players during the six weeks since being named to his position, and he said, "The only thing I can say after meeting with players ... (is) the overwhelming question that they have about the rookie wage scale is why are the owners asking us this question?" ESPN's Mike Golic noted several veterans, including Vikings DE Jared Allen and Panthers QB Jake Delhomme, have been outspoken about the need for a rookie cap, and asked, “Shouldn't more of the pie go to veterans who have played more than to rookies who have never stepped on the field?” Smith: “There is a pie but the reality is -- and the owners know this and the players know this -- what the rookies get is a slice. There is a rookie cap. Less than 4% of the cap money is devoted to rookies. So there is a cap." He added, "Thirty-two men decide who is right for their team and how much money we're going to pay them, and that has never been a player issue. No one made these teams pick these players. No one made them pay that amount" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN2, 4/30).
TAKING THE LIONS' SHARE: ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reported the Lions have "received the most rookie pool allocation dollars" in the NFL, a figure that represents the "maximum amount of salary cap space allotted to each team to sign its draft choices and undrafted free agents." The Lions' allocation is $8,074,992, which is "roughly 71[%] higher than the league-wide average" of $4.711M. The total rookie pool for the league is $150.755M, which marks a 7% increase over last year. A record 12 teams this year "each earned rookie pools of $5[M] or more," while nine teams received less than $4M (ESPN.com, 4/29).
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TEAM
|
'09 DRAFT PICKS
|
POOL
|
TEAM
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'09 DRAFT PICKS
|
POOL
|
| 1. Lions |
10
|
$8,074,992
|
17. Texans |
8
|
$4,603,346
|
| 2. Broncos |
10
|
$7,117,871
|
18. Steelers |
9
|
$4,284,902
|
| 3. Bengals |
8
|
$6,636,324
|
19. Chargers |
8
|
$4,200,683
|
| 4. Patriots |
12
|
$6,032,711
|
20. Falcons |
8
|
$4,126,197
|
| 5. Bills |
8
|
$5,940,374
|
21. 49ers |
7
|
$4,107,801
|
| 6. Rams |
7
|
$5,925,441
|
22. Colts |
8
|
$4,079,726
|
| 7. Jaguars |
9
|
$5,737,150
|
23. Eagles |
8
|
$4,060,021
|
| 8. Chiefs |
8
|
$5,538,247
|
24. Cardinals |
8
|
$3,976,197
|
| 9. Packers |
8
|
$5,443,396
|
25. Bears |
9
|
$3,497,111
|
| 10. Seahawks |
7
|
$5,192,801
|
26. Redskins |
6
|
$3,460,954
|
| 11. Titans |
11
|
$5,158,799
|
27. Jets |
3
|
$3,429,442
|
| 12. Raiders |
7
|
$5,048,693
|
28. Colts |
6
|
$3,372,231
|
| 13. Browns |
8
|
$4,928,948
|
29. Bucs |
6
|
$3,359,466
|
| 14. Giants |
9
|
$4,867,462
|
30. Panthers |
7
|
$3,326,694
|
| 15. Dolphins |
9
|
$4,820,998
|
31. Vikings |
5
|
$3,064,512
|
| 16. Cowboys |
12
|
$4,639,193
|
32. Saints |
3
|
$2,802,342
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FEELING A DRAFT: In Phoenix, Paola Boivin writes while the NFL is considering moving the first round of the Draft to primetime on a Thursday, the Draft is "right where it belongs: on the weekend on a network that provides a continuous feed of analysis and scrolls for the diehards." Under the proposed plan, the second and third rounds would take place Friday night, and Boivin writes, "Can't imagine a lot of people staying in Friday evening to see who the Detroit Lions land with the 65th pick." The possible move is "another example of the too-much-of-a-good-thing approach that seems to have plagued the NFL lately." The NFL also is considering expanding the regular-season schedule, but 16 games "feels right" and 18 is "overkill." Boivin: "Imagine how a team that's 3-14 will draw in its season finale" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/30).
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