Should NFL and NFL-PA do something about rookie salaries?

from JoeUser Forums
Another season coming and more fantastic rookie salaries and seemingly outrageous demands by the top level draft picks.

Reggie Bush, possibly the next savior for New Orleans Saints football, is holding out because he wants the kind of contract that overall #1 draft pick Mario Williams got or will get from Houston. Does he deserve that type of payout even though he's never played a down in the NFL?

How about super talented Vernon Davis, the tight end that is supposed to be the next great thing? Without playing a down in the NFL he is already the highest paid player, or will be, at his position.

Does the NFL and the NFL Players Association have an obligation to "fix" the rookie salary problem? Should they follow the lead of the NBA and their pre-structured rookie salaries and severely limit the amount of money available to rookies in favor of making more money available to the veteran players, players that have proved their worth and perhaps are nearing the ends of their careers?

You tell me and see if you can change my mind. My opinion coming in the comments area.
1,607 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Short answer: yes. Yes the league and the player's association have an obligation to fix the monster that they both created. It's insane to offer up these huge piles of money to the rookies while having to kick veteran players to the curb because the team is capped out from spending all of the money on just a player or two.

The NFL and the PA did try to create a bit of a rookie salary cap, but obviously it is still not working as it should. Top 10, especially top 5 and up, players in the draft still walk away with -- in my opinion -- far too much money, and worse yet the amount of money they are being paid greatly increases the pressure to get those players into the games even if they aren't ready for it.

Instead of using the draft to build for the future, the first several picks are used to get players that are expected to immediately start, and have an impact right away. If they fail even in the slightest way they are seen as busts and huge disappointments. The GMs that draft them are under enormous pressure to get it right and they really have no way of knowing how a college aged player will perform when put in against the pros.

The league and PA must correct the problem and pull the money off the table for the rookies and put it in the veteran salary pool. The vets deserve the money, having proven their worth and provided the service. The rookies may eventually be worth the money, but they need to prove it too. Paying them just because of their draft spot is stupid. If you must pay them that much, then include some standard escalator clauses that will help them earn more money based on number of games started, percentage of time played, etc. Something that tracks back to performance, and doesn't just reward them for being the best of the incoming class.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Nobody held a gun to the Saints to pick Bush. Texas proved that. And if they don't like the price tag, or can't find a smart way to come to terms with him and include performance and incentive clauses, I'm sure they could find a way to trade him to another team.

While the problem exists, is it really the fault of the NFL and PA? Or does the problem have more to to with the irresponsibility of the management of the individual teams that agree to these kinds of terms? I argue that it's the latter. It appears that some teams are quite often more interested in getting these picks signed in order to get the rookie in and sell tickets and market based on the hype, than in improving thier team in any lasting sense. I don't think that teams that have some quality behind their front offices have nearly these kinds of problems. But of course, they almost never get one of the top 5 picks either because year after year they produce quality teams.

Remember too that there is a balancing factor for the vets. If the team is tossing quality veterans under the bus to make way for the flashy rookies, other teams will be more than happy to pay a fair wage for a quailty free agent.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yes.  It is not a question of obligation.  It is a question of ability.  Yes they should try.  The real question is can they suceed?