Teams' Free Agent Signings Likely to Cause Problems

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Cornerback Nate Clements got an 8-year deal worth $80M. Guard Eric Steinbach got a 7-year deal worth $49.5M. Guard Derrick Dockery got a $16M signing bonus on a 7-year deal worth $49M. Fullback Olvie Mughelli got a 6-year deal worth $18M. Strong Safety Michael Lewis, who was benched in favor of Sean Considine by the Eagles, got a $10M signing bonus. The exhorbitant free agent contracts are not terribly surprising. A lot of teams have a lot of money to play with, multiple holes to fill, and need to outbid other cap-rich teams for the few quality free agents.

An unforeseen complication of these signings, however, is that they are likely to increase the number of players who seek to be released or traded in the hopes of hitting that jackpot. These signings just dramatically changed the market, and therefore the worth of every player in the league. Sure, teams can tell players, "You must honor the contract you signed." But I wonder how meaningful such pleas will be to guys like Shawn Merriman (5 yr. deal, $15M, $9M guaranteed) who are earning 1/3 of slightly-above-average guards like Derrick Dockery.

[Rajmahal33]

If what you're saying is true and Merriman hits the market (I usually don't advocate ridiculous spending), i would say the redskins should throw the bank at him b/c he is EXACTLY what this team needs. I actually helped recruit him to Maryland a few years ago and I'm telling you that the guy is not just a physical specimen, he WANTS to win and thats why he plays like such a beast, unlike Vernon Davis, who would be so much better if he had the attitude that merriman had. Merriman uses his entire body to get through ppl and when he makes tackles he aims at a point that is a foot behind his target. In a GW defense this guy could be so disruptive and would probably be a franchise player. Picks, money, it doesn't matter if this guys hits the market or wants to be traded we need to get him.

[GiantsSuck703]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

If what you're saying is true and Merriman hits the market (I usually don't advocate ridiculous spending), i would say the redskins should throw the bank at him b/c he is EXACTLY what this team needs. I actually helped recruit him to Maryland a few years ago and I'm telling you that the guy is not just a physical specimen, he WANTS to win and thats why he plays like such a beast, unlike Vernon Davis, who would be so much better if he had the attitude that merriman had. Merriman uses his entire body to get through ppl and when he makes tackles he aims at a point that is a foot behind his target. In a GW defense this guy could be so disruptive and would probably be a franchise player. Picks, money, it doesn't matter if this guys hits the market or wants to be traded we need to get him.

Steriods made me a physical speciman too, unfortunately my balls shrunk

[wilsowilso]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

If what you're saying is true and Merriman hits the market (I usually don't advocate ridiculous spending), i would say the redskins should throw the bank at him b/c he is EXACTLY what this team needs. I actually helped recruit him to Maryland a few years ago and I'm telling you that the guy is not just a physical specimen, he WANTS to win and thats why he plays like such a beast, unlike Vernon Davis, who would be so much better if he had the attitude that merriman had. Merriman uses his entire body to get through ppl and when he makes tackles he aims at a point that is a foot behind his target. In a GW defense this guy could be so disruptive and would probably be a franchise player. Picks, money, it doesn't matter if this guys hits the market or wants to be traded we need to get him.

Uhhhhh that guy is a cheater I don't care how good he is. That excuse of there were steroids in my supplements is so old and ridiculous it makes me even angrier when someone tries to use it.

[Rajmahal33]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

Uhhhhh that guy is a cheater I don't care how good he is. That excuse of there were steroids in my supplements is so old and ridiculous it makes me even angrier when someone tries to use it.

The truth of it is, u guys have NO idea what actually happened and neither do i. If u want to believe that he used steroids knowingly in the NFL thats on u. But just know this, the guy works his ASS off in the offseason (at MD and at the NFL level), and I know this cuz I have seen it. I can say with confidence that he was NOT juicin when he was with the Terps. Personally, knowing the guy's personality from my run-ins with him and observations in the locker room, he is not the kind of person who would knowingly use 'roids. Maybe I could be wrong, but what i do know is that he served out his suspension and apologized for testing positive. I would wager that he puts up comparable numbers next year. This isn't some washed up guy like Jason Giambi or Bill Romanowski, this is a kid who was in his second season after having a great rookie year and I don't think he was looking for an edge. I could understand ppl's scrutiny of him if he was in his contract year or coming off of an injury, but he had no critics to answer or added pressure to perform that would warrant the risk of using performance enhancers. So I believe him.

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

The truth of it is, u guys have NO idea what actually happened and neither do i. If u want to believe that he used steroids knowingly in the NFL thats on u. But just know this, the guy works his ASS off in the offseason (at MD and at the NFL level), and I know this cuz I have seen it. I can say with confidence that he was NOT juicin when he was with the Terps. Personally, knowing the guy's personality from my run-ins with him and observations in the locker room, he is not the kind of person who would knowingly use 'roids. Maybe I could be wrong, but what i do know is that he served out his suspension and apologized for testing positive. I would wager that he puts up comparable numbers next year. This isn't some washed up guy like Jason Giambi or Bill Romanowski, this is a kid who was in his second season after having a great rookie year and I don't think he was looking for an edge. I could understand ppl's scrutiny of him if he was in his contract year or coming off of an injury, but he had no critics to answer or added pressure to perform that would warrant the risk of using performance enhancers. So I believe him.

Wrong. He was suspended in the NFL for a reason. He WAS cheating "AKA" juicying up, anyone with any common sense nows this.

He just wasn't smart/lucky enough to get away with it, like many do.

[backrow]

To think, we set the market for Safeties with AA!

HTTR!

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

If what you're saying is true and Merriman hits the market (I usually don't advocate ridiculous spending), i would say the redskins should throw the bank at him b/c he is EXACTLY what this team needs. I actually helped recruit him to Maryland a few years ago and I'm telling you that the guy is not just a physical specimen, he WANTS to win and thats why he plays like such a beast, unlike Vernon Davis, who would be so much better if he had the attitude that merriman had. Merriman uses his entire body to get through ppl and when he makes tackles he aims at a point that is a foot behind his target. In a GW defense this guy could be so disruptive and would probably be a franchise player. Picks, money, it doesn't matter if this guys hits the market or wants to be traded we need to get him.

Merriman has no argument - he's in his initial contract, and as with other first rounders, his salary is slotted based on where he was selected. His day to hit the jackpot will come soon enough, although I believe that SD will give him an extension at some point to prevent him from ever testing the FA waters.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Merriman has no argument - he's in his initial contract, and as with other first rounders, his salary is slotted based on where he was selected.

That hasn't stopped Clinton Portis, Sean Taylor, Willis McGahee and numerous others from griping (successfully or unsuccessfully) about their deals and trying to get cut, traded, of a new deal.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

If what you're saying is true and Merriman hits the market (I usually don't advocate ridiculous spending), i would say the redskins should throw the bank at him b/c he is EXACTLY what this team needs. I actually helped recruit him to Maryland a few years ago and I'm telling you that the guy is not just a physical specimen, he WANTS to win and thats why he plays like such a beast, unlike Vernon Davis, who would be so much better if he had the attitude that merriman had. Merriman uses his entire body to get through ppl and when he makes tackles he aims at a point that is a foot behind his target. In a GW defense this guy could be so disruptive and would probably be a franchise player. Picks, money, it doesn't matter if this guys hits the market or wants to be traded we need to get him.

I like your points about SM. He plays harder than anyone I have ever seen. Plus I like that he plays with that mean streak. He is exactly what what not only our defense needs, but he is what the team needs. His story is just amazing. The guy grew up with nothing and was homeless. Why we did not draft him is just a complete mystery to me. THIS IS WHY YOU NEVER EVER DRAFT FOR NEED. We needed a corner and drafted one that plays like a little girl and doesn't challange wr's.

[JWsleep]

This is the nature of the business, right now. And I do think it will have a negative impact on Spirngs and Dock's replacement.

But we are sleeping in a bed we made, as kings of FA. Hopefully, our coaching staff will be able to turn some of these lesser guys into performers. We'll see!

[Longtimefan]

Maybe if the current trend continues, eventually there will be a maximum established for FA's based on position, and length of service. I can understand a player wanting to be compensated for his play, but some of these contracts now are beginning to reach gigantic porportions, ensuring the fact that every marginal player now will rush to free agency in an effort to cash in.

[Aussie_Skins_Fan]

It is simple business, supply and demand. There were only 3 good guards in this years FA and more than 3 teams wanting them, so therefore they get big money. There was only 1 elite corner and many teams looking to sign him so again he got a huge pay day!

If however, as has been suggested every marginal player floods onto the market the pay wont be as big because demand for them would be down. For example if there were 5 pro bowl guards on the market this year Doc wouldn't have gotten anywhere near the contract he did.

Not to mention only so many people could get huge contracts before the cap held the market back.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Aussie_Skins_Fan

It is simple business, supply and demand. There were only 3 good guards in this years FA and more than 3 teams wanting them, so therefore they get big money. There was only 1 elite corner and many teams looking to sign him so again he got a huge pay day!

I agree that player contracts are determined by supply and demand. But do you really think that a great player under contract who is getting 1/3 of what Dockery is getting is really going to be persuaded from holding out by being shown supply/demand curves?

The market will correct itself, there's just a question as to how painful that correction is going to be. The fact is that many players were overpaid this offseason, in large part because of the few quality free agents. The problem is that other players look to such contracts to determine their worth. So, come next offseason, when players are looking to re-sign or hit free agency, their expectations are going to be skewed by this offseason.

I hate to admit it, but this article that was posted on PFT this morning is dead-on:

"The prevailing view in some league circles is that the Cowboys, Browns, Chargers, and Bills paid way too much money for Leonard Davis, Eric Steinbach, Kris Dielman, and Derrick Dockery, respectively. (Memo to Chargers fans: That fact that Dielman has been named as an alternate to the Pro Bowl doesn't mean that he has been named to the team.)

As we've previously noted, none of these guys have ever been named to a Pro Bowl. Yet each of them is swimming in over $15 million in guaranteed money.

So what happens when a true Pro Bowler on the offensive line hits the free-agent market? Will he get $25 million guaranteed? How about $30 million?

As we see it, these recent deals guarantee that the franchise tag will be used more often by teams to keep truly high-end players who become eligible for free agency, since the high-end players are going to look at the recent deals and say, "If a perennial underachiever like Davis is worth $18.75 million guaranteed, I'm worth twice that."

And that's the biggest problem with the combination of lots of cap space and a so-so free-agent class. The floor is getting pushed up for future deals, and the number will only continue to skyrocket.

It's true for other positions as well. If Nate Clements gets $80 million over eight years, what would a guy like Champ Bailey get? And how does a guy like Champ Bailey feel about a player who is clearly one step below him breaking the bank like Bailey never has?

Of course, Bailey isn't due to hit the market until 2011. In the interim, he's scheduled to make good salaries. But in light of the Clements deal, how can Champ not suddenly be thinking that he's underpaid.

Stay tuned. We have a feeling that many players will be privately -- or publicly -- having these same sentiments soon."

[Aussie_Skins_Fan]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I agree that player contracts are determined by supply and demand. But do you really think that a great player under contract who is getting 1/3 of what Dockery is getting is really going to be persuaded from holding out by being shown supply/demand curves?

In the case of players like Merriman who are under contract for a longish period of time and are by market standard grossly underpaid, the only solution i can think of (other than showning them supply/demand curves:cheeky-sm ) is re-working or re-siging these players. This is a fact of the NFL even though players have performance based bonuses you can't offer a rookie the same deal as an elite player, so when that guy become elite the team should resign them to an elite players deal.

This would be an annoying occurence for front office staff to do regularly but in order to keep a player happy and with your team, money is part of it. IMO if a player is happy with his current team he would stay for less money (not alot less but a little less) than he might get on the FA market. Teams will have to adapt to an exploding market by making sure their players don't hit the market. And based upon the article you've provide (a good one i might add) there may be a few players who will get a re-worked or new contract this season worth alot more than their current deals.