This is a damn shame. It is a complete joke that this unproven jock is making so much loot. He has absolutely NO incentive to become a great QB now. He is set for life, and he hasn't taken one snap in the NFL.

You should get paid for performance, not potential. JeMarkus Russel is set for life and he's done nothing. Hey, can't blame the kids. Blame the idiot owners. It's about time to boycott over mess like this. This certainly hurts the on-field product.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3406508

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Mawae: Big rookie contracts like Ryan's 'disheartening'

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ESPN.com news services

NFL Players Association president Kevin Mawae isn't a fan of big rookie contracts.


On "The Herd" on ESPN Radio on Wednesday, Mawae, the Tennessee Titans center, commented on quarterback Matt Ryan signing a record-setting contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

"As a guy who has been in the league for 14 now going on 15 years and being around other veteran guys, for a young guy to get paid that kind of money and never steps foot on an NFL football field, it's a little disheartening to think of," Mawae said. "It makes it tough for a guy who's proven himself to say 'I want that kind of money' when the owners, all they're going to say is, 'Well, you weren't a first-round pick.'

"And I know there is sentiment around the league amongst the players like, 'Let's do something to control these salaries and control these signing bonuses' and things like that, and I know that's something that the owners are talking about and I'm sure that's going to play in to this round of negotiations for this collective bargaining agreement," he said.

Ryan became the second top draft choice to sign when he accepted a six-year, $72 million contract that included $34.75 million in guarantees. Less than a week before the draft, tackle Jake Long signed a five-year, $57.75 million deal with the Miami Dolphins.

Dolphins kicker Jay Feely was also on the show and echoed Mawae's sentiments, saying veteran players don't believe rookies should be "paid more than Tom Brady or be paid more than Peyton Manning" on their first contract.

"After three or four years if they come in and prove something, then they get that big contract," Feely said. "The reality is it does a couple of different things. If you get the wrong kind of guy, it can skew the dynamics in the locker room. You get a guy who doesn't work hard, that doesn't have an internal desire to be great, and he gets that kind of money and he doesn't care what anybody says. He's not going to listen to the veterans leadership in the locker room. He can be and say whatever he wants to do, and he can come into that locker room and not listen to anybody because he got paid $30 million guaranteed. It takes away some guys' motivation.

"I think that football is such a physical game, that if you don't have that kind of motivation, especially with young guys -- I was talking to a veteran guy last night, and we talked about how that can ... we're setting a lot of those young guys coming out of college, we're setting them up for failure and we're worried about guys like Pacman Jones and the trouble they get in, but when you continue to give huge enormous contracts like that to guys that may not be ready for it as well as the different dynamics in the locker room, I think it's a system that needs to be fixed," Feely said.

Information from ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton was used in this report.

I tend to agree but I don't blame Matt Ryan. Author Blank get's these "boy crushes" on these athletes and can't control his purse strings. I wonder if he really had anything to do with the success of Home Depot. I'd love to play him in poker.

Does this raise the bar for other selected before him? Does this make for long holdouts also?

Blank is trying to show Atl fans that the Michael Vick era is over and done. Matt Ryan is the new face of the franchise- for better or worse. Somehow, I fear the worst.

I think its backwards that they get rewarded off the bat. BUT get your money WHILE ITS THERE

I think Ryan's gonna be a beast... give him a line and he'll pick teams apart.

quote:

Originally posted by RA:
I think Ryan's gonna be a beast... give him a line and he'll pick teams apart.

Man, you're a little late for an April Fools joke.

quote:

Originally posted by RA:
I think Ryan's gonna be a beast... give him a line and he'll pick teams apart.

Hard to do when he'll be on his back.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by HAMPTONITE:
I think its backwards that they get rewarded off the bat. BUT get your money WHILE ITS THERE[/QUOTE

YUPP

quote:

Originally posted by Dog in Me:
Does this raise the bar for other selected before him? Does this make for long holdouts also?

Ryan went 3rd, right??? #1 signed before the draft. I think it sets the minimum for Howie's son at #2.

As for rookie contracts, this has been going on for years. Each year rookies tend to get more money. The guys complaining now got way more than the guys that came before them. It's a continuous cycle. And until the NFL does like the NBA did and institute a rookie salary cap, it's gonna continue. It shouldn't be hard to do, since next year's rookies are still in college. Not like they can protest and have their voices heard. Put a cap in place. Slot the salaries according to some formula and be done. Just like the NBA.

quote:

Originally posted by hulaw94:

quote:

Originally posted by RA:
I think Ryan's gonna be a beast... give him a line and he'll pick teams apart.

Hard to do when he'll be on his back.

Exactly. Blank just paid $72 million for a throw rug

quote:

Originally posted by RA:
I think Ryan's gonna be a beast... give him a line and he'll pick teams apart.

Nope! This guys is an average QB at best.

Get Paid!! Get Money!! Get Paid!!

"Free Market Value"

Capitalism!!

How much is the franchise worth and the owner(s) making if he(they) can even consider negotiating such a deal?

Get Paid!! Get Money!! Get Paid!!

Remember this thread.

quote:

Originally posted by RA:
Remember this thread.

Don't worry, I live in Atlanta...I'll have to relive it 16 times next year.

A QB is only as good as his OL. That fundamental truth of football will never change. ALL winning QBs had very good offensive line. The ironic exception, Michael Vick.

This kid has potential!

Toss this kid a ball and see what he does with it. I think he is going to be a great one!

Man, it's just so hard to guess who will be great and who will be busts. Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, David Car, Joey Harrington. How do you know?

Here, I will go with Marv and RA. I think Ryan will become a great QB. I still think this money thing is a complete joke.

quote:

Originally posted by Jafus (Thinker):
Get Paid!! Get Money!! Get Paid!!

"Free Market Value"

Capitalism!!

How much is the franchise worth and the owner(s) making if he(they) can even consider negotiating such a deal?

Get Paid!! Get Money!! Get Paid!!

Cosign!!! The starting salaries go up every year just like in most other professions.

Until they have guaranteed contracts I'm all for getting that paper up front.

Though I dont think his money was spent wisely, it may have been well spent given the Vick travesty. Atl needed a Marquee name to start the post-Vick era. Ryan balled and balled hard in college. To pay that kind of loot for an unproven? When Atl's needs are TREMENDOUS on both sides of the ball? I cant say I see it, but it is in keeping with some of his STUPID spending habits.

As for the issue of money and money alone......
Get what you can get when you can get it. You do what the market will bear. Business 101. In an era where contracts are NOT guaranteed, an athelete would be STUPID not to get every stinkin penny they could while they can.

This is one of the BEST moves I've ever seen.

-signed John Fox,
Head Coach, Carolina Panthers.