Rookie Salaries - Out of Control

If I were the Skins I would give Taylor a new contract right now. It's going to be a lot harder to resign him when he's a FA than it would be right now. Show ST the money!

I have to say that I think all NFL contracts are starting to get out of control. They'll be seeing baseball money soon enough. I am also in agreement that rooks make way too much. It disturbs me that Landry got so much money because I don't know how Taylor is going to react. His agent (Rosenhaus?) has got to be pissed. Hopefully it doesn't cause too many hard feelings and the two sides can come to an agreement on an extension when the time comes, but it certainly makes me nervous.

I've said a few times that I think the NFL should enact a rule similar to MLB's 10/5 rule. However, I don't think it should be 10/5, maybe 7/5. Essentially a player would have to have been in the league for at least 7 years and on the same team for 5. That team would then be able "tag" him to excluding him from being counted against the cap. The spirit of the rule being to keep Montana and Rice in SF, Emmitt in Dallas and Art Monk in Washington. However, I'm sure that it would somehow become a slap in the face to a player to be designated with such a tag, much the same way the franchise tag is today. I would grant each team 1 or 2 of these tags. Maybe it could be the same salary structure as the franchise tag (average of the league's top 5 highest paid) that wouldn't count against your cap.

However, that system would benefit fans and players more than owners, so it will probably never happen...this is, after all, the NFL we're talking about.7 years? Do you know how many years the average player last in the NFL? Its around 4 years.

7 years? Do you know how many years the average player last in the NFL? Its around 4 years.

That's why it should be 7. You shouldn't just hand them out to any player.

I think the NFL should insert a "BUST" clause for all first round draft picks so that the team that drafted them can recoup some of that guranteed money and use it on some hard working vets!

I totally like this idea. we will pay you but if you suck we get our money back. And yes we need to pay ST now.

Is there any reason that the NFL can't go to a slotting system like the NBA, where the league determines that #1 gets $X million, #2 gets $Y, etc...?

This would solve two problems: there would be no holdouts because of contract negotiations and the league could simply set rookie salaries at a reasonable threshold.

I think rookies shouldn't get paid a ton - they should have to perform in the NFL and get paid with their second contract. Rookies - even 1st rounders - are no better than a 50/50 chance of being any good in the NFL, so this would protect the teams, their salary caps and the league as a whole.

Players would have to deal with it if it was league wide.

I saw in an article on CNNSI that Freeney just got $30M (guaranteed)as the best pass rusher over the past few years in the NFL, where Joe Thomas got $23 (guaranteed) without ever taking a snap. What if he's not all that good (ala Gallery)?

QB's rarely play in the first couple of seasons. I mean, if Campbell turns out to be as good as we are hoping he'll be, we'll have to pay him huge $$ to keep him, even though he hasn't done crap for 3 years.

It just makes good sense to have rookies all sign 3-year deals for low $$ (but still making more than any of us) and then after that they can go to the bank if they actually performed.

Is there something I'm missing?

I dont think the NFLPA would go for it.

Also, by paying them so much money it doesn't help to motivate them at all to push forward when they start getting older or get hurt. I think they just want to pack it up when times get tough because they already have more money than they know what to do with..... I think Tiki was just the start, and more and more of these young players are going to bail out long before their time is up.

All rookies should have a standard contract that is already spelled out by the NFL.
I am sick of these rookies thinking they are worth more than the veterans that have played and proven themselves for years.
I'm all for paying for talent, but the Ryan Leaf's of the world do happen. These rookies are holding out and missing camp setting them back even farther in their developement, and they are getting what they want cause the team is handcuffed to sign them. It's either sign them for what they want (or close to what they want) or don't sign them and they missed out on their first round pick.
It's time for the NFL to step in and designate what someone will be paid. This will solve a lot of issues, including someone holding out, and those that think they are worth more than the pick before them. The teams will also know if they can afford the pick before they enter the draft. Too many primadonna's!

I pretty much agree with everyone in this thread lol. Rookie salaries are way out of control, and it's only gonna get worse unless the NFL does something. I like the idea of a set contract for a certain draft pick, that way the NFL won't see holdouts any more, and rookies wouldn't be getting huge paydays just because they got drafted high.

you can say what you want about the NBA. but their salary cap is by far the best out there. with the slotted money for the rookies, to the Larry Bird rule, easily the best in sports

you can say what you want about the NBA. but their salary cap is by far the best out there. with the slotted money for the rookies, to the Larry Bird rule, easily the best in sports

I am really not that familiar with the basketball salary cap, but I know there are certain things I do like about it, like what you mentioned.