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sportscurmudgeon · 07-30-2004, 11:54 AM

Bergman14:

The NBA union sold the draftees down the river in the last collective bargaining in order to protect vets salaries. That was one of the things that they gave to managment in the negotiations as part of their attempt to keep the percentage of revenue going to salaries from falling. Remember, the union caved when David Stern gave them a deadline for an agreement or else he would cancel the season.

The NFL union wants labor peace more than anything else because there is a boatload of money going around for players and coaches and owners - - and the people who are running the union. Trust me on this; Gene Upshaw is not driving a 9 year old Geo Metro! So the union really does not care which of its members get the huge contracts. Remember, Eli Manning is just as much a member of the NFLPA as any random 10-year veteran. So, they are not going to risk killing the goose that lays the golden egg over some concern about which one of their members gets a $45M contract.

BTW, you are generally correct. Having the #1 overall pick in the draft locks you into a HUGE contract for a player unproven at the NFL level. Eli Manning may be as good or even better than his brother Peyton; time will tell. On the other hand, he might be as productive as Brian Bozworth or "Cryin'" Leaf. Imagine if you had a $20M bonus out to a kid that you would have to eat in a single year if you cut him and he turns out to be "Ryan Leaf Redux". Now that would be a Maalox moment!

07-30-2004, 11:54 AM	#3
sportscurmudgeon Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,159	Bergman14: The NBA union sold the draftees down the river in the last collective bargaining in order to protect vets salaries. That was one of the things that they gave to managment in the negotiations as part of their attempt to keep the percentage of revenue going to salaries from falling. Remember, the union caved when David Stern gave them a deadline for an agreement or else he would cancel the season. The NFL union wants labor peace more than anything else because there is a boatload of money going around for players and coaches and owners - - and the people who are running the union. Trust me on this; Gene Upshaw is not driving a 9 year old Geo Metro! So the union really does not care which of its members get the huge contracts. Remember, Eli Manning is just as much a member of the NFLPA as any random 10-year veteran. So, they are not going to risk killing the goose that lays the golden egg over some concern about which one of their members gets a $45M contract. BTW, you are generally correct. Having the #1 overall pick in the draft locks you into a HUGE contract for a player unproven at the NFL level. Eli Manning may be as good or even better than his brother Peyton; time will tell. On the other hand, he might be as productive as Brian Bozworth or "Cryin'" Leaf. Imagine if you had a $20M bonus out to a kid that you would have to eat in a single year if you cut him and he turns out to be "Ryan Leaf Redux". Now that would be a Maalox moment!