Today was very interesting in that I had an opportunity to see Downtown Houston, TX and I have to say I am impressed! The only thing that throws me off is that I am so used to my Boston jaywalking days, I actually felt weird leaving others on the edge of the crosswalk when I saw no traffic heading our direction. If you ask me, screw the lights, if you have time and space to make a move, make it...that is how we do walking or driving in merry ol' Boston. BTW, quick solicitation...I need a job folks...I'm starving right now and the federal loan $ is drying up. If there is anyone willing to pay me up to $20/hr to sit and write these articles, watch football, sleep, talk on the phone (minutes paid for up front of course), study or challenge some of the knuckle-headed Houston drivers on the road...you already know.
As for the interesting world of sports, I was looking around on the Internet and one thing struck me...how Albert Haynesworth is the luckiest man this side of Lee Majors. I mean this guy had at least 1,000 lbs fall on his knee and all he has is a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL). When I first saw the injury, I know his agent was screaming DAMN!!!!! For those who do not know, Haynesworth is one of the more dominant defensive tackles in the NFL and was a mid- season candidate for NFL MVP. He has seemingly come a long way from the Andre Garoude http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5nlEA8BUTQ stomp-out a couple of seasons back and put himself in line for a huge contract once he hit unrestricted free agency. His current team, the Tennessee Titans decided to hang onto him last season, placing the 'franchise tag' on him, which is a one year deal, salary all guaranteed and amounting to the average salary of the top 5 players at his position in the league or 120% of his previous year's salary, whichever one is higher. However, the major risk in a deal of this sort is that there is no long term commitment from the team and if the player's value slips during the subsequent season, he will make considerably less on the open market or be forced to sign back to his original team at a significant discount.
Now say if Haynesworth suffered a Tom Brady-like injury where the not only the MCL is blown out, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is destroyed as well, imagine the free fall in his value for the next season. He would not have the protection of a long term commitment from his existing team AND no other team would be willing to make such a risky investment over the long term. This is the dilemma players in the NFL face when they sign are tagged and sign the 'franchise' agreement. In Albert's case, I know his career flashed in front of his eyes as he made the changes in his on field behavior, rebounding from a heinous act in stomping out a fellow player (cleats to his face) and was able to rehabilitate his image to the point where his team was willing to make a large investment in him.
In signing the franchise agreement, Albert was investing in himself; a good season gets you good money, a bad season gets you decent money and a superb season lets the player set the market standard. The tag's essential purpose is to get the player to the negotiating table without the interference of other teams; if a team wants the player they must give up not one, but two future first round picks. In many cases, the player and the team come to an agreement as Lance Briggs and the Chicago Bears did last season where the team agrees to not place the tag on the player again if he agrees to play under the tag. I have two examples of this; one past and the other in the present. In 2007, New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel (who garnered a Briggs-like agreement) played under the 'franchise' tag and proceeded to have one of the best seasons of his career on a record setting team. The Patriots attempted to make an offer, but after a great season and not being able to hammer out a long term contractual commitment, Samuel decided to let the market dictate what he was worth rather than the Patriots. He was worth $57 million over 6 years to the Philadelphia Eagles. Presently Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomghua is playing under the 'franchise' tag and seems set to rake in a big haul in free agency.
However, the Raiders do reserve the right to tag Asomoghua again this off-season; this is something not unprecedented as Seattle Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones played under the tag for three consecutive seasons (2002-2004) was lucky enough to stay healthy and cash in when the team believed they could make a long term commitment without suffering negative salary cap ramifications. However, Asomghua has several things working for him: 1) he is an elite player that has not slipped during this season in performance, so he will match or exceed the market at his position, 2) the Raiders are notorious for overvaluing players on OTHER teams and undervaluing the players they do have, 3) he can always hold out until he is traded, which the Raiders would do (hopefully not for a 4th round pick in the draft ala Randy Moss) and finally, 4) the team may be better off letting him go as the organization needs a top to bottom philosophical shift in approaching football operations.
I for one am glad Albert Haynesworth will be okay and he will be able to reap the benefits of another 'franchise' tag (which I know he will probably not do), strike a deal with the Titans at market value or blow out the market when he hits unrestricted free agency. The franchise tag in my estimation works well for both sides (player and team) as the team is forced to put up a lions share of guaranteed money that counts against the salary cap (which can inhibit them from signing players they need to be competitive) and the player assumes the risk of injury and poor performance...classic benefit detriment as I have learned in law school. Imagine if it is all positive and it works out with the team being successful, the player can get his money and the team can attract prime free agents from other teams. This a classic situation in which the Titans and Haynesworth are in now; get well big man and get paid.
As for the interesting world of sports, I was looking around on the Internet and one thing struck me...how Albert Haynesworth is the luckiest man this side of Lee Majors. I mean this guy had at least 1,000 lbs fall on his knee and all he has is a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL). When I first saw the injury, I know his agent was screaming DAMN!!!!! For those who do not know, Haynesworth is one of the more dominant defensive tackles in the NFL and was a mid- season candidate for NFL MVP. He has seemingly come a long way from the Andre Garoude http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5nlEA8BUTQ stomp-out a couple of seasons back and put himself in line for a huge contract once he hit unrestricted free agency. His current team, the Tennessee Titans decided to hang onto him last season, placing the 'franchise tag' on him, which is a one year deal, salary all guaranteed and amounting to the average salary of the top 5 players at his position in the league or 120% of his previous year's salary, whichever one is higher. However, the major risk in a deal of this sort is that there is no long term commitment from the team and if the player's value slips during the subsequent season, he will make considerably less on the open market or be forced to sign back to his original team at a significant discount.
Now say if Haynesworth suffered a Tom Brady-like injury where the not only the MCL is blown out, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is destroyed as well, imagine the free fall in his value for the next season. He would not have the protection of a long term commitment from his existing team AND no other team would be willing to make such a risky investment over the long term. This is the dilemma players in the NFL face when they sign are tagged and sign the 'franchise' agreement. In Albert's case, I know his career flashed in front of his eyes as he made the changes in his on field behavior, rebounding from a heinous act in stomping out a fellow player (cleats to his face) and was able to rehabilitate his image to the point where his team was willing to make a large investment in him.
In signing the franchise agreement, Albert was investing in himself; a good season gets you good money, a bad season gets you decent money and a superb season lets the player set the market standard. The tag's essential purpose is to get the player to the negotiating table without the interference of other teams; if a team wants the player they must give up not one, but two future first round picks. In many cases, the player and the team come to an agreement as Lance Briggs and the Chicago Bears did last season where the team agrees to not place the tag on the player again if he agrees to play under the tag. I have two examples of this; one past and the other in the present. In 2007, New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel (who garnered a Briggs-like agreement) played under the 'franchise' tag and proceeded to have one of the best seasons of his career on a record setting team. The Patriots attempted to make an offer, but after a great season and not being able to hammer out a long term contractual commitment, Samuel decided to let the market dictate what he was worth rather than the Patriots. He was worth $57 million over 6 years to the Philadelphia Eagles. Presently Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomghua is playing under the 'franchise' tag and seems set to rake in a big haul in free agency.
However, the Raiders do reserve the right to tag Asomoghua again this off-season; this is something not unprecedented as Seattle Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones played under the tag for three consecutive seasons (2002-2004) was lucky enough to stay healthy and cash in when the team believed they could make a long term commitment without suffering negative salary cap ramifications. However, Asomghua has several things working for him: 1) he is an elite player that has not slipped during this season in performance, so he will match or exceed the market at his position, 2) the Raiders are notorious for overvaluing players on OTHER teams and undervaluing the players they do have, 3) he can always hold out until he is traded, which the Raiders would do (hopefully not for a 4th round pick in the draft ala Randy Moss) and finally, 4) the team may be better off letting him go as the organization needs a top to bottom philosophical shift in approaching football operations.
I for one am glad Albert Haynesworth will be okay and he will be able to reap the benefits of another 'franchise' tag (which I know he will probably not do), strike a deal with the Titans at market value or blow out the market when he hits unrestricted free agency. The franchise tag in my estimation works well for both sides (player and team) as the team is forced to put up a lions share of guaranteed money that counts against the salary cap (which can inhibit them from signing players they need to be competitive) and the player assumes the risk of injury and poor performance...classic benefit detriment as I have learned in law school. Imagine if it is all positive and it works out with the team being successful, the player can get his money and the team can attract prime free agents from other teams. This a classic situation in which the Titans and Haynesworth are in now; get well big man and get paid.
Haynesworth every penny! Ask Matt Schaub 3/4 times!!!
ReplyDelete