So…have you heard about this NFL lockout that is supposed to happen next year?
Evidentally some have. From the “Get It Before It’s Gone” Department comes this…
Bradford Gets 50 Million Guaranteed
Quarterback Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall draft pick of the St. Louis Rams, reportedly agreed to a six-year deal that is worth a record $50 million in guarantees.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bradford’s deal is worth a total of $78 million. The guaranteed money is the most ever for a single contract in league history— for rookies or veterans.
And while this isn’t a criticism of the obscene amounts of money contemporary athletes make – as I’ve always said, any of us would cash in – this mega-deal will no doubt become Exhibit A of why the league desperately needs a real rookie salary cap.
And don’t look now, but that uncertain labor future just got a bit more cloudy.
After all, regarding the top 10-15 players taken in the NFL draft, the league is quickly beginning to resemble the NBA of the 1990’s. Today’s Sam Bradford is nothing more than yesterday’s Glenn Robinson. And while the NFL has thankfully avoided the kinds of guaranteed contracts that have sunk various NBA and MLB teams – let’s call this the Vince Carter/Travis Hafner Effect – the money given to top draft picks is anything but sustainable.
Of course, this is a discussion for another time – like next summer, when we all will face the possibility of a football-free 2011. However, in the meantime, let’s just be thankful for what we have.
Or, don’t have in this particular case.
In other words – some 50 million dollars later – now do you see why I was so terrified that the Browns were trying to trade up in order to draft Bradford?
Can you only imagine the following scenario?
1. Bradford – a college spread offense quarterback with some serious injury concerns – would now be the centerpiece of the Browns at a price tag that would be the salary cap equivalent of 4-6 quality players?
2. We do still remember Tim Couch, right? That college spread QB with the shoulder issues? Just checking.
3. Beyond the financial cost, consider that the Browns would have given up anywhere from 2-4 draft picks to land Bradford in April.
4. This could have meant that 2-3 eventual 2010 starters – T.J. Ward, Montario Hardesty and Shaun Lauvao – would not have been drafted….at least not by the Browns.
5. Not to mention that a trade to get Bradford would have eliminated the Joe Haden pick.
6. In case you’re scoring at home, that’s one quarterback versus two secondary players, a running back and right guard.
7. And, if you will – throw in next year’s first round draft pick.
8. For more fun, just imagine that Bradford signed on the first day of Browns’ camp. Regardless of Mike Holmgren’s organizational presence, could anyone envision Bradford becoming more than a 50 million dollar backup?
9. And some of you are still upset that Jake Delhomme received 7 million dollars?
10. And doesn’t the Colt McCoy pick look relatively harmless now?
I never thought I would utter those words. But then again, this could prove to be the day when everything began to change.
Monday Roundup: Trashy Best Edition
Sunday Best: Temporarily Final Edition
The Game
The Evening After: Browns-Bears Edition
For What It’s Worth: Browns-Bears Preview
Wednesday Roundup: Reader Feedback Edition
Tuesday Roundup: Nearly Factual Edition
Monday Roundup: Tall Tales Edition
The Morning After: Browns-Lions Edition
Browns-Lions Preview
DK,
See my previous post on the preceding article. It applies in this case in spades!
One good hit and Bradford could never play again and where does that leave the Rams? In another decade of suck most likely.
I am always amused at the people who want to trade away our future for an unproven entity like Bradford. Now if you were talking about giving New England the same picks for Brady, I’d have to say I’d make that deal in a heartbeat.
With the same reasoning if we could have gotten McNabb for a second rounder like Washington did, I’d have gone for that. But at the time the Browns were negotiating with Philly they wanted a first rounder plus at least one other pick.
I personally think we got a steal in Delhomme especially after reading the article in the PD today with his ex QB coach and McNown’s comments how instituting a new system in Carolina messed him up.
Just one more very good reason to win some games this year, and get as far away from that top pick as possible.
Right, “Browns Nation?”
[...] Give thanks for avoiding Bradford: “In other words – some 50 million dollars later – now do you see why I was so terrified that the Browns were trying to trade up in order to draft Bradford? Can you only imagine the following scenario? 1. Bradford – a college spread offense quarterback with some serious injury concerns – would now be the centerpiece of the Browns at a price tag that would be the salary cap equivalent of 4-6 quality players? 2. We do still remember Tim Couch, right? That college spread QB with the shoulder issues? Just checking. 3. Beyond the financial cost, consider that the Browns would have given up anywhere from 2-4 draft picks to land Bradford in April…And doesn’t the Colt McCoy pick look relatively harmless now?” [DK/Cleveland Reboot] [...]
[...] And again, aren’t you glad this didn’t happen? [...]
Trading the #1 pick this year the Rams’ chance at a Herschel Walker trade and they passed on it (thank god!) Peyton Manning is the exception that has made the rule for celler dwellers in the NFL. So this brings me to the essential question, are franchise QBs a product of Nature or Nurture?
An elite signal caller adds the most points per game (for one single position upgrade) for a struggling team and has the ability to keep bad teams in games much like a good defense.
But (you did sense a big hairy butt lurking just around the corner, right?) drafting a #1 overall QB is a huge mistake most of the time. If it doesn’t work out the results are much like Tiger woods in divorce court. You might break up but you won’t be back where you started for at least 10 years and at that point your team will still suck, the GM and coach will have been replaced 2-3 times, and the new guys will be forced to choose whether or not to draft a #1 overall QB.
GMs/head coaches should get the fat contracts loaded with ridiculous guaruntees to ensure that they will have adequate time to install a realistic transition plan.