die cowboys die wrote:fleetus wrote: Better yet, would love to see the NFL adopt a program like the NBA where each draft selection gets a pre-determined salary. No negotiation, no holdouts.
see, i actually have almost the opposite perspective as you. i think it's completely nonsensical to have the salaries the players get be determined entirely by their draft order (which they essential are, by the way- the "hold-outs" are almost always over very minor details. no matter what, the 6th pick is almost certainly going to make a little less than the 5th and a little more than the 7th).
draft order alone completely ignores many other factors. you could be the unanimous best prospect in the draft, but not drafted until #8 because the first 7 teams simply didn't need your position and had far more dire needs. alex smith is a great example. here is a guy who was a complete NOBODY, some schmuck who was simply the "least uninspiring" quarterback in his draft class. yet he got drafted #1 because sanfran desperately wanted to develop a young "franchise QB". then he goes and demands the largest rookie contract ever, just because he was #1 and it's "supposed" to go up every year.
that is absolutely ludicrous. he was probably what, the 10th, 20th, 30th rated overall prospect in that draft? it's just asinine for him to feel he was entitled to anything special, he should have felt thrilled and lucky he was even drafted so high and agreed to a reasonable contract, perhaps one that was heavily incentive-laden so he could EARN "#1 pick" money if he ever actually ends up playing like one.
the unofficial "system" that allowed him to get the contract he wanted is completely arbitrary.
And I actually have the exact opposite view as you.
Here's why: (We'll use Calvin Johnson for this arguements sake)
Okay, so it's pretty much agreed on by most people that CJ is the best overall prospect in the 2007 Draft. Well... so.
Just because a couple of so called Draft "experts"
say that CJ is the best prospect doesn't mean he should make the most money if he is drafted in say the 4th slot.
I mean it's simple econmics, if you are the first player drafted, then obviously you will make the most money, and the money will go down the lower someone is drafted.
Just because you may be considered the best player by some geeky old men doesn't mean you should get the most money.
However, I do agree that Alex Smith probably didn't deserve his contract, but you know what, he was the 1st player selected in the draft and is hailed as the Franchise QB, therefore he is going to make the most money, regardless if some "experts" only thought he should have been the #10 pick at best.
You can't tell who is the best player in the draft until 3-4 years down the road, so for the time being the if you are the first pick, you'll make the most money for the time being. If you're the second pick, you'll make the second most money. (But remember it also depends on postition. I mean a QB will always make more than a RB or TE so that plays a factor too)
Pretty much, all I'm saying is you can't pay a player who has never played a down because he he is regarded to be the best player in the draft.
Kind of confusing, but whatever.