Unhappy campers?

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:05 pm

Redding wants his Lion's share of the pie

(May 3, 2007) -- With minicamps kicking off this weekend and stretching all the way into July, there are some happy campers and some unhappy ones, too.

In Detroit, free agent defensive tackle Cory Redding, the Lions franchised player, does not intend to show up to any drills or the team's training complex until he has a new long-term contract.

There is ongoing dialogue between the two sides, the Lions and Redding, but not enough to bring the defensive tackle back to Detroit just yet.

Detroit knows how much it likes and needs Redding, and the defensive tackle wants to get a deal done. It's just that, until now, the two sides have not been able to strike a breakthrough that would wipe out the $6.7 million franchise tender that Detroit slapped on Redding during the winter and reward him with the contract he believes he deserves.

An opposite situation is unfolding in New Orleans, where the Saints signed their franchise defensive end Charles Grant to a seven-year contract worth up to $63 million. Grant is now happy; New Orleans other defensive end, Pro Bowl selection Will Smith, is not.

Smith has two years remaining on a contract that is scheduled to pay him less than $1 million this season. Smith now is seeking a new contract and he is hoping and expecting talks aimed at a new contract to start soon, if they haven't already.

Personnel people around the league believe that Smith is every bit the player that Grant is, if not better, it's just that Grant had the fortune of having his contract expire now. But this is a prime example of the ripple effects of any lucrative contract that any team in the league now hands out. Somebody is going to be happy, and somebody is not.

In Indianapolis, Colts free agent defensive end Dwight Freeney knows that he is going to make out no matter how his contract talks turn out.

Indianapolis slapped Freeney with the exclusive franchise tag and, in recent weeks, that number has ballooned to $9.43 million. But the Colts and Freeney can continue discussing a long-term contract extension until July 15.

If they get it done, Freeney will show up at camp. If they don't, he still will be there. So either way, Freeney is going to cash in; the big question is, how much this season?

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:44 pm

Freeney is in a really good spot. He's more or less guaranteed 10-15 mil in the next two years, and in one scenario he could make 10 mil this year and become a FA next year, hitting the lottery again.

Either way, he doesn't have to be the bad guy by holding out from camp until the two sides reach an agreement.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:58 pm

Irn-Bru wrote:Freeney is in a really good spot. He's more or less guaranteed 10-15 mil in the next two years, and in one scenario he could make 10 mil this year and become a FA next year, hitting the lottery again.

Either way, he doesn't have to be the bad guy by holding out from camp until the two sides reach an agreement.

He needs to sign the tender before they pull it :shock:

I don't understand why players don't do this more often. Unless it's a long drawn out process to get the tender signed teams normally want to get the long term deal done because of the high cap hit for that one year. When the player digs in, in turn the F.O. digs in. If the player signs he would appear to have more leverage, becuase most team use the tag thinking something will work out and the cap hit will come down.

Playing a guy 6-10M for one year is not what NFL Front offices want to do, nowing they'll lose the guy the following year. If he's on the books and another team wants the guy they won't have to give up high picks and will be more willing to talk trade.

Seem to be better for them to sign the tender and then work a deal/trade. Piss off the FO and they'll pull the tender mid July freeing up cap space while other suitors have spent what cap space they had.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:05 pm

Seem to be better for them to sign the tender and then work a deal/trade. Piss off the FO and they'll pull the tender mid July freeing up cap space while other suitors have spent what cap space they had.

Has this really ever happened?

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:34 pm

Irn-Bru wrote:
Seem to be better for them to sign the tender and then work a deal/trade. Piss off the FO and they'll pull the tender mid July freeing up cap space while other suitors have spent what cap space they had.

Has this really ever happened?

The "tag" has been pulled in the past making the player a FA after teams have addressed thier needs, and most trades happen after the tender has been signed, lowering the asking price.

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:48 pm

That's exactly what happened with Trotter. The Eagles franchised him, both sides got stubborn, and yanked the designation in July.

We, of course, overpaid for him (since every other team that needed an MLB had one by then). But he would have been a very hot commodity on the free agent market in March.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri May 04, 2007 3:30 pm

Let's sign all these guys. Why has nobody suggested this?

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri May 04, 2007 3:40 pm

Oh, they have. Look in the Hogwash forum. :lol:

HEROHAMO · Post by **HEROHAMO** » Mon May 07, 2007 1:18 am

I am starting to believe in building up our own guys. All though these are fine players. I just am a little tired of gambling on a free agent to come in and save the day.

So I am banking on Golston and Montgomery developing to good players. I am sure we will draft for Defensive End next year.

frankcal20 · Post by **frankcal20** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:34 am

I agree with you Hamo. I am tired of getting guys in here that don't pan out to anything. I would like to have a guy come in and us groom him to what we want/need for our team. Maybe this new guy from UCLA will fill a need for a short period of time.