OldSchool wrote:Why on earth would the Skins opt in May to pay Griffin 16M in 2016?
For one thing, its a potential money saving move. If Griffin plays lights out this year, we have him locked up at $16m. If he stinks and gets benched, then we cut him at the end of the year and that $16m goes away.
If we don't pick up the option, and he plays lights out we either negotiate a long term deal with him or franchise tag him. Either of those options is going to cost us more than $16m. The QB franchise tag was $18.5m this year.
I understand that Griffin has the injury potential, but you guys need to keep in mind this doesn't mean if RGIII gets hurt this year his contract his fully guaranteed in 2016. He literally has to be
unable to play in 2016. That's really rare in the NFL. This is what Andrew Brandt wrote about it in SI:
"In my nine years in the Packers’ front office, I can only recall a couple of times—both involving neck and spine injuries—where players injured one season were unable to play in the following season."
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/05/02/nfl-2011- ... ar-option/Its a weird thing to wrap your head around especially given where we are with RGIII right now. But I think its probably in the team's best interest to pick up the option. It gives them one more year in full control of his contract before they have to start negotiating and playing the franchise tag game. Unless something funky happens in the draft, I kind of expect that they will do it.
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