Rookies and the New CBA.

by j16941 on Jun 27, 2011 11:26 PM EDT

If there is anyone that is getting screwed by the Lockout in the NFL it has to be the Rookies. I know the fans are getting the shaft too... Big Time! But I really feel bad for the rookies coming into the NFL this year.

Think about it.

1. Rookies have missed OTAs, not to mention the fact that many don't have playbooks yet.

2. They have not had the benefit of training at Team Facilities, or even the opportunity to meet their new Coaches and Trainers.

3. No Free Agency before the Draft. Let's say a team needs a CB. They draft one in the later rounds of the draft as a safety net. Then once FA starts, they sign a Starter at CB. Now the rookie is fighting a uphill battle to make the team. And add in the fact that he is going into Training Camp blind, without the OTAs or any previous meeting with the Coaches.

4. Rookie wage scale/ Contracts. I don't know how all this will work out. But I don't think Rookies will be making the money this year that they made last year, and in years prior. Also, by this time in a normal off-season, Rookies and their agents would already be negotiating contracts with their new team. Once a new CBA is signed not only will FA start, but the Signing of Rookies will as well. So if the deal gets done by mid July, that gives you 2 weeks before training camp to sign all your rookies and to hold free agency. Call me crazy but that is gonna be a MESS.

I think the fact that the Lions only have 5 draft pick to sign is a good thing. It will give us more time negotiate with FA and Undrafted Rookies. Regardless I am going to hope that a few gems end up getting cut from other teams and the Martin can work his magic to fill the remaining holes on our roster.

Jeeebus GET THIS DEAL DONE!!!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit or its writers. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.

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The fans getting the shaft?

Considering that no game time has been missed, I don’t see how the fans have gotten the shaft yet? Sure, we don’t get the thrill of seeing our team go after a big name free agent…but we haven’t lost anything yet.

I know. I know. We’ve all complained about the lockout and we’ve wanted it to end. We want it to end because we are excited about the new season. We complained because, in the end, we were worried that they might miss games. If the CBA is in place around July 15th like they are thinking it will be, the fans haven’t really lost anything.

Can you elaborate on how the fans are getting the shaft “BIG TIME!” as you put it? I’m just curious as to what the reasoning is at this point that the fans have gotten shafted on anything aside from speculating on what free agents are signed and lost.

LITTLE MAN IN BACKFIELD! LITTLE MAN IN BACKFIELD! GO STEFAN LOGAN!

by BBlades on Jun 27, 2011 11:50 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I didn't capitalize ALL the letters in Big Time...

And to be fair to your point, Yes, we (as fans) have not lost much yet. The point of my post was that

If there is anyone that is getting screwed by the Lockout in the NFL it has to be the Rookies.

I see what you are saying, and to elaborate on the fans loss, yes it has to do with the lack of Free Agency and an Off season. But also, what will happen to the product on the field if Training camps are shortened. Or if there are rookies that do not even make the team, or get contracts done before week 5.

"Lemme Tell you why I have confidence in the long term future of this team... It's #9, That's why I have confidence in the long term future of this Team." - Jim Schwartz

by j16941 on Jun 28, 2011 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions

For the hard core fan (like myself)

I follow free agency, and the draft, and trades, I find it quite enjoyable, so I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling like I’m getting shafted here. You are right about not missing anything, there was a draft, there will be free agency, and trades, and I personally think a deal will be done by training camp, but I haven’t experienced no offseason, so I feel a bit shafted.

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"Liquid Schwartz!!!"

by Pappy002 on Jun 28, 2011 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Agree on both accounts

I know we’re in the minority (fans who participate in the offseason almost as much as the season), but it feels crappy none the less. Plus, here in Detroit – we’ve come accustomed to LOVING our off-season…it’s the “spring” (figuratively and actually) that gives us hope…

The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.

by rames on Jun 28, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Then, we fans 40 years ago

For the hard core fan (like myself)
I follow free agency, and the draft, and trades, I find it quite enjoyable, so I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling like I’m getting shafted here.

really got screwed.

Now I’m pissed!

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."

by NorthStarr on Jun 30, 2011 3:10 AM EDT up reply actions

I think it might be harder for Rookies for now on

And in some sense, that’s good. I always hated how much the top guys got paid. Hopefully that will be curtailed quite a bit. As for missing valuable OTA time, well, that just means they’ll have to work harder in training camp.

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by Hyperion Ecta on Jun 28, 2011 4:22 AM EDT reply actions

I agree

mainly on the contracts (but then again, who doesn’t?!). I can’t help but feel like the Lions will come out of the gate a bit better than many other teams due to the same system and not that many rookies (or at least draft picks). I know we’re a very young team, but at least most of those guys have been in the system and the rooks are only asked to play complimentary roles…which makes a HUGE difference in their success rate.

The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.

by rames on Jun 28, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

The only thing I don't feel bad about is the salaries.

It’s been a horrible system of potential-based pay that has gotten out of control. The top 10 players in the draft are sooooo overpaid right now. It’s not that the new crop are getting shafted, it’s that the past crops have been severely overpaid. Look at what it has done to teams that have drafted top players that haven’t panned out…. completely hamstrung them fiscally. I know, I know…. just don’t draft busts. But still… if it was that easy nobody would ever miss in the top section of the draft.

It’s high time the whole contract situation with rookies was resolved and dissolved. There should be a standard wage scale that gets rid of the agents’ power and says “you were drafted with pick number X, so you get salary Y”. Plain and simple.

by DrewsLions on Jun 28, 2011 10:08 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs

I agree

which makes you wonder if you could get such a system in place, why would you bother having an agent at all before your first rookie contract.

Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket?

by Lions-fan-SLC on Jun 28, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

My point exactly.

Agents would lose in this proposition, but who really cares… other than them. 99.9999% of people could care less to see Drew Rosenhaus make $10 million less a year.

by DrewsLions on Jun 28, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I have heard this a lot

but if the same amount of money is out there for the players, the agents will make the same amount (% off the top). What it changes is that now the agents will have to make less per client and have to deal with more vets who may know a thing or two about the business of football instead of some guy right out of college who has been living below the poverty line (except for the random jersey sale or two).

by ATL Lion on Jun 28, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt they would make the same % off the top if....

they didn’t have to negotiate. If a player’s salary was based on position and the year-over-year rookie cap increase was in the CBA, what would the agent do?

by DrewsLions on Jun 28, 2011 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

manage advertising/endorsement deals is the only thing I can think of

which is still an important service for an agent to provide.

Agents would still have a role, but they’d just each have a lot more rookies because of the decreased workload from not having to negotiate an initial contract for everybody. If an agent is managing a larger number of young players on pre-determined contracts, there’s still a good chance at least a few of them pan out and get a second contract, so there’s still business for agents, just not quite as many agents.

But yeah, Drew you’re exactly right. And the best thing of all about a pre-determined salary scale…NO ROOKIE HOLDOUTS. Everybody gets to camp on time.

Hey that's a timeout, I can play right? yeah, get me--get the F-- Help me up...I can throw the ball if you need me to throw the ball...

by n4ry4 on Jun 28, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

The one thing I will be MOST happy about ..

in the new CBA is the rookie wage scale .. Pay them well but pay them big AFTER they prove themselves ..

It was a stupid system where most of the time, a rookie was the highest player in the team …

by Libran on Jun 28, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Word.

I also like the 3-4yr restriction to the rookie contract…. meaning, the rookie has those 3-4 yrs to prove himself.. and if he does, the team either pays him or gets some compensation for losing him.

by CLF on Jun 28, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

5. Players missing the Rookie Symposium.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/28/over-100-rookies-dont-show-up-for-rookie-symposium/#comments

I guess the point I was trying to make in this whole post. Is that this years Rookies are traveling into uncharted waters, without a life preserver. And I hope that they Swim.

"Lemme Tell you why I have confidence in the long term future of this team... It's #9, That's why I have confidence in the long term future of this Team." - Jim Schwartz

by j16941 on Jun 28, 2011 1:17 PM EDT reply actions