Stay Low to the Ground

Courtesy of www.espn.go.com

In a recent interview with a St. Louis sports radio talk show, ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer brought up the subject of Sam Bradford. "In my opinion," Dilfer said of Bradford, "he is not even close to the best player in this draft."

He also stated that the St. Louis Rams selecting Bradford - with the first overall pick on April 22nd - could be a "catastrophic mistake".

He also mentions that he "believes Colt McCoy will be the best of the four quarterbacks". Those quarterbacks include Bradford and McCoy along with Jimmy Clausen and Tim Tebow. While the majority of "draft experts" have Bradford and Clausen ranked far ahead of Tebow and McCoy, it is not uncommon to have widely varying opinions on quarterback prospects. 

While I don't have a problem with Dilfer and his ability to evaluate quarterbacks, I do have an issue with the P.S. at the end of the ESPN blog that I found this story in: "Note: As Lori indicates via Facebook and as Dilfer mentioned in the interview, he has worked out with McCoy. They share the same agent, David Dunn."

This is what makes any information from the football media void of any value this time of year. Though Dilfer might have honestly assessed McCoy as the best quarterback in the draft, the fact is McCoy and Dilfer share the same agent. Being human and knowning Colt McCoy personally, it would be natural for Dilfer to favor a kid he knows over other prospects he doesn't.

Worse yet, the Rams have shown interest in McCoy as a second round pick. If the Rams would pass on Bradford with the first overall pick and go with a position other than quarterback, then McCoy would most likely be available with the first pick in the second round (33rd overall). The sooner McCoy gets picked, the bigger his contract is, and the more money Trent Dilfer's agent David Dunn makes.

When that NFL Draft smoke gets in your eyes, it burns. Make sure to stay low to the ground.





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Put a Lid on It

 As the draft quickly approaches, the unfortunate question on many people's minds will be: How much money will the number one pick get this year?


Last year Matthew Stafford banked $41.7 million in guaranteed money with an average salary of $12 million per season (if he reaches certain incentives). In total that puts him very close to the $14 million per season that Peyton Manning makes and gives Stafford about $8 million more in guarantees (the number that really counts) than Manning's contract, which Peyton signed in 2004.


This year the top pick could bring in roughly $45 million dollars in guaranteed money. This is all before he ever steps on an NFL field.


The NFL had a press release in January regarding a new rookie wage scale. The release states, "The NFL Players Association has presented a proposal that would include redirecting money paid to rookies into veterans' contracts instead. The union's plan would have a scale or cap for how much rookies would be paid, and the 32 teams would use the money saved from those contracts on established players. As much as $200 million could wind up in veterans' pockets."

Also included in the proposed new scale would be "a three-year maximum on rookie deals". The current maximum is six years. In the current scenario, teams with high draft picks that fail are stuck with salary cap issues and unable to bring in free agents.

The new wage scale would dramatically increase the amount of money available for teams to sign veterans. John Clayton of ESPN discussed how the new scale would have affected Stafford's contract,"Under the proposed salary cap, Stafford could (have been) limited to as little as $3.25 million per year as a maximum."

Until the league adopts this new rookie wage scale, we could continue to see teams like the Rams, Lions, Chiefs, and Browns struggle to be competitive if their rookies don't become the best player at their position. That is how they are paid, and that is how they have to perform. The system just doesn't work.




Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.
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Later than Sooner

Despite Sam Bradford's flawless workout, the Rams are not done playing NFL Draft poker.


Through some mysterious coincidence, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported, right before Bradford's workout today, that the Rams don't intend to have Bradford's private workout with the team until April 19th, only three days before the draft. The article also states that the Redskins are working out Bradford on April 15th. 


This is typical draft posturing by the Rams. They are leaving open the possibility of Washington falling in love with Bradford. They could then orchestrate a trade, and the Rams would still end up with a premium pick (number four overall), and some extra picks to help out a roster thin on talent. 


I doubt this trade scenario will occur, but it is nice strategy on the Rams' part to keep their options open.


 


Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.everymorningqb.com.

Roger Dodger?

 The Ben Roethlisberger saga is probably just beginning but for some in the media, it is not moving fast enough. Jemele Hill, of ESPN, believes that Roger Goodell is being more reserved in his approach to the allegations against Big Ben than he has been with other black NFL players (Mike Vick, Adam Jones, Tank Johnson, and Chris Henry).


I have written previously about how I was shocked that victims rights groups had not stepped up and used the media coverage after the Roethlisberger incident to get their agenda across.

Jemele Hill is, in my opinion, the worst kind of sports writer. Goodell is not perfect and perhaps he should suspend Roethlisberger for "determental behavior", but her article seemed to defend those players action in a "backhanded" method. 


Each of the players I mentioned above had be charged, indicted, or jailed for a crime. Roethlisberger has yet to reach that category. 

If people want to be judged on a individual basis, then they shouldn't be so critical of a employer that seems to being trying to do just that.

 


Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.
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New Post Season Overtime Doesn't Rule

 Yesterday the NFL owners approved new post season overtime rules to make it “more fair”. They decided that because field goal kickers are so good now, teams can no longer win by initially kicking a field goal. I don't want to bore you with the details, but the change was a bit of a pacifier.

I happen to agree with Mike Golic's opinion (Every Morning Quarterback is not liable for any brain damage caused by listening to Merril Hoge) that overtime should be an extension of the regulation game like it is in baseball and basketball.

Making special rules to give everybody the ball is bit much like the “give everybody a trophy” attitude that is sweeping through youth sports. The problem is this is THE NFL. These guys are great athletes and make enough money to handle “extra innings”. Give them an overtime that they deserve.


Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.
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