NFL Holdouts: The Word Contract Has Lost It's Meaning

Definition of Contract: (n., adj.), an agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something specified.

To interpret this strongly I will put the definition in easier terms. A contract is when someone agrees to play for a certain amount of money for a certain number of years.

Apprantly this term has been lost in translation or something because it means nothing anymore, and I’m not talking about this whole NFL and Player Association dispute. I’m talking about the past five years and it’s a trend that is getting worse.

Every year there is talk of some big name player holding because he isn’t happy with his contract. Guess what bubba I’m not happy with my pay either but you don’t see me sitting my butt on the coach. My boss writes my checks so I’m not about to piss him off. He pays me to come to work and that’s what I do.

Oh let’s not forget about the rookies that come in every year demanding more and more money. Last year I was so irate about Stafford’s contract that I couldn’t even write an article about it. You got some snot nosed kid coming in saying he is worth more than the majority of veterans. It’s ridiculous the amount that these guys are getting paid that haven’t even stepped a foot on an NFL field.

So it’s time something be done about NFL contracts from both the players side and the teams side, even the NFL needs to play a certain role in these contracts.

First off let’s get the worst contract stupidity out of the way, rookie contracts. Now I have no clue how other sports do their rookie contracts, however I hear the NBA has a nice little method, so if I say something stupid that another organization is using I apologize in advance. Please don’t hold against me I really am a nice guy if you get to know me.

I will once again refer to them as snot nosed kids, let’s make it shorter and go with SNKs. So when the SNKs come into the NFL and get drafted they can pretty much throw any number out there on the table and wait for the team to match it. If they don’t match it, oh well you wasted a draft pick on a SNK who apparently thinks higher of himself then you do.

The NFL needs to come up with some sort of limit that these SNKs can be paid, such as the SNK cannot be paid more than the total average of the top 20 players at his position. You could also just lay down a certain number and say that they cannot be paid more than this. If they want to cry about how they aren’t making enough money I have a great suggestion, EARN IT!!!

Charity work isn’t the only way to get your name out in the world, yes that is a direct shot at Tebow (for the record I like Tebow). Performance is an excellent way to get a higher pay check. Have a standard amount that they start out with and make it to where the contract can be renegotiated under certain conditions.

An example would be to give a SNK X amount of money to play for four years for a team. If he finishes in the top percentage of his spot or performs a certain task like leading the team to the playoffs, then his contract can be renegotiated. If not then the SNK is stuck with the contract. Maybe even set it up to a tiered structure. If he finishes in the top 5 players of his position then give him a 50% bonus to his contract.

I understand that most players’ contracts have the incentives tied into them but instead of a incentive make it a requirement to be able to negotiate your contract.

Now what about all these other SNKs that aren’t going in the early part of the first round. Well let’s just go with the same solution and have a pay structure already set up for them, but it has to have a maximum amount. Actually you know these SNKs are already doing it, they hold out because they want to make the same amount of someone who was picked before them.

Yes rookie contracts are ridiculous, I know that’s what you’re thinking because it’s what I’m thinking and I have these cool little psychoanalysis powers that let me semi read people’s minds and at that very moment you were thinking one of two things “Man, he’s got a point.” Or “That seven layer burrito from Taco Bell was not a wise choice for lunch.”

Next on the list of things to work on is none other than the every single year occurrence, hold outs. Albert Haynesworth was going to hold out because he didn’t want to play in a 3-4 defense. Well let me send you a box of tissues because guess what you have contract, which means you have an agreement to play.

As a matter of fact he has a $100 million dollar agreement and personally if you paid me $100 million I’ll play in 1-6 defense if they would like. Quick note to the Redskins, I am available and will honestly perform said actions for a lot cheaper.

Hold outs go there a little bit muddier than rookie contracts. These guys have played a couple of years in the NFL and their service should be held to a higher value, but only at a certain point in their contract. Once again a performance requirement should be required before a hold out is even optional.

Revis is a good example of why a performance tier would be great. He has outperformed his rookie contract by all means and should warrant a new contract. The Jets are being pretty responsible about it and agreeing that a new contract is in order but don’t know if they can make ends meet.

Most players that hold out are not under this category though. They hold out because, well there not happy for some reason. (see Albert Haynesworth notes above)

Well this reason basically makes a contract pointless. What would happen if the shoe was on the other foot? What if The Carolina Panthers told Julius Peppers last year that they weren’t going to pay him cause their not happy he wants to leave. How would a player feel if that was the case?

I said earlier that if something needs to be done from every single party that is involved in the NFL, including the NFL. They need to do their part in setting the standard of all of these scenarios that are taking place related to contracts. Bottom line is that the word contract needs to regain meaning in the NFL.