[AndyScouchek]

The top ten picks are insane, players union has a point that NFL players have shorter careers and rights can be easily retained...

teams have a valid point that they can be crippled by high draft pick busts.

Set up rookie system and keep contracts to a maximum of three years. I'd even consider two years, this will allow teams to fully evaluate a player and see if he's worthy if big bucks, and will allow top players to cash in earlier....

i think it's a win win for all...

[alegsghed]

The top ten picks are insane, players union has a point that NFL players have shorter careers and rights can be easily retained...

teams have a valid point that they can be crippled by high draft pick busts.

Set up rookie system and keep contracts to a maximum of three years. I'd even consider two years, this will allow teams to fully evaluate a player and see if he's worthy if big bucks, and will allow top players to cash in earlier....

i think it's a win win for all...

So much for developing quarterbacks.

[frequensearules]

I dont think that would work for 1 reason, teams dont want to sign a player for 2 or 3 years only to see that player after the 2 or 3 years just sign for more money some place else, atleast with these big contracts they get the guys for 5-7 years

[MarlboroCig]

I dont think that would work for 1 reason, teams dont want to sign a player for 2 or 3 years only to see that player after the 2 or 3 years just sign for more money some place else, atleast with these big contracts they get the guys for 5-7 years

i'm willing to bet owners would be ok with it. They'd still be restricted so they could match any offer and or franchise tag...

players union wont agree to long term small dollar deals....

[gniewkoit]

i'm willing to bet owners would be ok with it. They'd still be restricted so they could match any offer and or franchise tag...

players union wont agree to long term small dollar deals....

Oh I think the owners would agree to anything that would save them money and the team and stop giving unproven guys big dollars....if after the rookie contract is up they are restricted and can match any offer then I believe that would work out, but they do need to do something about this situation.

[toreesi]

What about options for pay escalators in the later years of the contract? It would be something for the team to reward the players for great play, which meets and even exceeds expectations of the team. It would also double as a motivational tool for the players. You want the extra dough, you work your ass off and earn it. However, to help avoid the post payday flop, each year after year two has a reverse option to bring the player back down to a certain pay level more indicative of the players performance if the performance level drops.

It probably isn't all that realistic, but it's a thought.

[jamemeveRhype]

I think they should just set a cap at what the amount of guaranteed money you can give to a rookie.

Let them sign whatever length and however much they want. But cap the guaranteed money at something like $20 million for a rookie, and maximum $4 million guaranteed per year. So a rookie can't try to force a team to give him $2 years, 80 million, $20 million guaranteed.

[Corryikilelet]

I think they should just set a cap at what the amount of guaranteed money you can give to a rookie.

Let them sign whatever length and however much they want. But cap the guaranteed money at something like $20 million for a rookie, and maximum $4 million guaranteed per year. So a rookie can't try to force a team to give him $2 years, 80 million, $20 million guaranteed.

I like this idea.

[somawaima]

So much for developing quarterbacks.

winner. way to end an argument before it even starts.

[poRmawayncmop]

I think they should just set a cap at what the amount of guaranteed money you can give to a rookie.

Let them sign whatever length and however much they want. But cap the guaranteed money at something like $20 million for a rookie, and maximum $4 million guaranteed per year. So a rookie can't try to force a team to give him $2 years, 80 million, $20 million guaranteed.

You have to work an agreement favorable to teams and players, neither will 100% like it. If you want to limit it total dollar, players will need shorter deals. This will cause better players to be paid sooner and the busts to be cut w/o killing cap.

It's a win win in my book.

Teams lose on the draft picks they have success with

And the Lions can stay out cap hell.

[Oswczrdz]

So much for developing quarterbacks.

If a QB performs right away to earn a big contract, why wouldnt team pay to keep him?

[Pheboasmabs]

If a QB performs right away to earn a big contract, why wouldnt team pay to keep him?

Can you name one that has?

[omaculer]

Can you name one that has?

Aaron Rodgers did an outstanding job of holding the clipboard for 3 years. Nobody could have done a better job.

[shumozar]

You have to work an agreement favorable to teams and players, neither will 100% like it. If you want to limit it total dollar, players will need shorter deals. This will cause better players to be paid sooner and the busts to be cut w/o killing cap.

It's a win win in my book.

Teams lose on the draft picks they have success with

And the Lions can stay out cap hell.

My suggestion should satisfy both the owners and the players.

Setting a maximum amount of years just makes both sides miserable. If a team drafts a player #1, they don't want him for just 2 years. If a player is drafted #1, he wants security for all the hard work he's put in the past 4+ years.

Setting a cap allows the team and player to negotiate other terms, such as length. However, it limits the amount of money a team will have to pay while still offering the financial security that a player is looking for.

[craditc]

The top ten picks are insane, players union has a point that NFL players have shorter careers and rights can be easily retained...

teams have a valid point that they can be crippled by high draft pick busts.

Set up rookie system and keep contracts to a maximum of three years. I'd even consider two years, this will allow teams to fully evaluate a player and see if he's worthy if big bucks, and will allow top players to cash in earlier....

i think it's a win win for all...

Taking away the money won't be liked by either side, money would probably be the biggest problem in this. So, if you keep the big money the easiest way to fix the problem would be to make each deal a team option after the 3rd year. That way the player can still get their big money early while the team don't get killed if they want to get rid of the player.

[Tryphadz]

Can you name one that has?

In his first three years? sure.

Rex Gross......

so paying an unproven QB 8 million a year is acceptable?

Most GM's know if they want to keep a player after 2 years....

The team that drafted him, will have an easier time to sign him if they chose too...

[betraaaus]

The top ten picks are insane, players union has a point that NFL players have shorter careers and rights can be easily retained...

teams have a valid point that they can be crippled by high draft pick busts.

Set up rookie system and keep contracts to a maximum of three years. I'd even consider two years, this will allow teams to fully evaluate a player and see if he's worthy if big bucks, and will allow top players to cash in earlier....

i think it's a win win for all...

You act as if the young players get any benefit from this, and they don't.

They don't get to cash in earlier. They get to cash in 3 years later. Because the top players are cashing in on draft day. Now they have to wait 3 years to cash in. The other guys (low draft picks) are generally cashing in 3 years later (so it's not much difference to them.)

In their minds, they have earned that money. They've played their asses off for years. They've gone through all the combines. They've worked out for teams. And the past 4 years of juggling college classes, working out in the gym, and putting their health on the line now means nothing?

So the owners get a 3-year evaluation period to determine whether they really want to invest in a player and the players get a 3-year period working their asses off and putting their bodies on the line to satisfy the owners. Why would they ever agree to this? It's an owner's dream and a player's nightmare in so many cases.

Add in the fact that owners might want longer contracts in some situations, like MadNova mentioned with developing quarterbacks, and it just doesn't make sense to limit the length of a rookie contract.