$50 million guaranteed for a guy who has never even thrown an NFL pass. Stafford got $41.7 million guaranteed last year, so this represents an almost 20% raise over last year.The Rams reached agreement on Friday night with quarterback Sam Bradford on a six-year, $78 million contract that reportedly has $50 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports from Jay Glazer at FOX, and the Schefter/Mortensen bus buddies at ESPN. The deal has a max value of $86 million.
Peyton Manning and Tom Brady need new deals. If a guy who has never thrown an NFL pass gets $50 million, what are those 2 worth in guaranteed dollars?
If it wasn't clear before a rookie cap was needed, I think it has to be now. With 10-20% raises a regular thing for the past decade or so, it won't be long before top picks are getting $70-80 Million guaranteed if this isn't stopped.
The players union should be pushing for a rookie cap with a guarantee that owners spend the money being saved on rookies on veterans who have earned it.
Apparently they have been willing to go with a rookie wage scale that would save the owners about $200 million. The problem now is over the fact the players want a guarantee those savings aren't pocketed and instead spent on the retiree pension and the rest to active players.
The owners naturally love a rookie scale, but are luke warm about the part where they would still be spending the money, just on different things.
One way or another, the bulk of the current rookie money should be going to guys who have proven they can play. Giving out $50 million to a rookie qb with a 50/50 shot of being a bust is insanity.
