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.

$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.

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.

jesus christ. Kid hasn't even thrown a pass yet.

if this doesn't scream the need for a payscale, I don't know what does

Good for him but that is stupid.

Beyond stupid on this one.

Absurd. Don't the owners have the power to just tell the rookies to piss off instead of giving them these dumbass contracts?

Good for him. He is probably the last rookie to ever walk off with that kind of pay-day. The payscale is coming and hopefully extended holdouts are going away,

The best part of all this is that agents and slimy characters will be largely irrelevant post pay-scale

^^^^

not if they dont wanna piss off the player's assocation

He could get hurt tomorrow and would be set for the rest of his life.

This is the most absurd contract I have ever seen.

darbypitcher22;437328 wrote:^^^^

not if they dont wanna piss off the player's assocation

Uhh the player's association is for it. haha. You know, it is made up of current players. Not snot nosed rookies. Veterans would be more than happy to see Bradford money coming their way

I can't see all of the lawyers ands tuff though letting the owners create that sort of pull though over the players assoc.

Uhh the player's association is for it.

It's only for it if the money not being spent on the rookie pool is then spent on veterans.

If anything, the union loves the Bradford contract right now, because signing Brady, Manning and Brees to new deals just got significantly more expensive as this at least sets a floor for what they will be paid on their new deals.

I am almost afraid of what Indy is going to have to pay Manning.

My main man Mardy Gilyard is going to make him look pretty good at times this season.

That being said $50M guaranteed is obscene for not only a guy who has never thrown an NFL pass, but a guy coming off a bum shoulder to boot.

IggyPride00;437353 wrote:It's only for it if the money not being spent on the rookie pool is then spent on veterans.

That will be dealt with in collective bargaining. Fact is, veterans will be all in favor of this. People have felt for a long time that the wrong people were getting paid.

darbypitcher22;437349 wrote:I can't see all of the lawyers ands tuff though letting the owners create that sort of pull though over the players assoc.

What lawyers? Not sure what lawyers you are referring to. Player's union= for it, owners= for it, management= for it, coaches=for it. It is getting done. The NFL can do what it wishes. Ask Maurice Clarett

It looks like him going back to college was a smart move.

The NFL, like the NBA will holdout as long as they have to in order to get the power back into the owners hands. I could honestly see the NBA losing an entire season because of how bad it's gotten.

Players like to get paid, and as long as there is a holdout, nobody is getting paid.

The owners will get their ways, as they rightfully should.

Sam Bradford??.......meet Akili Smith.

The NFL should do what the NHL does with ELC contracts. An ELC is an entry level contract and the max a rookie can make is around 3.75mil a year. I wouldn't mind seeing the NFL do that.

I've ALWAYS thought a rookie contract (in basically any sport) should be capped and have incentives. This is just ridiculous.

TCS, that is probably what's going to happen. My guess is it will be tied to the round they're drafted into, as well.

It will happen. It just depends on if it is an easy transition or difficult (i.e., lockout).

Sykotyk

My only question jordo212000, is why did you separate agents and slimy characters into two separate groups?

Swamp Fox;437569 wrote:My only question jordo212000, is why did you separate agents and slimy characters into two separate groups?

Haha nice catch, I guess the slimy characters I was referring to are the guys who aren't agents but pounce on stupid rookies and pretend to be one. (Master P. negotiating Ricky Williams contract comes to mind haha)

The threat of a holdout is scarier for the players than the owners. The NFLPA needs to get something done.

Sykotyk;437559 wrote:TCS, that is probably what's going to happen. My guess is it will be tied to the round they're drafted into, as well.

It will happen. It just depends on if it is an easy transition or difficult (i.e., lockout).

Sykotyk

Agreed on the round selection. Also, the max years for an ELC is 3 years, and I woulnd't mind seeing that in use.