For The Love of Players and money....

[pittbull]

Isn't the NFL funny. They draft guys so our beloved True Steel Blue fans fall in love with them, and then, when it's not financially productive, they release them. What's even funnier, if their not producing, we're the first one's to yell, "get 'em out of here!" Well, looking at the "older" players we released, it was a combination of both, and any of our beloved fans don't know how to take it. My theory.........Get over it quickly. As fast we saw the franchise resurrected in 2002, with the drafting of David Carr, 2003, the excitement of AJ, 2004,the shutdown ability of D-Rob, and 2005 the trade for P-Buch, the releasing or trading of one of them, will be just as fast. Frankly, there is no loyalty in the game. The main problem is, we would love to keep our local heros, even if their not producing, but not at the expense of wins, losses, or adding another stud. I believe they really need to add the exemption rule, for maintaining a veteran on the roster, without effecting the cap. Not only does this add to loyalty within the players eyes with the franchise, but also creates good public relations with the fans. I can understand Sharper being released, but a guy like AG deserves to finish his career in Houston. His going to Dallas was not about playing time, it was feeling slighted. On one hand, you can't blame the Texans for wanting to get younger, but you can blame them for their approach and possibly not restructuring his deal, to keep him in Houston. It's all in the way one handles the situation. Face it, AG is not going to start in Dallas, PGH, St. Louis, wherever he would go at this point in his career, but he would accept a reduced role, if he felt important to the organization. Obviously, the Tuna made him feel important. Bottom line, just like a cornerback, AG, we need to forget quickly also when we get burned!

 

[keyfro]

well i think that's what is wrong with the nfl today...the salary cap has failed in my opinion...the main reason we had it was so that no team could repeat like the patriots just did...maybe it's better to just go back to the way it was...atleast then teams could afford to keep the players they love until they become unproductive...i dunno...i just don't like the idea of us releasin glenn and getting nothing in return at the least we could have gotten a 7th rounder next year

 

[Vinny]

I think the cap has been great for the league. The last 15 years we have had 16 different teams in the Super Bowl. In Baseball I only ask who is playing the Yankees every year. And Pittbull, the team doesn't draft these guys for us to love on them. They draft them to beat the other team.

New England
Philadelphia
Carolina
Tampa Bay
Oakland
St Louis
Baltimore
Tennessee
Denver
Atlanta
Green Bay
Dallas
Pittsburgh
San Francisco
San Diego
Buffalo

(39) Super Bowl XXXIX February 6, 2005 New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21
(38) Super Bowl XXXVIII February 1, 2004 New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29
(37) Super Bowl XXXVII January 26, 2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21
(36) Super Bowl XXXVI February 3, 2002 New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17
(35) Super Bowl XXXV January 28, 2001 Baltimore Ravens 34, N.Y. Giants 7
(34) Super Bowl XXXIV January 30, 2000 St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16
(33) Super Bowl XXXIII January 31, 1999 Denver Broncos 34, Atlanta Falcons 19
(32) Super Bowl XXXII January 25, 1998 Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24
(31) Super Bowl XXXI January 26, 1997 Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21
(30) Super Bowl XXX January 28, 1996 Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
(29) Super Bowl XXIX January 29, 1995 San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26
(28) Super Bowl XXVIII January 30, 1994 Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13
(27) Super Bowl XXVII January 31, 1993 Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17
(26) Super Bowl XXVI January 26, 1992 Washington Redskins 37, Buffalo Bills 24
(25) Super Bowl XXV January 27, 1991 N.Y. Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19
(24) Super Bowl XXIV January 28, 1990 San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10
(23) Super Bowl XXIII January 22, 1989 San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16
(22) Super Bowl XXII January 31, 1988 Washington Redskins 42, Denver Broncos 10
(21) Super Bowl XXI January 25, 1987 N.Y. Giants 39, Denver Broncos 20
(20) Super Bowl XX January 26, 1986 Chicago Bears 46, New England Patriots 10

 

[TexanExile]

I agree--the cap's good for the game. (also great for owners, whose revenue streams continue to expand at a far greater pace than the cap...hello, CBA negotiations!)

The cap adds an element of strategy to roster management and protects smaller-market teams from getting eternally trounced. I like it.

Now, if this league ever goes to guaranteed contracts, there will be a very, very bloody transition period until the market for free agents finds a new level. Just imagine an NBA-style situation where teams are saddled with incredibly overpaid underachievers a la the New York Knicks. Bleah.

 

[Grid]

considering we are like the 3rd richest franchise.. I say drop the cap and may the richest team win )))

 

[Hervoyel]

I've often wondered if it might not be possible for the NFL to come up with cap exemptions of some sort for longtime players who've spent their entire careers (or significant portions of them) with a single team. Say once a player has reached the 10 year mark then the team can apply to have his salary not count against the cap but anyone else trying to sign him away would have the entire amount apply to their cap.

Most teams don't have a whole ton of 10 year plus veterans who've spent their entire careers with that team so it wouldn't mess much up. Also the exemption would have to be agreed upon by both the team and the player before it could be applied for. This would allow teams to keep their "Gee I wish he could finish his career here" players.

 

[texasguy346]

I've often wondered if it might not be possible for the NFL to come up with cap exemptions of some sort for longtime players who've spent their entire careers (or significant portions of them) with a single team. Say once a player has reached the 10 year mark then the team can apply to have his salary not count against the cap but anyone else trying to sign him away would have the entire amount apply to their cap.

Most teams don't have a whole ton of 10 year plus veterans who've spent their entire careers with that team so it wouldn't mess much up. Also the exemption would have to be agreed upon by both the team and the player before it could be applied for. This would allow teams to keep their "Gee I wish he could finish his career here" players.

I kinda like that idea, but I think instead of not having him count against the cap at all just allow his cap number to count as a veteran minimum for a player with his experience. Or something along those lines. Also I think there would have to be a limit to the number of players you could apply this too. Say, for instance, a team happened to have 5 or 6 players that fit the conditions then they'd have considerable room under the cap in which to pick up premeire free agents. Maybe allow it to be like a tag or something that at team could use on one player with a minimum of 8 or 10 years experience. I'm sure there would be a ton of legal loopholes in a plan like that, and the NFL would have to do a lot of work to get something like that done. I think it would be a great for NFL fans.

 

[Corrosion]

well i think that's what is wrong with the nfl today...the salary cap has failed in my opinion...the main reason we had it was so that no team could repeat like the patriots just did...

You are almost correct in this statement BUT you left out a key word .....

The salary cap was designed to stop teams from PURCHACING a superbowl ..... like the 49'ers / Cowboys of the arly 90's who went out and signed every high dollar free agent they could get .....

 

[TexanBacker93]

I grew up rooting for the Chargers and went to college in Northern California. You don't think the Charger fans and Niner fans hated the moves when Joe Montana was sent packing or Jerry Rice or Junior Seau?? Those teams survived. The Niners suck now, but that had nothing to do with Rice leaving. They won a Superbowl without Joe Montana. Granted, they had Steve Young, but he isn't Joe Montana. The Chargers just came off one of the best seasons they ever had a year after letting Seau go. It'll be fine without AG. I think the Texans will be able to survive.

 

[Hervoyel]

I kinda like that idea, but I think instead of not having him count against the cap at all just allow his cap number to count as a veteran minimum for a player with his experience. Or something along those lines. Also I think there would have to be a limit to the number of players you could apply this too. Say, for instance, a team happened to have 5 or 6 players that fit the conditions then they'd have considerable room under the cap in which to pick up premeire free agents. Maybe allow it to be like a tag or something that at team could use on one player with a minimum of 8 or 10 years experience. I'm sure there would be a ton of legal loopholes in a plan like that, and the NFL would have to do a lot of work to get something like that done. I think it would be a great for NFL fans.

That's even better I think. Minimum salary for a vet at whatever number of years service would be good or just a set amount for a "Legacy Veteran" would work too. Just something so that we're not seeing future HOF players and longtime fan favorites being forced to go elsewhere over the cap.

I don't think just letting the team use it for one player would get it done though. 3 sounds like a good number to me. It could be like a tag but I think in my mind it works best of the team and the player have to agree to it and they choose to take it to the league for approval. Once it's used it would also be good if the team could not rotate it around. You use it on one player and you can't use that "tag" again until he's retired or gone. Maybe it even can't be used if he then signs with another team. This would be a case where the player conceeds to spend his remaining days with this team as well. I don't know, details could be worked out but the main thing to me is that the NFL needs a way for teams to keep those type of guys.

 

[Marcus]

When you speak of loyalty, you should remember that it cuts both ways. I created a new signature the other day, that I believe cuts to the chase.

You have to remember it was the players who started the process that made the NFL what it is today. They demanded, under threat of a strike, and through the courts, that there be free agency. They wanted to play for the team that offered them the biggest pot of gold. Loyalty? Where's the loyalty?

There's free agency in baseball, and no salary cap in place to serve as a counterweight to maintain competitive balance. Now, look what kind of a travesty that sport has become. Tell me something. If there was a baseball like system in the NFL, do you think a little town like Green Bay, Wisconsin would have just as much chance getting the playoffs as say, the New York Jets?

And guaranteed contracts. Jeff Bagwell has a guaranteed contract. Do you really think he's earning his money?

In the old NFL system, players didn't get the good money until they were past their prime. Now, they are getting the good money as they are getting into their prime. But as the player gets older, and the skills start to decline, be thankful there is something in place to do away with the Jeff Bagwells of the world.