God, it is said, must hate money for just look at who he (or she) gives it to.
Theology aside, we find proof in the adage in all kinds of news out of the National Football League.
For instance, here's a conversation we think may have taken place at Halas Hall in suburban Chicago the other day between GM Jerry Angelo and Coach Lovie Smith, each bearers of new, very long-term, very lucrative, very guaranteed contracts:
JA: Hey Lovie, it's Jerry. Now that we have those new contracts let's do something really nutty. Just for a goof.
LS: You mean nuttier than firing my defensive coordinator, hiring my buddy and telling the media to trust me? Nuttier than that? Sounds like fun, what do you have in mind?
JA: Trade Thomas Jones to the New York Jets for NOTHING.
LS: OOH.
And so it happened that Thomas Jones, starting running back in the Super Bowl and to my eyes about the only Bear besides Devin Hester who played a big game in the Big Game, went to the Jets along with a second-round draft pick and in return the Bears got, wait you'll love this, a second-round draft pick. Yes, the pick the Bears got is early in the round; the one they sent east is late. But still: Jones did have 1,200 yards rushing last season and the Jets were desperate for a new No. 1 running back. When last seen the Bears' anointed No. 1, Cedric Benson, was lying on the Dolphins Stadium wet turf with a knee injury.
So what gives? Smith, working at the lowest end of coaches' salaries in 2006, now has moved to the other end of the scale and has a guarantee of almost $5 million a year through 2011. Did the big money make him quickly dumb? Is that fair? Probably not, but what's the explanation that you'd accept?
- Jones wanted out.
- He was a malcontent.
- He had far exceeded expectations and his usefulness was at an end.
- Coach didn't like TJ's orange Ferrari.
Even with those reasons, you would think that Angelo, the GM with a new deal that guarantees him a slightly-above-the-poverty-level salary through 2013, could have gotten a bit more from a desperate team. These two guys have made a deal that is minimum risk for their security but might not be such a minimum risk to the team next season. And clearly the Bears are drawing some lines in the snow and telling players (and assistant coaches) not to cross. Ron Rivera, hailed by many (not you Chicago Al) for his work as Bears defensive coordinator, got back from one of his many unsuccessful interviews for a head coaching job and was shown the door.
To show that nuttiness goes both ways in Chi-town: Lance Briggs, all-pro linebacker, turned down a Bears offer of $33 million or so for six seasons and Angelo "slapped" the franchise tag on poor ol' Lance. For that, Briggs will be paid $7.2 million this season and is stewing about it. The streets in the NFL definitely go both ways.
A lot of the craziness we see each day comes from the rise in the team salary cap for the coming season to $109 million with free agents looking for a big portion of it and with the understanding that very little is guaranteed to NFL players.
This takes us to the KC Chiefs who have asked QB Trent Green to leave. Green made several mistakes that caused the Chiefs to let him go. First mistake: he's 37 years old. Second mistake: he had a severe concussion playing for the Chiefs last season and missed half the games and played indifferently after returning. Third mistake: he was to be paid (non-guaranteed) $7.2 million for 2007. No surprise that the Chiefs thought better of keeping Green around at that price when he wasn't likely to be the starter. But the Chiefs did agree to a contract for that with Green at one time. Remarkable that Green's concussion knocked some sense into the heads of the Chiefs' brass. Funny how that works.
And while we're on the subject of sense or lack thereof, we turn south to Miami, where the Dolphins last season had one of the NFL's best defenses and a weak offense; where their new coach Cam Cameron has great offensive credentials, and where they are no longer burdened by Genius Coach Saban's genius. So what do they do with the boost in salary cap? They give $20 million guaranteed and a $32 million contract to Joey Porter, who, of course, plays linebacker. Way to boost up that offense guys. Give Porter and his agent credit: the big-mouthed linebacker talked himself out of Pittsburgh and now he takes his act to Miami for guaranteed money that's four times what he would have made with the Steelers. And he has a whole new group of animal control officers for him and his dogs to deal with. Why the Dolphins thought this was a good decision who knows. It's nutty I tell you.
Other places, other looniness: the Denver Broncos signed RB Travis Henry, who somehow couldn't convince the Titans that he was worth the $8.3 million he would have been due this season. The Broncos welcomed Travis to Denver, apparently forgetting that they have made a market in creating mostly low-paid, mostly highly successful running backs because they have long had the best run-blocking offensive line in the business. (Consider Tatum Bell, Mike Anderson, Reuben Droughns.) So naturally the Broncos give Henry a $12 million guarantee and a five-year contract that could be worth $22.5-million. All this for a guy who has had major ligament damage in his ankle and had a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy during his Tennessee years. Mahhhvelous.
A two-year-old bit of genius is keeping the Atlanta Falcons from getting any new talent for new (and hugely paid) Coach Bobby Petrino to play with. In 2004, owner Arthur Blank handed QB Michael Vick a $137 million contract and said, "Here Mike, ruin my team." That's r-u-i-n, not r-u-n. And so it has come to pass. The other day the Falcons made their one addition so far by signing FB Ovie Mughelli, formerly with the Ravens. Ovie has four seasons in the NFL and has a total of 50 yards rushing and 195 yards receiving. But you don't sign an all-pro blocker for his rushing skills so maybe he'd be a good addition to a team that has a stay-home QB who needs his protection. In case anyone hasn't noticed that ain't Michael Vick. "I told [Michael] as long as I'm playing, he doesn't have to worry about being touched,'' Mughelli said after signing. Uh, Ovie, dream on, pal.
One bit of crazy behavior that we encourage was given to us by the Dallas Cowboys who in the last few weeks have lost coach Bill Parcells, have surveyed the coaching options out there and decided that Wade Phillips was da man, have made clear (so far) that Terrell Owens, his damaged finger and his big yap will be back again. Then the other day they sign Leonard Davis to a $50-million contract along with almost $19 million in guarantees. This is all for a guy who mostly soiled the sheets for the Cardinals as the No. 2 pick in the draft and now comes to the Cowboys without a position. He might play guard, he might play tackle. And neither position is on the side that protects QB Tony Romo's blind side. This is a move that the inner Giant fan can praise. Hey, Jerry Jones, give Al Davis a call. He might trade you Randy Moss!
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Arthur: Love it. First off, thanks for the shout out. As you might guess, I think the trade for Jones was a great deal. If there is talk of trading McGahee for a 3rd round pick, I think that we got a great deal. First off, you have to be awful or hurt NOT to rush for 1,000 yards w/ the Bears. If ATrain can do it, others can too. Jones isn't that good, not an uphill runner & he doesn't have great moves/speed. He just gets carries and every once in a while gets lucky, Plus he complains too much about money he deserves. Has he repaid Arizona for the money he stole from them? After he does that he can talk about being underpaid.
Absolutely right on Briggs. Both sides are messed up. If Briggs wanted security--guaranteed money--he should've taken the deal. Which leads to my next point:
Guaranteed money. Do you have the feeling that teams are giving guys huge contracts--half guarnateed & half annual salary--just to bring them on? My take on the NFL is that you sign a huge deal only to be released after a bad year. Which is fine. At the same time, that's why players want more. What are the chances Henry stays in Denver 5 years? I bet he is released in the next two years. Therefore, if I'm a player I want guaranteed money up front. The contract is almost an afterthought.
chicago al
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Thanks Al. On guarantees: that was the nuttiness guaranteed in the headline. It's all crazy because of the dance players and teams do about contracts and guarantees. Henry is in Denver for two just as you say. But what really makes no sense is giving him a contract at all if you're the Broncos. EVERYONE gains 1000 with the Broncs.
I thought you'd like the Jones trade but really, couldn't they get more than a move up in the second round from a team that had no running backs to speak of?
Arthur Pincus
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One more thing Al: Aren't' the Bears acting awfully strange in the month since the Super Bowl? Changing lots of coaches? Feuding with their best LB? Keeping Rex?
Arthur Pincus
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I will wait to see if any other RBs are traded in the coming weeks to determine whether or not we could've gotten more. Specifically, I want to see what happens if McGahee goes to Baltimore. Ultimately, as I mentioned earlier, I think the difference b/w 37 and 63 is huge. 37 can be someone that was a 1st round drop. For the Bears it might mean the difference b/w a good young DL/OLB that can start immediately.
Also, good point on the strange moves. Do you think this might have something to do with Lovie's wishes to purge now that he's signed long term? It's not entirely unrealistic that he wanted Rivera gone--whether he was a distraction, or he preferred a different system, who knows--and that he feels Briggs can be replaced b/c of Lovie's simple system. As for Rex, all I will say is that, apparently, 90% of the Bears fans on FanNation feel he's worth keeping & even argued that he led them to the Super Bowl. Again, it's not inconceivalbe that the Bears brass would feel similarly.
chicago al
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So the Ravens got McGahee and only gave up 3rd & 7th round picks in this year's draft, and a 3rd rounder in next year's draft. I think the Bears got a better deal for a lesser player.
chicago al
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Ravens probably did get a better player in McGahee with more upside (expcept for his yap sometimes). But that doesn't mean the Bills made a bad trade or one that doesn't make sense. They potentially get three players for a guy who wanted to leave. Bears didn't get any extra players for Jones and the Jets were in desperate need of a No.1 RB. Bears only getting a move up in the same round seems like a give away to me. They didn't even get the 7th rounder! Bills got two thirds and a seventh. Bears got no players for their one even if the move up gives them a better pick. I still think it's nutty, even moreso by what the Bills got.
But Al, I understand, it's the Bears, you have to look at the bright side. Just like me and the Big Blue Team of Destiny.
Arthur Pincus
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Arthur: I guess it comes down to how much you value Thomas Jones. We need to clear space to get more carries for Benson, and the only difference between Jones & Adrian Peterson is the number of carries they get. Again, I think a high 2nd rounder is more valuable for us than another 3rd rounder. This allows us to essentially get two late first round picks. Do you think the Bears had better offers? I see what you're saying, but I'm also saying that I don't think Jones is that good. Any NFL RB that doesn't get hurt in a 16 game season will get 1,000 yards. That's 63 yards/game. With 20 carries that's only 3.1 yards/carry. Nothing spectacular, much like Thomas Jones.
chicago al
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They do need to find out what Benson can do as the No. 1 back. Still think they could have gotten more. And the Bills didn't get one third, they got two. That ain't too bad. The Bears have done very well in the third round over the last few years. Surely this was about getting rid of Jones but still.....
Arthur Pincus
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The Bears have done better in the 3rd round than the 1st! I hope that's not a trend that continues this year! The point is, if you think Jones is 1/4 as good as McGahee then we need to talk! Seriously. We have the opportunity to draft a player that can start week one. The point is that people are blowing Jones' value WELL out of proportion. Let's see how well the Jets do with Thomas Jones next year. I guarantee I will not eat these words. Why? BECAUSE HE'S NOT THAT GOOD! The guy has NO running style; he can't break a tackle and he can't run by anyone! I'm tired of listening to people "shake their heads" over this trade. We have much bigger holes that we need to fill, and we are in a better position to do so with a the pick we got from the Jets. Tell me the McGahee trade wasn't a steal. Tell me you wouldn't have traded that for him to play for the Giants.
chicago al
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McGahee could be a great back. Absolutely.Better than Jones? Aboslutely. Four times better? Hmmmm. I was hoping (without much hope) that the GMen would get McGahee. One game he played last season against the Jets at the Meadowlands made your eyes bug out he was so good. Game changer. I think the Ravens made a good trade. I don't think it's a steal, at least not yet. I think the Jets made a good trade, too, even if TJ's not McGahee. He's better than Kevan Barlow!
And last and let's leave it for others to get in, too, TJ played pretty big in the big game. Only Hester can say that from the Bears and guys who play big in big games usually have something to offer.
Arthur Pincus
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When it comes to how much a team gets for a guy when all they get is draft picks, I think there are 2 ways to look at it. The first is using the infamous "value chart" which gives a value to every pick in the draft. Using this chart what the Bears got and what Buffalo got are very similar, though I believe the move up in the 2nd was actually worth more since you have to discount for future picks. The other way to look at it is the number of picks you got. I agree with Arthur that if one team gets 3 additional picks, and the other got none...the team with additional picks usually would be the winner. Teams are always looking to move down in the draft yo get more picks, is this a coincidence? No. It's to try and get more bodies so at least one of them will turn into a starter. The Bills deal also gives them the ability to be creative in the draft. They could possibly used their 2nd now to move up in the 1st and get someone they really want. With 2 3rds now, they can feel more comfortable moving their 2nd. I say the Bills got more...but I also think McGahee was worth more, especially since the Bills waited an entire season before being able to use him.
loosemonkeys
Westminster, CO
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Monkeys: You also have to remember that one of the three picks is a 7th round pick. With the exception of Marques Colston, how often do 7th rounders turn into anything productive? Also, the Ravens are drafting late in each round. That said, you're right about the idea that more picks = better (chances of drafting an impact player).
chicago al
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