SOME BIG NAME DRAFTEES SIGN, KARMA CATCHES UP TO A BAD GUY & ARE AGENTS "NO BETTER THAN PIMPS?"
We finally got a 1st rounder signed & he's one who needed to get into camp,which starts on Saturday, so he can start learning a very difficult position. The Dallas Cowboys signed the 23rd selection of the first round, wide receiver Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State. Bryant's 5-year deal is said to be worth $11.8 million with $8.5 million guaranteed. Bryant hasn't played since last September after he was stripped of his eligibility by the NCAA after he lied to an NCAA investigator. The question: "did you eat lunch at the home of Deion Sanders?" The answer: "no I didn't." In fact Bryant had enjoyed Deion's hospitality for lunch & there's no rule that keeps Bryant from dining at Deion's. But the lie essentially got him kicked out of college football. This is the definition of overkill. A game yes, maybe two, but to lose the remainder of two years of eligibility is absurd. Then he was forced to sit thru a really insulting interview with the Miami Dolphin hierarchy at the Indy combine. I'm not a Cowboy fan, but I'm pulling for Bryant.
Cleveland signed their third round pick, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, to a 4-year deal worth about $5 million. The 85th pick, where McCoy was selected, normally brings a contract of about $3.85 million, but there's a quarterback premium in every round. His signing bonus will be over $700,000. Colt's getting married real soon, so that $700K will come in handy.
The Chiefs even got into the act signing the second of their third-round picks, tight end Tony Moeaki of Iowa. No details were mentioned in the Chiefs press release, no surprise, except to say the contract is for four years. C'mon Scott, you have a week to get everybody else signed, get busy.
One other signing of note, the Denver Broncos worked out a 6-year contract extension with pass rushing specialist, outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil. The former 4th round pick in the '06 draft, Dumervil has already recorded 43 sacks, including 17 last season. The extension is worth a reported $61.5 million with $43 million of it guaranteed.
I told you about Miami defensive end Phillip Merling being charged with battery on a pregnant woman as he smacked & whacked the mother of his 2-year old when she was pregnant with their 2nd child. Karma caught up with Merling, he will miss the entire season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Merling's defense attorney won't like to hear this, if Merling sustained this injury doing anything other than training for his job with the Dolphins, he will forfeit as much as $400,000 of his 2010 contract. Couldn't happen to a more deserving thug. Enjoy your year off Phil.
The NFL/NFLPA negotiations continue in earnest. NFLPA boss DeMaurice Smith made a few points on Thursday in my opinion. He said the players union was open to taking $200 million out of the rookie compensation system per season. They would put $100 million a year in the retirement fund, greatly helping many, many players of the 60's & 70's who's monthly check just doesn't get it done. Many of these players never made big money & some have debilitating health issues. The union would also direct $100 million into the 2nd, 3rd & 4th contracts of veteran players. It makes so much sense to pay veterans much more than rookies. A 10-year vet is worth more than an untested rookie. They will finally join the NBA & get this part of the pay scale right. Here's what looks to be a sticking point, they want the franchise tag & restricted free agency eliminated plus the union wants a player to be eligible for free agency after just 3-years instead of four. I really like the first two ideas but I think the owners will choke on the free agency portion of this proposal. I'm just relieved they're talking honestly about a new collective bargaining agreement.
One of my favorite preseason picks, the Baltimore Ravens, were a little questionable in the defensive backfield heading into training camp. Their depth is beginning to look thinner as we get closer to camp opening. Two corners from last year, Fabian Washington & LaDarius Webb, are recovering from ACL surgery. All-Pro safety Ed Reed might have to miss the first six games on the PUP list after an off-season hip operation. Now cornerback Cary Williams will miss the first 2 games of the year because of a suspension for violating the leagues' conduct policy. When Williams was with the Titans, he got into trouble & now it could cost the Ravens. This D-backfield issue could become a major obstacle in Baltimore.
The big Miami party that has linked several top-notch college prospects to agent money was held at Frank Gore's home in South Beach. The San Francisco running back admitted tonight the party was held in his home but he denied knowing any of the college players in question. "Man, there were a lot of people there that night, I didn't know all of them" Gore said. Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green said tonight "I've never been in Miami in my life." Unfortunately Dawgs coach Mark Richt said the NCAA still has questions about Green being in Miami, so this isn't over yet. Five very prominent prospects have been questioned about their travel to the party. All five could forfeit their remaining eligibility if it's determined they attended the party on an agent's dime. Usually when there's smoke there's fire. Maybe not all five, but I'm bettin' 2 or 3 are going to get nailed in this deal.
"Some of these agents are no better than pimps" so says Alabama coach Nick Saban at yesterday's Southeastern Conference media day. I don't know if Saban is the guy to question the integrity of others. When he was at LSU, he promised the alumni he "won't leave Baton Rouge for the Dolphin job." He left less than a month later for Miami. Then in his 2nd year as the Dolphins head coach he promised Miami fans "I'm absolutely, positively not interested in the Alabama vacancy." Yeah, he left South Florida to become the Crimson Tide's head coach. There is something to what he said tho, some of these agents are no better than pimps. But let's not turn a blind eye, some of these coaches are rather pimp-like. I know people have pretty strong feelings about these kids getting in trouble for taking money from agents. As an 18-year old, don't tell me you don't know right from wrong after being told you cannot take money or gifts from sports' agents or marketers. I feel like even the dullest knife in the drawer can understand this rule. No means no. But & it's a very biggggg but. Football players generate huge money for universities at almost every level. College football players pay for almost every other sport the school competes in, except basketball. College football brings notoriety & prestige to many a university. College football players risk life & limb playing a very violent sport. They have to be full time students & part time players, it's not easy. Some will say the full ride scholarship they receive for playing football is enough for everything they give the school. Let's be clear, of the 3 divisions of NCAA athletic competition that can offer scholarships, less than 1% of these kids earn money as a professional football player, so getting a quality education should be the priority. But many kids are only in school because the NFL requires no player can be signed until 3 years after their senior year in high school. Many just tread water, biding their time, waiting to audition for the big time. A very high percentage of scholarship players use this opportunity to get a college degree that can help them in their chosen career.
This issue of players taking money isn't restricted to just the kids from lower income families. Many of the kids that get into trouble with the NCAA for breaking the rules are from well-to-do homes. This problem is more about bad decisions, entitlement & no accountability. But the people waving that money in their faces have to answer for the carnage they can cause to both a player's life & a football program. Many of these families are truly impoverished & it takes the extended family to keep just one kid in school. Uncles, aunts, grandmas, older siblings, they all contribute so the kid can have a small allowance, some school clothes, a cell phone or maybe a car. Could the university give these players a stipend, say $100 a week so they could go to a movie once a month, pay their cell phone bill etc.? Do you limit this allowance to football players only? No way that won't fly, what about the wrestlers, the girls' softball team, swimmers & divers? So what's the tab? Something in the neighborhood of $600,000 per school, per year & that's just allowing for football, basketball, softball, baseball & wrestling. Many schools have a track & field team, golf, swimming & diving, hockey, lacrosse, rodeo & gymnastics. Universities are cash-strapped right now as donations are way off due to the recession. This isn't an easy fiscal fix but as these incidents continue to grow in scope, a solution is needed. We don't need to reinvent the wheel but a long term solution is needed.
I want to thank all the people who sent comments & emails after reading "Just How Much Crap Can One Person Buy in Support of Their Team?" This piece got more mail than anything since the draft in April & no one called me an idiot or offered me any solo sexual advice, so thanks for that too. If you haven't read it, there's no time like the present, scroll down & check it out right now.
Cleveland signed their third round pick, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, to a 4-year deal worth about $5 million. The 85th pick, where McCoy was selected, normally brings a contract of about $3.85 million, but there's a quarterback premium in every round. His signing bonus will be over $700,000. Colt's getting married real soon, so that $700K will come in handy.
The Chiefs even got into the act signing the second of their third-round picks, tight end Tony Moeaki of Iowa. No details were mentioned in the Chiefs press release, no surprise, except to say the contract is for four years. C'mon Scott, you have a week to get everybody else signed, get busy.
One other signing of note, the Denver Broncos worked out a 6-year contract extension with pass rushing specialist, outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil. The former 4th round pick in the '06 draft, Dumervil has already recorded 43 sacks, including 17 last season. The extension is worth a reported $61.5 million with $43 million of it guaranteed.
I told you about Miami defensive end Phillip Merling being charged with battery on a pregnant woman as he smacked & whacked the mother of his 2-year old when she was pregnant with their 2nd child. Karma caught up with Merling, he will miss the entire season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Merling's defense attorney won't like to hear this, if Merling sustained this injury doing anything other than training for his job with the Dolphins, he will forfeit as much as $400,000 of his 2010 contract. Couldn't happen to a more deserving thug. Enjoy your year off Phil.
The NFL/NFLPA negotiations continue in earnest. NFLPA boss DeMaurice Smith made a few points on Thursday in my opinion. He said the players union was open to taking $200 million out of the rookie compensation system per season. They would put $100 million a year in the retirement fund, greatly helping many, many players of the 60's & 70's who's monthly check just doesn't get it done. Many of these players never made big money & some have debilitating health issues. The union would also direct $100 million into the 2nd, 3rd & 4th contracts of veteran players. It makes so much sense to pay veterans much more than rookies. A 10-year vet is worth more than an untested rookie. They will finally join the NBA & get this part of the pay scale right. Here's what looks to be a sticking point, they want the franchise tag & restricted free agency eliminated plus the union wants a player to be eligible for free agency after just 3-years instead of four. I really like the first two ideas but I think the owners will choke on the free agency portion of this proposal. I'm just relieved they're talking honestly about a new collective bargaining agreement.
One of my favorite preseason picks, the Baltimore Ravens, were a little questionable in the defensive backfield heading into training camp. Their depth is beginning to look thinner as we get closer to camp opening. Two corners from last year, Fabian Washington & LaDarius Webb, are recovering from ACL surgery. All-Pro safety Ed Reed might have to miss the first six games on the PUP list after an off-season hip operation. Now cornerback Cary Williams will miss the first 2 games of the year because of a suspension for violating the leagues' conduct policy. When Williams was with the Titans, he got into trouble & now it could cost the Ravens. This D-backfield issue could become a major obstacle in Baltimore.
The big Miami party that has linked several top-notch college prospects to agent money was held at Frank Gore's home in South Beach. The San Francisco running back admitted tonight the party was held in his home but he denied knowing any of the college players in question. "Man, there were a lot of people there that night, I didn't know all of them" Gore said. Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green said tonight "I've never been in Miami in my life." Unfortunately Dawgs coach Mark Richt said the NCAA still has questions about Green being in Miami, so this isn't over yet. Five very prominent prospects have been questioned about their travel to the party. All five could forfeit their remaining eligibility if it's determined they attended the party on an agent's dime. Usually when there's smoke there's fire. Maybe not all five, but I'm bettin' 2 or 3 are going to get nailed in this deal.
"Some of these agents are no better than pimps" so says Alabama coach Nick Saban at yesterday's Southeastern Conference media day. I don't know if Saban is the guy to question the integrity of others. When he was at LSU, he promised the alumni he "won't leave Baton Rouge for the Dolphin job." He left less than a month later for Miami. Then in his 2nd year as the Dolphins head coach he promised Miami fans "I'm absolutely, positively not interested in the Alabama vacancy." Yeah, he left South Florida to become the Crimson Tide's head coach. There is something to what he said tho, some of these agents are no better than pimps. But let's not turn a blind eye, some of these coaches are rather pimp-like. I know people have pretty strong feelings about these kids getting in trouble for taking money from agents. As an 18-year old, don't tell me you don't know right from wrong after being told you cannot take money or gifts from sports' agents or marketers. I feel like even the dullest knife in the drawer can understand this rule. No means no. But & it's a very biggggg but. Football players generate huge money for universities at almost every level. College football players pay for almost every other sport the school competes in, except basketball. College football brings notoriety & prestige to many a university. College football players risk life & limb playing a very violent sport. They have to be full time students & part time players, it's not easy. Some will say the full ride scholarship they receive for playing football is enough for everything they give the school. Let's be clear, of the 3 divisions of NCAA athletic competition that can offer scholarships, less than 1% of these kids earn money as a professional football player, so getting a quality education should be the priority. But many kids are only in school because the NFL requires no player can be signed until 3 years after their senior year in high school. Many just tread water, biding their time, waiting to audition for the big time. A very high percentage of scholarship players use this opportunity to get a college degree that can help them in their chosen career.
This issue of players taking money isn't restricted to just the kids from lower income families. Many of the kids that get into trouble with the NCAA for breaking the rules are from well-to-do homes. This problem is more about bad decisions, entitlement & no accountability. But the people waving that money in their faces have to answer for the carnage they can cause to both a player's life & a football program. Many of these families are truly impoverished & it takes the extended family to keep just one kid in school. Uncles, aunts, grandmas, older siblings, they all contribute so the kid can have a small allowance, some school clothes, a cell phone or maybe a car. Could the university give these players a stipend, say $100 a week so they could go to a movie once a month, pay their cell phone bill etc.? Do you limit this allowance to football players only? No way that won't fly, what about the wrestlers, the girls' softball team, swimmers & divers? So what's the tab? Something in the neighborhood of $600,000 per school, per year & that's just allowing for football, basketball, softball, baseball & wrestling. Many schools have a track & field team, golf, swimming & diving, hockey, lacrosse, rodeo & gymnastics. Universities are cash-strapped right now as donations are way off due to the recession. This isn't an easy fiscal fix but as these incidents continue to grow in scope, a solution is needed. We don't need to reinvent the wheel but a long term solution is needed.
I want to thank all the people who sent comments & emails after reading "Just How Much Crap Can One Person Buy in Support of Their Team?" This piece got more mail than anything since the draft in April & no one called me an idiot or offered me any solo sexual advice, so thanks for that too. If you haven't read it, there's no time like the present, scroll down & check it out right now.
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