NFL FA craziness

[otismotis08]

Every year during the FA period, you can look around at the list of players who are being flat-out cut by teams, and easily make an argument that you could build a SB contender simply from guys that have been cut loose.

I know that the NFL has a salary cap that essentially makes the GMs, personnel directors, and front offices the most important aspect of any franchise. It's a numbers game with contract structures and funny money.

But as a fan, it does make it difficult to stomach all of the player movement. Way back in the day, players did not move around so much. You could grow attached to your favorite players without concern that they would be moving on just about any given year. When there were trades, it was usually a player-for-player deal. Not a swap of draft picks, salary cap hits, offloading contracts early, etc.

Someday, the NFL should consider looking into ways to keep players/teams together. Otherwise this whole merry-go-round might get old to old fans like me. Just sayin'

Discuss.

 

[mgbreeze]

Players union is never going to agree to less freedom of ability to move to the highest bidder. I like it, keeps the billionaire owners honest, and gives building teams the opportunity to change their fortunes. Plus, offseason drama is fun. How long ago are you referring to as "back in the day"? Because it's been this way for a long time!

 

[otismotis08]

Players union is never going to agree to less freedom of ability to move to the highest bidder. I like it, keeps the billionaire owners honest, and gives building teams the opportunity to change their fortunes. Plus, offseason drama is fun. How long ago are you referring to as "back in the day"? Because it's been this way for a long time!

Maybe. But the salary cap came around in the mid '90s. It was different before then. Something still smells wrong when a SB contender can be built from FA castoffs.

 

[tone1017]

Players are already restricted on where they play, starting with the draft which would be disallowed in virtually any other profession. The franchise tag gives owners incredible power to keep stars in place for years without committing to them long term. They also sign non guaranteed contracts where depending on the structure owners can cut bait after one subpar year and void multiple years of base salary, why should players who already have a very short average career span sacrifice more freedom?

 

[otismotis08]

I agree that players who are staking their careers on the NFL need to get all they can, while they can. One slip on a banana peel and it could be over.

That said, they NFL itself should really try and find ways to try to minimize all the movement. It will be better for the health of the league.