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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 8, 2007
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"Every spring, the buzz from general managers is, 'We need to fix rookie compensation.' We addressed this issue by limiting rookie pool growth and fixing the maximum number of years a rookie could sign. The length of contracts severely limits players’ ability to move money into future years. What the media doesn’t report is that the rookie pool is part of the overall salary cap, and a player is only a rookie for one season. Clubs want the players to pay for mistakes teams make in drafting. We’ll never agree to a rookie wage scale in such a short-career sport." - Gene Upshaw
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 8, 2007
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Clubs want the players to pay for mistakes teams make in drafting. We’ll never agree to a rookie wage scale in such a short-career sport.Those last 2 lines are very interesting points. Never thought of it that way.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 30, 2006
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Gene Upshaw showing some teeth..........watch out Jimmy Hoffa there is a new union sheriff in town.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 4, 2007
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IMO by taking this stance he's cutting short the veterans in the league. It's not like this money would just vanish into the owners pockets. The money would then be distributed to the vets who every year become cap casualties because an unproven rookie is going to get an insane amount of money for having proved nothing at the pro level. Gene Upshaw needs to seriously think about who in his union deserves the money because the rookies aren't the ones who deserve it and that's a fact.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 7, 2008
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you guys bring up excellent topics & excellent points --- the rookie payscale has been & continues to climb at a parabolic rate ... in a salary-capped league, it is only normal to put caps on them to prevent exactly what is taking place now and will only get worse over time ... between having to have this 'brought to his attention' as well as retired players not getting anywhere near the help they need, im surprised upshaw still has a job ... you think the guy wudda learned being a vet himself that spreading the wealth is a healthy thing for the greater good...
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 21, 2007
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I agree with Upshaw... ultimately, it is not like players hold a gun to the franchises head and say, "pay me this". If a team doesn't want to pay huge rookie salaries, then trade out of the first round. Most of the rookies who come in after round 1 make peanuts, suffer the same health risks, and have the shortest careers.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:49
Level:Rookie
Since:Nov 12, 2006
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Rookie salaries for the 1st round picks are hurting the league. How can an unproven player come in and become the highest paid player at his position? To me this is absurd. This would be like an entry level employee coming into a business and demanding to get paid as much or more than the CEO. It just doesn't make sense. Something needs to be done about Rookie salaries. A cap would be the right move.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 26, 2006
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I really think they need to force the union to take a rookie salary sscale like the NBA did. The salaries are to huge. And to painful if a player pulls a Ryan Leaf. Also Upshaw should have added, besides we are squeezing every penny we can out of the old timers whom I could care less about.
His comments will lead to the owners breaking the contract and I won't be surprised if we have another lockout.
Upshaw thinks he holds all the cards, but the truth is he is a toothless lion. What he needs to do is say fine the rookies salaries can be capped but also guarenteed. That way you don't have to pay 60 Million to the 2009 number 1 pick.
If that were his stance rather then never will there be a Rookie salary Cap...i would support him more.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 26, 2006
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Rum,
The purpose of the draft is defeated if you have to trade out becasue of escalating Rookie salaries. The Draft and having the number 1 pick was supposed to mean that your franchise was on its way toward improving. Now it means you can't make a mistake or your two year decline can turn into a decade of decline.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 23, 2007
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Jake Long= Highest paid OL in the league.
that doesnt make much sense now does it.
agree whole heartedly with you guys on this one. i like the NBAs aggreement. set ranges and scales for rookie contracts.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 16, 2007
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"I agree with Upshaw... ultimately, it is not like players hold a gun to the franchises head and say, "pay me this". If a team doesn't want to pay huge rookie salaries, then trade out of the first round. Most of the rookies who come in after round 1 make peanuts, suffer the same health risks, and have the shortest careers. "
Can't say as I agree here. Aas already pointed out, the draft is to help those teams who need players the most, by having the worst teams. To force teams to trade out, which is, especially in the case of top 10 picks, becoming less common, is to say that only teams willing to pay outrageous salaries should be able to have access to the highest regarded rookies. The NFL has spent a lot of time reaching the point that they're at now, where mediocrity... excuse me, parity, is the rule.
A lockout is coming soon, and I am willing to bet that the players lose on this issue. The NBA has done the same thing, and it is time for the NFL to do the same; establish pay scales for rookies, with the caveat that the contracts can't be any longer than three years.
This puts the money back where it belongs, with the veteran players.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:May 4, 2007
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Clubs want the players to pay for mistakes teams make in drafting. We’ll never agree to a rookie wage scale in such a short-career sport." - Gene Upshaw
Allow me to translate - "hey - you chose poorly... tough... pay the schlub you drafted a lot of money"...
anyway, take that out of the NFL and put it in the real world -
"Bob, I'm sorry I hired you.... I didn't realize you were a no talented f#$%kup. Bob you are fired and here is two weeks severance. Oh, sh!t Bob I forgot you were a rookie so here's $20 million dollars, go sit in the corner for 5 years then I'll fire you."
In the real world you do not make a lot of money coming straight out of college
Especially if you didn't finish with a degree - known as leaving early in the NFL - but in the real world that is called a dropout
You get your money after you have the experience.
Most companies have a 90 day probationary period on hiring as well. Where after the 90 days you are evaluated and keep your job or they deide you are a putz and are fired.
But hey, in the NFL I have to pay you millions in guaranteed money before you ever get your first play.
The NFL is a short-career sport? Hey, any job in the real world is a short-span-job if you can't cut it....
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 19, 2007
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What bothers me about his stance:
He is the head of the Players Union. He is supposed to represent the players in the NFL. Any wage scale or alterations to teh rookie cap would impact players teh moment they are drafted, or to go further you could say they impact the guys right now who are in college or younger. So with Gene Upshaw's stance, he is protecting the guy just drafted or the guys who will be drafted in the future. Another phrase for those people would be "People not yet signed with an NFL team." Another way to say it is "People who are not NFL players." Gene Upshaw fighting against a rookie wage scale is not looking out for the people he is supposed to be protecting: Current NFL players.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 8, 2007
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Recon. They get guaranteed money because of the high rate of career ending injuries that can occur in the NFL. You say, "any job in the real world is a short-span-job if you can't cut it...." . Well, since when is being injured not cutting it. In THE REAL WORLD, when you are injured, handicapped, or disabled everyone kisses your @ss and you get disability checks, law suits & settlements, special treatment/preferences. I don;t see NFL players technically getting paid for pain and suffering. If that Edwards guy from Buffalo was construction worker and broke his neck, he would get millions in a law suit. Also, NFL isn't a pedestrian job. They make millions. Other jobs like corporate CEO's are guaranteed millions in advance and when they screw up they get fired. You know what getting fired means for them? A buy out with millions of dollars in severance pay - Larry Brown with the Knicks is a good sports example.
Also, sports/athletes are one of the few area where students actually get to perform & audition for 2-4 years before starting a pro career. That's experience. While they might not be proven at an NFL level, what other profession would you get 3 years experience before starting your real career.
The thing I am kind of torn on is the rookies getting more than the vets though. For the most part, the NFL pays on production, more specifically potential production. There is never a guarantee in sports due to bodies detieriorating much fast than mental capacity that is required for REAL WORLD JOBS. These top picks are paid top money because they are expected to be the next Peyton or LT. MY Biggest POINT is this.... if top 10 draft picks didn't go up, I think the vets would end up making less money. Those top 10 rookie contracts go up every year and I think in turn they drive up the max contracts that the top NFL veteran players get because they "want to be the highest paid" at their position. The escalating rookie salaries drive up the salary cap for all players to eventually cash in.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 26, 2006
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Jon,
Does it surprise you? Look at how Upsahw treats the retiree's. Today Gene is fighting for you but the second you retire he doesn't answer your calls. The NFLPA serves current and future memebers only.
A sad part of me is hoping we get scab football again. At least these guys will aprreciate the money they earn.
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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Upshaw on Rookie Wage Scale
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