Rising rookie salaries one topic Goodell wants to address in fall negotiations

[BAMAPHIN 22]

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said it's "ridiculous" to reward untested rookies with lucrative contracts, and wants the issue addressed in contract talks.

"There's something wrong about the system," Goodell said Friday. "The money should go to people who perform."

Goodell referred to Michigan tackle Jake Long's five-year, $57.75 million contract -- with $30 million guaranteed. Long was the first overall draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in April.

"He doesn't have to play a down in the NFL and he already has his money," Goodell said during a question-and-answer period at the end of a weeklong sports symposium at the Chautauqua Institution. "Now, with the economics where they are, the consequences if you don't evaluate that player, you can lose a significant amount of money.

"And that money is not going to players that are performing. It's going to a player that never makes it in the NFL. And I think that's ridiculous."

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10879742

[HughC]

A very true statement.

But the obvious intent is positioning in the CBA with the player's union. We've already seen the owners opt out of the salary cap, and making public the amount of debt that teams carry.

Regardless, more money does need to be diverted from rookies to veterans. On the other hand, if I'm the NFLPA, I want some assurance that a rookie salary cap really does mean more money for the vets.

[satz]

the last cba was set to be doomed. they went from one end to another. their is a no way a team can be profitable if it only gets 40% of the revenue. the fans then take the burden for parking and ticket prices.
i am hoping this time the teams get a better deal and veterans do make good money .so realistically if the move some of the rookie commitment over to the owners this cba will be done.

[ch19079]

The Union will not agree to it. It sounds like a good idea, and would only really effect 10 players, but we are talking about 10 players. It isnt that big a deal in compared to everything else that effects every other player in the NFL.

If they do anything about the draft, they will address the issue of signing the 1st overall pick before the draft takes place, and/or the conflict of interest involved in having one agency represent more than 1 top pick, each negociating with the team with the 1st overall pick.

[emeraldfin]

Originally Posted by ch19079

The Union will not agree to it. It sounds like a good idea, and would only really effect 10 players, but we are talking about 10 players. It isnt that big a deal in compared to everything else that effects every other player in the NFL.

If they do anything about the draft, they will address the issue of signing the 1st overall pick before the draft takes place, and/or the conflict of interest involved in having one agency represent more than 1 top pick, each negociating with the team with the 1st overall pick.

Ok I'm not that strong when it comes to economics, finance and such n such, but if the top players keep getting bigger deals and more money each season, does that not mean that contracts go up all across the board?