A bit of a fallout has begun in Chicago, where the Bears’ one-day spending spree of nearly $54 million in guaranteed money on other teams’ players on March 5 has left some in the locker room wanting. This may be a trend worth watching around the league as the 212 players who have been tendered one-year contracts are feeling a bit cornered by the new uncapped system in the NFL, and some may resort to some form of mild disobedience in protest -- boycotting offseason workouts, minicamps, OTAs, etc. (without a contract, they can’t be fined).
As we now know, one of the many tradeoffs for this last year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) being uncapped is the requirement that players must serve six years in the NFL to become free agents as opposed to the previous four years, resulting in a “limbo” group of free agents with a higher level of talent than the depleted group of true free agents.
One such player expressing dissatisfaction is Bears safety Danieal Manning. His agent has decided to take a hard line, telling the Chicago Tribune: “He's definitely not happy with the way he was tendered. Until he gets a contract, he won't be attending any offseason workouts.” Strong words, but probably not the most effective strategy for getting a new contract.
And what about the way Manning was tendered? Well, this gets a bit complicated, but stick with me here:
Second-rounder without a second-round tender
Manning entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2006. At the start of free agency, he was given an RFA (restricted free agent) tender at the original round level. That amount – for a four-year player – is $1.176 million, certainly not what Manning was expecting to make as a free agent after four years in the league.
In the event a team presents Manning an offer sheet that the Bears decide not to match, however, they would receive a third-round pick, not a second-round pick.
Why, you ask, would a player assigned a second-round tender only amount to a third-round pick from another team when the incumbent team – the Bears in this case – placed an original round tender on the player? Here’s how:
The downgraded-upgraded tender rule
The second round pick becomes a third-round pick (this also applies to a first rounder becoming a second) when a team wants to tender a player who was a second-round pick at original round compensation and also wants to tender another player who was picked later than the second round with a second-round tender. If this is the case, then an original round tender to the former second-round pick would only net the team a third-round pick if he received an offer sheet and the old club elected not to match.
Manning-Anderson switch
This is what happened with the Bears:
Danieal Manning is an RFA who was originally a second-round selection.
Mark Anderson is an RFA who was originally a fifth-round selection.
Since the Bears gave Anderson a high tender with second-round compensation and the Bears tendered Manning at original-round compensation ($1.176 million), they would only get a third-round pick if they declined to match an offer sheet to Manning. In this example, if the Bears wanted a second-round pick as compensation for losing Manning, they would have to give him the high tender with second-round pick compensation ($1.759M). They did not.
The same scenario is ongoing with the New York Giants and Sinorice Moss and Domenik Hixon.
Moss-Hixon switch
Sinorice Moss is an RFA who was originally a second-round selection.
Domenick Hixon is an RFA who was originally a fourth-round selection.
Since the Giants gave Hixon a high tender with second-round compensation, then tendered Moss at original-round compensation ($1.176M), they would only get a third-round pick if they declined to match an offer sheet to Moss.
There are other examples around the league. How much any of this matters may be moot, as the RFA market looks to be stagnant (more on that in my next column). But for at least educational purposes only, you are now informed on the issue of a former second rounder bringing a third-round pick in compensation.
Test tomorrow.
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I'm pretty sure the Bears WANT Manning to sign a deal with another team.
Agreed. Bears moved Manning around from FS to CB, back to FS, lately to SS it's obvious they don't know what to do with him. Bears want 3rd round pick and they won't match any offer.
The Bears don't know what they're doing, isn't that obvious! If the Love Boat knew how to teach and/or evaluate talent, he would have taught Manning a position that he could excel at, instead of moving him around every 6 games.
I hate to say it as a Bears fan, but the Bears still SUCK!
I guess that's right.
Good teams get good players and figure out a system that plays to their strengths. Then there are teams like the Bears.
We'll see how far they emphasize system over talent when they unveil their offence.
Ever since Lovie has been on board he hasn't made S a point of emphasis. Since coming aboard in 04' he has started 42 safeties. A staggering number especially when you consider that the Tampa 2 relies on the S position particularly FS more then a CB to make plays. Yet they haven't had a good one since Brown & even then had to deal w/his up & down injury situation. But nothing takes the cake more then last years Manning situation. Lovie spent the entire off season tutoring manning as the nickle his best spot & an actual weapon there,& then during mini camp he puts him in as the starting FS. Ridiculous. Lovie bad!!
Bears as division winners in 2010-11? Not likely, if you note the historical record for teams that overspend on free agents.
More specific, the record shows that teams spending more than $50 million the first week of free agency typically do NOT play past the first round of the playoffs. More often,
undisciplined spending teams like the Bears don't make the playoffs (e.g., Redskins, Tampa Bay, Oakland in recent years).
Truly, Angelo and Smith are on the Uber-Hot Seat -- so they convinced the McCaskey(s) and other higher-ups to spend millions.
What else could they do? Season ticket holders still hoarse from booing Jay Cutler's 25+ INTs last season don't have any top draft picks to salivate over on 4/22.
So the only headlines worth their ink were the free agent signings Angelo foolishly signed.
Here's "I told you so" with mediocre Chester Taylor gaining no more than 600 yards.
Peppers? Maybe a star, but if he fails, then the boo-birds will have Smith fired by Game 16's end in early 2011.
Still 'Da Bears!
.500 team at best.
"[players-RFAs] may resort to some form of mild disobedience in protest -- boycotting offseason workouts, minicamps, OTAs, etc. (without a contract, they can’t be fined)."
They don't have a contract so they can't be fined, i get that... yet they can be 'disobedient'? wow, not sure that sort of phrase would endear you to a labor lawyer. I merely thought the player was using the last vestiges of their bargained leverage. Just like the owners are using their bargained leverage by restricting free player movement in the prime of their careers and limiting contracts to 1yr offers.
Considering the owners are the ones who have forced this issue by opting out of the CBA early, perhaps they are the ones being disobedient? nah,... that doesn't play to the populace.
"That amount – for a four-year player – is $1.176 million, certainly not what Manning was expecting to make as a free agent after four years in the league."
Well, that depends on how you look at his position. He makes him primary contributions as a special teams player, particulary as a returner, and as a nickle back. So I'd say the compensation is about right.
The guy has been given ample opportunities to start at FS but he just doesn't get it. It's not fair to blame this on the coaching staff. They have produced much with little and when they do have talent, like Mike Brown and Charles Tillman, they get a lot out of it.
Manning gave up the winning TD in the SB. He gave up a TD against Houston last game of the season in 09 that kept the Bears out of the playoffs. Both were at FS. Enough is enough. He has a million dollar body and a five cent brain for the game. He has no room to complain.
BTW, we have other returners so if he wants to hide under his bed and suck his thumb let him.
I think the Patriots should sign Sinorice Moss, and put in the offer that Moss must play for the coach of a team, who loses every time Rock Star Roger Goodell does a secret coin flip.
Does anyone know the commish? I'm trying to get his autograph.
No matter what the Bears do, the troll vultures will always find a way to spin it negative. 2001's team was a "fluke" despite leading the league in points allowed. 2005+06 were "overrated" due to schedule and QB's. Fact of that matter is the team STILL went to the Super Bowl in '06, and in the last four years there's only 3 other teams in the NFC that can say they did that. EVERYONE picked the Saints coming to the NFC title game, and the Bears CRUSHED them. CRUSHED.
Do we not remember that Brian Urlacher played one QUARTER last year? Take the best player off of ANY team it DRASTICALLY changes them. The team STILL went 7-9 and was competitive in 4-5 other games. Go look how the Ravens did in years without Ray Lewis, it was worse. I <3 the retard media and fans that listen to ESPN's "knowledge" and act like they are konwledgable too...please motivate this team some more, please.
Oh and the Bears are "desperate" wanting to improve their team by all the free agent signings. Right, because you couldn't say the exact same thing about ANY other team trying to win. Desperation produces results (see: players in contract years). Peppers is 3rd in sacks since 2002 in the LEAGUE, if he has "trouble with motivation" then so do 99% of the players that play DE. Troll on idiots, troll on...it's always good for a laugh.
If the Bears don't want him, the Pack should go after him. Even though TT doesn't like to watch the Bears pick where he was supposed to, we need help in the defensive backfield. Manning's return ability alone would make him worth pursuit (though I am not sure what salary he would command) but then we could perhaps have a nickel corner if any of our starters went down, or safety to push Bigby.
I agree he would be a nice fit with the Pack, especially as a return man. Our third rounder (nearly a fourth) wouldn't seem to be too high of a price to me.
al round level. That amount – for a four-year player – is $1.176 million, certainly not what Manning was expecting to make
The same scenario is ongoing with the New York Giants
agree he would be a nice fit with the Pack, especially as a return man. Our third rounder (nearly a fourth) wouldn't seem to be too high of a price to me.
I think the bears spent the right money. They definitely picked up some great players. I just love that you picked up peppers.
I thought the draft definitely had a lot of talent in it. There was a ton of great players to pick from. A lot of teams definitely took advantage of this.
I think manning is definitely worth all of this money. He is such a great talent on the field. He will be just fine.
QUARTER last year? Take the best player off of ANY team it DRASTICALLY changes them.
Mar 17, 2010
02:03 PM
I'm wondering again about the wisdom of this kind of tendering strategy, and whether or not it just invites other teams to sign Manning to a poison-pill contract.
The Bears aren't exactly the Saints or the Colts or the Patriots: nobody's going to be going (or staying) there out of a desire to win a Super Bowl. Manning isn't exactly an All-Pro, but he's a great utility player as a hitter and a kick returner. He'd fit in very nicely with pretty much any team in the AFC East, and three of those teams are much more likely to make the playoffs than the Bears.
So if I'm Manning's agent, why am I not on the phone with the Jets, Pats, and Dolphins -- three teams that want to win, not economize, in 2010?