Players leave for many reasons, some with regret Andrew Brandt
NBA notes
A couple quick notes on the NBA as we await the dramatic conclusion of LeBronathon tonight:
Back to football and free agency, I appreciate the response to the previous column. To clarify, I am not saying NFL free agency never works out. I remember signing free agent Charles Woodson, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and will detail Woodson's signing in a coming column. I am saying that due to the schematic nature of football, its injury rate, it coaching turnover and its interdependency on so many players, the deck is stacked against one player having tremendous impact. Here was a less successful venture into those waters.
The chase
In 2002, I was the point man for the Packers in chasing Joe Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive end from the Saints who was to be the key to our championship run. Johnson -- or so we thought – would be a prized acquisition, an accomplished player at a high impact position strong against the run and pass. We recruited Joe both at our facility and coach/general manager Mike Sherman visited him at his home.
As happens in free agency so often, the impulse and emotion of the chase took over. The Saints were intent on keeping Johnson, and the game was on.
My role was to be a balance between the football side of the organization and the business side. The football needs were more immediate and impulsive; the business side was more long-term and strategic. In some cases, I was a voice of action; in others like this, a voice of reason, or hoped to be.
In the case of Johnson, I warned of the ramifications of venturing into the financial neighborhood that we heading. As to the inevitable question “Can we do it?” the answer was yes although we would have to shed in other areas (I had to get Frank Winters to take a pay cut just to enter our deal into the system and stay under the Cap).
We finally won the battle for Johnson, a deal I closed from the Magic Kingdom with my family after the NFL meetings in Orlando that year. As I sat on the Dumbo ride after closing the deal, I knew we had made a big deal for a game-changing player, which was exhilarating. I also knew the contract was a challenge and the momentary euphoria could turn to long-term angst.
Money not love
Of course, Johnson didn’t work out. He was a nice guy and worked with me over the next couple years to take pay cuts, as I was able to provide him cash advances in exchange for lower salaries. But his career was derailed by injury, as so many are, perhaps the biggest reason to avoid free agents with any age on them. With Joe, I also detected something deeper.
Joe came to Green Bay for the money but I could tell his heart was in New Orleans. He didn’t really want to leave the Saints; he had to leave with what we were offering.
This happens every year throughout the league. Players are seduced by the recruiting of free agency, the lure of a big new contract and, in some cases, are emboldened by feelings of a lack of respect from the front office of their incumbent team. They leave for what they think is greener grass. Often it is not.
I saw the Johnson issue from the other side at the Packers many times. Players left for better deals only to later call and ask about returning to Green Bay. They left for different reasons -- more money, the lure of recruiting, feelings of disrespect from the front office, etc, but they ultimately missed where they were.
Dawkins decision
Last year I was involved in the Eagles negotiation with Brian Dawkins (with a result that nearly had me enroll in witness protection in Philadelphia). Although we presented an offer well above the existing safety market at the time, the Broncos jumped that range by a healthy margin.
I don’t know Brian and only dealt with his agent. I do know that he loved Philadelphia and it loved him back. My sense is his heart is still with the Eagles while he plays for the Broncos.
In talking to players, agents and teams, there is a constant refrain about the experience: players leave for free agent riches yet find, like the teams, that often the relationship becomes the indifferent remains of a passionate start.
My sense is tonight LeBron will say his heart is in Cleveland but he will leave his heart behind.
Follow me on Twitter at adbrandt.
Brandt wrote: " don’t know Brian and only dealt with his agent. I do know that he loved Philadelphia and it loved him back. My sense is his heart is still with the Eagles while he plays for the Broncos."
As a Donkeys lifelong fan was looking for anything that would denote your statement myself last year - and NOTHING absolutely NOTHING on the field warrants that statement - while obviously the man feels the Eagles are his team and should do so - his play, other than somewhat diminished by age was exemplary - he was not the cause of the Donkeys D meltdown at the end of the year last year, as a matter of fact his consistency was outstanding and he still intimidated those around him, and am sure that included many in his own locker room - so will not disagree with the premise of your statement, yet if you're using it in the same manner as to allude to Joe Johnson's situation there's just not a similiarity there that am seeing - better example of Donkeys wasting free agent monies on a DB is of course the illustrative example of Dale Carter, there's an example of flushing good ca$h into the proverbial toilet Mr. Brandt and one you should be able to recall as well during your days in the front office...
Brandt wrote: " don’t know Brian and only dealt with his agent. I do know that he loved Philadelphia and it loved him back. My sense is his heart is still with the Eagles while he plays for the Broncos."
As a Donkeys lifelong fan was looking for anything that would denote your statement myself last year - and NOTHING absolutely NOTHING on the field warrants that statement - while obviously the man feels the Eagles are his team and should do so - his play, other than somewhat diminished by age was exemplary - he was not the cause of the Donkeys D meltdown at the end of the year last year, as a matter of fact his consistency was outstanding and he still intimidated those around him, and am sure that included many in his own locker room - so will not disagree with the premise of your statement, yet if you're using it in the same manner as to allude to Joe Johnson's situation there's just not a similiarity there that am seeing - better example of Donkeys wasting free agent monies on a DB is of course the illustrative example of Dale Carter, there's an example of flushing good ca$h into the proverbial toilet Mr. Brandt and one you should be able to recall as well during your days in the front office...
Can anyone say Ahman Green? I always love going back to your article about Ahman and I think this is a perfect example of what happened to Ahman
I think the problem with FA is that players get so hyped up from the end of the season, when they sign, and to the first snap of the season. Haynesworth was always good, but the hype he received was grossly overrated. He went from a top 10 DT to hands down the best. Same thing with guys like DeAngelo Hall, Javon Walker, Patrick Kereny, and etc. The FA process just hypes up FA's, and although the media has a big part in it the fans also buy into this. This is the same thing with the draft as well.
I think the problem with FA is that players get so hyped up from the end of the season, when they sign, and to the first snap of the season. Haynesworth was always good, but the hype he received was grossly overrated. He went from a top 10 DT to hands down the best. Same thing with guys like DeAngelo Hall, Javon Walker, Patrick Kereny, and etc. The FA process just hypes up FA's, and although the media has a big part in it the fans are also guilty of this. This is the same thing with the draft as well.
I'm calling it now,WWLD? Da Bulls.
One source had him changing his corporate taxes to Chi-town.
I buy it.
FA? Personally,I think hype tends to gloss over actual scouting reports on players.
Teams "fall in love" with a player and reason goes out the window.
It is a game of tremendous emotion,but that should be left on the field,not in the front office.
Dawkins departure foreshadowed the same for Donovan.
Eagles got their wings clipped twice over. Nobody in the NFL wants to be known as the Clippers. They are a team that always has a lot of draft picks, or high draft picks.
Dawkins could have gone the "less is more" path and been looking at a new contract this year with a huge demand there? Was Atogwe's deal one that set a lower bar for all hopeful deals at the position? Market prices were, of course, lower in terms of inflationary comparison. That does not mean he'd get less in terms of vested value and weighted bonus. Or did he simply leverage a trade on a deal that had more time on it, almost from its outset?
aaa
Eagles low-balled Dawkins plain and simple. The guy avoided free agency in his prime and always re-signed before hitting the open market. This time because of his age the Eagles allowed him to get to free agency assuming (incorrectly) they’d be able to get him cheap. FAIL. They showed him no respect and he went where he was wanted. As a result the Eagles secondary was a disaster last season. A complete disaster. They had no backup plan because they completely misplayed their hand. Should have re-signed him before free agency even hit. Or, just pony up the money and pay him. He’s always been worth every dollar he’s made in this league. The statement about his heart being in Philly may be somewhat true but it also makes it seem like he's not fully committed to Denver. Absolutley Not True. The guy is a complete pro who loves the game too much to never not give 100% all the time.
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Jul 08, 2010
02:33 PM
12 players NBA, 53 players NFL, no comparison.
82 games NBA, 16 games NFL, no comparison.