APJerry Jones
Before I became a full-time agent, I always had a very passionate opinion about holdouts by pro athletes. I couldn’t imagine that a deal couldn’t be reached and wondered why a player would want to miss one day or one month working for an NFL team. My first thoughts were always that the player and/or his agent were being greedy. And the media often explained the reason behind the holdout by reporting one side, usually the team’s.
Once I began representing higher-round draft choices in the early 1990s, I learned firsthand why players hold out: They’re usually not being treated fairly. I’m not saying it’s always the team’s fault, but it often is.
You must understand that when a player is drafted by an NFL team, he has no other option but to negotiate only with that team. If he can’t reach an agreement, he doesn’t have the right to say, “Sorry, Mr. Jones, but I don’t think you’re treating me fairly so I’m going to see if Mr. Snyder will give me a better deal.” As a result, teams know they have the leverage in their exclusivity. Additionally, many players and their families panic once camp starts and a deal is not done. Teams also know this to be commonplace, so some will test the player’s nerves.
A majority of players will listen to their agents when a contract is not reached by the start of camp. The holdout is not a strategy, it’s a reaction, the only way a player can say, “You’re not treating me fairly.” I should add, when rookies don’t make it to camp on time it technically should not be called a holdout because they’re not under contract. Veterans under contract can hold out.
APKnowshon Moreno
When the agents are the problem
There have been certain agents or agencies over the past decade that have a history of not getting their rookie deals done in time for camp. We in the industry know who they are. Their methods are downright militant at times. They convince their clients that they have to “send a message” to ownership and that the team needs them more than they need the team. These agents usually try to get an unreasonable premium by holding the player hostage. Unfortunately, these guys think they’re working in the best interest of their clients. Most of the time, they’re trying to make names for themselves.
There is also a growing concern and frustration among general managers about one large agency that’s working at its own pace and disregarding camp opening dates. Four GMs and three team negotiators I’ve spoken to over the past seven days have told me that this firm is dictating its own timetable for getting deals done based on the order of draft picks they represent and the location of those picks in the first round. I’m being told that there’s no sense of urgency from this firm and that it won’t start talking seriously until camps open. My problem is that this strategy is not openly disclosed to players when they sign with the firm. The deals will ultimately get done, as they always do, but players may miss a week or more that they don’t have to.
The wait and see
Many agents, and even teams, hate doing deals until they get to see what deals or slots came in above or below them. They simply hate looking bad among their peers since early deals can be easily leap-frogged by later deals. So if an agent’s deal is inferior to others in the same round, his competitors will use it against him while recruiting next year’s class of clients. What happens is that everybody waits until the last minute. There’s a lot of that going on right now.
APMichael Crabtree
The position premium
Many times, if an agent has a player drafted in the first round – let’s say a quarterback with the 10th pick -- the agent will make a case that he’s worth more than slots 9, 8 and/or 7 because he’s a QB. The team doesn’t like it because it has only allocated formulated cap dollars based on the slot, not the player’s position. But I personally believe that sometimes the slotting system has to be thrown out for QBs. I also think the agent for WR Michael Crabtree is trying to make the case that the slotting theory doesn’t apply to his client because he’s a special receiver who would have been a top three pick if he were not injured before the draft. I don’t see a problem with his position, but I’m sure the 49ers will.
The bottom line is that the average career of an NFL player lasts 3.5 years. It’s the agent’s job to see that he gets the most he can since he may never make it to a second contract.
Painters, plumbers, teachers and pipefitters have unions. CEOs have high-priced attorneys. Players have agents. Don’t begrudge a young man for getting the most the market can bear for his unique services. And don’t always believe what you read in the media about a holdout because you might not know what side the information is coming from. Be patient with the process and don’t judge a player because he didn’t make to camp on time. The players are usually clueless regarding the politics of team and agent procedures.
This year, I see more holdouts coming as owners tighten their purse strings and the larger agencies are more concerned about their competition than their clients. There has to be a better way.
Follow me on Twitter: jackbechta
Good points, Jack. I hadn't considered that the agent is probably controlling the whole situ because of draft order, etc. However, I'd like to see a football player buck up and say "get the deal done" because "I want to get on the field." If he's really WORTH all that money then he WILL get a second contract. Why give him "two contracts' worth" of money just because he "might not" get a second? Boy I wish I had an agent that said, "Don't go to work today. We'll bully them into paying you three times what you are worth just in case you get an infected paper cut that prevents you from being hired by another firm in the future."
Yeah. Sounds good.
Hey Jack, wlecome back. I'm sure you've had a busy, and hopefully successful, week of negotiations.
When you mention that one large agency who works on their own timetable, two people pop into my head.....Rosenhaus and Eugene Parker. Although I would love to know if I'm right, I don't expect you to confirm my suspision. I think it will probably be obvious in the next few days what agency it is.
You say the player should be told what negotiation tactics will be used when they sign with an agent. If a player is unhappy with the progress, or lack of, an agent is making, doesn't he have the option of firing the agent he signs with and just find another one that will get a deal done? Does this not happen because of the mandatory waiting period between agents?
Sounds like a great argument for slotting rookie contracts. If only either side of the CBA cared enough to make it an issue.
I don't understand the Crabtree logic. "If I hadn't been hurt, I would have been a top three pick." But he was hurt. The Niners took a chance on him. If he were still hurt, would he be willing to take 3rd round money? I doubt it seriously. Anyway, how does he know where he would have been drafted?
Bechta,
The World's Smallest Violin cranks out the latest rap tune for every unsigned first-round draft pick, Drew Rosenhaus, and the rest of the agents in the game.
I'm perfectly amenable to allowing players to hold out - provided the player, every member of his family, the player's agent, and every member of his/her family is waterboarded LIVE on national television every day that the player misses training camp.
If I'm the 49ers I'd be very leary of Crabtree, hus attitude has bust stamped all over it. I'd guess the new CBA will alter things but if not then sooner or later a team will boot a #1 pick to the curb. Especially a potential diva. Plenty of "1st round picks" fall to the 2nd round or later. If a guy is drafted #10 then he's entitled to that slotting. If he doesn't like it then let him try again next year...
I would like to see some analysis on the career impact of lengthy holdouts on top 10 draftees. Is the extra million on top of millions always worth the setback of significant delays in getting to the first camp, particularly for quarterbacks? How many times has a first season been a lost season because of a long holdout, and in those cases, how many of those players went on to receive high-dollar second contracts? A statistical breakdown of this would make for a great follow-up article. What is the "bust" rate for top-10 rookies who hold out for seven days or longer? Something like this.
The average career for an NFL player is 3.5 years..but you are only talking about players who hold out (i.e. first round picks).
The correct statistic would have to be the average career for an NFL first round pick...and I have to imagine that is around 8+ years.
Since none of CAA's rookie 1st round clients have signed contracts, I would guess you are refering to Tom Condon when speaking of one large agency that’s working at its own pace and disregarding camp opening dates. I think I share the frustration of most fans when trying to understand how so many mid 1st round guys are not in camp.
Adding to Meateater's point, the Crabtree "logic" is simply asinine:
If Crabtree's agent really tries to argue that point, the 49ers should simply say "If we didn't draft Crabtree, he would, at best, be the 11th overall selection. We'll offer him 11th overall money."
Adding to Meateater's point, the Crabtree "logic" is simply asinine:
If Crabtree's agent really tries to argue that point, the 49ers should simply say "If we didn't draft Crabtree, he would, at best, be the 11th overall selection. We'll offer him 11th overall money."
I really do enjoy your articles. The insight you bring I have never read much about. Learning some of the behind the scenes workings is fascinating.
it would be great to see players on a simple scale where they would receive 3% or 6% above the player drafted at that position the year before.
2007 holdouts
Brady Quinn
Jamarcus Russell
Calvin Johnson
Darrelle Revis
2008-only ones I really found
Harvey-Jacksonville
Keith rivers-cincy
what I do not get is how so many lower round guys are not signed.
round 7-45 of 47. SD and SF picks unsigned
round 6-35 of 35
round 5-35 of 37 NO and Miami
round 4-32 of 36 KC, NO, NO, Indy
round 3-32 of 37 Jack, Jack, Dallas, Detroit NI
round 2-23 of 32 Detroit, Clev, Jack, Miami, Giants, Houston, Indy, Carolina, Jets,
round 1-6 of 32
I think holding out is much worse, not only from lost practice time, but maybe animosity from veterans. if it would come down to holding out, and taking a slight increase over the previous years pick, would take the cash. Easy for me to say though, haha.
I do understand about how these players have to go for the cash for themselves and their families, but like others have said, at what cost/ I would also like to see numbers on rookies who do not report in time, to possibly having a shorter less profitable career.
Doubt their will ever be some kind of solution unless the NFL goes to what the NBA does with their draft picks, but NBA also guarantees all of their contracts, not like the NFL.
Why on earth do people begrudge players trying to earn the most money possible?
When the NFL is as profitable as it is, why do the players not deserve a fair share of that pie? I know that rookies haven't yet proved anything but the problem there is the structure, within the structure its ridiculous not to try get as much as your peers...
Players and coaches earn owners and the whole NFL corporate machine its money, the NFL is profitable so players have a right to be paid accordingly
Jack,
I respect your work and I truly understand both of the negotiation process between agents and teams but the bottom line is the only people who get hurt in the process are the players. They lose their opportunity to compete for the contracts that agents worked so hard for. Giving other hungry players an opportunity to win over the coaching staff and move up the depth chart. The reputation of the player is damaged in the media which has an effect on the fans and hurts their marketability for local endorsements. The players are the ones who deal with the pressure and scrutiny. The only fair way is to have a rookie cap similar to the NBA to make sure that rookies get to camp on time. This way they can, bond with their coaches and teammates, and max their talents on the field which should led to green pastures in the future.
Rich,
Every year, the rookies ask for a little more than the guy in that slot the year before. This means the cost keeps going up 3-5%, which means the salary cap goes up, which in turn means the teams will look for a way to make up the lost profit, and the best way to do that is stick it to the fans in tickets and merchandise.
So in the long run it all hurts the fans, who without us, the league would not exist. But it's like a drug and we just can't get enough of it.
I understand the push-pull effect of contract negotiations, as well as the power play battle between the player (unproven rookie) and the team. The (usually) greedy agent is there only for profit, and i can see how confusing things can be to a young kid who's only "contract" prior to this might have been a car loan. I get how a lot of what we hear isnt the truth behind the holdout. But if a kid who grew up playing football, spent his life watching the HOF players on tv, and loving the game with every inch of themselves has to "hold out" then he's not worth it. If he wanted to be in the NFL that bad then he would be. If his agent held him back, then he should fire him, get another one or go solo, who cares, get the contract and play. Ultimately, if he holds out its his fault. Training camp should be mandatory, barring injury. If you are 5 minutes late to the first meet, due to failed attempts at your contract, then pack your bags and go home. Live with mommy for a year, find a better agent or attitude and try again next year. Maybe your first round talent is no match for your third or fourth round attitude, (or agent).
Look at JaMarcus Russell, he held out and sat on the bench for a year. He sucked last year. Now hes entering his 3rd year, and according to this article he's got this and 1/2 of next year left for an average career. Good for him, right he aleady got his 67mil. And for what? What has he done for me? nothing. What has he done for you? nothing. What has he done for the Raiders? nothing. What about the Raider fans, or football fans in general? nothing. So what makes him worth 67 mil? nothing. Same goes for Crabtree. He gets nothing in my book, besides maybe a job application at a fast food joint.
What about later round picks that end up playing at a higher level than those picked in the first round? They have to plug away and wait until free agency or hope for a reworked contract to make what they're worth. Why cant it be the same with first rounders? These guys act entitled to huge contracts when they haven't proven a thing on the field. The current system is completely lopsided.
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Jul 28, 2009
01:48 PM
I also heard many players make it annual tradition to miss TC. For example, Ken Ruetgers of the Packers always seemed to miss camp. Not sure where I heard it but it seemed common knowledge that his goal was to miss camp and that this was a common practice. Maybe this falls into the "don't believe everything you hear"?
To be honest, what some of the coaches put these guys through back in the day, I wouldn't blame them for missing camp!!