the following isn't even an accusation, it more like "idle thoughts"
It began with the La'Ell Collins signing. Recap as I remember it and thats important because it seems most writer's recall is different from mine and I'm not sure that's not an indictment in and of itself.
Collins was regarded as a top ten pick or close to it. He fell when he was peripherally and temporarily implicated in the murder of his pregnant girlfriend,
But came round three of the draft and the teams were lined up to get top ten value with a third round pick. Collins and his agent were adament, "if drafted we will not sign and we're prepared to sit out a year.
So Collins sat out the draft and signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent for 1.8 million with roughly a 21,000 signing bonus. Had he settled for the third round his salary would have been close to five million with a 800,000 signing bonus.
So - and I asked myself this at the time - "why did he give away millions to sign with Dallas?".
Having lived in the corporate world I had interesting, if private, speculations. I was also mindful that Jerry is a "self-made" man. He is not as respectful of the league as a man Like Mara who is more "old money" and patrician. As I recall it, it's Jerry who changed the fundamental rule of the league that shared revenues and was the reason small market teams like green bay can compete.
Recently Warren Sapp was on a panel discussing the cap and the restrictions it provided. "Hell" said a very animated Sapp, "the cap never stopped anyone from signing someone they wanted". He was queried, "Look" he answered, "there's always suitcases filled with cash". And then he got specific..."eg, How do you think the deal got done for Deon Sanders?". Wow, just Wow!!
The broadcast got no coverage and while I have no specific informationm it's fair to wonder if there's a cover-up and if Sapp was admonished afterwards,
I'm being careful not to indict, not to present speculation as fact. Still, it's hard to imagine that - at some level, at some time, with some teams, that stuff like this doesn't go on.
And, to the degree, like gambling and the point spread, that disclosure would dramatically harm the league that they're not looking the other way.
2. Football players are not any better at keeping secrets than normal people.
3. The potential for accidental discovery (a slip of the tongue, say), or intentional blackmail or ill will from a disgruntled former player, team employee, exwife, or accountant would be enough to destroy ownership of a football franchise.
I didn’t know about the agents failed attempt at the Supplemental draft and wondered about how JJ got him so cheap.
I initially felt that maybe LC WANTED to play for Dallas, or JJ influenced him that no one else wanted him because of the allegations. We also know JJ also can go rouge against the league( I remember when Coke was the beverage of the league but JJ said the Boys would make Dallas based Pepsi they’re stadiums soft drink)
We also know Kraft circumvented the cap with the TB12 ‘health’ program.
I’m inclined to believe Sapp.
The first pick in the 2015 3rd round got a 4 year, $3.4m contract. But only an $800k signing bonus. And he was cut after 1 year. He only earned 1,174,225 of that deal. Career Earnings: $1,354,396
The last pick of the 2015 3rd round got a $2.9m 4 year contract. He only earned $1,016,948 of that deal. Career Earnings: $1,316,307.
La'el Collins' $1.6m deal was fully guaranteed. He only earned part of that b/c Dallas extended him pretty quickly and he made bank. Career earnings $47m.
Correct, Collins got himself a better contract than what he would have gotten as a 3rd round pick. The basic premise of this thread is inconsistent with what actually happened.
That is consistent with what I found at the time. Moreover, I researched furth round picks and those averages are, according to my readings, all much higher than the amount he signed for.
That doesnt mean I'm right and maybe mysources were corrupt or I mis-intrepreted However, A generic
"that's wrong" is a bullshit way of doing business.
Refute my sketchy information by all means but cite sources and give alternatives IE what you think he signed for and what the average third rounder signs for.
That is consistent with what I found at the time. Moreover, I researched furth round picks and those averages are, according to my readings, all much higher than the amount he signed for.
That doesnt mean I'm right and maybe mysources were corrupt or I mis-intrepreted However, A generic
"that's wrong" is a bullshit way of doing business.
Refute my sketchy information by all means but cite sources and give alternatives IE what you think he signed for and what the average third rounder signs for.
A 3rd rounder gets about $5m in 2022, but not back in 2015 when Collins was in the draft.
2015 Draft:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_NFL_Draft
3rd Round, Pick 1: D'Joun Smith
Contract info: https://overthecap.com/player/djoun-smith/3913
4 year, $3,414,848
3rd Round, Pick 34: Paul Dawson
Contract Info: https://overthecap.com/player/paul-dawson/3947
4 year, $2,896,948
I’m still going with “it happens”
Just not sure this would be the case.
Someone the team already has a relationship with on a second contract is more likely.
Logged in to say this exactly. The team will find a way. See TB12
Quote:
and urge you to delete.
Logged in to say this exactly. The team will find a way. See TB12
Same here and it was my first thought when I read the OP.
Quote:
and urge you to delete.
Logged in to say this exactly. The team will find a way. See TB12
If I was a multi billionaire owner of a franchise, and knew that a bag of cash would cost me my team. I would still gamble with a bright and all world talent like 2008 or later Brady because I have little chance of secret getting out.. both parties would have a lot to lose.. I'm not sure I'd do that for a 22 year old accused of murder and barely a top 15 draft talent.. again 1994 Sanders.. yes.. fresh out of college with not even enough talent to be a top 10 prospect.. no..
Except none of those other contracts were guaranteed, and they were all 4 year contracts. La'el got a 3 year $1.6m fully guaranteed contract. Which was far better than other 3rd round picks. The guarantee meant that if he was a bust, at least he walks away with $1.6m (far more than the other plays got on their original contract, < $1m each). And 3 years meant that if he was successful, he could renegotiate for his next contract sooner. The 2nd contract is where players make most of their money.
The contract he negotiated was a better deal for him than other 3rd round contracts in 2015.
Collins gambled somewhat, but it was a highly favorable wager. All he stood to lose, in cash terms, was the relatively modest bonus he might have received as a third-round pick. He also bet that Jones would keep his word, since in theory the Cowboys could have let his three-year UDFA deal run through 2017, and then retained him in 2018 with a high-end RFA tender. On the other hand, he would have gotten an automatic raise in 2017 anyway based on playing time, and he would have had the option of holding out in 2018.