Dwight Freeney: Owners made agreement to deflate FA market

[AllYouNeedIsLovie 377]

According to CBS Sports' Mike Freeman, various "agents, players and union officials" believe the league's 32 teams colluded to deflate the market in free agency.

Dwight Freeney is one player who believes collusion took place. "I basically think the owners got together and decided not to spend the cash on free agents," Freeney told reporter Mike Freeman. "I think the owners made a pact. There's only 32 of them and none of them broke ranks. I think they all decided not to spend money." A "prominent" agent agrees. "I've been in this business for several decades and there was never an offseason like this. Never." There's been widespread suspicion — and anecdotal evidence — of collusion this offseason, but no hard proof. It's an extremely serious charge, but one that ultimately appears unlikely to stick.

LOL. Yea, I'm sure the owners did do this. It's not like guys such as Mike Wallace, Dashon Goldson and Paul Kruger didn't make absolute bank. Sounds like Freeney is butthurt it took someone so long to sign him and he didn't get as much money as he expected.

Edited May 31, 2013 by RogerGoodellSucks

[Omerta+ 1,206]

Being honest if they are, good for them. I am not a fan of this billionaires fighting millionaires over obscene sums.

 

That being said it is a tad ridiculous what FA's are getting paid now for the play they are getting and it is upsetting to see these players putting teams over a barrel and just saying," Bit the pillow and take it."

 

You will see me shed no tears for a dude that has made over 100 mil in his career and rips teams apart because he wants to chase the money. Sorry no tears bro.

[Attyla the Hawk 197]

It's a different league. The players simply had zero leadership in the latest CBA negotiations. All the players thought there would be this windfall of cash to be heaped on the veterans' heads at the expense of overpaid rookies. When in fact, it couldn't have been further from the truth.

 

Teams are wising up to the reality that late round filler picks can still be productive for a fraction of the cost. Aged veterans simply cannot provide the dollar for production value. By reclaiming cap value at the expense of 30+ veterans, teams can overspend on players going into their second contracts.

 

The breadth of quality of talent coming into this league is outstanding. And teams are more willing than ever to play developing players.

 

This CBA was a horrible deal for the players. I'd bet my house that when it expires, we'll see a scorched earth/lost season/go to the mattresses style lockout.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Even if something like this happened, some teams did break ranks. Both the Colts and Dolphins brought in a lot of guys on big price tags. Then there are a lot of teams who choose not to spend a lot in FA to begin with.

 

Freeny is a 33 year old DE turned OLB who saw limited success. I wish him the best of luck, but it really seems that he is just spouting off because nobody paid him mega dollars.

[Jayrus 51]

Looks like most people here are of the same opinion I am. Players have been getting away with straight up wallet-raping their teams and now that some teams are finally playing hardball this jerkass is calling collusion? Yeah, I don't think so.

 

Just because you weren't able to force someone to overpay you doesn't mean there was some conspiracy against you. This guy's bullshit reminds me of the Tebow fans trying to claim the owners were blackballing him because nobody signed him the moment he was released.

[SolomonGrundy 10]

He really said this? He got way more than he should have got from the Chargers and the only reason he got that is because they panicked. 31 tackles the past 2 years, and pedestrian sack numbers this year. I wouldn't have even signed him for the vet minimum. People try to say he sucked last year because he was listed as an OLB, but in reality he had his hand in the dirt the majority of the time anyway. He's been overpaid his entire career, he has no idea how much he is worth.

 

And Revis just got a 96 million dollar contract. None of it's guaranteed, but owners are definitely willing to pay for players they see as a necessity.

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

I wouldn't put it past some owners to do this, honestly, but I feel there are some organizations that would definitely be above this. The Rooney and Mara families, two of the most reputable owners in the league, are the first to come to mind.

 

 

What I don't understand is why so many of you are against the players getting paid. The NFL is by far the most lucrative business in American sports—$9.5 million in 2012—yet their players are paid like shit compared to MLB and NBA players.

 

 

I couldn't find the recent numbers, but here's 2010-2011 for the players.

Here are the average salaries per player per year for the 2010-11 seasons; number of players in each league and amount of money they make for each game played:

 

NBA, $5.5 million (450 players, $61k per game)

MLB $3.3 million (750 players, $20k per game)

NFL $1.9 million (1,606 players, $119k per game)

 

Yes, there are more players in the NFL, but they are paid much less on average and they play a significantly more dangerous game. For the money the NFL makes and the risk the players incur, nobody should be surprised that they want money.

[RANGA+ 1,210]

It's a different league. The players simply had zero leadership in the latest CBA negotiations. All the players thought there would be this windfall of cash to be heaped on the veterans' heads at the expense of overpaid rookies. When in fact, it couldn't have been further from the truth.

 

Teams are wising up to the reality that late round filler picks can still be productive for a fraction of the cost. Aged veterans simply cannot provide the dollar for production value. By reclaiming cap value at the expense of 30+ veterans, teams can overspend on players going into their second contracts.

 

The breadth of quality of talent coming into this league is outstanding. And teams are more willing than ever to play developing players.

 

This CBA was a horrible deal for the players. I'd bet my house that when it expires, we'll see a scorched earth/lost season/go to the mattresses style lockout.

 

Truth. At the end of the day, all these teams are essentially businesses. The "older" generation of players got screwed over by the CBA. Rookie contracts these days are absolutely ridiculous, because teams are more and more willing to lock in potential stars over 5+ years, due to the way long-term contracts can be manipulated to effect their current salary cap. Every team needs to make a profit in the long-run to stay afloat, and in this day and age it often comes at the expense of the veteran player who's looking for his last big contract.

[Omerta+ 1,206]

I wouldn't put it past some owners to do this, honestly, but I feel there are some organizations that would definitely be above this. The Rooney and Mara families, two of the most reputable owners in the league, are the first to come to mind.

 

 

What I don't understand is why so many of you are against the players getting paid. The NFL is by far the most lucrative business in American sports—$9.5 million in 2012—yet their players are paid like shit compared to MLB and NBA players.

 

 

I couldn't find the recent numbers, but here's 2010-2011 for the players.

 

 

Yes, there are more players in the NFL, but they are paid much less on average and they play a significantly more dangerous game. For the money the NFL makes and the risk the players incur, nobody should be surprised that they want money.

 

 

I would have no problem with people getting 200 million dollar contracts.....if there were no cap. It is one of those situations where it is not their fault but it is their problem. If you are going to have these small caps then players should have to expect to temper their expectations on what they can command on the market.

 

If the Cap were to be 160 or 170 million this would not be an issue. The fact here is Dwight Freeney is old, way more bark then bite, and wanted to cash in like he had a lot left in the tank. It is getting to the point where the cap is so smile everybody is pinching every dime and would rather bank on a young unproven player or a UDFA then a veteran they know are going to get bent over on. He is luck the chargers were as desperate as they were.

 

For them to sit here and say the game is about the fans but then chase the money for only 1 or 2 mil more per year when you are already sitting on a pile does not really strike up the violin for me. Guys like Freeney should stay with the one that got them to the dance but they want to be paid more than they are worth and have unrealistic expectations of the contracts they can get. So no I wont shed a tear for a guy who overvalues himself. However if there were no cap and I have a guy like Watt I have to resign and he wants a lucrative contract I have no problem doing it.

 

This is no victimless crime here. People say,"Well the organization shows no loyalty to them so why would they show it to the organization ?" Yeah in theory that may be true, but then dont come at me with this whole,"We do it for the fans" shit. Organizations are not the ones whose hearts are broken to see people leave the team it is the fans. Raise the cap and a lot of this could be alleviated. Get rid of Goodell's salary, he is fucking worthless anyway.

[UndecidedFrog 12]

Freeney doesn't want to understand the reasons why he was signed late and for less than expected money:

 

He did not produce in 2012. He played 14/16 games. He had a total of 12 (10 solo, 2 asst)tackles. He had only 5 sacks. He did not live up to the Colts' expectation of the highest paid player on the team at a cap hit of $16.9MM in the last year of his contract.

[the Lions fan 19]

Being honest if they are, good for them. I am not a fan of this billionaires fighting millionaires over obscene sums.

 

The frustrating thing is that's often what seperates the two groups. Gotta fight for every penny, very dangerous job, no retirement and finite career lengths. The alternative is simply not to fight and claw. And this thinking applies to both sides.

 

As for Freeney, he sounds bitter. This years free agency was rich in middle tier players, but a poor upper tier should be obvious by Wallace and Krugers paychecks. Unfortunately for Freeney he's long in the tooth for a DE coming off a down season in a free agency period that was rich in young pass rushers.

 

Id personally have signed him in a heartbeat in hoping that younger pass rushers could disect his signature spin.

[AL_Royalty 489]

It's a different league. The players simply had zero leadership in the latest CBA negotiations. All the players thought there would be this windfall of cash to be heaped on the veterans' heads at the expense of overpaid rookies. When in fact, it couldn't have been further from the truth.

 

Teams are wising up to the reality that late round filler picks can still be productive for a fraction of the cost. Aged veterans simply cannot provide the dollar for production value. By reclaiming cap value at the expense of 30+ veterans, teams can overspend on players going into their second contracts.

 

The breadth of quality of talent coming into this league is outstanding. And teams are more willing than ever to play developing players.

 

This CBA was a horrible deal for the players. I'd bet my house that when it expires, we'll see a scorched earth/lost season/go to the mattresses style lockout.

Outstanding commentary. These aging FA's were getting huge contracts at the end of their careers based on what they HAD done rather than what they expectedly WOULD do. If there was a collusion, it was to not pay over-the-hill once great players a ton of cash.

 

This offseason has been a youth movement, for the most part, letting aged veterans fall by the wayside. It's just smart business really. Instead of paying guys for reputation, they're paying them for the expectation of results. Just look at Revis's contract. ZERO guaranteed money. None. He got a huge contract on paper, but he has to earn every penny of it for it to materialize.

[Crash 105]

Being honest if they are, good for them. I am not a fan of this billionaires fighting millionaires over obscene sums.

 

That being said it is a tad ridiculous what FA's are getting paid now for the play they are getting and it is upsetting to see these players putting teams over a barrel and just saying," Bit the pillow and take it."

 

You will see me shed no tears for a dude that has made over 100 mil in his career and rips teams apart because he wants to chase the money. Sorry no tears bro.

It's best for the NFL to hammer down on the players and not cave. I hope freeney was right and we won't see the huge contracts we have seen in the past

[Lockdnram85 3]

I wouldn't put it past some owners to do this, honestly, but I feel there are some organizations that would definitely be above this. The Rooney and Mara families, two of the most reputable owners in the league, are the first to come to mind.

 

 

 

 

What I don't understand is why so many of you are against the players getting paid. The NFL is by far the most lucrative business in American sports—$9.5 million in 2012—yet their players are paid like shit compared to MLB and NBA players.

 

 

I couldn't find the recent numbers, but here's 2010-2011 for the players.

 

 

Yes, there are more players in the NFL, but they are paid much less on average and they play a significantly more dangerous game. For the money the NFL makes and the risk the players incur, nobody should be surprised that they want money.

 

But the nfl only play 16 games. Nba play 82, and baseball play around 180

[Jules 98]

I love Dwight and I wish he didn't say this.

 

I do have doubts he would have accepted a low amount from the Colts but that's what he said,

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2013/02/20/indianapolis-colts-castoff-dwight-freeney-wants-to-play-for-new-york-giants-new-york-jets-new-england-patriots/1933955/

"I'll be honest with you, I was surprised the way it happened," Freeney said in a telephone interview with USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. "I figured they would offer me something low, and I would just accept it, go the last few years and retire a Colt and that would be it.

 

"That didn't happen."

 

I think he was bitter he was let go even though most Colts fans predicted he would be released. And I believe he expected to be offered more pretty quickly from another team. Denver did show interest I believe but probably did not offer enough money.

Edited June 5, 2013 by Jules

[BucD+ 648]

But the nfl only play 16 games. Nba play 82, and baseball play around 180

 

That is a good point.

 

Although, none of those sports are even close to being as violent and (potentially) dangerous as the NFL.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

I would have no problem with people getting 200 million dollar contracts.....if there were no cap. It is one of those situations where it is not their fault but it is their problem. If you are going to have these small caps then players should have to expect to temper their expectations on what they can command on the market.

 

If the Cap were to be 160 or 170 million this would not be an issue. The fact here is Dwight Freeney is old, way more bark then bite, and wanted to cash in like he had a lot left in the tank. It is getting to the point where the cap is so smile everybody is pinching every dime and would rather bank on a young unproven player or a UDFA then a veteran they know are going to get bent over on. He is luck the chargers were as desperate as they were.

 

 

It isn't so much that players don't get paid as much as it is the cap doesn't really move very much. If the cap were so low relative to the number of players on the roster, salaries would go up -- it's just a natural correlation.

 

The cap this year is what? ~123M ? I've got news for you.... The cap in 2009 was ~123M. When the new CBA was struck, the cap was actually lowered for the first few years of the deal.

 

How can we expect an NFL team, whose cap actually regressed the last couple of years to compete, salary-wise with the NBA (~58M for 15 players) or MLB (~178 for 40 players).

 

It was also rumored at one time that after a certain number of years under the CBA, the cap would just raise exponentially. The players union was expecting that big raise next year, I believe (2014)... However the NFL has been projecting a fairly flat cap for the next couple of years.

 

On the other side, though, how many times have you heard people complain about the money that is able to be thrown around in MLB? Even turning them into a hard cap league and thus removing teams going over the threshold, players in MLB are still making more on average than any other league.

 

~4.5M allocated per roster spot (MLB)

~3.8M allocated per roster spot (NBA)

~2.3M allocated per roster spot (NFL)

 

I think it's important, if we are going to say NFL players are underpaid (I wouldn't necessarily disagree here, BTW)... Are the players in the NBA or MLB overpaid? Or should the NFL strive to have numbers similar to the other major sports leagues in the US?

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

Premier League only makes 3.3 Bill in revenue? Da fuck? Guess that explains why their stuff costs like 9 kabijillion dollars and shit...

 

Anyway, the NFL is a free market system that was saturated with veteran pass rushers. It's just simple economics. Plus, all the money that was to be freed out from rookie wage scales is going to the vets, but not the old vets, rather, the "younger" players- or stars- signing or most case resigning their 2nd or third contracts are inflating at such a pace (especially premium positions) that the money to go around for older players isn't there.

 

But it does make you think;

 

The league is growing like never before and they are making changes every year to keep growing and being more profitable. Yet, the salary cap has been frozen for like, a million years. Da fuck is all that money going?

 

I sided with the players on this whole lockout thing, but it's clear that they went into this whole thing a little naive, jumping the gun without really looking down the road... Sucks, but it's kinda their own fault...

[Socal 524]

He really said this? He got way more than he should have got from the Chargers and the only reason he got that is because they panicked. 31 tackles the past 2 years, and pedestrian sack numbers this year. I wouldn't have even signed him for the vet minimum. People try to say he sucked last year because he was listed as an OLB, but in reality he had his hand in the dirt the majority of the time anyway. He's been overpaid his entire career, he has no idea how much he is worth.

 

And Revis just got a 96 million dollar contract. None of it's guaranteed, but owners are definitely willing to pay for players they see as a necessity.

 

Freeney had 47 combined sacks/hits/hurries on 414 pass rushes last year while dealing with a high ankle sprain (I like how people ignore that fact, as if a high ankle sprain is no big deal and players should be expected to perform at the same level).

 

You don't pay pass rushing specialists to get you tackles, citing tackle stats (as you and undecidedfrog did below) shows an ignorance for the way the game is played.

 

Wouldn't even give him vet minimum? lolwut

 

btw Phillips had 39 on 403 snaps last year... the Broncos didn't sign Phillips because he's better, they signed him because he was way cheaper.