WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE, ROOK...

WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE, ROOK…July 1, 2008
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this weekend had some interesting comments relating to rookie salaries. Specifically, he was commenting on the contract signed by Jake Long, the first overall draft pick of the Miami Dolphins out of the University of Michigan. Long’s five year contract includes up to $57.75 million in salary, with $30 million guaranteed. With this contract, Long becomes one of the highest paid offensive lineman in the league. This is without ever playing a down. Is this fair to the veterans who have shown their ability to be productive players in the NFL against NFL competition?
I think Long is going to be a great player. I feel that he will be in the league for at least 10 years protecting the blind side of his college teammate and quarterback, Chad Henne, the soon to be starter in Miami. But is Long better than Chris Samuels in Washington, or even Jeff Bachus in Detroit? We don’t know. Obviously, the Dolphins feel he is as good, if not better than those two lineman. They are basing this evaluation on his play at Michigan, but not against NFL caliber players. They are taking a huge chance on the fact that his play at Michigan will translate into a similar level of play in the NHL. Michigan has a history of sending good offensive lineman to the NFL. Steve Hutchison, Jon Jansen, Maurice Williams, Jeff Bachus, John Runyan are just some of the Michigan grads currently lining up for NFL teams.
Wouldn’t you think that the NFL Players Association would prefer to have established NFL players make more money than a rookie? What other business pays employees fresh out of college more than someone who has been doing the job for four to ten years? With the veteran, you know what you are getting and therefore probably can pay him his proper value. Each year, the paychecks for the top picked rookies goes up. If Commissioner Goodell is serious about reducing the initial contracts for the top picks each year, he should stipulate that the money be paid to established veterans. He should not allow teams to pocket that money, but should instead make sure that the teams use the “savings” on its experienced veterans. When the collective bargaining agreement expires in a few years, I would imagine that this issue is one that gets a lot of publicity. I would imagine that veteran players and the majority of the general public agree that you need to earn your contract. In other words, sign an initial contract for three to five years and then get the big money if you have proven that you are as good as your draft value. Don’t you think that the 49ners might be hesitant to pick Vernon Davis #6 overall based upon his performance the past two years? Don’t you think that they would rather have CB Antonio Cromartie or WR Santonio Holmes both of whom were first round picks? Or maybe the NFL just likes to punish those teams like the Lions and Cardinals who are usually at their normal spot at the top of the draft?
"He doesn't have to play a down in the NFL and he already has his money," Goodell said. "Now, with the economics where they are, the consequences if you don't evaluate that player, you can lose a significant amount of money. ... And that money is not going to players that are performing. It's going to a player that never makes it in the NFL. And I think that's ridiculous." Pretty strong opinion and probably an issue that is not going to go away, especially since rookies, when they are drafted are not members of the Players Association who negotiates the collective bargaining agreement with the league.