Antonio Gates Ultimatum

[Rome]

Welcome to the opinion....but the situations couldn't be more different. Surely, you wouldn't put him in the same category as Owens.

He's a player unhappy with his contract.  Sounds like the same category to me. 

C'mon, Sarge!  You can't swing a dead cat in an NFL locker room and not hit someone who's pissed off about his "terrible" contract.

Gates has a legitimate beef and Owens doesn't.  It's clearly apples and oranges in this instance.

[Diomedes]

And if the organization isn't willing to give you the money you're looking for then you take your ass to whoever will when your current contract expires.

Isn't that exactly what Gates is doing?  He'd rather not make 300K and sit out than make the 300K and risk not just his financial security for life, but his health.  Seems to me he's playing by the rules.

If Gates were already rich for life, I wouldn't support him in this effort.  But the fact is that he's not rich.  Not even close.  I teach people to make farging purchase orders and I'm making 90k.  I know SVPs who don't risk a damn hair on their head, making what he's making.  People who's bosses aren't making nearly so much on their efforts as the Chargers are on Gates'.

The team gets to break the contract, so does the player.  Some players have moral authority to do it..Gates is one.  Others have no moral authority..TO is one.

[Sgt PSN]

Welcome to the opinion....but the situations couldn't be more different. Surely, you wouldn't put him in the same category as Owens.

He's a player unhappy with his contract.  Sounds like the same category to me. 

C'mon, Sarge! You can't swing a dead cat in an NFL locker room and not hit someone who's pissed off about his "terrible" contract.

Gates has a legitimate beef and Owens doesn't. It's clearly apples and oranges in this instance.

I'm not saying that Gates doesn't have a legit beef.  Of course he does.  So did Hines Ward.  But both are (or in Ward's case, were) equally wrong for holding out.  I hope Gates gets his money.  But I still don't think that being unhappy with your contract gives you the right to stop coming to work.  After all, you are the one who signed it. 

[Diomedes]

Yeah, I don't see it so cut and dry as that.  Not with TO, and not with Gates. 

[hbionic]

Gates has a legitimate beef and Owens doesn't.  It's clearly apples and oranges in this instance.

How is it that Owen's doesn't have legitamate beef? He almost knows he's going to get cut after this season. So...if on the open market, he could command anywhere between 5.5 and 7.5 million....that's a differance of 2 to 4 million a year.

Gates, same thing....on the open market, he could get (this is just a number out my ass)....between 2.5 and 3.5 million per years....that's a differance of 2.2 to 3.2 million per year. Almost the same as Owens if not THE same.

Just because you guys feel sorry for one and not the other...that's all it is.

[Sgt PSN]

And if the organization isn't willing to give you the money you're looking for then you take your ass to whoever will when your current contract expires.

Isn't that exactly what Gates is doing? He'd rather not make 300K and sit out than make the 300K and risk not just his financial security for life, but his health. Seems to me he's playing by the rules.

If Gates were already rich for life, I wouldn't support him in this effort. But the fact is that he's not rich. Not even close. I teach people to make farging purchase orders and I'm making 90k. I know SVPs who don't risk a damn hair on their head, making what he's making. People who's bosses aren't making nearly so much on their efforts as the Chargers are on Gates'.

I can somewhat agree with what you're saying.  However, $300k (or whatever he made) was plenty of money for Gates to live on and "risk his financial security and health" for last year.  He could have just as easily had a career ending injury last year.  Fortunately for him he didn't but that was a risk he was willing to take.  I want to emphasize the fact that I am not against Gates wanting more money.  He's earned it and he deserves it.  But I guess I don't allow as much room for gray area as you guys do when it comes to holdouts.  I think they are a direct breach of contract and players should be penalized severely for doing it. 

The team gets to break the contract, so does the player.

Ha!  I knew it. 

Also, since I know someone is going to bring it up.......

I am equally against teams cutting a player for salary cap purposes.  It's a shady tactic used by NFL owners and GM's and should be illegal.  It's a 2 way street and I beleive that if a player needs to honor his contract then so should the team who offered it to him. 

[MURP]

ill still go back to my point, which I feel is the bottom line.  The Chargers General Manager himself is quoted as saying

We don't want him playing for $380,000. We recognize his contributions.

Why should Gates go suit up for his current contract if his own GM doesnt even feel he should?   Neither Gates nor his GM feel his current contract works, so why the hell does anyone else?

[Diomedes]

However, $300k (or whatever he made) was plenty of money for Gates to live on and "risk his financial security and health" for last year.  He could have just as easily had a career ending injury last year.  Fortunately for him he didn't but that was a risk he was willing to take.

At the time, it was a smart risk to take, because he had no leverage to command a deal which lowered his exposure.  He hadn't just set an NFL record for TDs in a season at the position.  Now that he has a year of near unprecedented success, his value is much higher.   He has the leverage.  He must use it.  If he plays nice guy and comes in to camp, and suffers a massive knee injury next week, no one is going to sign him to a sympathy contract for millions.  That's what's at stake...a lifetime's security.  He has to make the right deal, and he's got the leverage to do it.  Moreover, he's got what I call the "moral authority."  He's not already rich.  $380k might sound like a lot to some people, but it's not.  Not if you're risking your neck, and not if in all likelihood you will make that rate for three or four years then you make nothing.

TO has everything already.  He's not at the end of a low dollar deal.  He's at the beginning of a mega-deal.  He's set for life.  He's taken everything public, insulted his quarterback, bla bla bla.  TO has no moral authority.  He even manages to squander the precious coin that was his Super Bowl performance and Herculean return by demanding more than his worth.

Vastly different situations imho.  But I'm just repeating myself, I suppose.

drunk typing is fun.

[troyhstewart]

In order to avoid a suspension, the team told the All-Pro tight end that he will need to either sign a new multi-year deal or the $380,000, one-year contract he was tendered as an exclusive-rights free agent.

Antonio Gates situation is not like TO's, Ward's or Westbrook's situations. TO and Ward were both under contract. Westbrook signed his one year RFA tender.

Antonio Gates did not sign his tender yet, he is not under contract. He is an exclusive rights free agent which means he is the Chargers property for one more year, then RFA. He didn't sign the tender yet, he isn't under contract.

[MadMarchHare]

The difference is Gates is playing on his rookie contract.  He had zero leverage when that was written, he had to prove himself, which is why it's at the vet minimum.  Now, the team recognizes his ability, he shouldn't be risking his arguably only big payday for a little contract he has vastly out-performed.  TO got his big payday, and his risk is minimal because of it.  Which is why his holdout is bullshtein.  Gates also hasn't slammed management and teammates in his quest for a new contract.

F TO.

[BigEd76]

Chargers' statement at 4:25pm ET

Tight end Antonio Gates did not report and sign a contract by 12:30 pm today.  The Chargers and Gates' agent Andre Colona negotiated throughout the morning but could not reach an agreement on years or compensation.  At this point, Gates does not feel comfortable in signing the team's tender offer and going back to work.

As a result, Gates will be placed on a Roster Exempt list and will not play in the first three games following the date he signs with the team.  Currently he will miss the games versus Minnesota (Aug. 26), San Francisco (Sept. 1) and the season opener versus Dallas (Sept. 11).

The Chargers are disappointed Gates will miss the season opener versus Dallas, but remain hopeful of reaching an agreement soon.

After the announcement, Gates' agent said he'll report tomorrow

[Zanshin]

Think they'll actually make him miss that game?

[PhillyGirl]

Gates, full of excuses, ruled out of opener

[PhillyGirl]

Gates gets his deal

[rjs246]

Its good to know that at least one professional football player will be able to feed his family this year.