Brian Dawkins, ex-Eagle

[ice grillin you]

It wasn't because he was a problem player

ahhh but he was....he wanted more money than banner/roseman inc. wanted to give

[General_Failure]

If only we had known, we could have held a bake sale for Poor Brian Dawkins so he can feed his children and buy more comic books.

[Diomedes]

Have you seen what comic books cost these days?  Jesus.

[Eagaholic]

from PFT, splaining an Eckel article

"Not only didn't the team move from its $3 million offer," Eckel writes, "but it wanted Dawkins to include a clause in the contract that he would have to pay money back to the team for any game he missed.  That is almost unprecedented, especially for a player of Dawkins' stature."

It's largely a matter of semantics.  No NFL contract requires any player to "pay money back." 

The reality is that an increasing number of contracts include so-called "per-game roster bonuses," which hinge compensation on the player's actual participation in games.  The Giants inserted such a provision in the Plaxico Burress contract, and other players with recognizable names have agreed to this provision.

So the player isn't paying money back; he's simply not earning as much as he could have if he misses one or more games.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I'm starting to think that they should have simply not offered him a contract at all.  Why fake it when you clearly don't care what anybody THINKS about the moves you're making?

[Tomahawk]

It's still bullshtein. The guy presumably got hurt playing for the team.

Contracts need to be guaranteed too

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Yeah, because those sports with 100% guaranteed contracts are all doing great.

The NFL is run much better than other pro sports.  The good players can command more guaranteed money.  Other players have to earn it game after game.

[Tomahawk]

The balance of power should be equalized. The other sports lack of success compared to the NFLs isn't because of contracts, it's because football is a better sport

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

If contracts were 100% guaranteed, then contracts would be lower in general anyway.

[rjs246]

Despite the fact that there's nothing I hate more than millionaire athletes pissing and moaning about how unfair their contracts/lives are, I have been convinced that the contracts should be guaranteed. The draw of the league revolves around players and teams, not front offices. They risk serious bodily injury and have life spans roughly 15 years shorter than people who don't play in the NFL. That's significant.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Yeah, but those numbers are skewed by guys shooting themselves and taking boat rides in bad weather without T-Pain.

[Eagaholic]

Most NFL players get guaranteed money as it is. Those that don't generally are lucky to be in th league anyway. Coal miners, firefighters, and commercial fishermen risk bodily injury (and death) and don't make millions of dollars to play a sport and be privileged celebs. 

[rjs246]

The comparison isn't really fair, but you're right to some extent.

However, NFL players average something like 3 years of employment in the league and do not make enough money to last the next 30-40 years on just that money. On top of that, we all went to college and know damn well that 90% of people who play football and are good enough to play in the NFL have absolutely no other skills that will allow them to work and live in normal society. Miners, firefighters, etc have careers that sustain them for much longer. I see what you're getting at and agree to a certain extent, but contracts should still be guaranteed.

[Diomedes]

Contracts should be guaranteed.  And they should be based on performance more than they are, protecting both parties and encouraging good entertainment for me.

[phattymatty]

On top of that, we all went to college and know damn well that 90% of people who play football and are good enough to play in the NFL have absolutely no other skills that will allow them to work and live in normal society. Miners, firefighters, etc have careers that sustain them for much longer. I see what you're getting at and agree to a certain extent, but contracts should still be guaranteed.

i'm pretty sure 90% of all NFL players could be cut tomorrow and still be able to get jobs as miners, firefighters, or cops.