NFL: Athletes First “Open Letter” Agent Misses The Point
By Jim Vickers
The all-too public contract brouhaha between Denver’s Von Miller and general manager John Elway may be the motivation behind “Athletes First” agent David Mulugheta’s “open letter” to ProFootballTalk regarding fan bias and player contracts.
Mulugheta points out that the exorbitant dollar amounts fans see, such as the $114 million offer Miller received, are not fully guaranteed. He contends players are viewed as greedy for only trying to get the best contract possible while, on the other hand, the NFL is a “multi-billion-dollar enterprise.”
As he so eloquently challenges fans: “You’ve never sided with Goliath over David in the past, so why start now?”
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But contrary to Mulugheta’s percentage-earning perspective, fans probably do see both sides clearly. Miller currently has the option of playing for a guaranteed $14 million, one-year franchise tender this season, or taking a long-term deal guaranteeing him about $39 million.
Both are big payoffs. So it’s likely he’ll find no sympathy from the lifelong fan that cannot afford a ticket to a regular season game.
Strictly in terms of this player’s earning, the Super Bowl MVP linebacker has already banked $21 million in salaries from the Broncos, making his lowest potential earnings $35 million in five years with the franchise tag money.
If he pens Elway’s current long-term proposition, Miller would be guaranteed $60 million over his career and a potential cool $135 million all told. David didn’t pulled down that kind of coin for dropping the big Philistine with a rock.
Remember also, his rookie contract was guaranteed. So whether he made Pro Bowl honors or road the bench, the Broncos were obligated to pay him. And although rookie contracts are more palatable to franchises in recent years, they still pose a significant competitiveness problem.
For example, those selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft are now in the fourth and final year of their rookie contracts. Players, such as Chicago offensive lineman Kyle Long and Cincinnati’s Tyler Eifert panned out nicely. But overall, that class didn’t break any talent records.
Defensive backs Dee Milliner (Jets) and D.J. Hayden (Raiders) have underperformed their first-round status to the degree they’d probably be let go if it weren’t for guaranteed rookie deals. Milliner received a $12.6 million contract that still has the Jets on the hook for a $4 million cap hit this season. Last year, he didn’t start in a single game.
Likewise, Hayden grabbed a $10 million brass ring and the Raiders are stuck with a $3.2 million cap hit this year no matter what. Such instances appear to hamstring franchises trying to field the best roster possible and win games.
The average fan probably just wants his or her team to be successful and supports athletes who add to that goal. Players chewing up more cap space than their production start to sound a lot like national public-sector union bosses arguing for more money and more personal time than the taxpayers footing the bill.
Keep in mind, fans are highly cognizant that the salary cap agreement assures players they will get an agreed upon percentage of league revenue. The folks sitting in the bleachers or enduring too many beer commercials at the local pub want the best players earning the top salaries.
I think people generally want fundamental fairness in the work place across the board, from banging nails to the board room to the NFL gridiron.
There’s little doubt tremendous progress has been made since NFL bust JaMarcus Russell’s snagged that $61 million rookie contract (via Spotrac) with $32 million guaranteed.
More money finds its way to veterans and it makes sense that bigger salaries go to those who have earned their keep.
For all that Denver’s star linebacker has achieved, his compensation appears fair. And going forward, pro football aficionados are well aware that linebackers’ skills tend to diminish as they approach 30 years old.
Acquiescing to 27-year-old Miller’s demands on a six-year deal could be the same as overpaying a rookie, only on the back end. Guaranteeing Miller more than the $39 million on the table would probably result in the Broncos carrying a veteran who cannot match his paycheck in quarterback sacks down the road.
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Frankly, his stats have been declining since his second year in the league, Super Bowl performance aside.
Mulugheta’s “open letter” reminds me of that scene in “The Replacements” movie when a striking player argues that the owners are being unfair by saying, “Do you have any idea how much insurance costs on a Ferrari Mo&%$%er?”
No, I don’t, and neither do most fans.