Well we’re deep in the dreadful doldrums of the NFL off-season, right after the draft picks are signed and before Hard Knocks starts again. As minicamp arrives, one of the few topics to discuss are potential holdouts, unless Aaron Hernandez escaped from jail and struck again.
The most notable situations are Marshawn Lynch in Seattle, Vernon Davis in San Fran, and Justin Houston in Kansas City.
Marshawn Lynch
Now, Marshawn Lynch somewhat ruined this piece by turning up at camp, but he’s still looking for more money or in his words “a little token of appreciation.” Not all holdouts are created equal and I want to determine whether each player deserves a raise or should get their lazy butts back to work.
Every time I see a story about a holdout, it is usually followed by a sizable amount of vitriol from salty fans. More times than not, you will see this argument: “I’d like to get paid more money in my job but you don’t see me holding out.” The same fans on the other hand won’t bat an eyelid when the team is cutting players and demanding they restructure their contracts for less money.
An NFL team is like a big machine and the players are generally viewed as the cogs that keep the whole thing ticking smoothly. As sure as death and taxes, there will come a day when those cogs are all worn out and then the only thing to do is take them out and stick a shiny new one in its place.
It’s a young mans’ game, and a dangerous one at that, so usually when a veteran player has paid his dues and is still performing at an outstanding level, I generally don’t have a problem with them asking for more money when they absolutely deserve it.
Of course not all holdouts end well. Maurice Jones-Drew won the rushing title in 2011 for the Jacksonville Jaguars then held out the next off-season for more money. The Jags didn’t budge and MJD has never performed at the same level since. Father Time and a couple of injuries contributed to the situation but that holdout was the beginning of the end.
Marshawn Lynch is one of my favourite players in the entire NFL. He has been a spectacular back for years and some of those big, bruising, highlight-reel runs will play through my mind for decades.
His way of doing things however, will soon be coming to an end. The game is always evolving and as it does, old strategies make way for new ones. Teams are less interested in the brutish bell cow and are gravitating towards running back by committee, favouring cheap young players they can rotate and plug into different situations. It keeps the players fresh and the opposing defenses guessing, but that doesn’t mean the old battering rams are done just yet.
Last year the Seahawks pounded Lynch time and again, riding him all the way to a Super Bowl victory. It was an incredible season he put together and when it was all said and done he walked away with $7 million. This year he’s due to make $ 5 million in base salary. Now, of course this is an incredible amount of money for regular Joes like ourselves to even fathom, but when put into perspective I think he has a case. First of all, Percy Harvin made $14.5 mil ($12 mil signing + 2.5 mil base) last year for playing 2 games. He is due to make $11 mil in 2014. Is Marshawn supposed to risk his health every game over and over again, lowering those shoulders and barging through those linebackers when he’s valued lower than the fancy new WR? He fought for all those hard yards, and he scored all those touchdowns. Everything that was asked of him, he delivered.
After years of service on the field at an extremely high level and off field mentoring of his replacements in Christine Michel and Robert Turbin, I say he’s well within his rights. The Seahawks just got the big contract of Richard Sherman out of the way and can now concentrate on Russell Wilson, as there is a big pay day looming for the young signal caller next year. Lynch still has a lot of yards left in the tank and I believe it would make for a wise investment to get him his “little token” now because he won’t be asking for much, and whatever it is, he will earn every penny.
VERDICT: Pay the Man.
Vernon Davis
Vernon Davis is a funny situation. It seemed that no one really knew whether he was going to show up or not, Vernon included. He was absent for the team’s OTAs and indicated he might not turn up for minicamp, but then he gave an interview to a local radio station saying he would be there and then of course he wasn’t.
Davis is an outstanding tight end and over the last three years would rank in the top ten tight ends in all of the major categories. He has been playing at an incredibly high level up until now, but he is getting to that age where the tight-end starts to decline. Obviously there are tight ends like Tony Gonzalez, who seem to go on forever but something about the 30-year-old Davis just doesn’t fill me with confidence. He gave an interview on CNBC where he explained “Everything I do is in the best interest of building my brand. I’m not really looking at it from a deal standpoint. It’s just how can I use leverage and continue to build my brand.”
Vernon Davis is involved with this new Fantex Scheme in which he gave away future earnings to stockholders in return for an upfront payment. Alarm bells are ringing to say the least.
He has two years left on his current deal which already makes him the second highest paid tight-end in the league, so I don’t think the 49ers can give him a raise, especially with approximately $6 million left in cap space and an extension looming for Alex Boone (who is also holding out).
VERDICT: Get back to work.
Justin Houston
Justin Houston is the best pass rusher on a very strong defense, but he will be the third lowest paid starter on defense, due to make only $1.4 mil in 2014. Last year he missed 5 games due to a freak injury, but still finished with 44 tackles, 11 sacks and a forced fumble. He has earned his payday and knows that the Chiefs just freed up $7 mil in cap space by cutting Brandon Flowers. His defensive partner Tamba Hali held out after his breakout season in 2010 and was awarded a 5 year $56 million contract. Houstons’ time has come and the Chiefs know it is in their best interest to extend their 25-year-old star with a new contract, especially when they will be trying to stop Peyton Manning for the next couple of seasons.
VERDICT: Pay the man.
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