3/07/08
Last Friday a large number of players and personnel from the National Football League stayed up way past their bedtimes.
The NFL free agency officially began a minute past midnight that Friday morning, but that was just the beginning of it.
It seems that lately the NFL trend has been to sign random free agent players the casual fan might not have even heard of instead of huge contracts. While I personally have been at least familiar with every player signed so far, I can’t say I agree with the decision to hand out the dough like teams have been. But when did free agency really become such an important component to the NFL setup?
Back in the day, players had no right to solicit themselves to other teams once their initial contract with a team expired. The team who originally had rights to the player was able to keep that player year after year even after the contract expired, and it could actually give the player less money each year.
A baseball player named Curt Flood fought this system and basically compared the roster management rules to indentured servitude. Although Flood’s efforts in court weren’t successful, players took note of Flood’s beliefs and work toward the cause, and eventually, the players stood up against the policy to get things changed.
Today, players get the opportunity to choose between NFL suitors. The free agent player can take into account the location, opportunity to play, the team’s potential and obviously the salaries offered while deciding on a team.
Still, every year players complain about their contract amount and how they deserve more. Some even vow not to return to their respective teams in the future because of contract disputes.
When compared to players from previous generations, however, today’s NFL players have it quite well. There are numerous accounts of players from the past having health problems and documented depression because of concussions with no funding to pay for the medical bills. If only they would have had the opportunities to properly shop themselves around the league and receive the best salary possible.
Each year there are record contracts signed by players who become the highest paid player in the NFL at the position they play at, and sometimes, they end up the highest paid ever at the position. This year, guard Alan Faneca received a five-year $40 million contract from the Jets. Receiver Bernard Berrian signed a six-year $42 million deal with the Vikings.
These guys are talented individuals who can have immediate impacts on their new squads. Still, these contracts include a lot of years, and it’s a lot of money to be throwing around.
Teams can’t be completely blamed. The pressure to win is increased every year it seems. It seems coaches get canned faster than ever. Free agency and trades are the fastest way to improve one’s team.
Though the draft produces many impact players each, these prospects can’t be expected to make large contributions immediately because of the inexperience involved.