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By: Keith Dobkowski, NFL News Writer
Normally just one case will turn a professional sport on its head
and force its decision makers to rethink and reset the rules. It
becomes obvious that a problem exists and that a solution must
be brought forward quickly and decisively to alleviate that
problem. The problem can occur on or off the field and the
effects are felt throughout the game.
On the field we quickly think recall the Wilt Chamberlain dunk rule
prohibiting NBA players from dunking the basketball. The “Night
Train” Lane tackle rule in football that prohibited tackling your
opponent by the head. And of recent debate and no action, thus
maintaining the status quo in Major League Baseball, the Barry
Bonds’ intentional walk rule.
Off the field we have witnessed the NBA tackle the effects of
Shawn Kemp and his ten illegitimate children and Leon Smith’s
failure to handle the pressure of going directly from high school
to the pros. In response, the NBA created a mandatory program
for all rookies to learn about the NBA life and the pitfalls that
accompany stardom and cash. The NFL followed suit and
required a similar program for its rookies. And of course, MLB
ignored the problem and kept the status quo. In MLB’s defense
please see the successful steroid rule that is sure to calm the
critics and keep players from cheating…
Thus as we watch Kellen Winslow Jr. follow the advice of his
agents, the Poston Brothers, and refuse to sign a contract
worthy of his talent, the thought enters that an NFL salary cap
rule change is necessary.
Winslow believes that he should be the highest paid rookie in his
class, even though NFL teams rated him the sixth best rookie
seeing that Winslow was the sixth pick. Common sense says
that he should be paid somewhere between what the fifth and
seventh pick agreed to. Common sense would also allow the
Cleveland Browns to offer Winslow slightly more than the top
tight end drafted last year.
Rumors have it that Winslow is requesting a $20 million signing
bonus, at least, and that the Browns are offering about $15
million less. Furthermore, Winslow is demanding more money per
year than perennial All-NFL tight end Tony Gonzales of the
Kansas City Chiefs. Now maybe I am going out on a limb by
thinking that every GM in the league would take Gonzales and
his known quality over Winslow and his known arrogance.
And to think that tight end is not even a highly regarded
position. Most NFL offenses are geared in three ways, a running
attack, a downfield attack or the West Coast Offense. In all
three schemes, the tight end is used as the second, third or
fourth offensive option. In terms of mandatory need on an
offense, the tight end fits in somewhere behind the quarterback,
offensive tackles, running backs and wide receivers.
So any argument that Winslow is worth quarterback or wide
receiver money is bogus. Linebacker Julian Peterson has been
offered a $15 million signing bonus by the San Francisco 49ers
and Terrell Owens recently signed a $10 million bonus with the
Philadelphia Eagles. Both players are All-Pros and Winslow does
not have any right to ask for more than either one.
The NFL should follow the NBA and install a rookie salary cap.
Creating a mandatory signing bonus and salary for rookies would
assure that all rookies attend mini-camps and training camps.
Both the learning curve and the injury rates would decrease by
spending more time with the team.
NFL owners would quickly agree to such a deal seeing that the
budget could be set immediately upon draft status. Knowing
ahead of time how much a draft pick will cost would allow teams
to budget their roster and pay their veterans without having to
rely on last minute cuts to satisfy a rookies signing.
The NFL Players Association, which does not represent unsigned
players, would agree as well. Veterans would quickly see more
money in the deal for them and well as increased job security.
One bad deal would not handicap a team for years as many first
round picks, Ryan Leaf and Akili Smith, have. A team that is not
paying in excess to a player who does not play or may not even
be on the roster will have more money to retain and pay
veterans.
While such a system would take time to integrate and Winslow
would not be affected, a rule, the Winslow rule, would have
rookies in camp and not demanding ridiculous amounts of
guaranteed money based off potential. If such a rule were
already in place, today in San Diego Phillip Rivers would be
handing the ball off to LaDainian Tomlinson. And in Cleveland,
Winslow would be catching Jeff Garcia’s jump throw.
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