Why do NFL Players sign the multi year contracts they do?

Well if you are a very good & relatively young QB like Manning, McNabb, Brady, Culpepper, etc....don't count on being cut. A great QB is very hard to replace, the other positions aren't.

Therefore, I agree that it's not a good idea to sign for no more than 3-4 years unless you are a franchise level QB.

 

everyones got to look out for themeselves...in the end they have a limited window of playing life...also with the style of life they live they need to make as much as possible ... and with money comes those beggers in the family who want a slice.

 

why would the team give them a huge signing bonus if the player only wants to sign for two years?

I think they reward the guys who sign longterm by giving those bonuses.

 

Major props to Drew brees (sp?) who had leverage out the ass , but STILL opted for a one year contract to help the team. Dude has class, especially considering how the bolts were giving him the cold shoulder before the season started.

 

wizkid83


man its abouit security.... if a player gets a career ending injury and your contract is a short term contract well guess what the insurance company looks at your length of contract.... and will use that to determine the disposition amount... so if your a player you want a long term contract....

that's why T.O is asking for a new deal.....cause he out performed his contract status...and now wants a new deal...i don't see nothin wrong with that...i would do the same.

 

I think it all goes into the negotiations formula. To put it in oversimplified terms, teams wouldnt give players their desired signing bonuses it they wouldnt agree to mult year contracts.

 

He might suck next year and you know they have QB in waiting. Brees might be classy but he might not be too bright if he cares about money.

 

Way I figure, you may as well sign whatever deal you want to get the most money. The years don't really matter -- look at Daunte's contract -- no way he sees the end of it before he's cut or has it restructured.

In the NFL, you have every right to hold out for more money if you feel like you deserve it. I don't buy the whole "you've signed the contract so now you should honor it" spiel, because the team is not under that same obligation -- they'll cut your ass. In the NBA and MLB, yes, that's guaranteed, but not in the NFL.

 

The reason that NFL players sign multi-year deals is because the signing bonus will be able to be spread out over the life of the deal. For example if someone wants a 10 million dollar signing bonus, and signs a two years deal, that signing bonus would hit the cap at 5 million for each of those two years. Considering that there are 53 roster spots and the cap is like 80 mill, big cap hits like that would make it tough to fill out a roster. But if the guy signs a 7 year deal, the signing bonus could be spread out over the life of the contract so that the cap figure is much easier to swallow.

This is a pretty general explanation but it gives you some idea of why the NFL goes through this farce.

 

It has to do with the salary cap and m_cable nailed it.

A player signs a 10 year contract worth 100 million with a 20 million bonus. The signing bonus counts only 2 million per year.

Lets say the player is productive for the first five years. He is getting his salary, which is usually pretty small for the first part of the contract. The contracts are usually backloaded, with the HUGE salaries coming at the end. So in wizkid's case, if a contract averages to $7 million per year, the first few years are usually about 3-4 million in actual salary (reasonable). With a HUGE signing bonus given up front, players are fine with playing for smaller salaries. Now it looks to average 7 million per year b/c its backloaded. The last 3-4 years of the contract would have outrageous salaries, like 10-15 million per year.

Over the lifetime of the contract it averages to 7 million per year. However, teams know they will renegotiate before the true salary escalates at the back end of the contract. Either that, or they will cut the player.

Players are fine with this b/c they get HUGE signing bonuses up front. Peyton's 20 million. Drew Bledsoe, Brett Favre, Michael Vick, etc.

 

because there are TWO sides of a negotiation

You senarie benfits the players
and the owners are about THEIR OWN BENEFIT

gotta give a little to get a little

Rocket River