GDT: The Pittsburgher Thread - Here we go!

[ziggyjoe212]

This and...if you're a Steelers fan....wouldn't you want the team to maximize cap space to be able to field the best possible team? They should slap the tag on Watt for 2 years as they are allowed to do. It would be best for the team. Would you rather the Steelers be able to upgrade a position, or TJ Watt get a 20 ft longer boat?

If/when the players union ever does get a spine and negotiates fully guaranteed contracts, the total amount offered to them is also going to be reduced.

Cap space doesn't matter. Most teams know how to maneuver around the cap to keep their good players. Think of all the elite players we've had over the last 2 decades. They all got fat contracts and were paid among the highest in the league. Only guys we lost were Bell and Wallace, and we still offered them giant contracts that they were dumb to turn down.
Heyward, Watt, Minkah, Tuitt, Bush, and maybe Ben will all have monster contracts at the same time. And there will be zero cap issues.

 

[ziggyjoe212]

Anyone who whines about players not " abiding by their contracts" must love licking the boots of billionaires.

The people who DON'T abide by the contracts in the NFL are the owners who don't agree to fully guaranteed contracts, they are the snakes, not the players who can get cut at anytime and have the contract ripped up.

Both sides want to make as much money as possible. Sure the owners have more control but you can't fault either side for wanting to maximize their earnings.
Don't forget that the NFL is a business. And the only purpose of a business is to make money.

 

[MrBrightside]

Cap space doesn't matter. Most teams know how to maneuver around the cap to keep their good players. Think of all the elite players we've had over the last 2 decades. They all got fat contracts and were paid among the highest in the league. Only guys we lost were Bell and Wallace, and we still offered them giant contracts that they were dumb to turn down.
Heyward, Watt, Minkah, Tuitt, Bush, and maybe Ben will all have monster contracts at the same time. And there will be zero cap issues.

"Cap space doesn't matter" being stated the same offseason the Steelers let 5 starters go in part because they didn't have cap space is quite the take. You don't think they'd have wanted to keep Dupree and Hilton if cap space didn't matter?

 

[xlm34]

This and...if you're a Steelers fan....wouldn't you want the team to maximize cap space to be able to field the best possible team? They should slap the tag on Watt for 2 years as they are allowed to do. It would be best for the team. Would you rather the Steelers be able to upgrade a position, or TJ Watt get a 20 ft longer boat?

If/when the players union ever does get a spine and negotiates fully guaranteed contracts, the total amount offered to them is also going to be reduced.

Franchise tagging the best player on your team is a dangerous road to go down in my opinion. I get it's within the teams rights to do so, but is that really the precedent they want to set? Underpaying the best player on your team and having him risk future earnings by playing on one year deals? And what happens when they can't come to an agreement with Minkah? You can't franchise tag both of them.

If the Steelers can get things done the way they've always gotten things done, then great. I'm all for it and it's worth a shot to try. But IF your tradition starts to get in the way of actually signing players, then things are going to have to change.

This is directed at you at all, but I just think it's weird people judge players for wanting what they're worth. I've been guilty of it too, but it's easy to sit in our offices or on our couches and say "Well you're already making millions who cares?"

 

[SomeDude]

This is directed at you at all, but I just think it's weird people judge players for wanting what they're worth. I've been guilty of it too, but it's easy to sit in our offices or on our couches and say "Well you're already making millions who cares?"

I don't judge anyone for getting paid what they're worth. I do have issue with threatening to hold out and not honor a contract they previously agreed to, though. Imagine if you hire a contractor to replace your roof and when he's 80% done he says, "you know what? I've outperformed what you're paying me. I want more money or I'm not finishing."

They want teams to pay them upfront for potential and then they want more money if they reach that potential. Show up and do what you contractually agreed to do and then after the season don't show up again until you get the contract you want. That's fine with me.

For the record, I think the franchise tag is BS and you shouldn't be able to cap a player's money like that. As a Steelers fan, I want them to have the best team possible so if that's what it takes...and it's within the rules that the PA agreed to...then so be it. I really wouldn't be upset with a player holding out if they get tagged, though.

 

[xlm34]

I don't judge anyone for getting paid what they're worth. I do have issue with threatening to hold out and not honor a contract they previously agreed to, though. Imagine if you hire a contractor to replace your roof and when he's 80% done he says, "you know what? I've outperformed what you're paying me. I want more money or I'm not finishing."

They want teams to pay them upfront for potential and then they want more money if they reach that potential.

Well damn typo in my original post. I meant this isn't directed at you at all. My bad. It all comes back to the NFLPA negotiating a terrible deal I guess. TJ Watt didn't really have any choice but to sign the contract he's getting. It's basically just you're drafted at x spot, you get this deal, you can negotiate payment structure, but sign it or else. And then the team can continue to underpay the guy for two more years after that? I don't know.

A player trying to renegotiate their second contract is something I would for sure question a little bit since they actually have some input on the terms.

 

[ziggyjoe212]

"Cap space doesn't matter" being stated the same offseason the Steelers let 5 starters go in part because they didn't have cap space is quite the take. You don't think they'd have wanted to keep Dupree and Hilton if cap space didn't matter?

If Dupree and Hilton were worth keeping they would be Steelers today.

You do have a point with Dupree, but IMO he is replaceable especially with Highsmith on the roster. My point is that if they had 5 players of Watt's caliber, the Steelers would find a way to keep all 5.

 

[The Old Master]

Cap space doesn't matter. Most teams know how to maneuver around the cap to keep their good players. Think of all the elite players we've had over the last 2 decades. They all got fat contracts and were paid among the highest in the league. Only guys we lost were Bell and Wallace, and we still offered them giant contracts that they were dumb to turn down.
Heyward, Watt, Minkah, Tuitt, Bush, and maybe Ben will all have monster contracts at the same time. And there will be zero cap issues.

we did that by not giving in to the tj's of the world

 

[ziggyjoe212]

we did that by not giving in to the tj's of the world

Ben, Heyward, Pouncey, DeCastro, AB, Polamalu were all elite players and were paid in the top 5 of their position. So yes, the Steelers do "give in" to the TJ's of the world.
And TJ and Minkah will both get monster contracts too.

 

[T1K]

 

[xlm34]

Marcus Peters too. That’s what? 4 ACL tears so far for the Ravens? Crazy.

 

[T1K]

Marcus Peters too. That’s what? 4 ACL tears so far for the Ravens? Crazy.

Yeah, losing their entire RB room and Peters is a death sentence. My buddy from Baltimore said there’s a rumor Andrews isn’t gonna be ready for week 1 either

 

[Andy99]

Baltimore is notorious for practicing hard in pads during preseason…what’s surprising is that this hasn’t happened more often lol

 

[T1K]

Well deserved

 

[MrBrightside]

Much ado about nothing at all.

 

[ImporterExporter]

Shocker. Watt and Steelers got something done that didn't need either side to cave. They gave him all his money up front and he'll be in line to have a shot at one more decent long term contract after this one expires.

 

[TimmyD]

Coming from a non-Steeler fan, good for Watt...He is absolutely in the same class as guys like the Bosas, and Mack. I think you could rank any of those guys as the best edge rusher in football and you wouldn't get a complaint from me. I think each guy has a legit case and should be paid as such, so good for Watt for getting his big money deal that he earned

 

[xlm34]

Hell yeah. 80 million in guaranteed money too. Good for Watt for getting what he deserved.

 

[The Old Master]

Ben, Heyward, Pouncey, DeCastro, AB, Polamalu were all elite players and were paid in the top 5 of their position. So yes, the Steelers do "give in" to the TJ's of the world.
And TJ and Minkah will both get monster contracts too.

once the season started, there were no signings

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Is that 4 years after this season?

 

[Khelandros]

Is that 4 years after this season?

It's an extension, so this year then the new deal kicks in next season.

 

[Al Smith]

Yeah, losing their entire RB room and Peters is a death sentence. My buddy from Baltimore said there’s a rumor Andrews isn’t gonna be ready for week 1 either

They’ll find a way to compete unless Jackson goes down.

 

[Harvey Birdman]

Yeah, losing their entire RB room and Peters is a death sentence. My buddy from Baltimore said there’s a rumor Andrews isn’t gonna be ready for week 1 either

With Jackson they will still complete. But this basically makes it Cleveland’s division to loose. And opens up for a 2nd place battle between us and Baltimore.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Negotiate a better CBA. Hold arguably the worst Players Union in North American sports accountable to who they represent. I support players up to the line of what they agreed too. Past that I’m for the team on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.

Owners have done some really shady shit and a lot of BS goes on with that CBA, so it’s not as simple as saying “negotiate a better CBA”.

Owners pull their BS and power plays to get favorable CBAs and players use the best weapon at their disposal to get max dollars - hold outs.

Fans may get all mad about guys who hold out, but I never do. The players are the ones who pay the physical price in all of this - not the owners or fans.

Players could give a shit what fans think and many are trying to set their kids and future generations up for life financially.

I would do the same damn thing.

It’s a business, nothing more.

 

[MrBrightside]