Maybe we’re all suckers. Maybe we see ourselves as the perfect fit sometimes and sometimes we even see ourselves as the remedy to any woe that may come upon others. That’s what a Super Bowl can do. That’s what preseason hype can do. That’s what perennial regular season success can do.
Its a toxin that poisons even the usually able minded and competent. Success.
But success has its traps. Pat Riley outlined its most dangerous characteristic: the disease of more. Everyone wants to be compensated “fairly” for their part, which is their right.*
*= Fair being the operative word. Funniest story I heard was Javon Walker being shocked that the Raiders would give him all that money after he was waived last week. On a side note, totally agree with Peter King from this week’s Monday Morning QB in which he expressed shock over Jake Delhomme getting $7 million this year to be a QB in the NFL. Incredible what being a nice guy can net you in this world.
But Mickey Loomis, GM of the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, is in the uncomfortable position of paying to keep the young stars and old veterans that got him this far. Last year he paid a basement bargain price for undoubtedly one of his best players, 34 year free safety Darren Sharper. Sharper’s leadership can’t be understated in the teams progress from worst to first.*
*= Though, you can make the case that its just because they are in the NFC South where the last place finisher from the prior year ends up division champ the next.
So its little guess that Sharper finds himself hoping that some team will offer a decent contract. Unfortunately thinking within the NFL community* is that he is going to re-sign with the Saints which drives down his price since most teams won’t even bother offering him a contract because it would set the market for perhaps their own free agents who might be looking for similiar numbers.
*= everytime I say that I think of them like a bunch of girls sleeping over talking about boys. Technically I’m right, only difference is they meet thru teleconference.
But why don’t teams try and keep core guys like Sharper? Despite his age he had a league leading 9 INTs. Statistical analysis may show it to be an anomaly, but his value in terms of his experience and leadership can’t be measured so why wait out the competition for his services? Because as long as a team gives him some meager offer sheet, the Saints can match it or let him go if some team overpays. But his value to a newer team will be far less than what it would be to the Saints. Thus the Saints would end up getting him for a bargain basement price since they would be bettering a low price to begin with.
Its patently unfair but sound business practice in a league that values youth over experience. A 23 year old RB is worth much more than a 33 year old RB. Chester Taylor had few carries being a career back up this can be viewed as a fresh 31 than an old 31 like LDT is being viewed as.
Speaking of which, teams like the Jets who had a good running back in their ranks yet refused to pay him a roster bonus and let him take his 1,400 rushing yards to Kansas City. The Jets however turned around and gave LDT, a sure fire hall of famer, a 2 year contract, a commitment they were unwilling to make with Thomas Jones despite knowing the production they would get from TJ and his influence within the locker room, one that had accepted him and loved him. Now they have to work on building that up with LDT which can be difficult or seamless, the point is the Jets don’t know.
The Jets, like the Saints have a known commodity, the Saints on the other hand will most likely keep their guy but sign him to a less than flattering contract, one which he clearly outplayed yet because the market dictates so, it will be.
It reminds me of Entourage’s season finale in which Johnny Drama stands in his audition and showing his new care free attitude says “I’ve done so much for you yet you still make me beg for my supper”. Yet it happens more often than not.
For guys like Thomas Jones and Darrem Sharper, they will continue to do hoping to land a gig and show everyone that they are worth all the money.
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The Lazy Eye of Sports 