The Place for Football Education
The Football Educator recently addressed the elimination of option bonuses in rookie contracts and the effect this had on the upper selections of the first round in the annual NFL Draft. Option & roster bonuses provided loopholes to circumnavigate rookie pool restrictions on NFL Clubs as they signed their rookie class under the NFL Salary Cap for a given season. Contracts were constructed with nominal year one costs to abide by rookie … [Read more...]
The National Football League has gone through extensive changes over the past few seasons (on and off the field). The League’s front office and Competition Committee have taken progressive steps toward the safety of NFL players with extensive rule changes applied to techniques long thought to be just “part of the game”. The extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement ensured measures to guard the health and welfare of the NFL’s … [Read more...]
How did we get here? The infatuation of the media and fan base with NFL player contract structure and negotiation? Seems every season during the free agency period there’s an intense debate about how much NFL players are paid and whether they’re worth it. The latest deliberation revolves around the extension of Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo and so called the $108 million commitment made by “America’s Team”. Perception isn't … [Read more...]
I was never formally trained in the art of negotiation prior to becoming a general manager in the National Football League. There was really nothing in my professional background or experience that might lead you to believe that I would ever be successful in selling a roster opportunity in exchange for multi-millionaire dollar deal. Most might argue that this responsibility would be best left up to attorneys, wise in the ways of spinning … [Read more...]
Recent cases involving veteran NFL players have reinforced to me the importance of NFL ownership. Proprietary control of a professional football franchise is an elite club and one that many successful businessmen and women have aspired to. Only a small number ever get the opportunity to own an NFL franchise. Membership has been garnered through a number of avenues. Membership required Some teams have been handed down through generations … [Read more...]
It’s easy to throw out the notion of a trade; the idea to get equal or greater value, putting your club in a better CAP situation and or with a prime pick in the coming draft. If only it were that easy. Real time example Player finds himself on a team entering 2013 League Year (LY) almost $24.0M over projected CAP. His individual charge as a Top 51 on his roster is $9.0M calculated; $3.0M in 1 year proration of past guarantees, $3.0M in … [Read more...]
The Football Educator's guest blogger Richard Hill introduces us to the concept of Sportfolio Management: Hedging. The Business of hedging Those familiar with finance will understanding the term "hedging" in the business sense, while others might know the phrase "to hedge a bet." A hedge is, essentially, a backstop in case of failure. For example, in finance, one might purchase a stock in a company with the hopes that the price will … [Read more...]
Out of the 2012 regular season there are 6 NFL Clubs that are at least $10M over the Salary Cap entering the new League Year. None were playoff contenders; New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and New York Giants. Both the Panthers and Jets have chosen to seek new front office management and are looking for ways conventional and creative to make room for upgrading their rosters next … [Read more...]
Last year I wrote a post on the importance of keeping an open mind when it came to what you watched, read, listened, and otherwise absorbed from the media covering the National Football League. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, here’s the link - NFL Articles. The more things change A year later nothing has changed. In fact at times it feels as if it’s getting worse, as many so-called “Insiders” have lost their competitive … [Read more...]
Negotiation – ne*go*ti*a*tion (noun) Resolving of disagreements the reaching of agreement through discussion and compromise. Winners and Losers Try to define either of the above terms in professional sports negotiations and you’re not likely to come to the same conclusions. The term negotiation congers up the image of a cigar smoking sports agent arguing over the phone with a tense & pacing General Manager. In fact sports … [Read more...]
