Kovacevic: Brown holdout hypocritical and hollow

[Steelerfan81]

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/04/20/column-abs-holdout-threat-hypocritical-hollow

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

Antonio Brown didn’t show for the opening of the Steelers’ voluntary workouts this morning on the South Side, and he might not show for quite a while if his existing contract isn’t redone, according to multiple media reports headed by Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.

I’d like not to believe this.

I’d like not to have it so much as breach my brain that Brown could be so hypocritical that he’d attempt an act this hollow when he isn’t even halfway through the five-year, $42 million extension he happily signed just two years ago.

 

[FSF]

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/04/20/column-abs-holdout-threat-hypocritical-hollow

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

Antonio Brown didn’t show for the opening of the Steelers’ voluntary workouts this morning on the South Side, and he might not show for quite a while if his existing contract isn’t redone, according to multiple media reports headed by Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.

I’d like not to believe this.

I’d like not to have it so much as breach my brain that Brown could be so hypocritical that he’d attempt an act this hollow when he isn’t even halfway through the five-year, $42 million extension he happily signed just two years ago.

I get that he'd want to be paid among the NFL's best because he is -- but the question is, where does he rank salary wise among WRs on contracts? Mike Wallace makes more does he not? Can DK provide that info?

If he’s getting bad advice, he needs to rise above. The Steelers aren’t about to set any precedent for restructuring contracts, not for Brown, not for Rosenhaus, not for anyone. If it didn’t work for the iconic Ward — he crawled back to Latrobe after a 15-day holdout in 2005 — it won’t work for anyone. The Rooneys still run the place, last I checked.

As part of DKs column - I would argue this excerpt and use two references as my reason to debate it:

• The America's Game Video for the 2005 Steelers where Bill Cowher talked about Hines Ward's holdout.
• Dan Rooney's Autobiography

Both indicated how unhappy Hines was as he outplayed his deal, signed prior to his breakout season. It was getting ugly and it wasn't until (according to Rooney's book) Jerome Bettis brought Hines Ward to meet with Dan Rooney away from league offices at the airport where they worked it out.

It was the final year of a deal that Ward signed prior to the 2001 season. And Ward exceptionally outplayed his contract.
Only 2 WRs in the NFL had more catches during that timeframe -- and the two that had more catches had a lot more opportunities:

1. Marvin Harrison: 432 catches -- thrown to 650 times
2. Tory Holt: 383 catches -- thrown to 569 times
3. Hines Ward: 381 catches -- thrown to 569 times

A step further, during that same time frame:

• Steelers rushing attempts: 2195 (542 more than Rams, 443 more than Colts)
• Steelers passing attempts: 1856 (510 less than Rams, 388 less than Colts)

And getting that deal done worked out well for both sides, because we all know who won the Super Bowl XL MVP. Ward deserved to be paid among the league's elite because he was. Call me crazy, Brown deserves to be too -- but I honestly don't know where he ranks among leagues elite in terms of his contract. He's also probably at least 1 year early in making this move, he'd have better chance of making it work next year.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

Hypocritical? Hollow?

If I want to be paid market value- I am a hypocrite?

 

[Stryker]

Can we merge these threads?

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Hypocritical? Hollow?

If I want to be paid market value- I am a hypocrite?

He should have thought of that and only agreed to a 3 year deal then instead of a 6 year deal.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

He should have thought of that and only agreed to a 3 year deal then instead of a 6 year deal.

lol c'mon Ron.

Youre basically saying that its own damn fault for being so good.

If AB sucked for these past three years- the Steelers could have cut him, and we all would have been applauding the move. Would you call management hypocritical for cutting Woodley?

 

[Steelerfan81]

Can we merge these threads?

No, part of our partnership is that we post his columns on the Steelers.

 

[Steelerfan81]

Hypocritical? Hollow?

If I want to be paid market value- I am a hypocrite?

What's market value? Calvin is 16 mil. Dez, and Thomas are going to make 12 on their franchise tag. Brown is 6.5 this year and 8.5 the next two. What's market value? 10mil?

 

[Steelerfan]

Color me skeptical of this story. This would be out of character for him since he is supposedly one of the hardest workers on the team. Last one to leave the practice field, yadda yadda. I'm hoping this is a one-time incident and that the author is jumping to conclusions too early.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

What's market value? Calvin is 16 mil. Dez, and Thomas are going to make 12 on their franchise tag. Brown is 6.5 this year and 8.5 the next two. What's market value? 10mil?

I think 12 is a good market. And tack on some years to his contract. Cant be mad at that.

 

[Steelerfan81]

I think 12 is a good market. And tack on some years to his contract. Cant be mad at that.

The Steelers signed AB after 3 career starts. Here are his quotes after signing it.
• “It’s special. With a unique organization such as the Steelers, knowing I’m going to be around here for the long term is something amazing and really special. It’s something I take pride in, and I know that it’s a tremendous honor.”

• “It provides me with some security and allows me to play football and focus on winning games.”

• “What I do realize is that I’ve been given a great opportunity to be around an organization that is really special. I’m really honored and thankful about that. All I can do now is work to give them my best as long as I’m here."

Saying those things and then holding out after 2 years is ridiculous. As Steelerfan said hopefully this is just part of a slow news week and AB will be there when its mandatory.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

The Steelers signed AB after 3 career starts. Here are his quotes after signing it.
• “It’s special. With a unique organization such as the Steelers, knowing I’m going to be around here for the long term is something amazing and really special. It’s something I take pride in, and I know that it’s a tremendous honor.”

• “It provides me with some security and allows me to play football and focus on winning games.”

• “What I do realize is that I’ve been given a great opportunity to be around an organization that is really special. I’m really honored and thankful about that. All I can do now is work to give them my best as long as I’m here."

Saying those things and then holding out after 2 years is ridiculous. As Steelerfan said hopefully this is just part of a slow news week and AB will be there when its mandatory.

Question to you-

Do you believe that Brown is a top 5 WR? What do you believe a top 5 WR is worth?


Sure they signed him after only 3 career starts, but with very little guaranteed $$. Lets not pretend that the Steelers were saints for giving him that contract.

 

[steelhurt]

Ok, market value guys. So the Steelers tear up the contract and make him one of the highest paid receivers in the NFL. Right up there with Calvin Johnson maybe or just a bit lower. Now comes the season and Bryant emerges and becomes the second coming of Randy Moss in his younger days and has a phenomenal season posting big numbers and then you have Wheaton who also turns in a great season. Now you sure don't want to lose both these guys when their rookie deals are up and Wheaton will have only 2016 left followed by Bryant after the 2017 season. But wait, you paid big money to re-do AB's contract so you still have him. So essentially you're going to mortgage your future with up and coming stars who you won't be able to pay because you dumped all your money into one receiver. No, I don't like it. I would rather we see how 2015 unfolds and see what the production from AB, Bryant and Wheaton look like and then make a decision about who to keep. You won't be able to keep all three if they produce like I'm expecting but you have a better gauge as to what direction to go after 2015. If Wheaton and Bryant post big numbers maybe just maybe they consider dealing AB for some premium picks and with two years left on his contract he would be an attractive lure. You could then pay Wheaton and Bryant and with a couple premium picks add a badly needed blue chip defensive player and receiver. Just keep in mind that you aren't going to be paying all three of these guys so play your cards smart here. I say wait until after 2015 to make a decision based on production especially from Wheaton and Bryant.

Don't forget also we still have to extend Heyward and Beachum and I'm thinking that gets done this year. And 2015 will be Bell's third year and you will have to pay him in 2016 and we're not exactly the world's best at managing the cap as it is. Someone may have to be odd man out here. They would screw themselves if they re-negotiated his contract now and could lose potential stars like Bryant, Wheaton and Bell.

Also keep in mind, what does this say to guys like Pouncey who just re-signed with the team. The Dolphins just made his brother the highest paid center in the league while Maurkice continues to be one of the best if not the best center in the NFL. Then with that message if you re-do AB's contract out there, don't be surprised if Maurkice wants a renegotiated deal next year or the year after. Bad message sent to the entire team.

 

[Steelerfan81]

Question to you-

Do you believe that Brown is a top 5 WR? What do you believe a top 5 WR is worth?


Sure they signed him after only 3 career starts, but with very little guaranteed $$. Lets not pretend that the Steelers were saints for giving him that contract.

He hasn't even played half way into his contract. They gave him 42 million. I think that's the gamble that some of these guys make. You can either play out that rookie contract and bet on yourself or you can make yourself a ton of money by taking a huge contract that may turn out to be modest.
To answer your question yes probably the best WR in the league. But at least play till you have 2 years left in your deal before you start holding out. But I'll stay neutral till we see how long this lingers or before we hear Brown speak. For all we know this could've been a made up story because someone found out AB wasn't there.

 

[TDX27]

Hypocritical? Hollow?

If I want to be paid market value- I am a hypocrite?

He was paid more than market value when he happily signed the contract. A contract is a contract - a legally binding document. I guess you obviously give no credence to that. Sign a contract and in 6 months, if you are unhappy, start whining and breach the contract. No problem there.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

He was paid more than market value when he happily signed the contract. A contract is a contract - a legally binding document. I guess you obviously give no credence to that. Sign a contract and in 6 months, if you are unhappy, start whining and breach the contract. No problem there.

Or worse- I could be an NFL team and just tear up the contract all together and not pay you sh*t.

Are you really going to side with the owners on this one? They 'breach' contracts almost every year.

 

[RollRed]

Hypocritical? Hollow?

If I want to be paid market value- I am a hypocrite?

So if the tables were turned and his numbers were good but not $7 million a year good, would he be upset if the organization wanted to renegotiate his contract half way through? Not a ridiculous cut, just whatever fair market value would be based on the numbers he had hypothetically put up to this point.... Something tells me that wouldn't fly with him, but I'm just speculating.

 

[antdrewjosh]

He was paid more than market value when he happily signed the contract. A contract is a contract - a legally binding document. I guess you obviously give no credence to that. Sign a contract and in 6 months, if you are unhappy, start whining and breach the contract. No problem there.

So is Woodley coming to camp this week? Cause he signed a contract too. So he should be here too. Wait no he isn't cause the Steelers cut him already. If it doesn't go both ways then leverage should be taken advantage of when someone has it. Whether team as in Woodley's case or by the player as in Brown's case now.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

He hasn't even played half way into his contract. They gave him 42 million. I think that's the gamble that some of these guys make. You can either play out that rookie contract and bet on yourself or you can make yourself a ton of money by taking a huge contract that may turn out to be modest.
To answer your question yes probably the best WR in the league. But at least play till you have 2 years left in your deal before you start holding out. But I'll stay neutral till we see how long this lingers or before we hear Brown speak. For all we know this could've been a made up story because someone found out AB wasn't there.

I get your point with the time of the contract- but I think it has more to do with the production in this case.

It's hard to expect someone who is arguably the best at his position, to play for a deep discount for the next 2 years (essentially his prime). Its not like the team would 'make up' the difference during his next contract.

 

[Steelerfan81]

So is Woodley coming to camp this week? Cause he signed a contract too. So he should be here too. Wait no he isn't cause the Steelers cut him already. If it doesn't go both ways then leverage should be taken advantage of when someone has it. Whether team as in Woodley's case or by the player as in Brown's case now.

Woodley is still being paid 8.5 million by the Steelers this season. So yah, he's really crying about the Steelers not fulfilling their side of the bargain.

Russell Wilson is/was making 500k. He led the Seahawks to back to back Super Bowls.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

So if the tables were turned and his numbers were good but not $7 million a year good, would he be upset if the organization wanted to renegotiate his contract half way through? Not a ridiculous cut, just whatever fair market value would be based on the numbers he had hypothetically put up to this point.... Something tells me that wouldn't fly with him, but I'm just speculating.

It wouldnt fly for him because he works hard to be the best. And he is.

As for the pay cut- Remember this?

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11161699/ike-taylor-pittsburgh-steelers-upset-taking-pay-cut

 

[Steelerfan81]

I get your point with the time of the contract- but I think it has more to do with the production in this case.

It's hard to expect someone who is arguably the best at his position, to play for a deep discount for the next 2 years (essentially his prime). Its not like the team would 'make up' the difference during his next contract.

I understand both sides of the argument. I just think he should play more than half of his contract before he starts holding out. I think next year would have been the better year to start saying you want a new contract. On top of that I don't think holding out is the way to go about it in the Steelers organization either.
Ben was playing under market value and we didn't hear a peep out of him either.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

Woodley is still being paid 8.5 million by the Steelers this season. So yah, he's really crying about the Steelers not fulfilling their side of the bargain.

Russell Wilson is/was making 500k. He led the Seahawks to back to back Super Bowls.

You sure about that? You sure Woodley is actually receiving that $$, and that its not just cap hits?

 

[Steelerfan81]

It wouldnt fly for him because he works hard to be the best. And he is.

As for the pay cut- Remember this?

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11161699/ike-taylor-pittsburgh-steelers-upset-taking-pay-cut

He took the pay cut so he could play in the league one more year. No way was anyone picking him up if he was released.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

I understand both sides of the argument. I just think he should play more than half of his contract before he starts holding out. I think next year would have been the better year to start saying you want a new contract. On top of that I don't think holding out is the way to go about it in the Steelers organization either.
Ben was playing under market value and we didn't hear a peep out of him either.

I can agree with this. On the other hand, he's seeing the Steelers right now with that $6M cap relief they'll be getting on June 1st. If he's seen how they manage the cap lately, he might be thinking: "I better get on this while they actually HAVE some cap room."