Beason - what would make him a guinea pig?

HUYGHUE ACCUSES PANTHERS OF BAD FAITH (pft)

The agent for Panthers first-round draft pick Jon Beason claims that the team is bargaining in bad faith.

Per the Associated Press, Huyghue claims that the Panthers are refusing to pay to Beason an option bonus, given the ruling from earlier this year in the Ashley Lelie case that such bonuses are not subject to forfeiture in the event of a default arising from, for example, a holdout or a suspension.

Huyghue argues that, because other teams have used option bonuses for first-round picks, the refusal of the Panthers to include an option bonus means that the Panthers are acting in bad faith.

We don't buy it. Not at all. The team isn't required to include an option bonus. And if Huyghue and Beason want an option bonus badly enough for Beason to sit out, so be it.

Alternatively, Beason can sign the one-year tender for the rookie minimum. Or Huyghue can step aside and let an agent who'll do the deal without an option bonus get it done.

Frankly, we think Huyghue would be wise to stop publicly complaining, lest his client eventually figure out that the agent isn't as worried about this client as he is about the next client. If Huyghue were to accept a deal without an option bonus, it would be used against him aggressively in recruiting.

"You don't want to sign with Huyghue," rivals agents would whisper to the 2008 crop of picks. "He's the only guy who didn't get an option bonus for his first-round client."

Dollars are dollars, and there's no indication that Beason is being offered money that's out of line with his slot, especially since the player directly in front of him and the player directly behind him have been signed.

And while there's no reason to believe that Beason will be a guy who needs the threat of bonus forfeiture to stay in line, the last first-rounder who fired his original agent after the draft and hired Huyghue was Pacman Jones.

Need we say more?

 

$6.5M guaranteed doesnt sound too cheap to me.

 

In the past, those option bonuses could be recovered, like signing bonuses, if the player gets into trouble, retires prematurely, or holds out. Now they can't. Hence the Panthers reasonable concern about giving one. They had been willing to give option bonuses before, so that had to be it.

However, Beason has a reasonable concern here too.

Yes, it sounds like the Panthers are screwing up. Surely there is a place for a creative compromise here.

Its only 3 days.

It sounds good that Beason was at the meetings. Maybe he can think of something.

 

The whole situations is fucked up. You would think signing the 25th pick wouldn't be so damn difficult. We haven't really heard the Panthers perspective at all, and probably won't until after it signs. Beason said on the radio he does have a date circled where if it gets to that point he'll just sign.

 

That "guaranteed" money isn't actually guaranteed. Part of it would be that incentive bonus in the third year that he may not reach, or which we could deny to him (something we might do if he blew his ACL, for instance). I agree with Piper that Beason is in the right. The Panthers hold all the cards, but if every other team in the league is willing to accept the risk with option bonuses, I don't see why we should be so stubborn about it.

 

But we prefer to dole out the big bucks after a few years of average play.

 

the agent is getting a little dirty by pushing it all out in the open, but I'll guess that this will push some favor their way, which might keep us from being so stubborn.

 

I don't see how the agent had much choice. People see a player holding out and automatically assume he's being greedy for more money. That doesn't appear to be the case here, and since the Panthers won't talk about the situation at all, it's in Beason's best interests for his agent to get out his side of the story.

 

curious...anyone know what other players this guy represents? anyone established? seemed to me he was just getting into being an agent recently (say last few years), and if he doesn't have a big client roster, this could be hsi way of saying..."sign with me, and I won't let teams bully you."

basically a cock-measuring contest.

EDIT--lol...thsi is his "impressive" roster..JAMAR NESBIT
http://www.axcesssports.com/clientRepresentation.asp?Id=1

 

As has been discussed in other threads, he's somewhat new to being a player agent, but previously represented the Jaguars in their negotiations, so he has a wealth of experience, just with most of it on the other side. Although I initially speculated similarly, I don't think he's being unreasonable in asking for something that every other first round pick is getting. He could be more diplomatic in how he's handling the media, but the actual concerns are valid.