What a fuckin' mess

You know, I've gotta say--and I may be alone on this--that I'm glad we didn't take Jammer in the draft. This rookie holdout garbage really irks me. A franchise QB, I can almost see...almost. But a corner?? Give me a large and well-deserved break.

Like everyone else, I was tempted by his abundant talent, and it's no secret we need a shut down corner badly. We still do. But if we had drafted him at #2, I'm utterly convinced he would be doing the same thing he's doing right now--holding out. His agent would know he's got us by the short-and-curlies, and he'd be demanding obscene money. And you know what? I don't think the current regime would give it up for him, especially with our cap status.

If he goes FA, fine. Let's take a run at him. But even if he goes in the 2003 draft, I'd say pass on him unless he's still there in the 3rd. We've got needs in other places that need addressing in rounds 1 and 2.

Stuff like this makes me really wish for a standardized, non-negotiable rookie salary. Yeah, that'll probably happen the same year the NCAA goes to a playoff system.

 

Bo Jackson did that but I think he came out early. Now you can't do that because you're ineligible after you sign an agent.
To me, I don't agree with the ability to come out early and re-apply for the draft at all - which is part of why they did that - but as long as it's regulated and fair rules are applied (and affiliation with school is prohibited) I think an argument could be made to allow players to sign earlier.

Yeah, I'd give them damn near anything they wanted for Jammer save a first.

 

I'm glad we got Peppers, and think both sides were committed to getting something done with the contract early.

He's holding out for 900K. That ain't the way to start out. McKinnie I can see, guys are getting paid more both in front and behind him from what they offered.

 

actually, from reading various stuffs, the blame should fall on the chargers management - apparently jammer's contract demands aren't out of the norm for his draft spot, it's the chargers who aren't coughing up the cash.

 

that's what I've read too...the problem is the escalators..that's it, chargers don't seem to want to cough up the cash after what Leaf did to him...ever since, they've had trouble signing picks.

 

It's way too much to hope for, but a deal for Jammer would be soooo sweet!

 

I think during the USFL years..players like Anthony Carter and Jim Kelly were drafted...after the USFL folded, I don't know if they signed as FA or to teams that had their rights. I'm pretty sure in the NBA, you would re-enter the draft...

Actually, I can remember some Lion holdouts who threatened to sitout the season and re-enter the draft...this was years ago so the rules might have changed.

 

back then the team that drafted you held your rights till you decided to play football, then you had to negotiate with that team or not play. Usually what happend is folks went to canada and made overtures to various teams who would trade for the players rights.

 

I know Jim Kelly did go to the Bills, eventually. Pretty sure that a lot of guys went USFL just because they thought their teams were buttcrack lint at the time and didn't want to lose.

 

Yeah, I put this on the Chargers. Jammer is not asking for anything outragous, in fact, the Chargers are offering less than the player picked right after him. If he were asking for more than the #3 or 4 pick, I could see the Chargers playing hardball, but his asking price is right between the 4th and 6th pick.

Anyway, assuming they a permanant impass, would San Diego be willing to take less than a 1st just to salvage something for him??? At this point, I wouldn't be willing to give up our 1st (I strongly believe we desparately need a playmaking WR, and the top of the draft will have some world-beaters available), but I would strongly consider a package of picks.