The Melvin Gordon Saga - Holdout Over

[Topcat]

That's complete horseshit. Fuck players.... the owners break contracts constantly. He deserves a raise, just not as much as he and his clueless agents thinks he does.

NFL teams waive and release players all the time, but remember, the players have a certain degree of protection in the form of signing bonuses and roster bonuses. For example, Melvin Gordon signed a 4-year $10.6 million deal, with a 5th year option. His signing bonus was $6 million, and total amount guaranteed was $10.6 mil. So, since Gordon has over 4 years of service, if he were released at this point, he has already collected all of his $10.6 mil...but because he hasn't reported, he can now be fined some big chunks of his 5th year money, $5.6 mil.

Remember that teams take a chance every time they agree to guarantees in a player's contract. A player could ink a deal, then get hurt soon afterwards and the team would still be on the hook for at least the guaranteed portion of the contract. For example, in 2012, the Bolts, signed OT Jared Gaither to a four-year, $24.5 million contract -- $9 million of which was guaranteed -- after joining the team and starting the final five games of the 2011 season. In the off-season, Gaither complained of back spasms and said he couldn't play. The Chargers doctors doubted him, and the Bolts finally released him. But they were still on the hook for $9 million.

So, yes, teams waive and release players, but remember, they do so following through with paying contractual obligations for guaranteed money. If they don't they're open to a lawsuit. So, the teams are fulfilling their part of the contract, even when waiving or releasing a player. Now, if a player decides to hold out and not report to training camp or games, now he is in violation of his contractual obligation to report, practice or play. And there are consequences to this, all spelled out in the same contract, called fines. Teams may or may not follow through on levying those fines, but they are within their contractual rights to do so.

Does Gordon deserve a raise? Probably. Should he violate his contract to get that raise? No. What if we look at the flip side of this? What if a team is disappointed by a player's performance or excessive injuries and believes they haven't gotten a good ROI? What if the team demands that the player take a cut in salary? Would they be within their legal rights to do so? No, not if a player is still under contract for an agreed-upon compensation. Everything in a contract needs to be honored, or there could be legal consequences, on both sides of the coin.

[Cdn Bolt]

Then why was he run out of Chicago for a rookie and an undersized 3rd down RB? Or why did the team that traded for him, draft a RB in the 2nd round and then try to dump his ass before he even takes a snap for them? Because he's an old school plodder, who possesses one skill set, that is rather average, at that. And having guys like that in the lineup, make it really easy for the defense to figure out what you're doing.

He wasn't 'run' out. he wasn't a fit for Nagy's offense. He avgd over 1,000 yds/season in the 3 seasons he was there and had 9 TDs last year. Decent by any standards. PHI traded for him as depth as Ajayi and Clement were injured and Sproles is 35. Not here to argue their GM moves either way.

[Topcat]

Do you also freak out when players are cut and are not paid the money due on their contracts? :thinking:

You need to distinguish between the guaranteed portion of a contract, and the non-guaranteed portion. If a team waives or releases a player, they are under no legal obligation to pay a player the non-guaranteed portion. However, if a team should try to renege on paying a guaranteed portion, then a player should have a good case in a lawsuit vs. the team to recoup unpaid guaranteed money.

[SYB]

NFL teams waive and release players all the time, but remember, the players have a certain degree of protection in the form of signing bonuses and roster bonuses. For example, Melvin Gordon signed a 4-year $10.6 million deal, with a 5th year option. His signing bonus was $6 million, and total amount guaranteed was $10.6 mil. So, since Gordon has over 4 years of service, if he were released at this point, he has already collected all of his $10.6 mil...but because he hasn't reported, he can now be fined some big chunks of his 5th year money, $5.6 mil.

Remember that teams take a chance every time they agree to guarantees in a player's contract. A player could ink a deal, then get hurt soon afterwards and the team would still be on the hook for at least the guaranteed portion of the contract. For example, in 2012, the Bolts, signed OT Jared Gaither to a four-year, $24.5 million contract -- $9 million of which was guaranteed -- after joining the team and starting the final five games of the 2011 season. In the off-season, Gaither complained of back spasms and said he couldn't play. The Chargers doctors doubted him, and the Bolts finally released him. But they were still on the hook for $9 million.

So, yes, teams waive and release players, but remember, they do so following through with paying contractual obligations for guaranteed money. If they don't they're open to a lawsuit. So, the teams are fulfilling their part of the contract, even when waiving or releasing a player. Now, if a player decides to hold out and not report to training camp or games, now he is in violation of his contractual obligation to report, practice or play. And there are consequences to this, all spelled out in the same contract, called fines. Teams may or may not follow through on levying those fines, but they are within their contractual rights to do so.

Does Gordon deserve a raise? Probably. Should he violate his contract to get that raise? No. What if we look at the flip side of this? What if a team is disappointed by a player's performance or excessive injuries and believes they haven't gotten a good ROI? What if the team demands that the player take a cut in salary? Would they be within their legal rights to do so? No, not if a player is still under contract for an agreed-upon compensation. Everything in a contract needs to be honored, or there could be legal consequences, on both sides of the coin.

[SYB]

He wasn't 'run' out. he wasn't a fit for Nagy's offense. He avgd over 1,000 yds/season in the 3 seasons he was there and had 9 TDs last year. Decent by any standards. PHI traded for him as depth as Ajayi and Clement were injured and Sproles is 35. Not here to argue their GM moves either way.

Wasn't a fit? Then why was he traded to a team with the same offensive schemes? Nagy and Pederson are both from the Reid coaching tree.Miles Sanders is the future, Howard is nothing more than a filler if Sanders has any struggles early on. If you're a RB in today's game and can't run routes and catch passes, you aren't worth much. Unless you can rely on superior physicality to drag and truck guys, which Howard does not have.

[SuperCharged]

It will cost him $300,000k per game. 20 touches per game works out to be 15k per snap. Good gawd. :killme:

[SYB]

You need to distinguish between the guaranteed portion of a contract, and the non-guaranteed portion. If a team waives or releases a player, they are under no legal obligation to pay a player the non-guaranteed portion. However, if a team should try to renege on paying a guaranteed portion, then a player should have a good case in a lawsuit vs. the team to recoup unpaid guaranteed money.

I have complete understanding of how the contracts are written. :sigh:

However, why is it that a bunch of y'all shit your pants when a player that outplayed his deal and wants more money? Yet the overwhelming feeling when a guy who might not reach his expectations, is "fuck that bust, cut him"?

[Topcat]

I have complete understanding of how the contracts are written. :sigh:

However, why is it that a bunch of y'all shit your pants when a player that outplayed his deal and wants more money? Yet the overwhelming feeling when a guy who might not reach his expectations, is "fuck that bust, cut him"?

Technically, Gordon has not outplayed his deal, if the Bolts choose to exercise their right to the 5th year option, which they have done. So, he is still under contract. Were you referring to Gordon or someone else?

[dmac_bolt]

I have complete understanding of how the contracts are written. :sigh:

However, why is it that a bunch of y'all shit your pants when a player that outplayed his deal and wants more money? Yet the overwhelming feeling when a guy who might not reach his expectations, is "fuck that bust, cut him"?

Its not personal, its just business. I dont see a need for folks here on either side to get agitated. If he were really worth $13M, TT would be constructing a deal worth that much. If one GM overpays a single star, that can either reset the market or sit their like a big fat chalupa all alone on the table. In QBs, it seems to keep resetting upwards. Other players ... not always. Not this time. MG just isn't worth that much to the Chargers success.

I agree about teams signing big contracts with small guarantees - and then cutting a guy when he's about to be paid. Its happened all over the league - less and less as fewer players are falling for these non-guarantee faux guarantees.

[PMR9FAN]

I wonder if Rivers ever thought about reducing his 2019 salary and moving it to Gordon. Gordon is better at pass protection. Might be a good investment Maybe $1M.

[beachcomber]

Maybe think ahead and try to get a 2020 5th and a 2021 1st rounder. (Note:Clemson's Trevor Lawrence should be draft eligible in 2021)

in theory, a 2021 first is worth the same as a 2020 second.... so that could work/be in play ??

[jamrock]

https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-trade-offer-for-melvin-gordon-shows-he-likely-isnt-leaving-la-182255448.html