Rookies and Veterans

I was not going to post anything today and then Mrs. Pike asked me a question. "What do you think about Matt Ryan's contract?" And it got me to thinking and I realized that I had a long conversation with Old Man Pike last night (between flips to the Celts and Sox) about just this topic.



Matt Ryan got PAID yesterday. And paid well. Six years, $72 million with $34 million of that guaranteed. The 23-year old got his birthday present three days late but I think it was worth it. Think about it, this kid could be a total bust and he will still pocket $34+ million. Not bad for spending four plus years at a quality academic institution and playing a game you love.



Let's make no bones about it, this contract is based solely on promise for future performance. I congratulate Ryan on cashing in on a supreme senior season and taking full advantage of the fact that this was (historically speaking) a weak draft at the QB position. No offense to Ryan, Flacco, Henne, and Brohm but none of them was considered a superstar in the Payton Manning or Drew Bledsoe mold that people thought they can be instant winners at the next level. Ryan comes into a situation where it was right man at the right time. He has been involved in no off-field scandals while at Boston College. He's seen as a clean-cut leader who Atlanta is banking on being able to polish the tarnish left behind by a certain dog aficionado.



Don't get me wrong. I think Ryan and the others mentioned above all have the ability to come out and succeed in the NFL. But they should not be getting paid as though they have already achieved that success. These gentlemen are only rookies. The lessons of Ryan Leaf should ring loud and clear. I have stated it before in this blog that for every Manning there is a Leaf and paying these kids (lets face it...that's all they are when they get drafted) more money than other veterans on their teams just upsets the whole balance.

I think it is telling that on the same day that Ryan signs this obscene deal two other events happened that put it into perspective. One was that Dallas resigned Marion Barber for 7 years and $45 million dollars. That is 75% less a year than Matt Ryan. For a guy who has proven himself to be a valuable asset for his team and a player that Dallas is looking at to be the feature back for their system next year. Running backs historically have short careers (throwing your body, play-in and play-out, into a scrum and getting hammered repeatedly will wear you down) and one would think that they should be getting paid more than a QB who can be around the league for many years (look at Vinny Testaverde).

The other event was the owners pulling out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The CBA has no cap to the growing rookie salaries and with the heightened costs of running a franchise the owners rightfully feel a need to create something better then what was devised back in the 90's. It's a very different world and with the economy in the state that it's in, there are no guarantees that there will be the cash flow into the game to maintain rising fuel, food, rentals, and other incidentals that come into play. The rookie salaries need to be curtailed before they get so out of control that teams are actually happy that they are not drafting high so they don't have to pay out this money to guys who may not even make the team.

I'm happy for Matt Ryan. I'm happy that a Boston College grad was drafted highly and was given the attention he deserved for an excellent college career. I hope that he succeeds in the NFL and brings championships to Atlanta (God knows the team needs something post-Vick). But he has not earned the salary that he was given.