Mickey Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 right, but the way these things work is your money is slotted. #7 and #9 have signed, there really isn't that much to talk about anymore except length of the deal and since the BIlls can only ask for 6 years and #7 and #9 have gotten 5 it doesn't really seem like there's a big void to cross here. If the agent isn't making contact, or avoiding contact he's the one screwing it up. It has to be weird for Levy to come out and say in a PC that they have no working numbers to contact the player. The Bills really can't be at fault, they know the slotting as well as everyone else, it usually a stupid agent who thinks he can get more bank for the player in the form of a bonus, little does the player know that the agent's cut comes right off the top of any signing bonus so it's in the AGENTS interest to get as much cash up front as possible whether it's good for the player or not. Anyone who thkns agents really work for their client is crazy, agents work for themselves in the guise of helping the players. 732429[/snapback] Huff signed for 5 years, 22.5 million, 15 guaranteed, I don't think the numbers for Sims have been disclosed or leaked yet, just that it was a 5 year deal. The next contract we know of guys after Whitner is Cutler, a QB who got 48 million for 6 years then after him you have Ngata who got 11.9 for 5 years. Then Wimbley for 6 years and 23.7 million. You tell me, with numbers all over the place like that, where is this no-brainer slot that Whitner falls in to? Damned if I know. Maybe the uncertainty is staring us in the face and that is why they haven't been able to reach an agreement. Does he get 6 years like Cutler and Wimbley or 5 like Ngata and Huff? Do we ingore Cutler because he is a QB? If you do, then 22 million would "fall between" Huff and Ngata but so would 12 million. That leaves 10 million bucks to argue over within the "slot". This is a complicated negotiation, it isn't just an exercise in mathematics. It is why these agents get paid the big bucks, in this case to get Donte a lot closer to Huff's 22.5 million than to Ngata's 11.9 mil. Most agents get about 4%, on that 15 mil guaranteed to Huff, that is a fee of $880,000. Of course, that is just off his NFL contract, it doesn't include the endorsement deals, appearance fees, etc., etc. Players don't pay them that kind of cash for them to sit around and just to wait for their guy to get "slotted". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbyte Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Maybe the problem is that they did not save enough money for a player drafted #8. Each team is allocated only so much for signing rookies. Plus Marv and the Bills really have no leverage. Saying that Donte is fowling up his chance to start is crazy. If he does not start ,then Marv and the Bills will look stupid for drafting Donte #8. No one knows what the real facts are, since we do not know what the Contract each side has presented to each other. Marv saying it is fair, but to who? The Bills or Donte? Everyone knows that Donte will lose if he goes back to the draft, but the Bills will lose also since they would of wasted a top 10 pick, which they would not get back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarthur31 Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I love these types of posts. You know virtually nothing of the negotiations or of the contracts the players sign other than what gets printed in the paper, yet you're absolutely certain that it's the agent's fault and Whitner should can him. I want Whitner in camp too but I’m not going to take sides as I don’t have an f’in clue what’s going on. 732297[/snapback] This contract shouldn't matter to Donte if he believes he's better than "the experts" have proclaimed so far. The really big money is his first free agent contract (or second if he's that good and lucky to get another). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrite Gal Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 This contract shouldn't matter to Donte if he believes he's better than "the experts" have proclaimed so far. The really big money is his first free agent contract (or second if he's that good and lucky to get another). 732524[/snapback] While the really huge big contract is the definitely irst FA contract, the first regular contract is merely huge big not really huge big. I do not think it is logical to be so dismissive about negotiations over 10s or 100s of thousands of dollars. Some could care less because they never had a dime so any contract is big $. Some could care less because they grew up wealthy and they know they will be taken vare of evem if they did not have football talent. Some are penny pinchers because growing up poor made them want every dime they can make. Some are penny pinchers because they had tons of money but learned the way you earn dollars is to keep track of the pennies. Some general rule applies but you can not know which one until you know the person. This contract any way you cut it is for more money than Whitner ever signed for in his life. For some players the game is more important than $100,000 this way or that way. However, I find it difficult to find fault with someone who judges a $100K. or $500K or whatever the difference is they are negotiating over to be a chunk of change worth doing the due diligence of being feisty about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 This contract shouldn't matter to Donte if he believes he's better than "the experts" have proclaimed so far. The really big money is his first free agent contract (or second if he's that good and lucky to get another). 732524[/snapback] Not when you're drafted in the top 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDH Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 This contract shouldn't matter to Donte if he believes he's better than "the experts" have proclaimed so far. The really big money is his first free agent contract (or second if he's that good and lucky to get another). 732524[/snapback] Of course it matters, we're talking millions of dollars here. Though you are right the really big money is with the next contract...which is why Whitner would want a 5 year deal instead of a 6. That one year could cost Whitner loads of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC in St. Louis Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Marv saying that Whitner's chances of starting are in jeopardy for missing a few days of camp....that's really a moot point to Whitner, in my opinion. He is not going to leave any money on the table. The difference of "a few hundred thousand" would feed my family for the next 20 years. It's all about the benjamins. I think he'll be in by Wednesday. Starting by 3rd preseason game, if he's as good as they say he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 By all accounts Marv and the Bills have been generous with the FA contracts (some say too generous); they've also been fair with all the draft picks. Why would they suddenly decide to go cheap and screw their top pick? It doesn't make sense to me. For that reason, I'd have to say the hold out is more the blame of the agent/Whitner than the Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generaLee83 Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I love these types of posts. You know virtually nothing of the negotiations or of the contracts the players sign other than what gets printed in the paper, yet you're absolutely certain that it's the agent's fault and Whitner should can him. I want Whitner in camp too but I’m not going to take sides as I don’t have an f’in clue what’s going on. 732297[/snapback] Right on MDH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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