Fisher wants Bradford back

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I get the whole concept. I agree that they are likely to restructure it somehow.

My issue is with those who somehow think that means taking less $$$.

There has to be some benefit to both parties. For the Rams it means finding cap relief. For Bradford it means an additional year(s) or more guaranteed $$$.

Still haven't seen anyone quantify what they feel is a realistic number when they suggest a restructured (less) deal.

Because IMO. .... Restructured doesn't mean less $$$. It means moving it around for accounting purposes.

That's hard to quantify, because you have to take into account the rest of the salary cap and how you'd structure the incentives. Something like $13-15M+ for each year, for 5 years, guaranteed annually, only if 75% of games were started (12, not including playoffs). They can juggle the workout bonuses, reporting bonuses and signing bonuses however they want to reach a certain guaranteed number. If he doesn't play in 12 games in any given year, de-escalators come into play and the next year's guarantees go away. Conversely, if he plays in 100% of the games and the team makes the playoffs, then certain escalators come into play. Or if he's named a 1st or 2nd string All-Pro. They can also make him purchase a disability policy that pays the Rams $XM if he suffers a career-ending injury, so they're covered that way.

There are tons of ways to make Bradford rich, and his only requirement is to stay healthy if he wants incentives to turn to guarantees.

 

[RamFan503]

Still haven't seen anyone quantify what they feel is a realistic number when they suggest a restructured (less) deal.

If you did I think it would just be a stab in the dark - so why bother. But I think aside from some different ways of expressing it, most of us seem to be on the same page. Restructured in a win/win deal.

 

[RamFan503]

And what makes you think that?? For all any of us know, he might just be the greediest SOB that ever walked on 2 feet. Unless you personally know him, that's a whole lotta personal opinion that MAY be perfectly accurate, or just as completely inaccurate.

I don't know man. We've seen enough about him that saying he is not all about the money is a far safer assumption than his being a greedy SOB. It may be personal opinion but Sam has done all the things that point to the former rather than the latter.

 

[Athos]

I think CoachO is right.....I wouldn't play for less money if I was him..How many times in the NFL does someone get a flashy contract with big numbers and years involved..only to find out it's all pretty much BS except the signing bonus and maybe the first couple of years of the contract? Owners don't deserve any breaks, imo....The Rams Brass and the team doctors will have to make an educated guess about what Sam Bradford can be, in 2015, and go with those results...Part of being a leader is the glory of being right if things work according to plan, and getting fired if you're wrong. Also, what is available? The draft isn't that good for QB's in my opinion, especially with where we will be picking...Sanchez or Hoyer in a trade/free agency? I'd rather have Hill or Bradford over them.....

Who the heck is going to pay a QB $16 million a year when he's basically missed 2 of his 4 years in the league?

No one.

It isn't about playing for less.

To get paid that, you have to have the team to pay that. I just can't envision any other team paying that much money for a dude coming off his 2nd ACL injury.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

I guess if the team wants him back, the rest is up to his agent, and Kevin Demoff. I have faith in Kevin to get a new deal in place that works out for both parties, and protects the Rams in case of future injuries.

 

[bwdenverram]

I just don't understand why so many insist they have to redo his deal. It appears that people are under the impression that Bradford somehow owes the organization a "rebate" and "should" volunteer to take less $$$ than is contractually owed to him.

My question, how many of those who seem so strong about this position, would be willing to take a "heavy pay cut" and rework the final year on the contract, without some sort of protection (extension) if they were in Bradford's position?

It's easy to say he "has made enough" and "can afford to take a reduced amount".... But why would he? Players just don't give back money without getting some guarantees that they will make it back in more years, etc. And if the Rams play hardball with him, what contingencies would they have in place that wont' cost them a similar $$$ amount? (trade for a comparable starter?)

Let's follow that line of thought for the purpose of discussion.....

What do those who want him to "rework" his deal, think would be a fair $$$ amount?

Also, lets just say he agrees to play for $6-7M with incentives. When you factor in the prorated cap hit, his "number" would still be in the $11 - 12M range. How much are you saving? At $13M, he isn't even in the upper echelon of contracts for a starting QB.

The only way to make this doable from Bradford's perspective, would be to extend him beyond the 2016 season. Given his recent injury issues, would the Rams be willing to do that?

I guess my point is, while it makes for a good discussion, IMO, it's not a slam dunk that his contract will be reduced at all prior to next year. If he comes back and shows he is healthy and capable of being the QB that Fisher and Snead think he is, then I could see them extending him and working on his SECOND contract.

You make fair points Coach. Neither the team owes Bradford or Bradford owes the team anything. But it's a business and Sam is also a good young man. I believe the sides will come to an incentive deal that could pay him as much as he's already scheduled to make. I would make a bet that Sam will want to prove his worth and finish what he started here. He can tell like everyone else that this team is close to something special and I suspect he'll want to be part of it.
And to be fair, I doubt any team is going to sign him as a free agent and pay him big bucks coming off two ACL tears.
His best option and ours is to sign him to a new deal that benefits both sides.

 

[ScotsRam]

The only thing standing between the Rams organization and Bradford is his agent.

You have no reason to suggest that, unless you know both his agent and Mr Bradford himself.

Fictional, cynical conjecture is not helpful IMO.

 

[Jorgeh0605]

I get the whole concept. I agree that they are likely to restructure it somehow.

My issue is with those who somehow think that means taking less $$$.

There has to be some benefit to both parties. For the Rams it means finding cap relief. For Bradford it means an additional year(s) or more guaranteed $$$.

Still haven't seen anyone quantify what they feel is a realistic number when they suggest a restructured (less) deal.

Because IMO. .... Restructured doesn't mean less $$$. It means moving it around for accounting purposes.

Well I can't provide numbers (as I'm unfamiliar with QB salaries) but it would make sense to me that he is owed that 13 million for the next year, and that is part of Bradford's leverage. Any extension would subject him to an amount that they fell he is worth, which having not played for 1 and a half of the last two years would be significantly less than his previous contract. You could than restructure/extend his contract easing the cap this year(if they even want to) and divide that "discount" and add it to the extended years. I guess it wouldn't really be a discount in the long run but it would be cap relief for next year.

Using fake numbers for understanding say the team decides to extend him for 6 million a year for say 3 more years. He would than have his 13 million + 6 milliong +6 million + 6 million. Now rearranging numbers and turning some of that first year into signing bonus could give you something like 10 million + 7 +7 +7 million. Some see that as a 3 million dollar discount for 2014, but it actually isn't and could very well be guaranteed money. I can see something like that going down, provided they have a reason to lower his cap number next year. they could also designate 2016 as a year they want a low salary cap so they can resign all those Fisher drafted players.

Now again, my numbers were fake, and I'm resting on an assumption that his next contract isn't going to be higher than his last one, but I know nothing about the market of average QBs.

Edit: Upon a brief bit of research it looks like he would probably be getting about 13 million a year on average.

 

[FRO]

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/rapop...poport-rams-told-bradford-want-210921629.html

Rapoport also says that he was told that Bradford would not enter next season as the unquestioned starter.

Doesn't surprise me, but if healthy I don't see anybody that we can get that would beat him out.

 

[Corbin]

Sigh.... Yet another Bradford thread with no news just empty speculation.

 

[Bluesy]

After the QB performance tonight I want Bradford back too. It's gonna be a looooong offseason.

 

[Memphis Ram]

After the QB performance tonight I want Bradford back too. It's gonna be a looooong offseason.

With the Oline play, lack of a running game, and questionable game plan, I don't think he would have made that much of a difference.

 

[moklerman]

With the Oline play, lack of a running game, and questionable game plan, I don't think he would have made that much of a difference.

I do. Hill is just plain bad when it comes to putting the game on his shoulders. Even in the games where the running game and defense were carrying the load, he's missing receivers all over the place. Very poor accuracy and very poor deep ball and now on top of that, he looked very uncomfortable in the pocket.

This what you get with Shaun Hill and it's why he's been on 82 different teams in his career. I had no idea his arm was so worthless. I don't think Tom Candiotti ever threw that many knuckleballs in one game.

 

[Dxmissile]

I do. Hill is just plain bad when it comes to putting the game on his shoulders. Even in the games where the running game and defense were carrying the load, he's missing receivers all over the place. Very poor accuracy and very poor deep ball and now on top of that, he looked very uncomfortable in the pocket.

This what you get with Shaun Hill and it's why he's been on 82 different teams in his career. I had no idea his arm was so worthless. I don't think Tom Candiotti ever threw that many knuckleballs in one game.

Exactly Britt had Peterson beat so many times hill just can't get it done when everything isn't going right

 

[moklerman]

Exactly Britt had Peterson beat so many times hill just can't get it done when everything isn't going right

I think that's a big part of why Tavon isn't more utilized in the passing game. Between Davis and Hill, neither can really get him the ball downfield. I don't see any reason why Tavon can't be like D. Jackson and just scare the hell out of defenses other than not having a QB who can get it to him.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I do. Hill is just plain bad when it comes to putting the game on his shoulders. Even in the games where the running game and defense were carrying the load, he's missing receivers all over the place. Very poor accuracy and very poor deep ball and now on top of that, he looked very uncomfortable in the pocket.

This what you get with Shaun Hill and it's why he's been on 82 different teams in his career. I had no idea his arm was so worthless. I don't think Tom Candiotti ever threw that many knuckleballs in one game.

You've still got to have time to make the throw. IMO, Bradford would have looked just as uncomfortable if he kept getting hit like Hill got hit tonight.

 

[moklerman]

You've still got to have time to make the throw. IMO, Bradford would have looked just as uncomfortable if he kept getting hit like Hill got hit tonight.

Bradford's been hit a lot in his career as it is and he usually doesn't miss guys as badly as Hill was. Plus, I don't think the situation would have been the same. There's no way the Cardinals respected Hill's ability to push the ball downfield. He just hasn't got the arm for it. Had he been more accurate with his passes there were plays there to be had.

Granted, it wasn't an ideal situation as the running game was bottled up for the most part but Hill was missing guys who were open.

 

[kurtfaulk]

With the Oline play, lack of a running game, and questionable game plan, I don't think he would have made that much of a difference.

Oh, for the love of......

.

 

[CoachO]

Who the heck is going to pay a QB $16 million a year when he's basically missed 2 of his 4 years in the league?

No one.

It isn't about playing for less.

To get paid that, you have to have the team to pay that. I just can't envision any other team paying that much money for a dude coming off his 2nd ACL injury.

that's just it... It is NOT $16M That is his CAP NUMBER which includes the final year of the prorated bonus from the contract. His SALARY is $13M, and by today's standards for starting QBs, that is not over priced.

 

[ChrisW]

that's just it... It is NOT $16M That is his CAP NUMBER which includes the final year of the prorated bonus from the contract. His SALARY is $13M, and by today's standards for starting QBs, that is not over priced.

Not overpriced for a starting QB, but for a guy that just can't keep the injury bug away, it's high. I realize this is a by product of his enormous rookie deal, but nobody would be complaining if he was on the field for 16 games a year, Heck, I'd take 10 games a year at this point.