Official 10' NFL Offseason Thread: CIN sign T.O. 1yr/2m

[h1]The truth on the Brandon Marshall deal[/h1]
Posted by Mike Florio on April 17, 2010 5:57 PM ET

Now that NBC has produced and aired a commercial that makes us look a lot better at this than we really are, we need to periodically put something up here that justifies the characterization.

So here's one to consider.

Many of you have wondered how and why the Miami Dolphins could have made Brandon Marshall the highest-paid receiver in NFL history.  The easy answer, as we pointed out the other day, is that they didn't -- his widely-reported four-year, $47.5 million extension fairly should be regarded at best as a five-year, $50 million contract, giving Marshall a $10 million annual average that matches the yearly total paid to Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

For starters, the full contract is worth $47.3 million over five years.  It contains a phony $2.7 million roster bonus payable in 2014 -- but only if Marshall participates in 95 percent or more of the Dolphins' special teams plays in 2010.

Why would this be included?  To allow Marshall and his agent to characterize the contract as a package worth $10 million per year.  Truth be told, it's worth $9.46 million annually.

(That may not seem like much of a difference, but the phantom roster bonus allows Marshall and his agent, Kennard McGuire, to claim with a straight face that Marshall is getting $10 million per year.)

Then there's the notion that the Dolphins would pay $24 million in guaranteed money to a guy with a history of off-field incidents.  Surely, V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells hasn't lost his mind, right?

He hasn't.  (Or, more accurately, if he has, this isn't proof of it.)

With the 2009 decision in the Plaxico Burress grievance that signing bonus money can be recovered only if the player holds out or retires, a $20 million signing bonus would have been untouchable, even if Marshall had been suspended for a year or longer.  So the Dolphins instead have paid out a signing bonus of $5.5 million.  Coupled with a guaranteed base salary (for skill and injury) of $4 million in 2010, Marshall's contract has a minimum value of $9.5 million over one year.

Here's the kicker.  If the Dolphins decide before April 2, 2011 that Marshall isn't who they thought he was, they can walk away, possibly without paying Marshall another penny.  Prior to April 2, 2011, he has only $3 million in future guaranteed money that already has been unlocked.  But the contract contains offset language; if they cut him and someone else pays him $3 million in 2011, the Dolphins are off the hook for the balance of the contract.

And even if the Dolphins pay a $3 million option bonus due on April 2, 2011, guaranteed base salaries of $6.5 million in 2011 and $6 million in 2012 (he also has $3 million in non-guaranteed base pay in 2012) can be nullified if Marshall is suspended by the league.

So, for now, the only guaranteed money is $12.5 million, with an offset for up to $3 million.  If the Dolphins decided to keep him past April 2, 2011, another $9.5 million in guaranteed base salaries will be available -- as long as Marshall stays out of trouble.

These facts are another reason why it's always dangerous to accept at face value the numbers that the player's camp begins to parrot as soon as the deal is signed. 

The problem is that the agent has an incentive to get a skewed version of the contract into the media, the team rarely is willing to say anything that would dampen the "highest paid player!" parade, and the reporter who gets the information often is so determined to be first that the question of whether or not the information is accurate often gets lost in the shuffle.  (And, yes, we've done that once or twice -- and we hope that we have learned from it.)
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[h1]Spygate lawsuit may still have some hope[/h1]
Posted by Mike Florio on April 17, 2010 10:55 PM ET

On the eve of oral arguments in the class action filed against the New England Patriots arising from the Spygate matter, we took issue with an item in the Associated Press that failed to properly characterize the tenuous status of the litigation, which seeks a full refund paid by the Patriots of all tickets purchased to games between the Jets and the Patriots at the Meadowlands from 2000 through 2007.

Though that criticism of the AP article still applies, the oral arguments that occurred last week suggest that the case may have a chance to proceed.

It had been dismissed without a hearing by a federal judge in New Jersey.  In the federal system, an automatic right of appeal exists.    At the appellate level, the matter initially is considered by a randomly-drawn three-judge panel.  And at least one of the judges decided to pose some very tough questions to the lawyers representing the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick.

Judge Robert E. Cowan called the videotaping of defensive coaching signals by the Patriots a "a tremendous violation, no doubt about that," according to Nathan Gorenstein of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  At one point, Cowen asked how the cheating was any different than a team taking money to throw a game. 

"It's not rigged," attorney Shepard Goldfein said.  "There is no certainty of outcome."

The other two judges included D. Michael Fisher, who is a Steelers season-ticket holder, and Gene E.K. Pratter, a trial-level federal judge sitting by assignment, a common practice at the appellate level.

In the end, the case comes down to whether the purchase of a ticket creates a contractual guarantee of honesty and fair play, and whether consumer protection laws apply.

All that said, one of the most unfortunate aspects of the litigation process is the disconnect between the so-called "record" of evidence and reality.  Though the plaintiffs in the case have no way to know it and the Patriots and the NFL have no reason to admit it (yet, if ever), the truth (as we've heard it since September 2007 from multiple league insiders) is that this kind of stuff was happening all the time, and that the Patriots were the ones who got caught.

Of course, that admission could cut both ways.  A judge could believe that the "all's fair" approach employed by the NFL's teams balances out the notion that someone has an unfair advantage.  Alternatively, a judge could conclude that the whole league is corrupt, and that maybe a huge judgment will be the best way to ensure that the rules will be followed in the future.
  
The status of the case will depend on the decision made by the three judges.  Two votes will deliver victory.  Then, if the case returns to district court and proceeds, the league eventually will have to spend a lot of time and money on a case that eventually could result in sworn testimony of Belichick, Browns coach Eric Mangini, and dozens of others.
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[h1]Jets were ready to give up first round pick for Marshall[/h1]
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on April 18, 2010 8:37 AM ET

The Broncos nearly got the first round pick they wanted for Brandon Marshall.

As recently as the league's annual meetings, the Jets were reportedly the favorites for Marshall, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post.

New York was comfortable giving up their first round pick for Marshall, and tried to sign the now-Dolphin to an offer sheet.  The Jets, however, couldn't come up with a contract that made Marshall happy.  The offer sheet never came, the Jets moved on, and the Dolphins began to show interest about one week later.

Klis reports that the Seahawks were the most aggressive team throughout the process, but the Bucs also showed serious interest. 

It's not like the AFC East needed any more subplots, but keep this news in mind if Marshall starts rampaging through Revis Island this year.
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i knew the jets were talkin to them..... i hope Edwards and Holmes turns out for them... When on they got 2 very good WRs....
 
Originally Posted by CertifiedSW

Can't believe Carroll got Reggie too
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Oh well, that's my dude (nh)
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Reggie can play...When he puts in the work. I always thought he would've been a top WR in the league. Had the potential.
 
[h1]Report: Suspension of Ben Roethlisberger coming by Tuesday[/h1]
Posted by Mike Florio on April 18, 2010 10:44 PM ET

On Thursday, Steelers president Art Rooney said that the team would be working with the league regarding the imposition of discipline on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and that no suspension would be imminent.  "I don't expect we will be announcing any final decisions until the week after the draft, at the earliest," Rooney said.

On the surface, it's a smart move.  With the schedule being released on Tuesday night and the draft launching Thursday, the announcement of a Roethlisberger suspension would serve only to distract from a week of great NFL news and events.

Then again, maybe the league in its infinite P.R. wisdom (and we're not being sarcastic, for a change) has decided to slip the suspension through the five hole during a week in which we're otherwise waiting for the schedule on Tuesday and focusing on the draft, which starts Thursday.  If the league announces the suspension in the middle of Tuesday afternoon, the dominant Wednesday morning news in every market but Pittsburgh will be local team's (teams') schedule.  Then the draft will take over and by the following Monday we'll still be breaking down the picks and getting ready for minicamps.

If the league holds the suspension until the week after the draft, it'll take on a life of its own.

And so maybe it makes sense that, as Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports, the NFL will announce a suspension of Roethlisberger on Monday or Tuesday.  Of this week.

Per Cole, Roethlisberger is unlikely to fight the suspension.

That said, we don't rule out an appeal if Roethlisberger gets slapped with more than four games.  In that case, an appeal could persuade Commissioner Roger Goodell to reduce the penalty, creating maximum impact in connection with the initial announcement and then generating a sense that the Personal Conduct Policy currently works as written, even though Goodell issues the penalty and presides over the appeal of his own decision.

We're thinking the end result will be four games.  We won't be surprised if it's eight.

Either way, it looks like we'll have the answer soon
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You know, that's a good point. Releasing what the suspension is to the public a couple days before the draft would be a smart move by the NFL.

It would be discussed in most sports media outlets for only a moment, and then everybody would move on to bigger and better things like the draft. No need to release what the suspension is during a slow sports week, causing us to all once again go through ESPN beating the story to death for what seems like the 400th time. Hopefully Roger Goodell does us all a favor and leaks it on Tuesday.
 
Filed to ESPN: Three way trade -- Eagles get LB Ernie Sims, Lions get TE Tony Scheffler, Broncos get undisclosed draft pick.
 
Originally Posted by WILLINC

Thank god, we finally got rid of Ginn.
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@ All you 49ers fans who are saying good deal.
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Dude is a bust, im surprised we got anything for him.
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Stupid, at least we know what Ginn can provide as a KR/PR, where we dont know what were gonna get in return if we draft a KR/PR or any player for that matter in the fifth round.  Its not like hes gonna be our #1 receiver next year anyways. Good Deal.
 
To Dolphin fans Ginn is a 9th overall pick (which everyone knew he shouldn't have gone that high) that didn't pan out, where to 49er fans he is a 5th rounder.  Of course they are bitter.  This is only dude's 4th year I think he can get it together.  If all he does is return kicks, he was worth the 5th rounder, anything he does on top of that is just gravy.
 
Originally Posted by airmaxpenny1

Why would they trade Sims????

Especially for %+*%@%% Schlefer when they already have Pettigrew SMH
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Undersized, inconsistent and injured. Pettigrew may not be recovering as fast as they wanted. 
Levy>Sims

Just heard he was in the last year of his contract too. He'll probably beast in Philly.
 
Daaaamn man...I would have loved to have Sims.
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Especially since Rocky McIntosh's butt has decided he doesn't want to be here anymore basically
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Originally Posted by Bruce Waynee

To Dolphin fans Ginn is a 9th overall pick (which everyone knew he shouldn't have gone that high) that didn't pan out, where to 49er fans he is a 5th rounder.  Of course they are bitter.  This is only dude's 4th year I think he can get it together.  If all he does is return kicks, he was worth the 5th rounder, anything he does on top of that is just gravy.
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Bitter? Come on batman (yeah, I know it's you),  we're ecstatic we even got a 5th for that bum.

I will say this, a new start might help him
 
Ginn hasn't even been that great a return guy. He has a couple of moments, but he was pretty disappointing in that aspect as well. But whatever, yall be happy with him, he's your guy now.
 
Originally Posted by damnitzdom

I'm a 49ers guy and I'm not too fond of Ted Ginn Jr.

WHEN YOU HAVE A WEBSITE ABOUT OUR FAILURES: http://www.tedginnsucks.com/, you know somethings wrong.�
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A LOWlight reel.
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Ummm, maybe it was put together by a dolphin fan who is mad that a #9 draft pick turned out to be a bust?� I dont think someone wouldve took the time out to compile a video for a 5th round "bust" if there is such a thing
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Originally Posted by WILLINC

Ginn hasn't even been that great a return guy. He has a couple of moments, but he was pretty disappointing in that aspect as well. But whatever, yall be happy with him, he's your guy now.
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Hes better than anyone (after they stupidly cut Rossum, Morgan did good though) who returned kicks for the niners last year.�
 
Mmmm...he's old but I imagine still a baller like Fletcher and Sharper?....what is the status on Sharper BTW
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Bears should go after him. Safety is a big need for them. But what do they want to do? Trade more picks to move into the the early second round and try to get Thomas if he's there.
 
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