Lawesome's take on the Fred Jackson situation. Enjoy:
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Freddy Jackson wants a raise, a big one. I don't think the Bills should give it to him. This has little to do with his performance or value to the team. This has everything to do with the word "integrity".
The Players and Owners agreed to a collective bargaining agreement a few years back. Now, I am not going to go on and on about the sanctity of contracts and such. That is so much rubbish. What frustrates and tires me is the players' unwillingness to heed the quid pro quo of free agency they have received. This most recent CBA expanded the players' share of the wealth, it maintained the riches for the unproven drafted that enter the league every year, and it shortened the wait time for players to reach unfettered free agency. So, what did the owners get for their trouble? They maintained the salary cap and their cost certainty for the vast majority of their roster, or those players that aren't first round picks or high end unrestricted free agents. Oh yeah, and everyone involved would make a boatload of money.
It is unfortunate in some ways for Fred Jackson. He had a heck of a better season last year than J.J. Arrington did, and Arrington got $10 million for 4 years from the Broncos. Jackson gets nada, zip. Arrington, who is basically a high end journeyman, cashes in, sort of. Why? Because he did his time, lasted, and hit it relatively big in unrestricted free agency, mostly due to the Bronco's stupidity (common theme this year, isn't it?).
Is this fair? Is this right? Of course it is. The Bills owe Freddy nothing more than a paycheck if he makes the team this year. Why would the Bills undermine the integrity of the system and their internal pay scale to pay him more than they have to? Loyalty? Please. They need him, due to Marshawn's pending issues? Maybe, but, as the Bills have shown us so admirably, there are plenty of journeymen backs willing to don the red, white and blue for the right money. As for Freddy, he should show the integrity he owes the Bills and honor his commitment. His time will come. If he keeps his performance up, he gets the bonus of restricted free agency next year. If a team truly wants him, he will get the money he thinks he deserves. If he shows staying power for a few years, he will get Arrington money, or better. While he waiting, maybe he should visit Thurman Thomas and ask him all about unrestricted free agency in his time; it came when they were all used up. Maybe some perspective will help.
The Players and Owners agreed to a collective bargaining agreement a few years back. Now, I am not going to go on and on about the sanctity of contracts and such. That is so much rubbish. What frustrates and tires me is the players' unwillingness to heed the quid pro quo of free agency they have received. This most recent CBA expanded the players' share of the wealth, it maintained the riches for the unproven drafted that enter the league every year, and it shortened the wait time for players to reach unfettered free agency. So, what did the owners get for their trouble? They maintained the salary cap and their cost certainty for the vast majority of their roster, or those players that aren't first round picks or high end unrestricted free agents. Oh yeah, and everyone involved would make a boatload of money.
It is unfortunate in some ways for Fred Jackson. He had a heck of a better season last year than J.J. Arrington did, and Arrington got $10 million for 4 years from the Broncos. Jackson gets nada, zip. Arrington, who is basically a high end journeyman, cashes in, sort of. Why? Because he did his time, lasted, and hit it relatively big in unrestricted free agency, mostly due to the Bronco's stupidity (common theme this year, isn't it?).
Is this fair? Is this right? Of course it is. The Bills owe Freddy nothing more than a paycheck if he makes the team this year. Why would the Bills undermine the integrity of the system and their internal pay scale to pay him more than they have to? Loyalty? Please. They need him, due to Marshawn's pending issues? Maybe, but, as the Bills have shown us so admirably, there are plenty of journeymen backs willing to don the red, white and blue for the right money. As for Freddy, he should show the integrity he owes the Bills and honor his commitment. His time will come. If he keeps his performance up, he gets the bonus of restricted free agency next year. If a team truly wants him, he will get the money he thinks he deserves. If he shows staying power for a few years, he will get Arrington money, or better. While he waiting, maybe he should visit Thurman Thomas and ask him all about unrestricted free agency in his time; it came when they were all used up. Maybe some perspective will help.
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