True but the Barkley contract is all about timing, Gurley would have gotten that type of contract if he was drafted this year. It's a risk the teams are willing to pay apparently for a guy who hasn't played in the league.
Barkley was drafted 2nd overall in a QB heavy draft, Gurley - 10th. There is a clear divide. Barkley is the most pro ready RB in years. It's a big risk just taking a RB that high, so of course they're willing to pay with the draft position plunge. At RB, you can have a couple great years and be considered elite. Especially in this fantasy football age where production is all anyone wants to hear about. A guy like David Johnson in Arizona only has 1.5 great years in 3, but he's considered an elite back. And he also wanted his money. Johnson ended his hold out 4 days ago.
Drafts are mostly about need and the Giants needed a RB. NOT arguing Gurley doesn't deserve it but you don't find it curious that he got this before Donald and after talking salary and strike.
Giants had other needs as well like O-line and pass rusher after sending JPP to Tampa, but again, Barkley is the most pro ready back to come out in years, so he was going very early regardless. Pro ready in every way, including maturity. No, I don't find it curious that the Rams just paid their meal ticket. That offense goes nowhere without Gurley and it's not that hard to get a back signed.
Changing the subject here, but are the Raiders going to do anything about Khalil Mack? I hear Gruden isn’t even picking up his phone.
When you're picking in the top 5 everything is a need man but I get it he was a consensus top pick. Your stance on Gurley being indispensable yeah you could make an argument but it's widely felt throughout the league the RB's are replaceable. We can go round and round but just wanted to be clear I love Gurley and I look forward to the season more than EVER. Get Donald signed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You don't mess with Chucky!!! He's the clear star on that team lol. Gruden is old school and I'm guessing that he's saying that you have a contract, honor it. We'll see but IMO Mack will be there.
In a lot cases, sure, RBs are replaceable, but your RB just came in 2nd for MVP and is easily the most talented player on your offense. Where are you going to replace that? I don't see this as going round and round. I was just trying to understand how you can clown a kid that's doing all the heavy lifting for wanting to get paid, especially given that he plays a position with a short shelf life.
That's actually right on topic. We covered Mack too. And I don't know what to make of that situation, other than he needs to be compensated as well. I do know that Derek Carr is sort of in a make or break year because if Chucky doesn't like what he sees, McKenzie gave the RAIDERS an easy out of Carr's contract. They can actually save 15M in cap space by cutting him after the season if he doesn't get back on track.
Remember I'm old and therefore old school and I am not a fan of re-negotiating a deal you signed while NOT under duress. Doesn't a take a genius to know that someone will be making more money than you eventually. Honor my man it's about Honor. I know that's a foreign word these days forgive me.
I guess honor pays, since they gave Gurley the money he asked for. Nah, it's actually leverage that pays. If we're talking Julio Jones, who wants his 2nd contact ripped up..OK. Understandable. He still has ultimate leverage because he's Julio Jones, but understandable. But this is Gurley's 1st post rookie contract dip into the vault. And he's MVP-2 no less. Given his position and the fact that he's everything to that offense..if he wants more money in a couple years, they'll probably pay him again.
Hypothetical of course since it's signed but Todd didn't have leverage, he got lucky that they did this and if they didn't then threaten to hold out and see how long you can last out there. It's a contract and AGAIN not signed under duress. The Rams did this to keep him happy and I agree with doing it JUST NOT before Aaron Donald. Julio already signed a contract extension and he was happy about it back then. Again know that you are going to be out paid eventually and get a better deal for yourself don't blame anyone but yourself and play. Enjoyed the banter but I'm done. I VERY happy with the Rams moves this year and I look forward to the season but not taking care of Donald 1st was a no no!!!!
The Rams have their leverage, but Gurley has his as well. Don't fool yourself. If Gurley holds out into the season, he loses money, but the Rams lose games in a season where they're obviously all in and looking to make a SB run. They were smart enough to get that deal done because he's the guy offensively and backs aren't breaking the team's bank anyway. As for Julio, that's what I was saying. That I could understand if you gave Julio grief for wanting more money so soon after signing his 2nd deal. Pretty sure this jackass recently lost a 200K ear ring in a lake, but at the end of the day..Falcons/Ryan will feel it if they don't pay up. When team expectations are high, it really is the perfect time to hold out if you're a dominant player. What Aaron Donald was fighting in the past was the Rams' low team expectations. If you don't think your team is going to be very good, why feel it's urgent to pay a Donald? For honor? Lol Yeah, that hardly exists today from both sides. But now the Rams have high expectations, so this is better timing for a hold out if you're Donald. He didn't get taken care of 1st, but I guarantee that if Donald weren't looking for twice the guaranteed money that Gurley got, he would've been taken care of first.
Its not about taking care of anyone. Those days are long gone and everyone is aware that its business. The Rams have no reason to agree with Donald. Getting Gurley's deal done just puts more pressure on Donald and gives the Rams more leverage. They can wait him out and keep fining him for missing practice or games. Then as soon as the situation is resolved and he comes back the fines are ripped up and everything is back to normal. They can keep him locked in under contract for a few years before he can even look up thanks to the franchise tag. By then they would have squeezed the best football out of his body and can have some other team give him top tier money for a guy on his way down. Similar to the Kershaw situation where Fall does not want to pay Kershaw since he is showing signs to not live up to a new contract. Rams can wait it out, there is no crying in baseball but no loyalty in football. The Rams head coach is an offensive guy that cares nothing for the D, he has assistants for that, good ones. His priorities are Throwers, Runners, Receivers, Blockers. And that QB will need to be paid soon. Receivers need to be brought up to par.
Chucky has all the leverage with Mack and the whiz kid with the Rams has all the leverage with Donald.
NFL gives permission to the Rams to wear their blue and yellow 70s-90s throwback uniforms as many times as they want. Small victory. Gets rid of the STL stench a bit.
Well damn. Atlanta actually gave Julio an extra 3M a couple days ago and he's at camp. Solid use of leverage by Julio. That offense goes nowhere without him tilting the field and they obviously have SB aspirations
Yeah thanks that is the point I was going to offer... RB's are in a unique massively high leverage situation which lasts oh so few seconds in the big picture.. RB's need paid ASAP in 'their' wholely realistic view
Pretty much. Looks like the football playing Matthews clan has hit the lotto once again. Jake Matthews - 5 years/75M He's a left tackle, BTW..just got more guaranteed money than Todd Gurley.
