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Why Are Steelers Fans Investing Energy Into Tom Brady?
Serious question. Why are we doing it? I was going to post this last week after the decision was announced. However, the last preseason game was that night and roster cuts were keeping most of us occupied. But, now that the roster is “final”, or as final as it can be, I’m sure many people will turn back to hand wringing over Brady. I just don’t understand it.
People will make the argument that Brady and the Patriots have a long history of bending the rules where they thought they could get away with it and this is just another example.
Fans will make the argument that the Patriots’ dramatically improved turnover statistics post 2006 (Warren Sharp’s May ’15 debunking of his attempted debunkers), Brady’s own personal fumble rates after the rule change, text messages between Jastremski & McNally and those between Jastremski & Brady, the balls being taken without permission into the bathroom by McNally, Jastremski & McNally being fired while the team maintains that they did nothing wrong, Brady destroying his phone at his lawyer’s behest and Brady’s reluctance to implicate himself in the investigation are clear “proof” that “something” was going on.
People will insist that because <<insert player’s name here>> was suspended for something that did less to impact the integrity of the game, that Brady should absolutely get the book thrown at him and that everyone, New England fans and the media included, should all collectively say, “Shame On You, Tom Brady“. Or that because <<insert player’s name here>> was suspended for “probably” having done something that Brady should be too. That the precedent was set.
I say, so what?
Look, you’re getting your way. It just isn’t coming exactly the way you want it to come. The court of public opinion rendered it’s decision a while ago and has adjourned court. As has been pointed out to me by a Pats fan no less, the burden of proof for common sense is lower than the one for legal purposes, even in civil proceedings. That standard was met long ago and most sports fans have already decided that Brady was involved, obstructed the investigation and that had he turned over his emails and text messages, the picture would be very clear.
People have listened to your arguments about Brady, Belichick, Dougie Spoons McNally, et al and they already believe you. Let it go.
Face it: Hypothetically speaking, Tom Brady could be caught driving down the road with a dead hooker in his trunk while beating his children and Patriots fans would still make excuses for him and cry in disbelief. Stop trying to convince them. You have better things to do with your time. Their agreement with your point of view doesn’t matter. Brady’s reputation is ruined anyway.
As I pointed out in June, from now until the end of time, every time that the Patriots of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are brought up anywhere, anytime, cheating will be a part of the conversation.
You have already won.
Let it go.
You got what you wanted and as an added bonus, Roger Goodell has been made to look like a horse’s ass, once again, by the NFLPA in court. See? It’s not so bad.
Besides, based on their comments, the Steelers players, to a man, all want Brady to play and have all along. Mike Tomlin seems indifferent, but definitely wants to stop answering questions about it and concentrate solely on 2015.
Do all of you have valid arguments about why Brady should be punished? Maybe. But he is being punished, so it doesn’t matter. His reputation has been given a stain that will never wash out. His endorsement opportunities will take a nose dive as quickly as his likeability has, maybe faster.
Let me take a quick moment to remind you that what Judge Berman ruled on were NFL procedures only. He said the NFL could not punish Brady for non-cooperation or “general awareness” of anything without warning the NFLPA first.
Nowhere in Berman’s decision does he mention inflation, deflation, PSI, guilt, innocence or anything having to do with the original accusation that Brady was involved in a scheme to make footballs easier to handle during the course of a game by exceeding the lower threshold set for a game ball’s PSI.
In short, what Berman did was say that the NFL was wrong, not that Brady was right nor that he is innocent. Despite some grave dancing Patriots fans’ points of view, this accusation is not dead. Unfortunately. Far from it. The NFL will appeal and this circus will go on, possibly for years.
The NFL mishandled this thing almost from the jump. Tom Brady got bad advice and followed it; almost from the jump. The parties most affected by this? NFL fans who have invested and continue to invest energy into it.
I echo Mike Tomlin’s sentiments, “It’s too bad we have to carry last year’s garbage into this season.”
Depth Chart is below. Take a look at post your predicted cuts in the comments.
This year brings back memories of Chuck Noll and this quote:
“Cutting won’t be a problem. Stopping will.”
You have to cut 22 players. Bell & Bryant will be suspended, so you’re down to 20. One of the punters is gone. Pick one and you’re down to 19. Pouncey has to be on the roster for one day, so he counts. CFT still sucks almost as much as NASCAR, but he’ll probably make the team.
Searching for a Credible Backup QB…
Hopefully someone better than Grad + Landry will become available from a training camp cut by the August 25 or September 4 cut down dates. Here is the current depth chart across the NFL.
Should the Steelers Give Antonio Brown a New Deal?
Sep 7, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs over Cleveland Browns punter Spencer Lanning (5) during the first half at Heinz Field. Brown was flagged on the play. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Antonio Brown wants a new deal because he’s outperformed the one he currently has 3 years left on. The Steelers, on the other hand, have no incentive to give a new deal to a player they took a chance on three years ago by rewarding him with a huge extension they had no urgency to give him at that time.
There are arguments for and against extending him.
Against because it sets a bad precedent for extending guys early by encouraging others to attempt renegotiation if they feel they have outperformed their deal. There is also a growing sense that the proliferation of pro ready WRs that have hit the league the past couple of drafts is a trend that will continue, thus making WRs a fungible commodity and diminishing the value of the position as a whole.
I was in the “no way you give AB a new deal until March 2017” camp until recently. Although I don’t feel strongly, I do think it may be a good business move to go ahead and do it now or by next Spring at the latest, taking advantage of the ability to both dictate terms and spread the signing bonus over the remainder of the existing deal. Here’s why:
First and foremost, AB is a special football player. He is that rare blend of great athleticism and drive that will not only maximize his own abilities but push the qualities of the players around him. Guys like AB are valuable because they lead by example. Yes, he has a little diva in him, but he’s a WR. Every one of those guys does! I think the Steelers recognized these qualities in AB when they gave him the contract he signed in 2012. I don’t believe they saw much risk in it at all and, Limas Sweed notwithstanding, as with most of the WR decisions the past several years they were correct.
Second, a quick look at the free agent WRs coming available in 2016 and 2017 netted me a list of players who will all receive as much or more than AB currently averages on a deal that currently pays him as the 13th highest paid WR (Avg Yearly Salary): AJ Green, Julio Jones, Malcolm Floyd, Andre Caldwell, Brian Quick, Pierre Garcon, Emmanuel Sanders, Cordarrelle Patterson, Justin Hunter, Terrance Williams, Keenan Allen.
I’m sure there are guys I’ve overlooked as I invested about 30 seconds and came up with a whole slew of names.
Waiting to redo AB’s deal is just going to make signing him more expensive later.
Third, the Steelers are in a fantastic negotiating position right now. As has been pointed out they have him under contract through 2017 and can franchise him afterward if they are so inclined. Sitting down with Drew Rosenhaus between now and the beginning of the 2016 season and hammering out a deal doesn’t give AB and his reps much leverage. AB can hold out, but he has to show up by the Tuesday after the week 10 game to get credit for a year of service. Doing so in 2016 and 2017 not only does nothing to build his brand but also does not satiate his need to perform on the big stage and show his “greatness”, two factors that I genuinely believe drive AB.
The Steelers can, in effect, make a take it or leave it offer that is far less expensive than the one they’ll have to make to extend him in March 2017. AB also will not be able to say that the team was unwilling to negotiate with him, which hopefully will soften any stance he or his representatives want to take with regard to a hold out.
Last, my friend Copa makes an argument that I find compelling even If I don’t feel as strongly as he does about it.
“…what message will be sent? That if you are a HOF caliber player with a HOF work ethic, HOF attitude, leadership, team focus, and consistent league leading results, and if unusual circumstances warrant it, the team will have your back. Heck, that’s the kind of “problem” you should want to foster and encourage. This is not the same as capitulating to a diva holdout player. Good receivers are fungible. Great team players and leaders are not.”
I would offer AB a 2 year extension worth $32M TODAY. I would give him $8 million to sign and give the Steelers two additional years at what are likely to be below market rates in 2018 and 2019 and also giving the team the option of cutting him if necessary as soon as 2017. It would be a take it or leave it proposition that allowed AB to say he got a new deal worth $16 million per year. The reality would be that the Steelers got two more years out of AB at below market rates and that they would probably have to do this dance again in 2018. However, at the point the market landscape could have changed a great deal for previously mentioned and unforseen reasons.
The offer would look like this:
| Current Deal: | ||||||
| Bonuses | Cap | |||||
| Year | Base Salary | Prorated | Roster | Workout | Other | Number |
| 2015 | $6,000,000 | $3,787,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $9,787,500 |
| 2016 | $8,250,000 | $3,787,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $12,037,500 |
| 2017 | $8,710,000 | $2,087,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10,797,500 |
| New Deal with Extension (2 yrs $32M, $8M signing): | ||||||
| Bonuses | Cap | |||||
| Year | Base Salary | Prorated | Roster | Workout | Other | Number |
| 2015 | $6,000,000 | $5,387,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $9,787,500 |
| 2016 | $8,250,000 | $5,387,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $12,037,500 |
| 2017 | $8,710,000 | $3,687,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10,797,500 |
| 2018 | $10,500,000 | $1,600,000 | $0 | $1,000,000 | $0 | $13,100,000 |
| 2019 | $11,500,000 | $1,600,000 | $0 | $1,000,000 | $0 | $14,100,000 |
I’m not saying AB would take it, but you know the saying about a bird in the hand……
Please tell me what you think in the comments below. Please attempt to do so without calling me or anyone else anything insulting. Well, at least not anyone else.
Tom Brady Will Play Week One vs The Steelers
Well guys, here it is. Please feel entitled to read it and offer any feedback you like whether positive, negative or indifferent. You all were a part of my evolution as a fan and now part time, half assed amateur writer.
The Unofficial Contract Numbers for Ben
I’ll do an updated post when the official terms are available. This gives everyone a sense for where they’re starting. His cap number spikes dramatically next year when there is no huge dead money hit from Woodley or Colon and they expect another substantial increase in the cap.
Basically it’s a 4 year extension at $21.85 Million per year.
