Well, here we go again.  Just as I was finally saying goodbye to the last of the Plaxico Burress rumors, the Randy Moss ones started right back up again.  This is really starting to get old.

Prepare yourself for my last and final post of the Randy Moss rumors.  The only other time I will ever mention his name on this site is if he is wearing a Jets uniform.  And, as I have already stated, I don’t believe that will happen.

Randy Moss May Be an Option for the Jets: I mean no offense to Mr. Mehta of the NY Daily News, but does he seriously believe this? Here is one of the more interesting quotes from the article:

The Jets will have an interest in Moss if Holmes or Edwards doesn’t return, according to sources. There have been conflicting reports regarding Gang Green’s level of interest, and one source suggests that the Jets won’t pursue the 34-year-old Moss regardless of Holmes’ or Edwards’ decisions

So the headline is that the Jets have interest based on a source.  But another source suggests that they don’t want Moss. So..maybe the headline should be, Randy Moss May Not be an Option for the Jets?

Initial Response to Moss: Thumbs Down: How truly shocking.  Rich Cimini of ESPN conducted a little poll on his Twitter and it looks like Jets fans want Moss to stay out of New York.  One guy had a particularly good theory:

@Davis_Seth: Bad move, and somewhat dumb if they’re trying to use purported interest in Moss as leverage against Edwards and/or Holmes

New York Jets Prepared to do St.Louis Rams a Favor?: Recent speculation has linked Moss to the St.Louis Rams, due to the New England/Josh McDaniels connection. The headline from this SB Nation should be enough reason for anyone to stay away.

Assistants and Agents Caught in the Crossfire: This great article from  The Boston Globe takes an depth look at how the lockout iseffecting assistant coaches and agents.  The writer also offers hypothetical scenarios for the two sides after the June hearing and I must warn you, they are less than ideal.

Plaxico Burress ‘Not on Jets Priority List’: Gary Myers of the New York Post reports that Burress is not one of the WRs on the Jets priority list (nor on the Giants), and that Burress, “wants a change of venue  and doesn’t want to play in New York.”

Derrelle Revis: Lockout not ‘Scary’: In an interview Saturday, Revis told ESPNNewYork.com his thoughts about the NFL Labor Situation.  According to the article, ”Revis said he’s not frustrated by the labor mess, expressing optimism because ‘guys feel this lockout is going to be done soon.”  The headline is slightly misleading as Revis is basically saying what everyone else is saying: that if the lockout continues it will alienate the fans.  Revis also added, “Both sides have to find out what’s best for each other. It’ll get done.”

Jets Prepare to be ‘Game Plan Specific’ as NFL Lockout Drags On:  It appears that the Jets are beginning to prepare for a shortened pre-season by implementing a ‘game-plan specific’ offense and defense and a ‘dial-back’ of the playbook.  The Jets are at a slight advantage in that they don’t have a QB question and the majority of their team remains the same (provided they re-sign Edwards, Holmes, Cromartie, etc).  But if the Jets plan to make good on Ryan’s promise, they will need some kind of plan.

Day 66 of the NFL Lockout is coming to a close, and as the summer quickly approaches, the reality of a delayed or possibly non-existent NFL season becomes more plausible.

There is quite a lot of misconception out there about the lockout. Many people believe that the players are on “strike”. This is not the case; the players are simply asking to maintain the status quo and basically continue with the previous CBA. The owners are the ones who opted out of the existing agreement are actually seeking more money, because they are, “losing money.”  I am sure by now you know all of this, but while these facts may seem redundant, it is important to remember the foundations of the two sides of the argument.

I’ll spare you the re-telling of a story you already know; how the NFLPA decertified and filed an anti-trust law suit against the NFL.  How the NFL locked out its players in March, was forced to lift that lockout by Judge Susan Nelson in April, then appealed that decision to have the lockout re-instated by the 8th Circuit Appelic Court.  Blah blah blah.  We are currently in a holding pattern till at least June and so the lockout goes on while both sides rage an all-out war on each other for the battle for our hearts. For now, the result has been a backlash at both sides: End the Lockout. WE. want. football.

Myself and the other NFL writers at Aerys Sports have made an effort to keep our readers informed about the details of the lockout. But there is more than just legal leverage at stake here. While this has always been about ‘millionaires vs billionaires’, I propose we re-consider  just whom we are calling millionaires.

Another common misconception is that all players are millionaires for life and that they get a 52 weeks a year salary over the course of lifetime career like the majority of this county. This, would be false.

NFL players are paid ‘game checks’ every week of the regular season (17 games) for as long as they are under contract.  There will always be opportunities for additional income: signing bonuses, workout bonuses, sponsorships, etc.  But those add ons are going to the minority, not that majority.

Yes, the Tom Brady’s and Peyton Manning’s of the word make a lot of money.  For example, Brady’s 4 year contract extension in September of 2010 was for $72 million ($48.5 Mill guaranteed).  (Note the guarantee part….).  This is not including all the money Brady gets from his endorsements with Stetson, Ugg and of course, just  being Giselle Bundchen’s husband. But these guys (Brady, Manning, etc) do not represent the standard for NFL Salaries. There are 52 members of each NFL Team and they make significantly less than these dudes, and they are the ones that this lockout will hurt the most.  Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will survive, as will Jerry Jones and Al Davis.  Maybe the 3rd Left Tackle for your favorite team will not.

Business Week offered statistics on the average NFL Player Salary, with information provided by the NFL and NFLPA:

Average NFL player salary: $1.9 million

Median NFL player salary: $770,000

Minimum NFL Salary: $325,000

Average NFL career length: 3.5 years

Average NFL player age: 27

So let’s do a little math. Let’s assume that the player in our example is fortunate enough to be in the league for the average 3.5 years.

When we are describing the “typical” we always use the median over the average so lets assume that Player Joe makes $770,0007 x 3.5 yrs = $2,695, 000.000 in his NFL career. Player Joe will make approximately $45, 294.00 a week for 59.5 weeks of his life. (Not including taxes!!) Sure, this seems like a lot of money to you and me but keep in mind that those 59.5 make up their entire NFL “career.”  Most of us work for a much longer period of time (which, according to the US Census Bureau, is 44 years).

For a little perspective, data for median lifetime salary for us non-Player Joe’s is 1.98 million.  Compare this to median $2.6 mill and the minimum $1.1 mill for an NFL Player.

Obviously, regardless of the way we look at the numbers, NFL Players are making ‘more’ than you and I (on average..I don’t know your life story).  I am not asking you to feel sorry for the players.  I am not claiming that they don’t make enough money. What I am doing, is trying to point out that the league is not comprised of a bunch of guys that make $10 plus million dollars a year plus endorsements, tv shows, commercials, ads and appearances.  It is made up mostly of guys making the median salary or less, trying to raise their families and set themselves up for the rest of their lives while they sacrifice their bodies and brains to the game the have worked their whole life to play.

My greatest wish is that we will stop being so angry at the players for being selfish and going on “strike” while they make all their money.  The financial situations of the majority of these guys, who will leave the league with bad knees and backs for the rest of their lives, isn’t bad.  But it’s not King Midas.

My other wish is that players will be smart with their earnings and their future, because an NFL career isn’t forever.  Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post recently wrote an article about this very concept. and explains how he attempted to push a program with the help of the Directors of Player Programs that would, “allow the players to be take a full-year payment schedule over 52 weeks instead of 17.”  The article is an interesting perspective on NFL Players and spending.

By the way, here is a little something from the SI.Vault:

-By the time they have been retired for two years, 78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress because of joblessness or divorce.

-Within five years of retirement, an estimated 60% of former NBA players are broke.

-Both Mark Brunell and Michael Vick are currently bankrupt (according to National Football Post).

There is so much more to be said about these facts, but that is for another time.

My main goal in writing this is to educate.  Both sides of the NFL Labor dispute have done things to anger us as fans.  It is likely that until these two sides can sit down and reach an agreement, the anger will continue.   Football is a sport loved by so many Americans who work hard for their m » Continue reading “The NFL Lockout: ‘Millionaire’ Money Matters”

Bart Scott recently sat down for an interview with ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio to discuss the labor situation, the Jets hopes for the Super Bowl and his ‘Can’t Wait’ success.

You can check out the interview here:

Bart Scott Interview

Just to refresh your memory, here is the now infamous ‘Can’t Wait’ moment that still makes me laugh.out.loud:

Bart Scott: Jets will be a “joke” if they fall short of Super Bowl Promise: Bart Scott sits down for an interview with ESPN’s Sal Paolantomio for a “reunion” of sorts, following his infamous ‘Can’t Wait’ interviews from the Pats/jets playoff game.  Scott explains that he sides with Pats owner Bob Kraft on the lockout issues and adds:

“I think it’s about time we get it done and see this thing through because, after a while, people are going to start looking at it as a joke.”

Jets Owner Woody Johnson Optimistic About Labor Situation: Woody calls the current labor situation “miserable” for both sides but hopes that the 8th Circuit’s Ruling Monday afternoon will “get us back to the negotiating table faster.”  He also states his belief that a deal will not get done in court, but rather through negotiation, a belief echoed by many NFL Owners, as well as Commissioner Goodell.

The Secret to Jets Coach Rex Ryan Winning Record is His “Whole Team” Approach: This article from Forbes looks at excerpts from Rex Ryan’s books and further explains his successful approach to coaching the Jets, and how it has enabled him to make the franchise a huge success in his short time as head coach.  They  provide insight as to how his approach applies to the business world.

Helmet Power Rankings: Top 10 NFL Helmets: Wow, we must be bored if we are ranking NFL Helmets.

The third installment of the Aerys Huddle kicked off last night and despite it being the off-season, the Aerys NFL Writers still had plenty to talk about.

This week’s chat had three topics:

What should the players do as a result of the 8th Circuit Court’s decision?

Read our thoughts on the NFL Lockout here.

What team would you like to see on Hard Knocks this season?

Check out the ladies’ picks here!

What free agent do you/your team lust after?

Witness my fight for Nnamdi here, where I also propose the NFL ladies form a class action law suit against the NFL, citing “irreparable” harm for missing football.  Anyone else care to join ? (I am only half-kidding..).

We would love to hear your thoughts on the chat, the lockout, the next season of Hard Knocks and the (hopeful) return to free agency.

Where will Nnamdi land in 2011?

In this lockout induced coma, NFL fans are ready for a return to their regularly scheduled programming.  Now that the draft is over and gone, a return to free agency would give us all something to curb this insatiable appetite, as we have nothing at the moment aside from the constant bickering between millionaires and billionaires.

Here are some players on every team’s wish list:

• Steve Smith, WR, Carolina
• DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina
• Sidney Rice, WR, Minnesota
• Quinten Mikell, S, Philadelphia
• Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati
• Cullen Jenkins, DE, Green Bay

And let’s also not forget the primary New York Jet free-agents also in play: Santonio Holmes, Brad Smith, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie.  As I have mentioned several times, the Jets organization made some financial “room” for free-agency early in 2011 but it remains to be seen exactly what they will do.

Perhaps the most talked about free agent of all this off-season is Oakland Raiders Cornerback Nnamdi Asogmuha.  The Raiders CB has a clause in his contract that allows him to become a free agent whenever the lockout is lifted.  His eminent free agency, coupled with the fact the he is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, makes him not only available and desirable.  This off-season, chatter has linked Asogmuha to Tennessee , Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Tampa Bay and most notably, Philadelphia.  The New York Jets also seem to be in play for the CB; The uncertainty of Cromartie’s future in New York leaves a possible open roster spot and the idea of Asomugha opposite Darrelle Revis is enough to leave Jets fans salivating.

So while the addition of Nnamdi to the Gang Green seems natural, it is not that simple.  The lockout makes things more complicated, and here are the reasons why:

There is no telling what kind on CBA the NFL will be in under in 2011.  If the 2010 rules remain in place, the Jets cannot gain a FA unless they lose a FA, which could make the Nnamdi acquistion more difficult.  This restriction is part of a CBA clause referred to as the “Final Eight” restriction.  See Cimini’s article on ESPN for more details on “Final Eight” and other contract restrictions.

Unless there is no salary cap, the Jets may not be able to add Asomugha.  They are already paying Revis 11.2 million and the type of salary Asomugha demands would be too much of salary burden for the team (unless the eliminated other high salaried players..Ahem, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards).

To this point, Peter King commented on the liklehood of Asomugha’s landing in New York:

“I could see five teams with big wallets going after him: Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, Detroit and the Jets — but the Jets ONLY if there’s not going to be a salary cap in 2011.”

Don’t quote me on this, but as far as I can tell, Asomugha made in the neighborhood of $17 million last year.  That’s A LOT of money.

As Cimini points out in his article, if the Jets retain Edwards, you can pretty much forget about Asomugha.

One thing is clear, if the Jets can dig into their pocketbooks and get this deal done, the Revis/Asomugha duo would be straight out of Tom Brady’s worst nightmare.

NY Jets WR Braylon Edwards Has Court Date in DWI Case: As Braylon was un-able to return from ‘Jets West’ Camp in Los Angeles in time to attend his hearing, a Manhattan courtroom set  another hearing for the case on July 22nd.  The hearing is set to determine the eligibility of Braylon’s statements regarding his arrest, whether the vehicle stop was legal and other relevant issues. An additional report from ESPN New York further explains the details of the postponement, trial and possible plea agreement.

Don’t Rule Out Randy Moss to the Jets: Every time I think this story is dead , it comes back to life. Speculation began a month ago that the Jets were interested in acquiring Randy Moss from the Titans once free agency resumes.  The Jets organization put these rumors to rest, un-officially stating they were not interested.  According to this article from ProFootballTalk, it’s possible that Tannenbaum and Ryan are still interested in the WR.  For the record, I don’t buy it. More to come from me on this subject.

Latest Brad Smith Rumors and Speculation: This article from Bleacher Report speculates Jeremy Kerley as the man Smith has to worry about, as Kerley possesses the most Special Teams talent and experience of the in-coming rookie class.

In Football and Life, Rex Ryan Plays Like He Means It: This article from NPR reviews Rex Ryan’s new book, “Play Like You Mean It.”  NRP highlights quotes from the book where Ryan discusses football, coaching, his father, his weight, and his battle with dyslexia. An excerpt from the book is also included.

NFL Free Agency 2011: 20 Free Agents the New York Jets Must Target and Avoid: The Bleacher Report examines 20 Free-Agents that may or may not be on the Jets radar. They cite GB’s Cullen Jenkins as the #1 FA to target.  Some other interesting targets include Sidney Rice (WR, MN), Santana Moss (WR, WAS), and Quintn Mikell (S, PHI).

USA Today: NFL Power Rankings: Packers top the List, Jets come in at #5. This list is updated every week.

Robert Mathias: Goodell has Totally “Lost” the Players:  ProFootballTalk explains how Robert Mathias took to Twitter on Thursday to express his opinion about Roger Goodell.

“I know you can never take business personal but I think its safe to say that Goodell has totally lost the players during this whole process,” Mathis wrote on Twitter Thursday.

Donald Trump’s Newest Intern: Jets Center Nick Mangold: Nick Mangold found something to do during this locked out off-season.  He is now Trump’s newest intern.

Alan Faneca Going Out the Right Way: Former NY Jets Left Guard Alan Faneca is retiring from the game of football.  He finished his career playing for the Arizona Cardinals in 2010.

NFL Trade Speculation: 5 Trades That Would’ve Happened If Not for the Lockout: This writer speculates that Buccaneers CB Aquib Talib would be traded to the NY Jets.  Certainly an interesting theory.

Offseason Reset: Position by Position: This article from AOLSportingNews.com has Braylon Edwards as listed at the top unrestricted free-agent on the market this off-season.

Darelle Revis, Best Friend Would do Reality Series: Darelle Revis and his best friend/manager, John Geiger, want to do a ‘Rob and Big’ style reality show.  Look out Ochocinco!