DeAngelo Williams won't complain about his contract

[Cyberjag]

He knows a lot about running a successful buisness of course. All of the owners do or they wouldn't have the millions of dollars it takes to buy a franchise. It doesn't mean they don't make mistakes and screw up. And it isn't like he ever ran a football organization before so he has no prior experience doing it. Running a chain of food restaurants isn't exactly the same as running a football franchise. And this year is totally uncharted waters for everyone. With both his sons gone and new management in place, you can't say that what he did before is any model for the future and things could be totally different. Looking around the league richardson is taking this to more of an extreme than most any owner I can see. He might know something or might be like most men in their 70s, too focused on security and unwilling to step out and take chances anymore. Heart attacks and bypass surgery change a man and his values. I saw it with my father who is also in his seventies. No he isn't rich like Richardson but it about more than money. Football being a young man's game may ultimately extend to the FO and ownership as well.

By the same token, having the heart attack may make him more reckless and willing to take big gambles. And not spending is as much a gamble as spending too much. The question isn't whether the behavior is extreme or whether it's a gamble, at least I don't think it is. I think the question is whether it will pay off.

There's another element at play here that I remember reading about but don't remember the details. The team president, or someone, operates under a strict set of rules where money is concerned. They're going to take in a certain amount regardless of the lockout because of the direct tv package. If there's a lockout though, that means that under the rules the president (or whoever) has to operate under, if we're too deep in the pockets of the players then a ton of other team employees will be laid off. Not the big names you all hear about, but stadium employees, janitors, secretaries, sales people, etc. That could be an influence as well.

It's hard to know what people at that level think. I'm hoping he's on the right track. At least we can agree about that.

[SmootsDaddy89]

Pretty sure Williams said he didn't want to worry with a new contract after the 2008 season, but yeah sure he's pissed and hates Jerry Richardson etc etc that makes more sense.

[SmokeScreen]

i would make comments, but nc biscuit avarboob is slapping my face....

[panthers55]

By the same token, having the heart attack may make him more reckless and willing to take big gambles. And not spending is as much a gamble as spending too much. The question isn't whether the behavior is extreme or whether it's a gamble, at least I don't think it is. I think the question is whether it will pay off.

There's another element at play here that I remember reading about but don't remember the details. The team president, or someone, operates under a strict set of rules where money is concerned. They're going to take in a certain amount regardless of the lockout because of the direct tv package. If there's a lockout though, that means that under the rules the president (or whoever) has to operate under, if we're too deep in the pockets of the players then a ton of other team employees will be laid off. Not the big names you all hear about, but stadium employees, janitors, secretaries, sales people, etc. That could be an influence as well.

It's hard to know what people at that level think. I'm hoping he's on the right track. At least we can agree about that.

What I have read is that there is a 5 billion dollar amount that is guaranteed whether they play or not. Smith for the NFLPA says that is why the owners want a lockout because they will get paid anyway. The league rep said that it wasn't a guaranteed payment but a guaranteed loan that would have to be paid back. But honestly I think everyone would be shocked if this drags out past the preseason next year.

The question really is going to be whether there is a cap, what the compensation will look like and how revenue will be shared among the owners. The bet that Richardson is taking in my opinion is that there will be a lower cap which may or may not reduce the salaries of the top players in the game. A lower cap will affect the role players more than the stars.

As for the whole spending thing versus not spending thing. Yeah marketing folks will tell you not spending is worse than spending but the risk looks very different to the person shelling out the dollars. Not spending preserves your cash flow in the present and, while it may prove to be risky down the road, looks good now because you have more to spend. Spending too much look risky down the road and risky now. So the risk of spending now outweighs the possible risk of what you might lose down the road. And Richardson in my mind is all about the present not the future of he would be locking up contracts. By the way owners have a pocket of money they can use anytime for signing bonuses or anything provided by the league in the form of a loan- it is 145 million per team. So really he isn't in a bind except by his own creation. He has an internal budget despite any cap. And yes he wants to avoid letting folks go but if there is a lockout that will happen anyway. And since owners are causing the lockout you could argue he is responsible if they lose their jobs. he will just get to blame it on the players.

We will agree that we both hope he does know what he is doing.

[Gazi]

Steven Jackson got a 6 year- 49 million dollar deal in 2009 with 20 million guaranteed. Realistically it is 3 year deal worth 30 million. Williams will be looking at that as the standard and want as much. If Richardson doesn't pay him someone else surely will.

We will not give him that kind of money. Not with Stewart waiting in the wings.

[Gazi]

And you can't blame Richardson for "putting a bad product on the field" because he doesn't. Every year we have the talent to compete for our division. There is so much a guy can do, it's up to the coaches and his staff to put the final pieces together.

[panthers55]

And you can't blame Richardson for "putting a bad product on the field" because he doesn't. Every year we have the talent to compete for our division. There is so much a guy can do, it's up to the coaches and his staff to put the final pieces together.

Up until this year we have been competitive and had plenty of veterans and paid the going rate. This year is different. We went on the cheap. Whether it is a bad product on the field remains to be seen. It might be better or worse.

But if it is better you can chalk it up to Hurney and the coaching staff not Richardson. All he has done is give them a handicapping budget in their last year.

[panthers55]

We will not give him that kind of money. Not with Stewart waiting in the wings.

That is the 40 million dollar question. When you add Moore, Davis, Kalil, Williams, Marshall, and a host of guys like Louis among others playing on a tender offer or 1 year contract, the answer is more likely the 100 million dollar question.

[rmoneyg35]

If I was Deangelo I wouldn't worry either. The guy is going to get paid big bucks when his contract is up whether or not its with the Panthers.

[Gazi]

You gotta start somewhere. We are rebuilding.

[Fiz]

one day im going to rewrite marx's communist manifesto but just change it all to like football players v. ownership and have you idiots eating out of my palm.

WHY DO WE NEED OWNERS ANYWAY SMASH TEH fuging STATE

[Wither]

one day im going to rewrite marx's communist manifesto but just change it all to like football players v. ownership and have you idiots eating out of my palm.

WHY DO WE NEED OWNERS ANYWAY SMASH TEH f**kING STATE

You know, you do a horrible job of getting people to accept your points, but you do an excellent job at making them and making them humorous.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

That is unfair to compare them as freshman & sophomore, because we didn't have the same O-Line by the time we got Stewart. Not to mention Fox was using Foster more than Williams. It not until we got Stewart, that Williams was being used more than ever beside sharing with Stewart. Thus, your comparsion there is weak & mooted.

so none of stewart's records should stand because the previous record holders didn't play under the same conditions as him?

that makes a whole lot of nonsense.

[PantherDude]

that makes a whole lot of nonsense.

It's nonsense when you don't give Williams enough credit with bragging about Stewart being better than him over & over and sometime being rude to some of Williams's fans here.

I'm not dissing Stewart's records, but you're dissing Williams with saying Stewart was better with having better rookie season & so on when you forgot the O-Line was different & Fox didn't use Williams enough with being too loyal to a struggling Foster.