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Baldwin talks Free Agency

Idahawk

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Here's the full transcript of Baldwin's commentary:
"Free agency starts on Tuesday and with that, we will see the business side of the NFL take a front seat in the media vehicle. We have already seen tough decisions being made around the league with a few hitting close to home.

"Fans around the world are sitting on the edge of their seats wondering what the future holds for their favorite teams. Some fans will confuse a player's desire for higher pay as a selfish act against their team. But tonight, I want to give you, the fans, the player's perspective of what really goes on.

"The NFL stands for many things depending on your perspective. "Not For Long" and "No … Loyalty" are other acronyms for the National Football League. These descriptions of the NFL are very accurate as they are for most businesses.

"Remember, the average life span of a NFL career is only 3.5 years. The majority of those careers end not on the player's terms, but are a result of being cut or from injury. Many fans also have an inflated view of the average player salary. You have to realize that the league average of $1.5 million a year is boosted by the enormously expensive contracts of players like Joe Flacco, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, all of which make around 20 million a year.

"Don't get me wrong, the yearly average is a lot of money, but let's compare apples to apples. Take me for example, after going undrafted my total contract for the past three years before taxes adds up to $1.4 million.

"Did you catch that? In my three years as a professional I made what is apparently the league average for one year. This is common among NFL rosters, which on average, includes 13 undrafted players per team. Keep in mind, [Seahawks cornerback] Richard Sherman and I made the same amount over that time period from our NFL contracts.

"So what's my point? It is not often that an NFL player reaches unrestricted free agency being highly sought after by other teams. With so much uncertainty in the game of football and life in general, is it really that bad that players want to get the most out of their short window of opportunity? An opportunity they have dreamed of and worked for their entire lives to take part in.

"It's ironic that some fans can cheer their hearts out for a player during the season and then quickly turn on them during free agency, calling them greedy and selfish. To me, that is disappointing considering how much players appreciate and need the fan support.

"In fact, you'd be surprised at how often players take less than what they could get to help their team spread the wealth. In my three years of first-hand experience, I can tell you that it happens a lot, but rarely makes headline news.

"Again, many fans will not get the bigger picture. They'll continue to argue that players make enough money and shouldn't be greedy. But, with the NFL having such a high turnover rate (for example cutting players left and right) as well as having a 100 percent injury rate, is it truly greedy to want to get the most out of all the hard work you put into your craft?

"Is it that hard to fathom? Or is emotion crowding your mind's ability to critically think with logic? If that is the case, then who is really thinking selfishly?"


Free Brandon Browner
 

szat

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"Is it that hard to fathom? Or is emotion crowding your mind's ability to critically think with logic? If that is the case, then who is really thinking selfishly?"

Free Brandon Browner

Is that a Baldwin quote?

He's really is got an ego don't he?

For one 1.4M is a lot of money for most folks. That's $ 1,400,000.00, even more then the average person makes in a lifetime.

I don't begrudge the players a bit for going out and getting paid what the market will bear. They put their body's on the line (and their brains) and take irreversible damage in this sport. But to come out and call out all fans for the opinion of very few is ignorant.

Isn't his tender like 2.some million a year? So he went from Stanford grad, to $375,000 a year to 2M a year.
Boo - hoo... the sympathy poor me act is wearing thin.

Baldwin went down a notch with me. Its one thing to carry a chip, but another to whine like that publicly.
 
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Idahawk

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Yes those are his quotes

Baldwin seems pretty intense , I'm guessing after being asked the " hometown discount "question so many times he finally snapped.


Free Brandon Browner
 

szat

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Probably, as a player you have to be conditioned to "ignore the noise". RW speak.
There will be naysayers no matter what you do.
 

BleedsBlue12

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If you put it in perspective even at 2 million he's got taxes, agent, manager and accounting fees. He also takes the risk of at any moment no longer making any salary.

Out of 2 million you're lucky if you see $650k free and clear as an athlete in the NFL.

He's got a point because the NFL is like the casino, they always make money.


Sent from a cell at the CLink...
 
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Idahawk

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The fans or whomever that get butt hurt when a guy leaves for more money unfortunatly mix business with pleasure .

99% of those folks would bolt a job for more cash any day , the other 1 % works for family lol


Free Brandon Browner
 

BleedsBlue12

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Plus the got us a ring. Let them make some cash. We'll be fine with the staff and program we have.

We'll be golden!


Sent from a cell at the CLink...
 

twelvewins

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His argument is poor for the point he intends to make. Yes 3.5 years is average and average salary is 1.5 million. So that justifies him demanding to be as high as possible now? If he really gave a damn shouldn't he sign for less so draft picks could get some more money and avoid his situation? Or organize all the free agents into a group send collectively negotiate with teams?
 

RAMSWRATH

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Or organize all the free agents into a group send collectively negotiate with teams?

Won't happen since the players have no loyalty to each other. It's a union in a very weird sense in which minimum salary are negotiated but no maximum once a player qualifies as a free agent. A few players with large contracts on a team can negatively impact the financial opportunity on that team for many others. Its a union in which eating your own is business as usual. :tdown:
 

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What bothers me is he calling out football fans, I find that offensive, he should take the higher ground, instead of lumping us all together as ignorant about how NFL works and what players go through.

Its not rocket science, "We get it" Doug, and those that don't, just let it go.
 

BleedsBlue12

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What bothers me is he calling out football fans, I find that offensive, he should take the higher ground, instead of lumping us all together as ignorant about how NFL works and what players go through.

Its not rocket science, "We get it" Doug, and those that don't, just let it go.

He not only plays with a chip he apparently lives with a chip. He does protest way too much.


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Too often you read about the knuckleheads partying at clubs until closing then getting into stupid trouble of all sorts so a common perception among fans is these guys never grow up and the money allows them to stay immature. You have to separate those players that can party after a game because they are not too sore or busted up from those who won't or can't. When Steven Jackson left the Rams his post home dome routine was made known by the cashier at the convenience store near his home. Something to the effect of he would only buy 10 bags of ice that he would take home and cover himself with in his bath tub to stop the soreness and swelling from the game. Probably more players like Jackson than the media will ever let us know about.
 
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