McNair's New Contract? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

grayman · 03-08-2004, 03:49 AM

here's the link for anyone interested, bottom of the page:
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7145465

McNair deal has unprecedented bonus (sort of)
While Peyton Manning's blockbuster contract made huge headlines earlier this week, it turns out he wasn't the only reigning MVP who signed a contract extension with a ludicrous bonus attached to it.

SportsLine.com has learned that one day before Manning's deal, the Tennessee Titans reworked Steve McNair's contract in order to significantly lower his cap number. But in the process, the Titans included an unprecedented clause in his deal that called for a ridiculous $50 million option bonus payment in three years in order to extend his deal for another three seasons. The salaries for those years are at an outlandish $11 million in the first year followed by $13 million and $15 million. With the salaries involved, that three-year total equals $89 million, but he will obviously see none of that money, at least not in that structure.

The reason this was done was to drop McNair's base salary from more than $7 million this year to the league minimum while turning the rest into bonus money. They can then prorate this bonus over the next six years rather than the three he has remaining on his contract.

But what this also means is that in three years, the Titans will have to either let McNair go free in order not to pick up the $50 million option or re-sign him to a reworked extension.

My question concerning this is: Why would McNair agree to this? I know that it helped the Titans get under the cap without decimating their team, but the article basicly says that he has just given up his bonus. There is no way that he will get that money. I would love to think that keeping most of the team intact is more important than the money, but that isn't a theory that gets a lot of support based on players' decisions throughout the league. Even if McNair did feel that way, I can't believe that his agent would agree to this. What does everyone think? Is this an altruistic move by McNair, or just a mistake by him and his agent?

djtestudo · 03-08-2004, 10:19 AM

His agent has no say other then, "I would advise you to make a better deal."

I think that he is taking a huge risk here. even though you could run him over with a Mack truck right before a game and he'd still throw for 200 yards and scramble for 40 more, he's a pretty big injury risk. If he gets a major injury, they'll just say "Steve who?" while handing him his release.

He probably figures that doing this will help the team out by giving them the money they need over the next several years to make a couple runs at the Super Bowl before they have to blow up the team. A risk, but it could pay off pretty big depending on the personnel brought in.

Ace_O_Spades · 03-10-2004, 11:10 AM

Maybe he's doing it for the love of the game

not all superstars are in it for the $

^^^

my $0.02

H12 · 03-10-2004, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ace_O_Spades
Maybe he's doing it for the love of the game

not all superstars are in it for the $

^^^

my $0.02

Bingo. He's proud to be a Titan, so let him stay.

djtestudo · 03-10-2004, 06:15 PM

That could be it too

Ace_O_Spades · 03-10-2004, 06:54 PM

If i were in his position, i might do the same thing... you play for an organization for most of your career and have success... you might want to do your best to try to make sure that team has long term viability

03-08-2004, 03:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
grayman you can't see me Location: Illinois	McNair's New Contract? here's the link for anyone interested, bottom of the page: http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7145465 McNair deal has unprecedented bonus (sort of) While Peyton Manning's blockbuster contract made huge headlines earlier this week, it turns out he wasn't the only reigning MVP who signed a contract extension with a ludicrous bonus attached to it. SportsLine.com has learned that one day before Manning's deal, the Tennessee Titans reworked Steve McNair's contract in order to significantly lower his cap number. But in the process, the Titans included an unprecedented clause in his deal that called for a ridiculous $50 million option bonus payment in three years in order to extend his deal for another three seasons. The salaries for those years are at an outlandish $11 million in the first year followed by $13 million and $15 million. With the salaries involved, that three-year total equals $89 million, but he will obviously see none of that money, at least not in that structure. The reason this was done was to drop McNair's base salary from more than $7 million this year to the league minimum while turning the rest into bonus money. They can then prorate this bonus over the next six years rather than the three he has remaining on his contract. But what this also means is that in three years, the Titans will have to either let McNair go free in order not to pick up the $50 million option or re-sign him to a reworked extension. My question concerning this is: Why would McNair agree to this? I know that it helped the Titans get under the cap without decimating their team, but the article basicly says that he has just given up his bonus. There is no way that he will get that money. I would love to think that keeping most of the team intact is more important than the money, but that isn't a theory that gets a lot of support based on players' decisions throughout the league. Even if McNair did feel that way, I can't believe that his agent would agree to this. What does everyone think? Is this an altruistic move by McNair, or just a mistake by him and his agent? __________________ That's right - I'm a guy in a suit eating a Blizzard. F U.

03-08-2004, 10:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	His agent has no say other then, "I would advise you to make a better deal." I think that he is taking a huge risk here. even though you could run him over with a Mack truck right before a game and he'd still throw for 200 yards and scramble for 40 more, he's a pretty big injury risk. If he gets a major injury, they'll just say "Steve who?" while handing him his release. He probably figures that doing this will help the team out by giving them the money they need over the next several years to make a couple runs at the Super Bowl before they have to blow up the team. A risk, but it could pay off pretty big depending on the personnel brought in. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

03-10-2004, 11:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ace_O_Spades The Death Card Location: EH!?!?	Maybe he's doing it for the love of the game not all superstars are in it for the $ ^^^ my $0.02 __________________ Feh.

03-10-2004, 06:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	That could be it too __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

03-10-2004, 06:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ace_O_Spades The Death Card Location: EH!?!?	If i were in his position, i might do the same thing... you play for an organization for most of your career and have success... you might want to do your best to try to make sure that team has long term viability __________________ Feh.