NFL Rookie Wages Set to be Cut

Late Monday night documents were leaked from the NFL offices that outlined a proposed plan by the owners to cut almost 60 percent of guaranteed money paid to first round draft picks.  The plan would free up a total of $1.2 billion by 2016 and that money would be diverted to veterans' salaries and benefits rather than being spent on players that have yet to play a down in the NFL.  Also all players drafted in the first round would have to sign five-year fixed contracts*.

* Players selected in rounds 2-7 would sign four year fixed deals


Making changes to the rookie salary system was a major point of contention during negotiations before the lockout occurred as it should be.  First round picks, especially quarterbacks, get paid way too much money considering they haven't actually accomplished anything.  In almost every other sport there is a maximum rookie contract, or rookie wage scale*, that limits how much rookies can make.  A system like that forces players to earn a big contract rather than simply being handed millions of dollars for possible future production.

* The owners leaked proposal does not include a rookie wage scale as contracts can still be negotiated on a case by case basis

The amount of guaranteed money first round picks receive is insane.  From the year 2000 to the year 2010 the amount of guaranteed money first round players received went up 233 percent.  In 2010 alone $525 million of guaranteed money was included in contracts ($50 million of which went to Sam Bradford, the 1st overall pick by the St. Louis Rams).  That number needs to come down as paying players that young, that much money, before they have ever played a down not only gives them a feeling of entitlement but can also create animosity from veterans who had to earn their contracts.

Here are the last five #1 overall selections and how much guaranteed money they got:

Sam Bradford -$50 million 
Matthew Stafford  - $41.7 million
Jake Long - $30 million
JaMarcus Russell - $32.019
Mario Williams - $27.125

Before the JaMarcus Russell bashing starts keep in mind that there are other quarterbacks who have been huge busts that cost their teams millions of dollars as well, maybe not as the same level as Russell but still. Matt Leinart ($12.9 million), David Carr ($15 million) and Joey Harrington ($13.9 million) are just a few that come to mind.  Think of how crippling those contracts were to their respective teams.

In an interview with ESPN Philadelphia Eagles team President Joe Banner had this to say about the proposal to cut guaranteed money being given to rookies, "From a fairness standpoint, the simple concept to drive this should be that the players who contribute the most to the league should get the most money.  What this system does is ensures players playing well in the NFL and bringing in fans and driving TV [ratings] will get the money that went to players who turned out not to be so good. And that is good for everyone."

The agents for these rookies might tend to disagree with Mr. Banner as this new proposed system would severely hurt the amount of money they would be able to make.  Ben Dogra for example is the agent for Sam Bradford and he no doubt made a ridiculous commission on Bradford's contract with the Rams.  If this proposed system was in place Bradford would have gotten only maybe $20 million guaranteed which would mean Dogra would have lost out on millions of dollars. 

Its not just the agents who would be getting hurt by the proposed new rules.  Veteran players would also suffer if the price to sign rookies was to be lowered.  Some players in the league only have jobs because teams are hesitant to hand over large sums of money to unproven players.  If the average cost of a rookie contract was to drop by the proposed 60 percent and veterans' salaries would go up by 60 percent then teams would be more likely to fill their roster with cheaper and younger players.

Player agent Peter Schaffer put it best when he said, "This will eliminate the veteran middle class because teams can have younger players who are making less and are under fixed contracts."  He also called this proposed system, "scouting insurance" as it protects teams that screw up their first round picks in the draft.

Although it will more than likely get rejected I hope this proposal does become the rule.  I hate seeing rookies that haven't done a thing in the NFL holdout because they want more money.  They should have to earn their contracts as it would make them try harder and you would have fewer busts.  No more guys like JaMarcus Russell getting paid their millions and then not caring or trying.  Players are now going to have to play their ay to the big pay day (totally meant for that to rhyme).


Random YouTube Video

The UFC Hype Machine

What do Mark Hominick, Jake Shields and Yushin Okami all have in common?  Well for one they are all #1 contenders for UFC titles in their respective weight classes.  More importantly than that however what they all have in common is that despite the glowing praise from Dana White, Joe Rogan and others associated with the UFC they have no chance to beat Jose Aldo, Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva.

This phenomenon is what I like the call the 'UFC Hype Machine.'

The basic function of the UFC Hype Machine is get fans to believe that fighters, while excellent in their own right, have a chance of beating the best fighters on the planet.  That's exactly what Aldo, St. Pierre and Silva are, they are pound for pound three of best fighters in the world and yet for some reason fans, including myself, always seem to doubt them heading into a fight.

If you watch The Ultimate Fighter then no doubt you have seen the new promo ad for UFC 129.  The ad features Jake Shields in a locker room as Joe Rogan does voice over work listing all of Shields' best victories.  The purpose of the ad is to get fans to believe that Jake Shields has a chance in hell of beating Georges St. Pierre on April 30th.  If you watch Mixed Martial Arts at all then you know that this is just not possible.  Shields has never faced anyone half as good as GSP and he will no doubt get severely outclassed when they meet.

Jake Shields is the latest example of the UFC hype machine at work.  When the fight was first announced months ago I remember public reaction being 'he doesn't stand a chance against Georges St. Pierre.'  Yet slowly but surely doubt starts to creep into the minds of fans and they start to believe that Shields might actually stand a chance, which is exactly what the UFC wants you to think.

The Hype Machine has been doing its work since long before Jake Shields arrived.  Think back on Georges St. Pierre's last few fights.  Going into each one of them the message from the UFC was always the same, "fighter X is the most dangerous opponent Georges has ever faced."  They even said that about Josh Koscheck, who the first time he fought GSP at UFC 74 got absolutely man handled.  Koscheck, Dan Hardy, BJ Penn, Thiago Alves and Jon Fitch.  These are the men that GSP has not only beaten but absolutely dominated.

Even when it comes to Anderson Silva, the best fighter in the world in the weakest division in the UFC, the Hype Machine is still extremely effective.  Before he fought Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Thales Leites and Patrick Cote there were fans who thought he could be in trouble. Yet other than Sonnen (who was on steroids and Silva had a cracked rib) they have all looked pathetic barely posing a challenge.  Two of those guys (Leites and Cote) aren't even in the UFC anymore.  Yet when Anderson faces Yushin Okami you better believe fans will think Okami has a chance.

How many fights will Anderson Silva need to dominate before fans finally realize he cannot be beaten?  I mean the man hasn't lost since 2006.  Georges St. Pierre hasn't lost a round 2007.  Let me repeat so it really sinks in.  He has not lost a single round in over 5 years of fighting.  Yet Jake Shields (who is often in bad positions and barely pulls of victories) is somehow a serious threat? Jose Aldo hasn't lost since 2005, that's 6 years people, but Mark Hominick is being given a "punchers chance."

I'm not saying that the UFC is being dishonest in the way they promote fights.  No the point is that fans keep falling for the same thing (I include myself here).  We as fans watch Countdown and Primetime, we see the promos and we start to think, "yeah I could see him pulling off the upset."  That is the power of the UFC Hype Machine.  It takes rational MMA fans and gets us to completely disregard all the fights we have ever watched.  All the evidence of domination we have witnessed in the past is forgotten in an instant and that's when the UFC has us right where they want us.



Random YouTube Video

1st Round NHL Playoff Predictions

The NHL playoffs kickoff on Wednesday and I couldn't be more excited.  The regular season is fine and all but playoff hockey is a better representation of what real hockey is.  Guys actually finish their checks unlike in the regular season and players actually try for the entire game, its awesome. 

I just can't wait for that first double overtime game that takes until 2:35am to finish.  And is there anything better then when someone throws a dirty hit in Game 2 officially signifying that the series just got chippy?  


So here are my predictions:


Western Conference


(1) Vancouver vs. (8) Chicago

God damnit Dallas you mother f*&ing pieces of s%@* how did you not beat the f%$#@ing Minnesota Wild?! All the Stars had to do to make the playoffs, and keep Vancouver from playing Chicago, was beat Jose Theodore and some AHL callups.  But I guess that's just way too much to ask for a team who boasts one of the best top two lines in the NHL.  Just disgraceful.

As a Canucks fan am I worried that my team will get bounced from the playoffs for the 3rd straight season by the Blackhawks?  Am I worried Roberto Luongo hasn't slept since the Stars lost and still has nightmares about Patrick Kane every night?  Am I worried Vancouver's best faceoff man is half blind?  Am I worried about the President's Trophy curse?   Of course I am.

But I am also cautiously optimistic and here is why.  Vancouver's penalty kill during the regular season was 3rd bets in the league at 85.6% while Chicago's was 25th at 79.2%.  I don't see Corey Crawford stealing any games and becoming this years Antti Niemi.

Lastly with Dustin Byfuglien now on Atlanta and Troy Brouwer and David Bolland unlikely to be healthy for the series I don't think Chicago will be able to man handle the Canucks like they did the past 2 years.  That should hopefully give the Sedins more room to work with.

Having said all that I could still see the Canucks getting swept and wasting another year as a Stanley Cup contender.

Prediction: Canucks in 6 (had to go 6 because if it goes 7 the Canucks are screwed.  Maybe I should have gone with the reverse jinx on this one)

(2) San Jose vs. (7) Los Angeles

I could talk about how San Jose doesn't kill penalties half as well as LA does and how LA has a young team that is loaded with talent but really it would be a waste of time. 

The only thing you need to know about this series is that the Sharks top line are what I like to refer to as "choke artists."  Unless they are on the same team as Sidney Crosby, Eric Staal, Jonathan Toews, Drew Doughty, Chris Pronger, Corey Perry, Ryan Getlaf and every other great Canadian player in the NHL they aren't winning shit.  No one to carry them means no chance of victory.

Prediction: LA in 6


(3) Detroit vs. (6) Phoenix

List of players on the Detroit red Wings that have won a Stanley Cup:  Pavel Datsyuk (2), Henrik Zetterberg, Brian Rafalski (3), Johan Franzen, Jiri Hudler, Nicklas Lidstrom (4), Nicklas Kronwall, Dan Cleary, Valtteri Filppula, Tomas Holmstrom (4), Kris Draper (4), Brad Stuart, Drew Miller, Darren Helm, Chris Osgood (3), Mike Modano.

List of players on Phoenix that have won a Stanley Cup: Ilya Bryzgalov, Ray Whitney.

Prediction: Detroit in 4 (yeah I said it.  Phoenix shouldn't have a hockey team and they probably won't even sell out the building during their 2 home games.  But keep pushing the NHL on people that could care less about the game Gary Bettman its noble work you're doing).


(4) Anaheim vs. (5) Nashville

Nashville got so screwed here.  They almost got to play Phoenix or LA both teams they more than likely would have won their first playoff series ever against but now they have to play Anaheim who will not be an easy out.

For me this series comes down to one player: Shea Weber.  In order for Nashville to be successful Weber needs to play his best hockey and shutdown Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.  If he does that then Nashville might finally get over the hump and win a playoff series which I am really hoping for because Nashville is a solid team and Barry Trotz could use a break (I mean the guy has no neck he could use a win).

Prediction: Nashville in 7


Eastern Conference


(1) Washington vs. (8) New York

Time to see if the Capitals new commitment to defense will pay off.  Last year they got bounced in the first round by Montreal and rededicated themselves to playing 'playoff hockey' all season.  It may have cost them in offense but they still won their division, got a first seed in the playoffs and had the 2nd best penalty kill in the league.

The Rangers barely got into the playoffs (Carolina choked at home against Tampa Bay on the final day of the season) and when I look at this team I wonder who is going to step up and be a leader in the playoffs.  Henrik Lundqvist is an amazing goalie but he can't win the series on his own, not with the defense he has in front of him anyways.

The Rangers owned the Capitals during the regular season but I don't see them continuing that trend when it actually matters.

Prediction: Capitals in 5


(2) Philadelphia vs. (7) Buffalo

They may have limped into the postseason (going 3-4-3 in their last 10 games) but the Flyers are a team that was built for the playoffs.  They play physical hockey and across the board are in my opinion the most talented team in the NHL.  Their goaltending is a real question mark but they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals with Brian Boucher in net last season so no need to worry there.

Plus if Chris Pronger plays in this series, which it looks like he will, then god help the Sabers forwards.  he has built some pent up aggression sitting in the press box and no doubt he wants to kill somebody.  Thomas Vanek better keep his head up.

I emailed my buddy Draper (biggest Sabers fan I know,well to be fair the only Sabers fan I know) asking him how many games he thought the Sabers would win.  "2 if we are lucky."

Prediction: Flyers in 6


(3) Boston vs. (6) Montreal

I was watching TSN today and they aired an interview with Travis Moen of the Canadiens asking him how he thought they were going to win the series.  His response, "drive hard to the net and make Tim Thomas work." Not a bad strategy although there is one flaw I do see in it.  The Canadiens don't have a forward taller than 5'4.  How are these midgets going to drive to the net on Zedeno Chara?  They won't even be able to get by Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton.

With all the bad blood between these two teams this year this series should be great to watch but I think its going to be pretty one-sided in terms of wins.  The again my boys Carey Price and PK Subban might go off and pull off the upset, I kid I kid.

Prediction: Boston in 4

(4) Pittsburgh vs. (5) Tampa Bay

The fact that the Penguins played so well down the stretch despite missing Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby is mind bottling.  Jordan Staal proved he can be a #1 center and everyone else stepped up their level of play.  I don't think Crosby will be playing in this series but I don't think the Penguins will need him as they are a proven group with the best penalty kill in the NHL.

Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis combined for 190 points.  Tampa bays next 4 top scorers combined for 183.  Tampa Bay is a 2 man team that scored the 6th most goals in the NHL this year but had just 8 players finish with a + rating.  They don't play good defense and their goaltending is mediocre at best.  I mean Dwayne Roloson?  Its not 2005-2006 anymore.

Prediction: Pittsburgh in 5


So there you go.  Predictions that mean absolutely nothing from some random jackass on the internet.  Enjoy the playoffs.  I know I will.


Random YouTube Video

Tara Sullivan Denied Access to Male Locker Room at Masters, Overreaction Ensues

"Bad enough no women members at Augusta. But not allowing me to join writers in locker room interview is just wrong."

That is a tweet from female journalist Tara Sullivan of the Bergen Record from Sunday night after she was denied access to the male locker room at Augusta National Golf Club.  The tweet was published at around 8:30 pm and thanks to the express nature of social media the story blew up in a matter of minutes. 

The general public reaction was one of outrage as people simply couldn't wrap their heads around a female being barred from a male locker room.  Naturally the majority of the outrage was directed at Augusta National due to their history of sexism (they currently have no female members) however some people were quick to blame the security guard who refused her entry.

This is where the overreaction began.

A common saying is that when you have a knee-jerk reaction often times you end up looking like the jerk.  This saying rings especially true in this case as people were quick to call both Augusta National and the security guard sexist before getting all of the facts.  If people had simply waited for the entire story to surface they would have realized that the whole situation was a misunderstanding and not some sort mean spirited and sexist act with the intention of embarrassing Tara Sullivan.

Fact #1 - The security guard that denied Tara Sullivan was female not male like many assumed

Here is a quote from Tara Sullivan in an article she published this morning that ran in almost every major newspaper Monday morning,

"At the final portion of the hallway, the one that ended at the locker room door, I was told by a female security officer that I was not allowed in.  I asked the security woman again why they had such a policy, and she told me it was because there was an open bathroom area in the locker room.  She apologized for the rule, saying it was not her policy."

So rather than a male security guard rudely telling Tara Sullivan she wasn't allowed and not giving an explanation it was actually a female who, based on Sullivan's own story, politely explained to her the situation and what she understood was the policy of the club.

But rather than wait for that information to come out people just assumed it was a man who denied her.  I'm not saying it makes it right because she was denied by a woman I am simply showing how jumping to a conclusion rather than waiting for facts can lead to overreactions.


Fact #2 - Augusta National apologized as soon as they were informed of what occurred

Once the story broke many people were quick to blame Augusta National and point to their sexist past (myself included although I didn't blame them I simply stated I wasn't surprised based on their history).  For those that are unaware in 2002 there was a large controversy over the lack of female members at Augusta National.

In response then Chairman Hootie Johnson stated publicly, "Our membership is single gender just as many other organizations and clubs all across America. These would include junior Leagues, sororities, fraternities, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and countless others. And we all have a moral and legal right to organize our clubs the way we wish"

That is sound logic and although it may not be politically correct and socially acceptable it is legally correct as Augusta National is a private organization who can create and enforce any policy it wishes.  Since then the club has allowed female members to join the 'waiting list' although that was 9 years ago and there still isn't one single female member.  But back to Tara Sullivan.

Once again in her own words, "I approached the media desk for an official reaction. An apology was translated to me shortly after and Masters media official Steve Ethun met with me personally."

"I apologize," he said. "It was a complete misunderstanding by tournament week security and you should have rightfully been given access per the standard practices of major sporting events."

One more quick excerpt from Tara Sullivan's personal account, "I looked around for any official Masters representative, but didn’t see anyone."

So what happened was Sullivan was denied access to the locker room and there was no official present to correct the mistake that had been made.  As soon as an official was notified an apology was given although at that time it was too late. 

There was nothing that Augusta National could have done short of stationing an official right by the door to the locker room.  In this case it seems as though Tara Sullivan was simply unlucky and to accuse Augusta National of purposely baring her is flat out incorrect.


Fact #3 - The female security guard was "tournament week staff" 

What does that mean exactly?  It means that the security guard isn't a full-time employee of Augusta National and that she was hired on a 7 day contract to work just the Masters.  Once the tournament ended she would effectively no longer be employed.

Therefore it would be fair to say she might not know 100% of the policies at the club and simply made a judgement call that was incorrect.  She was clearly unaware of equal-access policy which Augusta National does have in effect and had an official been there at the time the situation would no doubt have been rectified.

Tara Sullivan even took some of the blame off the female security guard herself when she said in her recounting of the incident, "Augusta National does not allow women members, so perhaps security personnel could be confusing club policy with Masters policy."

As I said before it was bad luck for Sullivan and an unfortunate misunderstanding that has spiraled into a backlash against Augusta National for being "sexists."


Fact #4 - Sullivan met her deadline and got her story on Rory McIlroy published

That obviously doesn't make up for what happened to her but in reality that's what this whole incident is about.  A reporter wanted an interview but was denied access to the locker room.  She eventually got quotes and the entire transcript of a group interview from her fellow journalists but she missed out on being there personally.

People were reacting like she was denied access to a cure for cancer.  She was just trying to write a 700 word story and couldn't talk to her main interview subject directly.  Context people, context.


I can understand why people would be upset over first hearing about a story like this.  Its 2011 and females are still having to deal with incidents like this.  A lot of the outrage I saw came from female journalists and members of the media which is shocking because if you are a professional journalist you should know that facts are king.  Reacting without knowing the facts can blow up in your face and make you look foolish and had everyone just sat back and waited 12 hours they would have seen that this was just a case of misunderstanding and bad luck.


Random YouTube Video

Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars Crack Under Pressure

Win one game.  That's all the Carolina Hurricanes and the Dallas Stars had to do to make the NHL playoffs.

Thanks to a New York Rangers loss earlier in the week all Carolina had to do was win at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and they were in.  As for the Stars they were given a ray of hope when the Chicago Blackhawks lost Sunday afternoon to the Detroit Red Wings. 

But the pressure was too much as both teams ended up losing and will now have to watch the playoffs on television like the rest of us.

For the past 3 weeks the Hurricanes had been chasing the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  It seemed that no matter how well they played, and they did play really well down the stretch, they just couldn't make up any ground.  Then miraculously the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Rangers 3-0 on Thursday opening the door for the Hurricanes to sneak their way into the playoffs with a win over Tampa Bay on Saturday night.

It seemed like a dream scenario for the Canes as they were playing a team that had nothing to gain by winning and were playing them at home in the RBC Center where they were 22-13-5 on the year.  Unfortunately for the Canes, and their fans, it quickly turned into a nightmare as the Lightning scored 3 unanswered goals in the 1st period to suck the energy right out of the building.  The Hurricanes wouldn't recover and ended up losing 6-2 thus ending their season.

"I think there's a chance it was shock at 3-0," Carolina coach Paul Maurice said in an interview with NHL.com after the disappointing loss. "It happened so fast that you're shell-shocked a little bit, and then the enormity of how much you put into it and where it's at, I think that made it difficult for us."

Captain Eric Staal echoed his coaches sentiments, "We worked our butts off all year to have this opportunity at home and we didn't get the job done."

I thought for sure the Hurricanes would make it into the playoffs.  I figured there was no way they lose with Cam Ward in net and Eric Staal knowing what was on the line but clearly they choked.  They didn't play a strong game defensively and didn't set the tone early instead playing a style of hockey more suited to Tampa Bay's strengths.

Luckily for the Hurricanes they aren't the only choke artists in the league as the Dallas Stars also blew their glorious chance to make it into the playoffs when they lost 5-3 to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night.

The Stars were all but out of the playoff race going into the weekend but on Sunday afternoon they were given a second chance at playoff life.  The second chance came thanks to a 4-3 Blackhawks loss at home to the Detroit Red Wings.  The defending Stanley Cup champions knew they controlled their playoff fate and would be guaranteed the 7th or 8th seed with a win, but they blew it.

"I can't even believe we're here right now," said Hawks captain Jonathan Toews during his post-game press conference to the media. "It's so frustrating that it has to come down to this. I'm pretty much speechless."

If the Stars had beaten the Wild, the Blackhawks would have become the 5th team in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup one year and fail to make the playoffs the following season.  The 1967-68 Maple Leafs, 1969-70 Canadiens, 1995-96 Devils and 2006-07 Hurricanes are the only teams to fail to make the playoffs the season after winning the Cup.

But the Hawks don't have to worry about adding their names to that list thanks to the choke job by the Dallas Stars and believe me it was a choke job.  The Wild played backup goalie Jose Theodore instead of Niklas Backstrom and most of the Wild's best players (John Madden, Martin Havlat and Nick Shultz) weren't even in the lineup.  No the Dallas Stars got shut down by a Wild team that was filled with minor league call ups and backstopped by a goalie that only started 28 games this year, winning just 14 of them.


Its crazy to think that two teams could play 81 games working so hard to try and get into the playoffs and then lose the most important game of their season to teams that had nothing to play for.  In the case of the Stars they couldn't even beat a team that, based on the roster they put on the ice, looked like they were trying to lose.

Both teams will now have a full off-season to reflect on just how exactly they blew their respective chances to potentially win a Stanley Cup.  You can't ask for much more than to control your own playoff destiny and for the Canes and Stars it was too much pressure to handle.  Then again by losing both teams proved that they didn't deserve to make the playoffs and the teams that got in are the correct teams.

I am more pissed than shocked that the Wild won as I was banking on a Stars win so that my Vancouver Canucks wouldn't have to play the Blackhawks in the opening round.  Now I have to sit and watch as Roberto Luongo gets ravaged by Patrick Kane backhands.  Thanks a lot Dallas.


Random YouTube Video (Fail compilation seems appropriate)