#24 Champ should listen to.....Brian Billick???

[Skinsfan1906]

I know you guys are wondering what this initial thread is all about.

Well, a couple of years ago, one of the Ravens "high profile" superstar Defenders (Peter Boulware) was in "contract negotiations" with the Ravens. He would NOT report to camp until he cleared it with his AGENT (whom was used.....as many are.......as a mediator between player and team).

Brian Billick was asked about this. With tons of news cameras in his face............he (paraphrasing) said (and I LOVE this): "THESE PLAYERS NEED TO REALIZE AND UNDERSTAND WHO WORKS FOR WHOM. THESE AGENTS REPRESENT THE PLAYERS AND WORK FOR THEM, AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND."

What does this have to do with Champ? Well, I've heard him say recently that he will "let his agent handle everything", while he concentrates on football. While I understand his desire to "concentrate on football"............Maybe he could listen to Brian Billick's statement.

If you ask me, AGENTS are ruining the game and players allow them to be the sharks that they are. It's not (nor should it be) all about the money. Whatever happened to loyalty? What happened to what's best for the team? What happened to finishing something that you started? Oh, and the big one.........WHAT ABOUT THE FREAKIN' FANS?????

I know that Champ wants to be paid what he's worth (and he by all means should be). I hope that he (or his 'agent') doesn't make the negotiations ridiculously taxing. I hope the Redskins are not trying to "low-ball" him. It doesn't sound like they are, but if they are offering a more than "fair" contract, then SIGN THE DARN CONTRACT, CHAMP!!!

I don't know about you guys, but this (Money only$$$) attitude of these modern day players is really starting to piss me off. DARRELL GREEN is the Redskins ICON that he is because he came to work to do his job, didn't complain much, always counted it a "blessing" to play with the Redskins, praised the D.C. area (where he STILL lives) and the FANS (that's us) and never complained (at least not to my knowledge) about MONEY$$$$$$$$$$$.

Come to think about it; Champ doesn't ONLY need to listen to Billick.....................HE NEEDS TO LISTEN TO DARRELL GREEN ALSO!!!!!!!!!! What do you guys think??:

[ShaggySkins]

I think this issue needs to wait till the offseason again. Nothing I'd rather see more then Champ locked up long term. But I don't want this to be an issue that effects his play at all. I think he's doing the right thing now. Nothing could be worse then for this issue to cause him to have a down year because his mind is on his contract and not the game.

[jsarno]

look no farther than the unions...it ruined baseball, and now it's working it's magic on football. The agents don't care about football, just thier pocket, and the more money the player gets, the more money the agents get.
I don't see how aplayer can't do his own contract. Hire a lawyer for $150 an hour to read it or something so it can be understood,but teh players should be the only ones negotiating.

[Skaggsrules]

Agents, cost my Mets A-Rod, talked a team who had a great RB with potential to take an ailing Willis with their only 1st round pick and not a need. Agents get a cut of the money which drives them to get more money out of a team.

[rskinsfan10]

Originally posted by Skaggsrules
Agents get a cut of the money which drives them to get more money out of a team.

That's everything that needs to be said about agents right there in a nutshell.

[hail2skins]

Well, free agency/salary cap killed player/team loyalty. You know they always say "this is a business" and both sides are looking at it that way.

[GhostRider68]

I have a feeling that free agency/salary cap is why Joe Gibbs left coaching period. He saw the writing on the wall and realized it was going to be all about the benjamins.

[hail2skins]

Originally posted by Trung24
I have a feeling that free agency/salary cap is why Joe Gibbs left coaching period. He saw the writing on the wall and realized it was going to be all about the benjamins.

Yep, those were the reasons that were stated about his retirement. Joe loved his veteran players.

[GhostRider68]

In my opinion I'd franchise his butt , get two 1st rounders and build up the front 4. Tampa Bay doesn't have "great' corners. Their front 4 put pressure on the QB's.

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

thats true in most cases. but what about big daddy's former agent. BD fired him and when he spoke, he said he told BD to take the skins deal because he wasnt gonna get another deal like that......guess he was right...

[Seebs]

You're right when you say it's all about money. Here in Europe, we don't have any kind of salary cap for any sport. The richest sport in Europe is soccer. Best players are earning around 800k$ a month. Great players make 150k$ a month. This is mainly due to a boom in tv fees in the late 90's. A lot of players have prefered to go in clubs where the money was, rather in clubs which were able to make them win. Situation is so so now. Because the bubble is deflating, but players keep their salaries even if it means putting their team in bankrupcy...

[mtownskinsfan]

Originally posted by Trung24
I have a feeling that free agency/salary cap is why Joe Gibbs left coaching period. He saw the writing on the wall and realized it was going to be all about the benjamins.

Completely agree with this. If it were'nt for free agency, Gibbs probably would have been coaching a couple more years and the skins probably would have won at least one more super bowl.

[TexSkin]

The differnece with Champ and Boulware is that Champ showed up to camp. Champ only said he would let his agent handle the contract because those dam things are complicated. Champ is a great guy and we just need to be patient with these negotiations. I do hate agents but cant blame Champ for using the system that is in place.

[Ed Poe]

Guys,

The free-agency system isn't going anywhere. By refusing to sign a deal now, Champ Bailey is basically gambling that he'll be worth more - to the Skins or to someone else - at the end of the season.

Maybe he is all about the money, or maybe he doesn't think that the Skins have a good chance to win under the current regime. But this is how the guy makes his living, and I have to think that any of us, under the same circumstances, would exercise every bit of leverage that we had.