CigarStone
For once, knowledge is making me poor!
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2007
- Messages
- 11,661
If you are like me and giddy with the beginning of the NFL season maybe you would enjoy some NFL related discussion; and maybe a few side bets to boot.
NFL fans are a rabid bunch of fanatics and thus very opinionated, here’s a couple of mine.
#1……….High (early, not stoned) draft picks are not the huge benefit that most think they are. It has been my opinion for many years that a high draft pick is often a bigger detriment than benefit. The untested rookies often hand-cuff a team in a number of ways. First…………Most first round draft picks end up being significant overpaid for at least their first 2-3 years. Second……..A franchise is often unable to go sign free agents until they get their #1 pick signed because they have to manage the salary cap. And since #1 draft picks are typically signed in the reverse order they were picked, the higher the pick the longer the team has to wait to know how much money they have to play with within the salary cap. If commissioner Goodell is successful in restructuring the rookie salary scale, you could see a huge difference in the value of a high draft pick. This belief plays directly in to the next one, as well.
#2………How is it that the bottom dwellers of the NFL seem to stay on the bottom despite getting early draft picks to aid in the building of their future? The Lions, Browns, Cardinals, Bengals, Falcons, etc draft earlier, on average, that other teams for twenty, thirty, even forty year periods, yet they continue to be the dregs of the NFL…….why? I’m sure a great deal of it has to do with ownership and front office, because when you look at the most respected, long term, franchises in the NFL, like the Steelers for example, you see teams that are always competitive, and often superior. I also think that point #1 above has an adverse effect on the teams who perennially draft early.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on these two subjects and many more.
NFL fans are a rabid bunch of fanatics and thus very opinionated, here’s a couple of mine.
#1……….High (early, not stoned) draft picks are not the huge benefit that most think they are. It has been my opinion for many years that a high draft pick is often a bigger detriment than benefit. The untested rookies often hand-cuff a team in a number of ways. First…………Most first round draft picks end up being significant overpaid for at least their first 2-3 years. Second……..A franchise is often unable to go sign free agents until they get their #1 pick signed because they have to manage the salary cap. And since #1 draft picks are typically signed in the reverse order they were picked, the higher the pick the longer the team has to wait to know how much money they have to play with within the salary cap. If commissioner Goodell is successful in restructuring the rookie salary scale, you could see a huge difference in the value of a high draft pick. This belief plays directly in to the next one, as well.
#2………How is it that the bottom dwellers of the NFL seem to stay on the bottom despite getting early draft picks to aid in the building of their future? The Lions, Browns, Cardinals, Bengals, Falcons, etc draft earlier, on average, that other teams for twenty, thirty, even forty year periods, yet they continue to be the dregs of the NFL…….why? I’m sure a great deal of it has to do with ownership and front office, because when you look at the most respected, long term, franchises in the NFL, like the Steelers for example, you see teams that are always competitive, and often superior. I also think that point #1 above has an adverse effect on the teams who perennially draft early.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on these two subjects and many more.
