Bart Scott Cut---Gets Last Laugh!

[OriginalColtsFan]

It's actually pretty rare when a guy takes significantly less money from one team than another, regardless of how good / bad the two teams are. They all want to win. They all want to make a lot of money too.

That said... despite the rumor mill that there would be this exodus of players to "follow Rex"... it never really came to pass. Scott went, but the Jets paid him more (significantly more) than anybody else was offering. And Rex played in to his ego that he'd become "The Ray Lewis of New York". Leonhard went, but the Ravens were getting Landry back and Jim would have had to take a fraction of the money and a backup role to stay. Pryce went later, but he was pretty much "done" at that point anyway. And contrary to revisionist history, Rex didn't inherit a bottom feeder roster when he went up there. They were a playoff team in 4 of 6 years prior to '08, and missed the playoffs by one game in '08.

There was also actually a time when people had serious debate (and many truly believed) that Mark Sanchez was a better QB than Joe Flacco...

It depends how much less/more we're talking about.

[OriginalColtsFan]

Maybe. Depends how much money.

Agreed. But ask Jim Kelley or Dan Marino or any other H.O.F.'er who DIDN'T get a ring if they'd gladly trade some cash for a ring and see what they have to say.

[TDL]

It's all about money for 99.9% of pro athletes. Don't be fooled by their little interview sound bites.

I completely agree and that's as it should be.The NFL is big business and these players are adults with wives and children to take care of and you can hardly find fault with them if they choose to make their well being a higher priority than winning.

[bmore_ken]

I agree 100%

[Arslan]

Bart Scott explained the virtues of frugality on ESPN 30 for 30 by simply repeating what Raven's owner Steve Bischotti once told him: "You can live like a king for a day or live like a prince for the rest of your life." I hope Scott chose the latter.

[RIKMAN]

He took the money...can't blame him

[bmore_ken]

He took the money...can't blame him

I sure don't

[Ravens75]

I don't blame Bart for taking the money. This is a selfish/mercenary business. Get as much in guaranteed dollars as you can because one injury and the team is telling you they can't/won't pay you no matter what you've done for them.

[Peej7245]

Interesting perspective is this: When a player talks about "if the price is right" I believe they are talking as much about pride as they are the money. Each player has an idea, whether he admits it or not, how that player compares to others of the same position. Players also know how much the best at each position make (it's public knowledge as well as made so by the NFLPA) so when Flacco's agent Linta is speaking to Ozzie, he knows exactly how much the top players make, knows that this dollar figure is already set.

Now, here's the question: If Flacco were offered $20 Million over 5 years or 18Million over 6 years, what would be the difference to his bank account? Probably not much.

However, how does this number compare with other QBs who haven't been to 5 straight playoffs, won a SB, tied Montana with 11 TDs vs 0 INTs, etc.?

So it is not only winning, or money, but also how the player is perceived to be ranked in his position in terms of dollars (that pride thing again).

I believe that unlike Scott (hardball at any price) Boras, Linta will work hard with Ozzie to find a set of terms that will 1) get Flacco to the top of the heap of NFL QBs, 2) try to work the best cap deal possible and 3) spin it as a win for both the team and the player.

[Ravens2006]

There's also an unwritten rule among the players & agents (in all of the major sports)... they all REALLY want their colleagues to get the highest contract numbers they can. Why? Because next time their own deal comes up for renewal and/or they hit free agency... that guy's "record breaking deal", or his "way over-valued contract"... just sets the bar higher for everyone else. While we're not exactly talking traditional manufacturing union style control and pressure to fall in line, there is always pressure from the player's side of the table for everybody to get the most dollars that they can. There is a sort of collusion going on there as well. Ryan Fitzpatrick's deal was crazy, but QBs all over the universe loved it. Flacco's deal, whatever it may be, will probably set a baseline for Ryan's negotiations. And guys like Aaron Rodgers will try to get more later on. And for any of the rookie "phenoms" from 2012, if they turn in to consistent, top echelon QBs... they'll want even more. That's how it works.

And even if the difference between two offers is as "little" as 65 million from good team and 68 million from bad team (assuming the local tax situations are the same)... that measly 3 million dollars can mean another generation or three down the line has their college expenses covered, or maybe there's another half million they can put in to a charitable foundation. Now how often that plays a role in their decision or not, or if it's more likely they see it as "3 more Ferraris and one hell of a stripper-catered Superbowl party", who knows. I'm sure it varies from case to case.

Gotta admit, the prospect of a stripper-catered Superbowl party or two has it's value.

[RavnFreek]

Lets see Rex left and took Bart. If I remember right it was Bart, Sizzle and Ray that were the three and one had to go. It certainly appears we kept the right 2 guys.

[sandiegosean]

Remember the Ravens tried to keep Bart, and even went higher to match his number once...they defintely wanted him back.

[CajunRaven]

You really don't understand what motivates these players; you only know what motivates you.

You're kidding right? It's about the money first, and it should be. The only time the decision comes into play is if offers are close. A player may take a little less at a chance for a SB versus some slug team, especially later on in their career.

This is their career, the first order is money, especially in a sport where an injury could end it on any given day.

[CajunRaven]

Exactly. That's the beauty of hindsight. That's why I said that if he had it to do over again, and could see how things would play out for both teams, he'd take less money and the ring over Rex and Tebow.

Why do you bring Tebow into it? The guy rode the bench, he certainly had nothing to do with the Jets sorry arse performance.

[OriginalColtsFan]

Why do you bring Tebow into it? The guy rode the bench, he certainly had nothing to do with the Jets sorry arse performance.

Why do I bring Tebow into it? Because it highlights just how totally dysfunctional the Jets became after Scott signed on there, that's why.

[OriginalColtsFan]

You're kidding right? It's about the money first, and it should be. The only time the decision comes into play is if offers are close. A player may take a little less at a chance for a SB versus some slug team, especially later on in their career.

This is their career, the first order is money, especially in a sport where an injury could end it on any given day.

Actually, Brady took less (and I'm not talking about just restructuring his contract) the year the Pats chose NOT to re-sign Branch. And the first few games, Brady was visibly ticked off. So it's not just players in the later years that do that.

[afan]

The point was Scott's claim that players didn't want to play for John Harbaugh, preferring to play for Rex instead -- NOT how much they were willing to play for. As usual...your understanding of the real issues is limited to the point of missing it completely. If Scott could go back in time, and take less money and win a Super Bowl ring, I guarantee he'd choose the Ravens and Harbaugh over the Jets and Ryan.

This is an argument of futility. How can anyone know what anyone else would do. Come on , money versus loyalty. Money vs security etc etc etc. I do think people on the outside think, "what else could a player want" we all think these guys "love" it whereever they are. Yes as long as they get paid. After getting their pay they could than deal with the loyalty issue.

[bmore_ken]

You're kidding right? It's about the money first, and it should be. The only time the decision comes into play is if offers are close. A player may take a little less at a chance for a SB versus some slug team, especially later on in their career.

This is their career, the first order is money, especially in a sport where an injury could end it on any given day.

You know you're wasting your time with him don't you?

[OriginalColtsFan]

You know you're wasting your time with him don't you?

And arguing with you ISN'T a lesson in futility? LOL. You're a joke, dude. You always have been.

[weenie]

You really don't understand what motivates these players; you only know what motivates you.

Please look up what the word professional means. In short, it means you perform for money.

Any player in the high risk sport of football who fails to prioritize money over loyalty to a team, that will cut him the moment he fails to deliver, is just foolish. And, fans who go on about players, thinking they should discount themselves for the fans benefit are equally as foolish.

We will all miss a few Ravens from the super bowl team but I for one am happy for their good financial fortune and I wish them well wherever they go.

By the way, there are a few good teams with cap room....like New England and Cincy.