_2.gif "Time.com 50 Best Websites 2008")
The Associated Press reports that next week’s ownership meetings will include consideration of a rule that would institute a five-day to seven-day period prior to the start of free agency during which communications between teams and the agents for impending free agents could occur without consequence.
Teams would not be allowed to contact the players, but teams would be permitted to talk to the agents about the parameters of contract offers and/or work out the arrangements for those first-day visits.
Such a change would be a recognition of what already is occurring, and we think it would make a lot of sense.
Sure, there would still be violations. But the bulk of the tampering occurs from the start of the Scouting Combine through the launch of free agency; by making contact with agents permissible during that period of time, the league would go a long way toward solving the biggest part of the problem.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am
The question is:
Is this initiated by the owners or the agents?
Sounds like the agents.
But if the owners initiated it, it would look like they are the ones who are trying to make it look like they are policing themselves to the senate, while still giving themselves a loophole to jump through.
Too many rules and violations have been violated in the past year, but yet the owners “seem to be sitting on their hands with their thumbs pointed skyward”, to quote some internet hack.
I love this game, but this sh!t has got to stop.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
March 27th, 2008 at 12:18 am
YAY, OWNERS! Way to stamp out cheating!
(paging Matt Walsh… Matt Walsh… your express train back to “Nothing To See Here, USA” is leaving…)
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
March 27th, 2008 at 7:46 am
using this logic, then we should put headsets in the defense and put the defensive signals on the scoreboard so no one has to tape. I LIKE IT!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
March 27th, 2008 at 9:33 am
That is insane. Allow contact with agents but not players prior to free agency? Am I missing something, but how about the players who act as their own agent. Is it okay for teams to contact the Duante Culpeppers or Zach Thomass prior to free agency, if those “players” are acting as their own “agents” DUMB DUMB DUMB.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
March 27th, 2008 at 9:49 am
So what? They institute a 5-7 day period prior to the start of FA to talk to agents but not players. All it means is that teams will start talking to agents before THAT period starts. Plus, does it really matter if the teams talk to the players anyway? The agents are the player’s mouthpiece as it is…. what is to keep the agents from getting the player in on a 3 way call to hear what the team is telling the agent? Kelvin Sampson could tutor the agents on how best to do it.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
March 27th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Someone posted ( awhile ago) making the players wait to sign the contract for a certain period of time after the start of free angency. This makes the most sense as even if a team has a wink-nod deal in place, any team with a fat wallet and a burning pocket can swoop in with an offer.
This will at least increase each teams chances at being able to negotiate!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated