- Joined
- Oct 25, 2024
Players sign contracts to play, essentially, that bind them to play for the team that has the contract.
Parsons wanted to ink a new deal and extend his time with Dallas for a while. Dallas was extending other players and basically put him in the backburner.
Seasons later, another DE from another team signs for a shitload of money (41M/year), shifting the market.
Jerry and Parson's agent battle back and forth this offseason, relations soured when it prob got past 43$M/year, Jerry basically said no further than X amount.
In the NFL, there's basically guaranteed money or non-guaranteed money and bonuses. Guaranteed comes in various forms (skill, injury, or cap space), and can be combined. It's paid out in 18 weekly increments.
This current year of the previous contract has a team option that the Cowboys exercised, which basically forces the player to play another year with them.
It also is a fully guaranteed contract year.
Why is Parsons entitled to say, "I want more money"?
Many players in this situation will claim a 'mysterious football injury' keeping them out during the time and keep collecting paychecks (since it is covered by his guaranteed money clause). If the owner actually likes you, he will let you get away with it so that you can go back to negotiations.
Parsons was prob faking the back tightness BS. This prob pissed Jerry even more, but he won't outright show it, because he also wanted to bring him back.
He would have done the same if he was traded to the Packers and they didn't give him the desired amount.
They'd basically have to trade or pay up, because he'd just cripple-max his guarantee in some way, or sit out.
He still remains on your roster, just doing nothing and making a stink in the media about your front office.
If yes, does that just put him on the market to haggle and juggle various offers from every team in the league?
Yeah, he could try to do that. Although, you might scare off all the other owners. This would put you in the insane situation Lonnie Smith in the MLB was, where he was blackballed to hell and back and signed for pennies. If no-one gives you what your asking for, the NFL market will basically collectively set your price.
You don't want them to do that.
If not, he must play for the team he was traded to or sit out a year (or longer)?
He could have chose to sit out the entire season and damage his value and lose money (if his BS injury stops being football related, very possible with biased team doctors). Then, go into free agency after this year's contract expired.
He could also play and earn his salary, waiting for the extension to actually come through during the season or go into free agency the year later.
Basically, you play for money. If you don't play, you don't earn money.
Unless you are injured and under a guarantee, then you can milk it like your injured coworker milks his PTO and workers comp.
Also, owners and front offices hate this and will fine you a billion dollars for xyz. They take it out of your salary.
It's usually reasonable to the NFLPA and owners, so you usually can't appeal for wrongful fines, etc.
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