Is this offensive-line spending getting a little out of control?

Question

I won't ask "does everyone think these salaries are too much?" because I'm sure most people would say yes, but I will propose the question of "why are so many NFL teams blind about talent? especially on the O-line"

Steinbach, Dockery, Davis getting ~7 million a year ----as much as Steve Hutchinson who's near-consensus the best G in the league.

Leonard Davis was the #2 pick in 01 and although he'd make a better G than T, he's hardly at Hutch's level. And although it is hard for O-linemen to get famous, I'd never really heard Steinbach and Dockery's names around. The Elite Guards in my mind are guys like Hutch, Alan Faneca, Will Shields, etc. I don't put these guys in their league. It doesn't say much about these guys' characters if their that full of themselves that they think they're top tier. These teams are wasting money on names we're going to forget

discuss

I'm NOT saying o-linemen don't deserve that much, I'm saying CERTAIN ones don't ----that these FAs who are making big bucks arn't as good as teams/they think they are -----I don't disagree with the guys I mentioned as elite making big buck (well, actually I have a problem w/athelete salaries in general, but that's capitalism, what ya gonna do?)

also --- it just kinda irks me because with writers preaching them as the best FAs, people who are "novices of football knowledge" go around spouting things like "oh yeah, that Eric Steinbach is one of the best Gs in the league" ---when he's a B+ G at best.

Answer 1

well, with the new Television contracts with the NFL, the salary cap jumped the past two seasons, and is expected to jump again next season. The league also implemented a rule that teams MUST spend the money. (I think they are required to spend 90% of the cap). This leaves most NFL teams with money to spend.

Couple this with the fact that there are VERY FEW quality offensive lineman on the market. How many this year, 1-2? Steinbach and Dielman? Most teams could use upgrades on the offensive line, but the players are just not there, but they have to spend the money regardless.

As a whole, the free agent class of 2007 will all be overpaid. Look at the deal that Wes Welker is getting from NE. Now I love Welker, he is one of the premier over achievers in the NFL. But... 6 years and $37.5 million? He was the Dolphins #3 receiver and returned kicks and punts. That deal is unreal.

We put second round tender on Welker, and I honestly expected him to get a deal that averaged $3 million per season, and then we would have the chance to match it. The Pats are giving him double what I expected he would receive. The Pats also had the 6th MOST amount of money to spend at the start of free agency, so they are over spending to get the players they really want.

Answer 2

It has nothing at all do with the players or the teams, and everything to do with simple economics. I've said it before and I'll say it again...the Vikings unleashed one huge cluster **** by signing Hutchinson to that much money. Because it's fast becoming the norm. Also keep in mind that, over the next few years, the salary cap is going to balloon many tens of millions of dollars. $49 million last year is more than $49 million this year.

Also, free agency IS a value system, but it works on a curve. Champ Bailey is a better cornerback than Nate Clements, but Clements gets way more. It is all of the above factors combined with the fact that Clements was easily the best corner on the market. So, even though he might be about a 89 or so(on a scale of 100), in FA this year, he was a 100 because he was the best. This curve; however, is ruined not by outliers but by clumping. If Steinbach was the only top lineman in FA, he easily would've gotten more. But the presence of Dockery, Davis, etc. depressed their collective value. That's commodities...the more prevalent they are, the less they're worth(it's why people say RBs are a dime a dozen.)

Do I think Dockery and Steinbach were overpayed? No. Why? Because they were the top guards on the market, the salary cap is inflating at a rapid rate(so their contracts will become "cheaper" as they progress compared to the going rate), and it's the bar set for top guard pay by the Vikes. Davis, on the other hand....is only good at underachieving and eating...

Answer 3

good question... I think that what salary players get has a lot to do with the sports market that year. And unlike other markets, the sports market is always rising, and by the millions every year. You have to look when someone signed a contract, because that has a lot to do with what a position and player is valued at.

If a truely elite guard were to be signed, he may make more that that this year... Agents and teams negotiate these contracts, so i wouldnt blame the player for getting whatever he can for the short time that he will earn this huge amount of money. Maybe sports stars earn too much, but I dont know if you should attack the character of the player for accepting an offer that his team and his agent (who make loads of money for negotiating and dont risk their health) negotiated.

But getting back to the point, teams have a lot of salary cap money and this year there is a minimum amount of the cap that teams need to spend. Teams can no longer skimp on salaries to keep costs down. And its good to see the grunts of the NFL (the O-line) bringin' home some good chedda

Answer 4

Well you look at how few O-linesman are well known for talent. Yet the thing is there are a few. Most people who really know football players do know guys like Faneca(Steelers fan so biased to mention him ut you are right on the others). Now the Steelers don't pay a lot so yeah you can't really go by what HE makes but the thing is he can and should be a standard for the Elite level. I mean you got teams that make "salary cap" cuts and moves based on getting under the cap. They complain about the cap, if not out loud we all know what it means when they talk about how they have to make these moves because of the cap when they wish they could keep the player blah blah blah. Yet they are the ones who have no problem throwing all that money out there. That is actually one of the biggest advantages of the cap. If you want to throw that money out like that it will come back to bite you. They aren't willing to just pay the guys what they deserve. I know agents get the most possiable but all the owners could take a stand and say NO we aren't paying that much. Start paying more on performance bonuses.

Answer 5

Teams are gambling some, but with the inflated cap they can do that. They are going out and getting guys with talent, but who haven't lived up to it yet.
I think its good what is happening. Every year there are teams who think they can get it done with o-lineman of the scrap pile. It doesn't work like that. Some teams may not ahve invested highly in their line and have a good one, but they didn't invest highly because they found that they had already stumbled on some good players. If you don't have good players on the line you need to do everything possible to fix that, fast.
You want to talk about bad signings. How about over the last year or two when the cowboys signed Rivera and Kosier. At least with Davis there is the possibility of him being great as opposed to just another guy.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I know -I know . But as an avid Bills fan I am thrilled with their picking up Dockery, he may not be elite but he is one of the better o-lineman in free agency this year . If the Bills or one of these other teams you mentioned hadn't paid these guys someone else would have .This is an unfortunate side effect of modern free-agency. Check the money thrown around in the MLB for mediocre talent this year ! I'm just glad my team got someone who can block even a little . The Bills also picked up two more o-linemen adressing a team need .

Answer 8

Would agree it is to much money for OL talent BUT when you do find quality OL talent, and can lock them into long term deals, it ensures having a top OL for years to come. Everything on offense revolves around the OL, can't avoid that.

Answer 9

O-line should get paid a million for every hotdog that they can eat in 30 seconds

Answer 10

I think that A.) yes its a lot of money B.) It will take years of overpaying the oline for all the money they have been cheated out of in relation to the job that they do. All them prettyboy multimillionaire quarterbacks that cant be touched on the field nowadays should be donating money to them everyweek.