Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Ricky Williams extends beyond reach.

Before I get on to the task of looking at the upcoming opponent, I suppose once again while I was out having a social life, something interesting happened in Dolphinland.  It was reported by the Associated Press that Miami agreed to give Ricky Williams a one year extension so that he may play through 2010 and then retire.
I'm a Ricky fan, even wear his jersey, but this move doesn't make a lot of sense to me.  
First of all, we are already in the position of not being able to replenish the stables, so to speak, due to having three locked in players at tailback.  Having the elder-statesman Williams around only prevents someone like Lex Hilliard getting a roster spot and keeps Patrick Cobbs to a limited number of snaps.  
Secondly, the fact that Ricky will make an estimated $4.35 base salary in 2010, would make it impossible to get a hometown discount on an extension for Ronnie Brown.  Brown will become a free agent if no CBA agreement is made, at which point he would demand upwards of $6 million a year on the open market.  If an agreement IS made, he would remain under contract with Miami for $5 million base salary in 2010.  If the team is willing to pay the backup $4.35 million, then the starter's agent would probably go after anywhere between $6 and $8 million per year.    
Patrick Cobbs meanwhile is scheduled to make $775k in 2010 and then become a free agent in 2011.  Then HIS agent, would be able to ask for $4million a year based on the then-retired back up tail-back's salary.

Can the team afford to have $10 million in base salaries paid to just 3 running backs in 2010?  And can they afford the backlash of having a backup running back who's an aging veteran command such a salary?  When Jason Taylor wants an extension for 2010, wouldn't he HAVE to ask for more than the backup running back is getting?  

And what if Ricky isn't cutting it at this time next year?  Do you think any team will want to trade for him considering his age and price?
Ultimately, this deal comes down to some sort of extended nepotism.  There doesn't seem to be a lot in the way of logic and good business sense behind it.

22 comments:

  1. Anyway, it seems like there is no guaranteed money... maybe that's why they agreed on that amount...

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  2. The Knight who says Ni!September 2, 2009 at 10:59 AM

    I don't know. The trifecta usually has a plan. I know they like Ricky. Maybe we don't know the extent of their plan. 

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  3. Well, when you're the number 2 running back, the money is pretty much
    guaranteed. He just has to dress for every game. His weekly paycheck is
    $272k before taxes.

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  4. The only plan that could be coming from this is if they trade Ronnie Brown.
    I don't like that plan. That would leave us without a number one back in
    2010.

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  5. Nicely Done Tin

    Think Ricky will have a good year this season
    Ronnie will have a great year this season

    Ricky will be traded in 2010
    Ronnie will command 7.5 million next season and stay with the Maimi Dolphins
    This will actually be considered a "Hometown Discount after a great year
    Esp. by his agents admission

    Patrick cobbs elevates to #2 Dolphin RB in 2010 and receives aprox 2 million because its considered fair, he earned it and most all he is the teachers pet

    Tin
    Keep up the great work and wish U continued success

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  6. Thanks HSB.
    Your numbers are scarier than mine though, instead of $10mill for 3 players,
    we're paying $10mill for TWO!

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  7. The Knight who says Ni!September 2, 2009 at 11:38 AM

    I don't like that plan either. There is this idea out there that RBs are a dime a dozen and to some degree that is true. The problem is RBs with Ronnie's talents are not a dime a dozen.

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  8. The Knight who says Ni!September 2, 2009 at 11:57 AM

    Cobbs will never be the #2. He has found his role as a special teams ace and situational skill player on offense. I've thought all along that we will draft a RB next year because of Ricky's age and the uncertainty with Ronnie's contract. 

    I don't see Ricky being traded next year. Giving him a raise didn't make that any easier for a RB who will be 33 next year. If he was going to be traded it would be right now. It would be funny if it was back to New Orleans who we're playing tomorrow night. Hmm...

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  9. Remember Tin, Ricky negotiated this without an agent.  Without seeing the contract all we get is is a final number.  Supposedly none of it is guaranteed.  So if Ricky gets seriously hurt, they can just waive him injured and give him an injury settlement.  Also I am sure that he has some high performance clauses to get all that money.  If he does not perform at a high level, then he will never see all of that money, and if he does, then he will have been worth it.  As far as Ronnie Brown is concerned, I feel that his lack of breaking off long runs means that he was gone no matter what.  However, I seriously doubt the CBA will be resolved.  Not sure about his rookie contract, but I know that Matt Roth would not be a free agent without it.  Possibly why he is holding out, knowing that he could have a big year, and that the fins could still keep him cheap.  So we might keep Ronnie another year as well.  This whole uncapped year is going to be very interesting.  Not to mention possibly not only being the last year we see football played before a work stoppage.  Who knows, this year could be the last we see of a salary cap.  So with Ross's money, and his willingness to spend, and an uncapped year coming up, Ricky's extension does not really concern me

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  10. I think it's a common misconception that an uncapped year will bring mass
    spending. It SHOULD actually bring the opposite. It's the teams best shot
    at saving a ton of money. Free agency could be a snorer next year.

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  11. The Knight who says Ni!September 2, 2009 at 12:40 PM

    if you look at Ronnie's career stats, he usually breaks two or more runs of 40 yards or more each season. You need down field blocking to break long runs, or a defense has to sell out to stop the run and they get trapped leaving daylight behind them. We haven't been very good in the downfield blocking dept. for a long time. I can't remember the last time we were good at it.

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  12. My point is not that the fins will spend tons of money, its that players like Ronnie, and Roth wont be going anywhere, and a contract like Ricky just signed does not matter.  Free agency will be a snore.  Especially for all the young players coming off rookie contracts.

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  13. I don't know if even if he's going to be 33 his body has the miles of a 33 RB.  He practically skipped 2 to 3 years.   I think he is going to retire as a dolphin, Ronnie will be traded and the Trifecta is going to use a first day round pick for a new RB.  Did you notice all the first day round picks RB are doing great in this preseason?

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  14. I don't know if even if he's going to be 33 his body has the miles of a 33 RB.  He practically skipped 2 to 3 years.   I think he is going to retire as a dolphin, Ronnie will be traded and the Trifecta is going to use a first day round pick for a new RB.  Did you notice all the first day round picks RB are doing great in this preseason?

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  15. The Knight who says Ni!September 2, 2009 at 1:10 PM

    If there is no new CBA and the cap ends, it will be hard to get it back, and in 2011 teams like the Dallas Cowboys lead by Jerry Jones will be the new George Steinbrenner New York Yankees and teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers will go the way of the Pittsburgh Pirates. This will not be good for the NFL.

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  16. not sure if it will get that dire.  But yes the Cowboys, Redskins, Giants, Patriots, will spend more than the other teams.  What would be interesting is if teams like Pittsburgh and Indianapolis will continue to dominate at the middle levels with there superior management.  Teams like Jacksonville, Tampa, Bengals, and Bills will become perennial doormats since there will be no cap floor either. 

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  17. The Knight who says Ni!September 2, 2009 at 1:50 PM

    edswood, you say not sure if it will get that dire and then you go on to explain how dire it will get. LOL

    Pittsburgh and Indianapolis don't have the markets to compete with the big city markets. Their superior management won't mean much eventually. That's my point, it will ruin the NFL.

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  18. man sure would be nice to ronnie and ricky
    pick up some serious steam
    hopefully they both could have 1000 yds
    well see....

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  19. man sure would be nice to ronnie and ricky
    pick up some serious steam
    hopefully they both could have 1000 yds
    well see....

    ReplyDelete
  20. The Knight who says Ni!September 2, 2009 at 5:52 PM

    If the OL and other blocking units get it together so Ronnie and Ricky can tear teams up, they will if the opportunity is there. They can both hurt teams as receivers as well.

    I'd love to see Ronnie with 20 rushes and 4-5 receptions and Ricky with 10 rushes and 2-3 receptions per game. If we can do that we'll be a good team.

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