Why Russell Wilson's megadeal may not be coming as quickly as we think

[Center Ice]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1272242/russell-wilson

February 10, 2015 5:35 pm
Seahawks GM thinking outside the box to re-sign Russell Wilson

by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com


Seahawks general manager John Schneider said Tuesday he is expecting to find a way to keep quarterback Russell Wilson on the team long term and he is not afraid to do so unconventionally.


"I think Russell Wilson wants to win championships," Schneider said. "Being a championship caliber team means thinking outside the box a lot of times and we're going to do that with Russell. He knows there are certain dominoes that have to fall in place."


Wilson has one year remaining on his rookie contract and has led Seattle to the Super Bowl two consecutive seasons.


"I've talked to his agent now, much like several of our other free agents. He knows, he gets it," Schneider said. "He wants to win and win for a long time. We're going to do what's best for this organization and that doesn't mean you just do what everybody else around the league has already done."

I like this piece much better. Sounds like they have an idea, that will be a bit different, but good as far as the goal of winning.

Don't fuck around, pay the man or somebody else will.

 

[blstoker]

With the constantly growing cap and union pressures that's just the way it is. No franchise QB = no chance. Worth is only defined by the market, and looking at the market, anything less than $18.5 mil per year is a steal. $15 mil per year is more than ideal, but it would take an owner and organization willing to make a huge offer of a signing bonus.

Or, someone like Brady who thinks $15 million is enough for the chance to consistently contend for championships.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

That may be, but that doesn't mean I feel he's worth $15 million per year at all, or at least not worth much more than that. People throw $20 million around and I cringe.

The money QBs make is out of whack, but it is what it is. I'd be happy as heck if they actually signed him for $15 per year for four years, guaranteed salary or not

 

[SonnyCID]

Or, someone like Brady who thinks $15 million is enough for the chance to consistently contend for championships.

Brady's contract is mostly guaranteed. That's how they keep it low, not just because Brady is such a nice guy.

 

[blstoker]

Brady's contract is mostly guaranteed. That's how they keep it low, not just because Brady is such a nice guy.

As I understand it, Brady has a 3 year $45 million contract with an $18 million signing bonus, and a total of $24 million guaranteed for injury only. So, at most just a little over half is guaranteed.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/tom-brady/

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Or, someone like Brady who thinks $15 million is enough for the chance to consistently contend for championships.

This RW second contract, a bit different then Brady situation at 33.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

See all that dead money if he's cut, right at the last three years of his contract?

http://overthecap.com/player/tom-brady/1250

 

[blstoker]

This RW second contract, a bit different then Brady situation at 33.

Be as it may, but it isn't like Brady signed a massive deal after winning 3 SBs in 4 years. 5 years, $48 million $14 million guaranteed (his third deal - as NE restructed his rookie contract after 2001 to give him $3 million a year after winning the SB). Manning had signed a $98 million contract the year before ($35 million guaranteed) and Michael Vick has signed a $100 million contract in 2004 as well.

Really, the question is, does Russell try and squeeze every penny he can get, or does he leave some for the team to put more pieces around him? If he leaves some, how much? It all depends on his priorities, as I'm sure the Seahawks will do their best to accommodate what he wants out of the deal.

 

[blstoker]

See all that dead money if he's cut, right at the last three years of his contract?

http://overthecap.com/player/tom-brady/1250

Yes, standard dead cap. It amounts to what remains of his signing bonus, $18 million, each year. He signed an $18 million dollar bonus, so year 1 is $18 million in dead money. Year 2, $12 million. Year 3, $6 million. So, he has $18 million of his $45 million guaranteed (goes up to $24 million if he's hurt). So, 40% of his money is guaranteed.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Fans always want players to sacrifice earnings.....for the good of the team. Rarely happens and when it does, it's almost alway a older player who's made plenty and will take guarantee money over top dollar per year.

 

[blstoker]

Fans always want players to sacrifice earnings.....for the good of the team. Rarely happens and when it does, it's almost alway a older player who's made plenty and will take guarantee money over top dollar per year.

It is true, I am a Seahawks fan, and will follow the team long after Russell Wilson goes. I'd prefer to see him stay, and have no problem with them paying him whatever they pay him. I won't fault Wilson if he tries to get whatever he can, it's his life and he has to do what is best for him.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Yes, standard dead cap. It amounts to what remains of his signing bonus, $18 million, each year. He signed an $18 million dollar bonus, so year 1 is $18 million in dead money. Year 2, $12 million. Year 3, $6 million. So, he has $18 million of his $45 million guaranteed (goes up to $24 million if he's hurt). So, 40% of his money is guaranteed.

Says righy at the top that Brady has $33 million guaranteed and he was 33 years old and some questioned the wisdom of giving him that kind of guarantee.

 

[blstoker]

Says righy at the top that Brady has $33 million guaranteed and he was 33 years old and some questioned the wisdom of giving him that kind of guarantee.

I know not all websites agree about this stuff, cause the one I use (sportrac) says that he had $33 million guaranteed of a 5 year $70 million contract. Your's (overthecap) claims it's $33 million of $57 million. So, which is it?

 

[SonnyCID]

I know not all websites agree about this stuff, cause the one I use (sportrac) says that he had $33 million guaranteed of a 5 year $70 million contract. Your's (overthecap) claims it's $33 million of $57 million. So, which is it?

I think some of these sources are including previous years of the contract. From what I can tell by reading around, they gave him a check for 30 mil, then a guaranteed raise of 1 mil per year. He's 37, I think that what he was concerned about is the next two years. He was already under contract for those years for 30 mil, so he took 33 mil to fully guarantee them and tack on another year. A check in the hand is better than two in the bush.

 

[blstoker]

I think some of these sources are including previous years of the contract. From what I can tell by reading around, they gave him a check for 30 mil, then a guaranteed raise of 1 mil per year. He's 37, I think that what he was concerned about is the next two years. He was already under contract for those years for 30 mil, so he took 33 mil to fully guarantee them and tack on another year. A check in the hand is better than two in the bush.

I haven't read anything about it, but from the way sportrac shows it, his salary for 2015-17 ($24 million) was fully guaranteed because he was on the roster the final week of 2014. The restructure seems to give him a $1 million a year raise to make that only guaranteed in case of injury. So, he gets an extra million a year but its not guaranteed, though since I haven't actually read anything other than their salary graphs about it I really don't know what happened.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

I think some of these sources are including previous years of the contract. From what I can tell by reading around, they gave him a check for 30 mil, then a guaranteed raise of 1 mil per year. He's 37, I think that what he was concerned about is the next two years. He was already under contract for those years for 30 mil, so he took 33 mil to fully guarantee them and tack on another year. A check in the hand is better than two in the bush.

I believe you got it right Sonny.

 

[BoBlake]

4 years at 60MM would be nice. Even if he completely SUCKED next year, he's going to be our QB for at least 3 more years based on his previous body of work and his signing bonus. So, essentially, he has at least 3 years guaranteed no matter what.

We all know he's not going to suck (and we're not going to find anyone better), so might as well just guarantee 4-5 years off the bat if it means a cheaper overall contract.

His contract will be fully guaranteed for injury no matter what, regardless of how much is 'guaranteed' or not.

 

[flyerhawk]

If there is any hesitation, it will be solely based on the fact that they are trying to maximize this cycle and go for another Super Bowl run.

No way that RW doesn't get a new contract this offseason but it may be a 1 year deal to hold on to as much cap space as they can. And I think that Russell would be on board with that.

 

[blstoker]

 

[FirebreathingMonkey]

ESPN's Blount: Seahawks, Russell Wilson "very close" to new deal.

Blount said. "I think it's going to be bigger and crazier and different from what any contract has ever been."

Interview about the contract begins at 8:45 mark.

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