Quote of the Day- And a queston 4 u

[evucci]

The quote of the day-

Joe Bugel, the assistant head coach-offense who praised Pierce's play, said: "I don't think anything surprises you any more in free agency. Sometimes a player says I want to be a Redskin for life until somebody dangles a buck or two in front of him."


So let me ask you guys this- Will our players ever love the Redskins as much as we do? And do they have to have that love to win a ring?

[zoony]

I really hate to say it, and I'd like to be wrong...

but No. :(

.....

[thinker]

By all accounts the Redskins offered Pierce a $3.5 million sb. He may get only one big check in his career - $6.5 million is too much to pass up. Remember, he's played his whole career for the minimum. I really don't think we have a right to be bitter. He even kept to his word and didn't sign until he talked to Gibbs. I imagine that Gibbs would have told him that he had to do what's best for his family. That was just too big of a home town discount to expect or even really ask for.

[bnacpa]

I wish. However ... if the rumors I have been seeing are true ... that the Giants are giving him 6.5M upfront vs. the Redskins offering 3.5M upfront, you can't really expect that kind of loyalty.

I don't know about you, but if a rival company offered me double my salary and guaranteed it, I would more than consider the move. Money isn't the only thing, but if he gets injured he will be glad he got his $$$

I would be more upset if the Skins offered him 5.5 or 6M and he balked for just 500k more.

[SkinsChick36]

Go ask Patrick Ramsey if he wants a championship ring...I'lll lay a bet on what he says...:1stplace: :helmet:

[Dan T.]

I don't think players anywhere have ever had the passion for their team that fans have. They'll play like hell for their team, until it's not their team anymore.

They can have passion for the game, but for them it is a business, and money can motivate movement to another team. And that's not criticism of them by any means.

The passion from the fans comes from a whole different mind set.

It is a rare player that shares the same kind of passion for a team that a typical diehard fan does.

[evucci]

I don't get upset about free agent comings and goings, but this is one case that just sucks. Pierce was a guy that was so easy to root for. He was a undrafted kid who FINALLY got his chance, and he exceeded everyones expectations. Maybe it's the "Rocky" story that I'm getting caught up in- but I really rooted for this guy. It's a hard one to swallow. And I bet he's sitting at home wishing he were still a Washington Redskin.

[RedskinzOwnU]

unless they grew up diehard skins fans and then went to the pros - no - no one will have the same devotion to the team that we have. Sometimes we can't help but feel betrayed when they leave, but logically they are makin the right decisions; more guaranteed money is as good a reason as any to join another team.

[evucci]

What about guys like Teddy Bruschi taking much less then market value to stay in New England? Why did he choose loyalty over the money? If the Skins had been in the playoffs the last two years and proved they were on the verge of the superbowl- do people show that kind of loyalty to stay here?

[RunPortisRun]

No. Not football, but Chris Webber took less money to stay with Sac Town but when things got rough they shipped him off. That just shows that players need to look out for themselves.

[Dan T.]

Originally posted by RunPortisRun
No. Not football, but Chris Webber took less money to stay with Sac Town but when things got rough they shipped him off. That just shows that players need to look out for themselves.

Yep. The Skins offered Pierce only HALF the signing bonus the Giants did. Loyalty only goes so far. Especially for a guy who was earning the NFL minimum, it would be tough to leave $3 million on the table.

[Grunherz54]

The bottom line is that Professional Football is a business.

Evidently Pierce was offered a good deal more money and he took it. A career-ending injury is always just a play away and the signing bonus is the only guarantee he has.

What bothers me is the Redskins' de facto policy of overpaying other teams' free agents during the past half-decade. Had the Redskins operated with a bit more restraint during that time then perhaps they would be in better position now to 'overpay' to keep our own.

With Coach Gibbs at the helm I see the Redskins heading in the right direction, it may just take another offseason or so for reality to meet that vision.

[Walking Deadman]

Originally posted by evucci
The quote of the day-

Joe Bugel, the assistant head coach-offense who praised Pierce's play, said: "I don't think anything surprises you any more in free agency. Sometimes a player says I want to be a Redskin for life until somebody dangles a buck or two in front of him."


So let me ask you guys this- Will our players ever love the Redskins as much as we do? And do they have to have that love to win a ring?

I'll actually defend the players (and Pierce) for a moment: They play in a sport where your career can end in 1 play. Granted for some of us our career can end in one event as well, but when you have a chance (possibly the only one) to set yourself up for life-- you have to take it, 3 million dollars is a big difference. Yep, Pierce did want to stay a Redskin and gave the skins a chance to pay the Giants' price, but they didn't and he's gone. That's football in the modern era.

To answer your question though, yes some do-- Samuels and Arrington are bascially here until their careers are practically over. Thomas wants to be here and so does our new center. There is love and more players will have that love and want to play here for less $$ once this franchise starts winning again. Snyder needs to know this: the money might get them here, but they won't stay if they can't win.

PS. I love Buges, but that was a stupid comment. Pierce kept his word about giving the skins a chance to match the offer and wanting to stay here. I hope AP plays really well in all but 2 of his games every year:)

[SkinsGuy]

bnacpa put it best.

Put it in perspective of your own job. If someone from a rival company came to you and wanted you to do the same work you are doing now for 6 times more than what you are making well, honestly, what would you do?

I wish Pierce the best (except hoping he fails spectacularly whenever he faces the Redskins :) ).

I just hope that when Pierce signed that conract that he realized that "little general" Tom Coughlin is hell and gone from what Joe Gibbs is. :)

[Wicked99]

"Although coach Joe Gibbs said the Redskins couldn't meet Pierce's contract demands, a club source said Washington matched almost all of the Giants' six-year, $26 million deal, including a $6.5 million signing bonus, but offered less during the first two years. "

well according to an article in another thread the skins pretty much matched everything and he still chose to play elsewhere.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93935

[Blondie]

I don't think players anywhere have ever had the passion for their team that fans have. They'll play like hell for their team, until it's not their team anymore.

Exactly.

We are FANS.

They are in this for business.

I have been fortunate enough to be very close to a few players in my life......and very close to one. I have also been very good friends with a few coaches.

This is a business. Pure and simple. Of course they say they want to be with a team for life........they have found a home etc. Just as you do might do when you are newly hired.

But we as fans are dedicated to the team. The players are dedicated to their own families and livelihoods.

Blondie

[RDSCNZ20]

i have heard gibbs say this.. correct me if i'm wrong.. but he said.... some players need love, some need sugar and some need money..... seems like most players need money.

[bubba9497]

Originally posted by Wicked99
"Although coach Joe Gibbs said the Redskins couldn't meet Pierce's contract demands, a club source said Washington matched almost all of the Giants' six-year, $26 million deal, including a $6.5 million signing bonus, but offered less during the first two years. "

well according to an article in another thread the skins pretty much matched everything and he still chose to play elsewhere.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93935


Gibbs wouldn't give details but said they offered Pierce close to what the Giants did.... I doubt he thougt $3.5 million was close to $6.5 million

[pr11fan]

I believe there are a few around the league that are close to sharing the fans love for a team or city but no it will never be the same. I mean put yourself in their shoes, if you were drafted by the Chargers let's say and after 4 years of making a 4th round salary a team like the Jaguars offers you 3 million more, obviously being a hardcore redskin fan you don't particularly feel an undying loyalty to either team, which way do you go.

[SkinsNut73]

I agree with the sentiment that they have to make their money now...while the opportunity is there. And I believe Pierce really wanted to be here, and I give him props for allowing the Skins to try and match the offer. I think that showed how much he wanted to be here...but in the end you've gotta take the money if you are in his shoes.

[iheartskins]

Very few players have ever loved a franchise with their heart and soul--even before free agency began. There are those like the Art Donovans, the Gaye Sayers, the Darrell Greens, but there are a lot more people that only played for a couple years.

As several other people have said, loyalty only goes so far in business.

[jstape]

I have no problem with players like pierce trying to cash out on big paydays when they get the chance... think about it, Pierce was an undrafted free agent then slowly worked his way to a back up and then started because of an injury and now he is getting this for his hard work.

The issue is that the NFL only guarantees the signing bonus. So, seeing as though he took a little more money, these players want it early because they don't have a long time in the NFL (avg career length is somethin like 4-5 years). Not to mention most of them don't necessarily have careers to fall back on as sucessful as football.

Imagine trying to make a life out of working for 4-5 years, wouldn't you try to get paid as much as you could?

Good Luck to AP I wish him well