The term contract is from the Latin word contractus, meaning “undertaking a transaction or agreement.” In English, the word is defined as “an agreement with specific terms between two or more persons or entities in which there is a promise to do something in return for a valuable benefit known as consideration.”
This is common knowledge. There is little ambiguity surrounding the meaning of this word, and you can be sure that there is no ambiguity surrounding the word among those that enter into the multi-million dollar varieties that dominate professional sports. So, why the hell are athletes so quick to break this commitment? It drives me absolutely nuts.
Sheldon Brown, you signed a SIX-YEAR CONTRACT, in exchange for a meager sum of something in the neighborhood of $30 million, depending on various incentive clauses. How can you possibly say–after only two years, mind you–that now you have “outplayed this contract” and demand a new one or a trade?!? What the hell was the point of signing the contract in the first place? These NFL teams offer security–more security than 99.99% of people in this world–in exchange for playing football for their team.
“It’s a good thing for not only myself but my family. The most important part is that I’m glad the Eagles believe in me. Now I’m more anxious to prove that I can be worthy of the signing.” This was a direct quote from Mr. Sheldon Brown at the press conference announcing the deal. Now, as if no one records any of these things, he says, with a straight face, “I’ve always been treated like the red-headed stepchild, even since I was drafted. I’ve always been the nice guy, never said anything. I think they took that for granted.” WHAT?!? They gave you a $7.2 million signing bonus! They offered you a THIRTY MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT! If that’s being taken for granted, then sign me up.
Now, I understand that the NFL is a little different than other sports, in that the teams can unilaterally terminate these contracts, so it does not seem fair, but remember, the players enter this CONTRACT knowing that. That is why they get astronomical signing bonuses (Sheldon’s was a paltry $7.2 million-GUARANTEED). That is why you hear so much about the “guaranteed money.” Sheldon Brown entered a contract, knowing full well what the terms of the contract were, for how long the contract would be valid, and what was expected of him on the field. He gladly accepted the six-year deal, and now he turns around after TWO YEARS and says he’s not happy? Come on, Sheldon.
I know, I am also really upset about how they treated Dawkins and Sheppard, but you are under contract. You are still a starting cornerback (at least you were until your little bitchfest) on a defense that finished #3 in the league last year, which just so happens to be the team that drafted you and groomed you–a team that is clealy dedicated to winning, even though they deal with business issues in a cold, calculated, heartless fashion that even Belichick might find counterproductive, at times.
Now, on the other side, the Eagles are not exactly innocent in this one. Why do they have to use the media to “send a message?” Aren’t we all adults here? Yes, Sheldon is out of line (and driving me crazy, goddamit), but why make it public? It just stirs up a childish, ridiculous exchange of sound bites that cannot possibly lead to anything productive for the football team. Why does Darth Banner make a 233-word public statement that includes words like “counterproductive” and “unfortunate” when referring to Brown’s trade request? Why does he have to publicly make the point that they “feel that Sheldon is being paid fairly?” And, worst of all, why say something like this:
“There have been league MVP’s, Super Bowl champion quarterbacks, and perennial Pro Bowlers who have been in a similar situation. All of their teams have required them to wait until their contract expired or there was only one year remaining before any adjustment took place. It is only in the most extraordinary, in fact, less than a handful of circumstances in the last 10 years that any players two new years into a contract with four years left have been adjusted. We don’t think this qualifies as an extraordinary circumstance.”
Why? Why not cut out 199 of those words and make the following 34-word statement:
“Sheldon Brown is currently under contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. We believe he is an excellent football player and a valued member of this organization. Any contractual discussions will he handled internally. Thank you.”
God, this is frustrating. Are we dealing with children here? Ahhhhhhhhh…
Okay, sorry about that. As always, thanks for listening, friends.
