The Seattle Seahawks are offering free-agent cornerback Marcus Trufant less money over six years than San Francisco cornerback Nate Clements was given over five, according to league sources.
For analysis....
Well, this is probably why the two sides have been described as far apart in negotiation. Really, you can't blame either party. From Trufant's perspective, he was a Pro Bowl corner who is trying to build on the last contract signed by a free agent Pro Bowl corner. Also, he certainly can read the paper, he knows his services are in demand, he could get his money.
From the Seahawk's perspective, they still aren't 100% sure what they have in Trufant. All teams are weary of players who improve their game dramatically in their contract year and then start looking for huge money. They want to find out if Clements money is for real. If Samuel gets 10 mil per, they can make the decision about a long term deal then. Maybe they know that most teams feel the same way as the Hawks, and will shy away from that money.
The problem lies in how Marcus feels he is being treated. The Hawks would be better to communicate to Tru that they are waiting to see what Samuel gets. This is better than offering a way below market deal. What if Samuel takes a lesser deal, but Trufant is upset beyond the point of reconciliation. At least with the tag, Trufant plays another year in Seattle, or the Hawks get a good return for him. Right now, it looks like his long term future is intricately tied to how much money Asante Samuel can get. Unfortunately for the Hawks, as league insiders often say, "it only takes one." And that one will probably give Samuel a mega deal.
Can you not apply the franchise tag on the same player in consecutive years?
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me we pay Marcus $9.5 this year, we would have to pay him almost $11M next (20% increase) - thats pretty steep. However, we could see if he has another good year - trade him or try signing him to a long term deal next year.
I don't think we should trade him for a 1/3 this year as i think our window of oppty is closing, i think he has more value this year than a 1/3 does.
I have said this before, and will say it again, I would take ANY 2 1st round picks for Trufant in a heartbeat. He had one very good year, but is undersized and has not really performed to his pro-bowl level before, and may not again. We lived without Shawn Springs and we will live without Marcus Trufant, show me the draft picks! (Please let it be Atlanta or Miami that takes him!!!)
ReplyDeleteTagging the player is one thing--getting him to sign his one-year tender and participate in camp is another.
ReplyDeleteSeveral players have held out after being tagged and refused to sign thier tender and report for camp. These players demanded that a clause be added (is that proper english?!) to the contract stating that the team promises not to Franchise tag the player the following year, even if a long-term contract is not reached.
Tru may do this to the Hawks. No player looking at a HUGE payday wants to play under a 1-year tender. If Tru gets hurt next season, he looks to lose 20-30 million over his career.
-leshthomas
Just further proof that the Hawks FO thinks Tru's performance last year had a lot to do with our D-line.
ReplyDeleteTru is 6'-1" tall and almost 200 lbs. How is that undersized for a CB??!!
ReplyDeleteJennings is 5'-7" and about 170 lbs--now THATS undersized!
If we got Atl or Miami's pick, we would end up paying a rookie as much as we are paying Trufant. The best case scenario would be Houston. They pick in the premier RB range and are desperate for a quality corner.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, lets get Houston on the phone and see if they want to deal. Obviously, this has to be a draft day deal, because you have to make sure your guy is there. Get Houston to give us their first, anything else they throw in is a bonus. You draft your RB with that pick, take a TE or the best availabe corner with our next pick. its a gamble, but you'd likely pay both guys less than what Trufant would/will cost. He is good, but one great year doesn't make you a top corner, his entire body of work is above average, but not great.
ReplyDeleteelgranderojo
Trufant is 5'11 (in heels) he was measured at 5'10 and change at his combine, iirc.
ReplyDeleteBelow is the seahawk team site that lists him at 5'11"
http://www.seahawks.com/Team/Players.aspx?id=12904
trade him! he is not worth 9.5 for the tag much less long term. if we could get a high number 1st round and 2nd we are now in the market for a top DT. or trade atlanta for hall and their 2nd. hall is already on the way out the door in atlanta. if we can get 1 of 2 top DTs we can go after a cb late first or early second.
ReplyDeleteNobody is worth 9.5 million over 5 years. Not even Tom Brady.
ReplyDeleteWe need a happy Tru for Holmy's last gasp at a Hawk SB victory. Meanwhile, groom/draft his replacement.
The problem with Hall is he will want top-10 CB money as well. The only way to save money is to sign a second/third tier FA, or draft.
Tru is probably worth 6 years 42 million, with a 10 million dollar bonus included in the 42. If he doesnt perform over the next 3 years, he gets cut and if they work the contract right, it doesnt screw our cap up.
Tru has an agent, agents are scum, and they think he's worth 5 years 45 million, 22 mill guaranteed. No way. I dont give a damn is Samuel signs for huge money, Clements contract has opt-outs for the niners so he will never see all that money. Its an illusion meant to hurt other teams trying to sign thier shut-down CB/s.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteCan you give me the Clements salary and bonus breakdown, please.. I want to know how much of his contract was backloaded in the final three years of his deal.
If there's a good corner to be had on the first day, draft him. Corners are over priced, we need to grow our own.
ReplyDeleteWhen Tru proves he's a regular pro-bowler, then he'll be worth top-tier money. Until then, he's just another good corner who had a great season. Not worth $9.5 mil.
ReplyDeleteWhen Trufant puts a career together that even comes remotely close to Nate Clements, then he can whine. Until then, he's just another overpaid CB that's getting waaay more money than he deserves.
ReplyDelete"Jennings is 5'-7" and about 170 lbs--now THATS undersized!"
ReplyDeleteJennings is 5'10" and 185.
Don't forget Brian Kelley from the Bucs is a free agent and could be had for far less money. He is a little older but is a known commodity for Ruskell. If we can land him fairly early in FA we'd be in much better shape to trade Trufant for picks.
ReplyDeleteNapolean was undersized.
ReplyDeleteJoe Montana lacked arm strength.
Darrell Green was undersized.
Emmitt Smith was too slow.
Lance Armstrong was going to die.
Michael Jordan was taken in the draft behind Sam Bowie.
Tom Brady is slow.
Can we get over (please) this size thing with Jennings? He was a decent starting DB in his first full year as a starter. He started 16 games.
I think if you look at who the Hawks draft, its obvious they like to draft positions where the players are overpaid the most.
I'd love to keep Tru around, but overpaying someone is a good way to find yourself a crappy team.
-Papahawk