Another win for Brad and the front office. It’s amazing (but not all too surprising) to contrast how these deals are publicly reported vs how they actually operate in reality. The devil’s in the details, they say.
At the risk of answering a question written out of frustration rather than a lack of understanding I’ll take a stab at this.
After over 60 years of poor management (tragically illustrated by the Matt Millen years) the Lions are a serious contender again. That is due to leadership in the front office and development of the players by the coaching staff.
Their ability to identify talent, develop the talent, and retain the talent are the keys to producing a team that can challenge for the Super Bowl for years to come.
The minutiae of the finances are the keys to being able to retain the talent. It was the lack of attention to these details (amongst many other poor decisions) that had left our team without talent and direction for so many years.
For all the (deserved) criticism leveled at the NFL as a soulless money making machine they have created a fantastic product where, because of its structured salary cap, allows teams in small markets (like Detroit) to compete meaningfully with teams in Los Angeles. This allows teams to improve in a short period of time and creates hope among all fans that “this could be the year for (insert favorite team).” It is through the deft manipulation of the salary cap and understanding its byzantine rules that allows for the retention of talent or being able to obtain talent in free agency.
TLDR: money is the life blood of all teams and understanding the rules allows teams to thrive
Glad to see him signed and delivered. But how does all this exotic contract, cap space and maneuverability get us to a Super Bowl? Really, is that not the question to ask after some 67 years of next to nothing? All these ins and outs of pay structures are quite ridiculous...thanks NFL. I know, the NFL is a business but without any loyalty...except to profits.
It helps because it makes the cap hit from Gibbs’ contract reasonable so they have more money to pay other players; i.e. LaPorta and Branch. It also gives them more flexibility to sign free agents, particularly to cover injuries.
If you’re a “don’t pay the RB” guy, you have to like this contract. For me, Lions got the best of both worlds since Gibbs has relatively few miles on him and may have a longer productive career than the average back, but they also lowered his cap hit during his prime years, and can move on if he declines after year five or six in the league.
Another win for Brad and the front office. It’s amazing (but not all too surprising) to contrast how these deals are publicly reported vs how they actually operate in reality. The devil’s in the details, they say.
At the risk of answering a question written out of frustration rather than a lack of understanding I’ll take a stab at this.
After over 60 years of poor management (tragically illustrated by the Matt Millen years) the Lions are a serious contender again. That is due to leadership in the front office and development of the players by the coaching staff.
Their ability to identify talent, develop the talent, and retain the talent are the keys to producing a team that can challenge for the Super Bowl for years to come.
The minutiae of the finances are the keys to being able to retain the talent. It was the lack of attention to these details (amongst many other poor decisions) that had left our team without talent and direction for so many years.
For all the (deserved) criticism leveled at the NFL as a soulless money making machine they have created a fantastic product where, because of its structured salary cap, allows teams in small markets (like Detroit) to compete meaningfully with teams in Los Angeles. This allows teams to improve in a short period of time and creates hope among all fans that “this could be the year for (insert favorite team).” It is through the deft manipulation of the salary cap and understanding its byzantine rules that allows for the retention of talent or being able to obtain talent in free agency.
TLDR: money is the life blood of all teams and understanding the rules allows teams to thrive
Glad to see him signed and delivered. But how does all this exotic contract, cap space and maneuverability get us to a Super Bowl? Really, is that not the question to ask after some 67 years of next to nothing? All these ins and outs of pay structures are quite ridiculous...thanks NFL. I know, the NFL is a business but without any loyalty...except to profits.
It helps because it makes the cap hit from Gibbs’ contract reasonable so they have more money to pay other players; i.e. LaPorta and Branch. It also gives them more flexibility to sign free agents, particularly to cover injuries.
Now, the idea is to find a David Montgomery in the draft! Cheaper version with power!
If you’re a “don’t pay the RB” guy, you have to like this contract. For me, Lions got the best of both worlds since Gibbs has relatively few miles on him and may have a longer productive career than the average back, but they also lowered his cap hit during his prime years, and can move on if he declines after year five or six in the league.
2029 trade bait.
Heresy
What happens to his compensation after his guaranteed money is paid out if he gets injured and not able to play at all?