The NFL 2nd round signing conundrum;Ferguson still not signed

[Selassie I]

Now that Collins (#43) signed a contract that was 88% guaranteed, the players picked behind him cannot expect to get a 100% guarantee on theirs.

However... 45 won't sign until he sees the guarantee that 44 gets... and the same for our new TE at 46. No agent is going to agree to sign a deal until he sees what the guy before his gets. So at least we only have to wait on 2 other players to sign, and we also won't be stuck giving a 2nd round pick a 100% guaranteed contract like others picked ahead of 45 might have to.

 

[Psycho_X]

The Whiners served an actual purpose for a change other than being pieces of shit. They can still fuck off though.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

This dude has BUST written across his face. Can't wait.

Now lets get Ferguson signed, with much let guaranteed money. That'd be great.

Not to hi-Jack the thread, but I don’t know anything about Collins. I hope you are correct. This would be another Lynch draft failure and win for the NFC west

 

[dieterbrock]

"2. Howell has come under scrutiny since ESPN reported he has maintained a part-time consulting job with the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that holds league approval to seek minority ownership in NFL franchises.

1. That followed the revelation that the NFLPA and the league had a confidentiality agreement to keep quiet an arbitrator's ruling about possible collusion by owners over quarterback salaries.

3. The latest issue was an ESPN report Thursday that revealed two player representatives who voted for Howell were not aware that he was sued in 2011 for sexual discrimination and retaliation while he was a senior executive at Booz Allen."



..........So #3 got him forced out but #1 didn't?
The players reps forced him out over sexual discrimination and retaliation from 14 years ago, not the NFL for colluding with agents over 2nd round guaranteed money?

People sure love conspiracy theories

 

[Londoner]

People sure love conspiracy theories

Because those in positions of power never lie to the public. Ever.

 

[WarlordJC]

My guess is that both the Texans and the Browns intentionally did this to gain some benefit--maybe just by causing their opponents' 2nd-rounders to miss camp and not be able to contribute as much this season. I don't say it's going to work, but I can't think of any other reasons for doing it.

My evidence for that is that both teams signed those guys VERY early (May 8-9)--so it seems like the Browns and Texans initiated the guaranteed money offer, but why would they do that? Again, the only thing that makes sense is that HOU and CLE think they can gain some kind of edge on the rest of the league.

If those players--or their agents--had demanded guaranteed contracts, why didn't the Texans and Browns just wait two months or so? Carson Schwesinger (Browns) and Jayden Higgins (Texans) signed fully guaranteed contracts on May 8 and 9!

I don't remember seeing many--if any--holdouts since 2011 when the NFL started the current rookie wage scale for draft picks, so how did the Browns and Texans suddenly both come to the conclusion that Carson Schwesinger and Jayden Higgins wouldn't sign unless they got fully guaranteed contracts?

The only thing that makes sense is the Browns and Texans wanted to screw over the rest of the league. It doesn't have to make sense to us, and it doesn't make any sense to me, but what other reason could there be?

The other idea that's mentioned here is that the Browns and Texans are just stupid--yeah, maybe that too.

 

[PARAM]

Because those in positions of power never lie to the public. Ever.

The revelation that the NFLPA and the league had a confidentiality agreement.........
Not suspicion. Not accusation. REVELATION.

When does a conspiracy theory stop being a "theory"? When it's a revelation.

 

[dieterbrock]

Because those in positions of power never lie to the public. Ever.

And strawmen are gonna strawman

 

[dieterbrock]

The revelation that the NFLPA and the league had a confidentiality agreement.........
Not suspicion. Not accusation. REVELATION.

When does a conspiracy theory stop being a "theory"? When it's a revelation.

Lol
Confidentiality agreements are a revelation?
My goodness this is off the rails
The NFLPA and owners agreed to keep something confidential. Period
Happens all the time in collective bargaining

 

[snackdaddy]

The other idea that's mentioned here is that the Browns and Texans are just stupid--yeah, maybe that too.

The ghost of Bill O'Brien still haunting the Texans. The Browns, well, they are the Browns. Nuff said.

 

[Corbin]

Report broken by the Athletic, Howell, director of the NFLPA has resigned. Apparently has nothing to do with 2nd round draft picks and guaranteed money but it seems like a sticky situation none the less. Something about association with an outside group, the NFL later hired or something like that.

Just got it in an alert but it's behind a paywall, so it's unreadable if I share. Anybody else with an Athletic subscription understand the issue?

"The move follows several weeks of criticism aimed at the NFLPA, including concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving Howell and reporting that the NFLPA agreed to a confidentiality agreement with the NFL to hide information about an arbitration decision."

WTF is that?

Arbitrator finds NFL encouraged teams to cut veteran guarantees

An arbitrator's ruling reportedly has found the NFL encouraged teams to reduce guaranteed contracts for veteran players in 2022 (Tim Bradbury) AFP Jun 24, 2025 at 6:14 PM MDT An arbitrator ruling on a collusion grievance between the NFL and its players union found the league encouraged all...

ramsondemand.com

 

[Ground Chuck]

People sure love conspiracy theories

And Conspirators love the current climate where healthy skepticism of government overreach of power is met with shaming. If it was good enough to distrust government for Tommy Jefferson, and Alex Hamilton, it’s good enough for me.

Because those in positions of power never lie to the public. Ever.

This^

And it certainly can apply to the NFL as it applies to anyone in power. Healthy skepticism is where the cool cats hang out.

“Believe and follow our leaders“ is for dupes and useful idiots. (Not you Dieter. )

 

[Londoner]

“Believe and follow our leaders“ is for dupes and useful idiots. (Not you Dieter. )

Yeah - he isn't useful.

 

[dieterbrock]

And Conspirators love the current climate where healthy skepticism of government overreach of power is met with shaming. If it was good enough to distrust government for Tommy Jefferson, and Alex Hamilton, it’s good enough for me.

This^

And it certainly can apply to the NFL as it applies to anyone in power. Healthy skepticism is where the cool cats hang out.

“Believe and follow our leaders“ is for dupes and useful idiots. (Not you Dieter. )

Doubt & skepticism is all fine & good, but when it's created off of a false narrative it is a complete disrespect to those who you just mentioned

 

[AZRams]

Truly don't understand how guys earning more than 99% of everybody else in the country can't be satisfied with what they're being offered.

What, I'll-never-have-to-work-again-after-my-NFL-career-is-over money isn't enough?

WTF...

 

[Merlin]

1. That followed the revelation that the NFLPA and the league had a confidentiality agreement to keep quiet an arbitrator's ruling about possible collusion by owners over quarterback salaries.

Even if that is true collusion would be a good thing for everyone other than QBs, so 99% of the league or whatever. I think owner collusion on QB salaries may be required, lest we end up with owners paying them most of their cap and the rest of the dregs fighting over the scraps.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

My guess is that both the Texans and the Browns intentionally did this to gain some benefit--maybe just by causing their opponents' 2nd-rounders to miss camp and not be able to contribute as much this season. I don't say it's going to work, but I can't think of any other reasons for doing it.

My evidence for that is that both teams signed those guys VERY early (May 8-9)--so it seems like the Browns and Texans initiated the guaranteed money offer, but why would they do that? Again, the only thing that makes sense is that HOU and CLE think they can gain some kind of edge on the rest of the league.

If those players--or their agents--had demanded guaranteed contracts, why didn't the Texans and Browns just wait two months or so? Carson Schwesinger (Browns) and Jayden Higgins (Texans) signed fully guaranteed contracts on May 8 and 9!

I don't remember seeing many--if any--holdouts since 2011 when the NFL started the current rookie wage scale for draft picks, so how did the Browns and Texans suddenly both come to the conclusion that Carson Schwesinger and Jayden Higgins wouldn't sign unless they got fully guaranteed contracts?

The only thing that makes sense is the Browns and Texans wanted to screw over the rest of the league. It doesn't have to make sense to us, and it doesn't make any sense to me, but what other reason could there be?

The other idea that's mentioned here is that the Browns and Texans are just stupid--yeah, maybe that too.

Or they have a lazy front office that doesn’t want to bother haggling with an agent. Or worse. It could be that their front office has ppl that share the same agents with the players. So the agent and GM or financial guy barter behind the scenes to get a favorable deal done for the agent.

 

[gogoat1]

People sure love conspiracy theories

They are right, time and time again. We have been lied to for a very long time.

 

[Ground Chuck]

Doubt & skepticism is all fine & good, but when it's created off of a false narrative it is a complete disrespect to those who you just mentioned

That's kind of a red herring. Of course that's true. But as @gogoat1 stated, (and we won't "go there") one months "false narrative" is another months "turns out to be true."

If the mainstream media is broadcasting a narrative in perfect unison, it is almost guaranteed to be BS.

I'll do my own thinking, thank you.

 

[PARAM]

Lol
Confidentiality agreements are a revelation?
My goodness this is off the rails
The NFLPA and owners agreed to keep something confidential. Period
Happens all the time in collective bargaining

I didn't write "revelation", the author of the article penned that. But anyway, they revealed (not accused, supposed or suggested) the NFL & NFLPA agreed to keep the arbitrator's ruling of the NFL owners collusion of QB pay confidential.

Off the rails? That's a bit strong, isn't it?
Happens all the time in collective bargaining? Okay. They're not hiding anything, I guess. The guy resigned because he was tired of the job.

They didn't want the arbitrators decision to become public knowledge for what reason? Same reason they covered up concussions? Didn't want to be viewed in a bad light?

Just thought it was interesting during these times of 2nd round draft picks demanding full salary guarantees and the alleged cooperation of the NFLPA, who's director was privy to knowledge of collusion over QB pay.