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rambleon
Yes, the Rams have more leverage than Donald. I personally feel (based on my limited knowledge) that Donald is making a mistake by holding out.
That doesn't mean I disagree with his decision to do so. I also stand by my point about Donald having more leverage than Goff, Ogletree, etc.
In the leverage hierarchy it seems to me it goes: Rams > Donald > Everyone else
But maybe Donald and his agent think their position is better than we do.
In summary: I agree that Donald is overplaying his hand, but I disagree with anyone who has a moral objection to him doing his best to play the hand he's been dealt.
To me, this does not look like a situation where a player upset at his contract is trying to force a change on a reluctant team.
Based just on how both the Rams and informed reporters are talking about it, the Rams and Donald mutually agree on doing an extension and are just slow about working out the details.
To me, then, Donald not reporting is not an "unhappy player" forcing something on the team, it's a player who does not want to risk an injury before he signs a huge extension. Yes he reported to minicamp but he did nothing there but non-contact drills.
So to me, what looks like the key here is this: BOTH the Rams and Donald want the extension. There are no "player demands" or "team resistance"...it's all completely mutual. (BTW that means it has nothing to do with "leverage" either way. The team has publicly stated he deserves an extension and will get a big contract. No one has leverage in that kind of arrangement.)
But it's just turning out to be an arduous process.
The contract negotiations would continue whether he reported or not. So holding out does not force anything to happen. It doesn;t change the negotiations. Therefore the only logical explanation is the one we got weeks earlier during OTAs---that he does not dare risk an injury, being this close to a lifetime contract that an injury could undermine (they won't pay him if he can't play).
Reporters btw do not talk about this as a case where the player's demands are so huge they're unreasonable. That's not what is being said. Here's Vinny B on this (I already quoted this once somewhere else):
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Vincent Bonsignore @DailyNewsVinny
1. My (educated take) #Rams and Aaron Donald will forge their path to a long-term contract that satisfies everyone’s objectives.
2. There are nuances involved in a situation where the player and the team want a long-term relationship that is cognizant…
3. …Of the reality of the NFL salary cap – which is unlike that of the NBA or MLB
4. The trick for both sides is a contract that rewards a talent like Donald but also leaves flexibility to fairly pay others…
5. As well as go out and add talent. There’s nuance involved in creating that kind of deal for a mega talent like Donald. Takes time
That sounds like one big issue is structure. How much frontloaded v. backloaded, how much guaranteed money, etc.
Either way the Rams represent themselves as being all in on this. That is not your normal holdout situation, where the player is trying to coerce something.
Again just my own 2 cents.
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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/2017 07:18PM by zn.
