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oldmanram
It may just be that the Rams and the Bills are taking the stand that why pay now when you don't have to? If the player does not want to meet some where with out hurting the structure of the team then all team options need to be played out
You mean they're searching for ways to underpay? (Not saying they ARE doing what you suggest, just discussing the concept.)
Because the truth is, Donald getting what he should get (north of 20 M as Schefter puts it) does not hurt the team. Donald's presence makes any defense better automatically and that's just not true of most players in the league. So instead of signing 2 good players for 11 M, you sign one transcendent player whose very presence improves any defense in the way no other player could.
That's not just talk. According to someone who did a study of Donald's stats, he faced multiple blockers more than any other defender in the league, YET at the same time led the entire league in qb pressures.
That means he's both drawing attention which frees up others AND making plays anyway, at a higher rate than anyone else. That's invaluable. (in fact it's kind of freaky.) And we have seen the effects of it too---this is not just an "on paper:" thing. Last year they basically had no one rushing from the outside (especially with Quinn playing subpar most of the season) yet were 4th in the league in sacks and 4th in sack percentage. That was entirely and solely because of Donald. He alone freed up that otherwise mediocre outside rush.
So I argue that he's worth the money and paying him does not "hurt the team." Therefore IMO the Rams would be kind of blind to force him to be underpaid that way. It's not enlightened to do that, it;'s the opposite. If that;s actually their intention. They send the message to their team that if you work hard for them and do everything right and are productive, they figure out ways to not pay you. Bad message.
And the way the cap works, you can sign Donald and Goff and have room for 5-6 other big contracts. Winning teams spend 60% of their cap on a small number of top contracts. That;s just the way the cap works,
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2018 04:01AM by zn.
