I cannot speak from and NFL contract world; but I can from a high level corporate salary contract world.
Brandt lives in the real world, not in a fan fantasy world. And in fact, he's speaking directly to those who need to understand how this works and how both sides work at it; and to all who are the "pay the man" crowd because it simply doesn't work that way in contract negotiations. There are a myriad of considerations and counter points; and there is the human factor that is difficult to account for. My fear is that Donald really has drunk the Kool Aid and is ready to never play another down in order to satisfy his ego. I've seen pride do this before.
First, Brandt didn't say that anyone in the negotiations uttered the words "free agency money". He's using it figuratively for what it is that Donald is apparently demanding, but for which he has neither just cause nor leverage to demand since he is under a binding, legal contract obligation regardless of how well he's played.
Second: holding out while not being paid is not leverage for a DT or most anyone; it's an unproductive tantrum. It might be for a star QB; but it's sure not for a DT, not even of Donald's caliber.
Third; it is not apples to apples to compare a DT to an OLB for a contract. Brandt clearly doesn't think so, I doubt the Rams do, and I certainly don't either. The market for DTs is as well established as it is for rush OLBs. It is reflected in the cumulative "Tag" amount. $13.9 mil for a DT, $14.9 mil for ILBs and OLBs mixed together. And it just might be that Donald's agents are agreeing with you and trying to convince the Rams that it is apples to apples.....and likely the Rams aren't buying it. If so, then it's another bone of contention that Donald's agents aren't likely to win....at least not until his contract is up and he can hit the open market. But if he holds out all year, then (I think) the Rams still own his rights for yet another year.
It cannot be overstated how strategic the signing of Suh was. The Rams were well aware of the stalemate with Donald and who his agents are, and what they were collectively likely to do, when they signed Suh. Since they have the same agents it blows me away that the Rams were able to pull this off. It gives the Rams all kinds of extra leverage because at worst, they've replaced one superstar DT with another. They are quite equipped to win while Donald sits, even though without doubt they would be better with him. How much? Hard to tell, but no doubt some.
Listen to the man. He knows what he's talking about. Sure, he doesn't know the grisly details of the impasse any more than I do or you do. But contracts have, by nature, a structure, form and order because they operate under a common legal system and in this case under a common collective bargaining agreement. And the markets are well established, although it is said (either by knowledge or by guessing) that Donald is trying to reset the market.
I've stated many times that I think it is unlikely the Rams and Donald will come to an agreement. I continue in that belief. The dealing has gotten very stale and contract dealings that go on this long don't often work out. Not impossible; but unlikely despite all the nice-nice PR talk. Just my opinion, but based on some experience with it.....albeit nothing to do with sports.
