Argonauts release Marcus Ball to pursue NFL opportunity

[ArgoRavi]

Good point. I find it easy to flip-flop on this issue, actually. Sometimes, however, the turnstile syndrome just becomes a bit too tedious (from a fan's point of view).

You aren't the only one. What some, like Paul and Angelo, say about this issue makes logical sense but there is a part of me that feels like OV on this too.

[D-Gap-Willie]

I get the contract is a contract thing. One reason I don't like the option year/2 year commitment is because of the fact that contracts aren't guaranteed. If you want to guarantee that the player is going to get paid throughout the term of the contract (assuming he makes the team from the start of his contract), then by all means, make the players commit to 2 years. But IMO, it's unfair for a player to have to make that commitment, yet the team can break that commitment whenever they see fit. As long as a player can be cut thus voiding his contract, I don't believe a 2 year commitment should be mandatory.

I'm sorry Angelo but I just can't go along with your thinking about guaranteed contracts. I recognize that it may be difficult for a player to accept a 2 year commitment at a certain salary level, if he plays to a level that is worth more or if he wants to go elsewhere for more money, however he signed and if he has any integrity, he will gut it out. At the same time, the team commits to pay that player for EVERY game he plays or is injured, no matter what his level of performance. If he can't perform to the required level, he is cut ( fired) - simple as that.
Your thinking seems to be along the lines of the day to day employment market, and does not deal with the realities of a sports team. The only way to meet your ideal contract/commitment conditions would be for all players to be on one game contracts. My heart is with the players and you Angelo, but my mind/logic says we need the reality of a two year contract, for the sake of the team, and especially the fans. Nobody forces a player to sign - he can always decide to sit and be forgotten.

[AngeloV]

Your thinking seems to be along the lines of the day to day employment market, and does not deal with the realities of a sports team. .

Actually, my thinking goes along with that of every other pro sport other than football. Contracts in baseball, basketball and hockey are guaranteed to the duration. Only football is different. I'm sorry, but I will never support owners and management having all the leverage. If one side needs to honour a countract, than both sides need to honour that contract. I don't get how everybody can cheer these players while they are playing and then take the side of ownership when it comes to honouring agreements. I guess everybody on here is self employed.

[Neely2005]

Actually, my thinking goes along with that of every other pro sport other than football. Contracts in baseball, basketball and hockey are guaranteed to the duration. Only football is different. I'm sorry, but I will never support owners and management having all the leverage. If one side needs to honour a countract, than both sides need to honour that contract. I don't get how everybody can cheer these players while they are playing and then take the side of ownership when it comes to honouring agreements. I guess everybody on here is self employed.

I agree with you in regards to guaranteed contracts in sports. I like that teams have to be accountable for a bad contract. However football is closer to the real world in that most employees can be laid off with little or no notice.

[AngeloV]

I agree with you in regards to guaranteed contracts in sports. I like that teams have to be accountable for a bad contract. However football is closer to the real world in that most employees can be laid off with little or no notice.

True, but in the real world, if a consultant has a 2 year contract that the firm wants to terminate, they must buy him out. The employees being laid off that you speak of, really have no term of employment in writing, and thus don't have the same type of agreement.

[Neely2005]

True, but in the real world, if a consultant has a 2 year contract that the firm wants to terminate, they must buy him out. The employees being laid off that you speak of, really have no term of employment in writing, and thus don't have the same type of agreement.

Sure but most employees don't have a term of agreement so the vast majority of employees can be terminated with no notice. The only employees that do would be contract workers, union workers and executives.

[OV Argo]

True, but in the real world, if a consultant has a 2 year contract that the firm wants to terminate, they must buy him out. The employees being laid off that you speak of, really have no term of employment in writing, and thus don't have the same type of agreement.

So, if a football team signs a player to a 2 year contract, and in the 2nd year of the deal, the guy shows up for TC over-weight and out of shape, has forgotten the play-book and is more interested in drinking & smoking and chasing cheerleaders, then the football team should have to honor his contract ???

And the "real world"? - what the **** is that ?

Pro sports teams having to buy-out / pay-off aging, has-been sub-par or mediocre players who some moron of a GM signed to a ludicrous over-paid long-term deal = close to as stupid as it gets in the "real world".

[AngeloV]

Sure but most employees don't have a term of agreement so the vast majority of employees can be terminated with no notice. The only employees that do would be contract workers, union workers and executives.

The reason I used consultants as an example is because they are specialists in their field and independent contractors, as are pro athletes. We're not talking about general labour personnel here where someone with no experience can walk in off the street and be trained for the job.

So, if a football team signs a player to a 2 year contract, and in the 2nd year of the deal, the guy shows up for TC over-weight and out of shape, has forgotten the play-book and is more interested in drinking & smoking and chasing cheerleaders, then the football team should have to honor his contract ???

And the "real world"? - what the **** is that ?

Pro sports teams having to buy-out / pay-off aging, has-been sub-par or mediocre players who some moron of a GM signed to a ludicrous over-paid long-term deal = close to as stupid as it gets in the "real world".

I'm sorry...did you say something?

[OV Argo]

The reason I used consultants as an example is because they are specialists in their field and independent contractors, as are pro athletes. We're not talking about general labour personnel here where someone with no experience can walk in off the street and be trained for the job.



I'm sorry...did you say something?

Don't worry pal - nothing you need to hear about in your real world. ;o)

[argolio]

So, if a football team signs a player to a 2 year contract, and in the 2nd year of the deal, the guy shows up for TC over-weight and out of shape, has forgotten the play-book and is more interested in drinking & smoking and chasing cheerleaders, then the football team should have to honor his contract ???

How often does that happen?

And if that were to ever become a big issue, put some training camp weight clause into the contract.