The Salary Cap

[iFroggy]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/kreidler_mark/1122524.html

What do you think? Is the salary cap, the way it is now, operating poorly? I mean... its amazing the talent being released or dealt this offseason.

[Spike]

Yeah, I don't like the "hard" Cap. It prevents "dynasties" from being built and leaves everybody at mediocrity.

At the same time, I don't like Baseball's idea of no Salary Cap either.

I think the N.B.A. is the best out of the three, although it's not perfect either. In the N.B.A., any team can go beyond the cap to sign their own free agents. It promotes continuity (which is good for marketing to sports fans) while giving their athletes top dollar.

[J. Marshall]

I disagree with both of you on this matter.

Many of the, what you have termed as "high profile free agents", have been released because they were once overpaid. Examine for a moment the Washington Redskins. Their cap situation is in peril because their owner sold their long-term future for short-term gains, which as it turned out, never materialized. That is why you are seeing the market flooded with Dana Stubblefields and Brad Johnsons---and don't forget that Stubblefield has been something of a bust since his breakout season with the 49ers.

If there was no "hard" salary-cap, billionaires running their teams could simply buy the best players every year, thereby eliminating smaller market clubs before the games are even played. Look what has happened to baseball. Each year, only 4-6 teams are competing.

The fact that "there might not be any more dynasties" is perhaps a bit misconstrude. One of the more recent dynasties, the Dallas Cowboys, built their team laregly through solid drafting. Once you have a solid base of talent, then you add a piece here and there via free agency. Look at this year's Baltimore Ravens. They have all the potential in the world to become a dynasty---and they built their team through excellent drafting.

[Edited by J. Marshall on 03-04-2001 at 03:19 PM]

[Tom Baker]

First, welcome to the board!

Second, I'll lend my perspective to the discussion by saying only that I get a headache whenever sportscasts start talking about salary caps, cap value, cap numbers, etc. If I wanted business news I'd go to CNBC...but that's the reality of sports today. Sports IS business. I just want highlights, scores, and stats. The intent of the cap is generally a good one, but I don't think it works as well as it should--then again, it prevents any A-Rod style atrocities in the NFL. So I guess I would agree with the post above that says the NBA does it best, although they have flaws as well. It may be that there is no *PERFECT* system.

[J. Marshall]

Tom

I agree with both your post and the previous one which stated that the NBA seems to have the best idea in regards to the salary cap.

However, that system---or a similar one---could never be achieved in the NFL. The fact that each team in the NBA is dealing with about 16 individual contracts is much different from the NFL, where you have nearly 70 when it is all said and done.

The NBA has what are known as "Bird Rights" (I am sure you are familiar), where teams can go over the salary cap in order to sign their free agents, which in turn pretty much guarantees that the free agent's existing team can pay them the most money. Though this has helped retain some talent for teams in the NBA, it hasn't done exactly what it set out to do. Part of this problem is that there exists certain levels of exemptions where guys can take less money to go to certain teams in hopes of reaching a big payday after a year.

Every system has its flaws. I like the NFL's alot though. There is no BS. The playing field is set for everyone. Winners find the best talent.