TJ Holdout?

No

They take a signing bonus and guarantees in exchange for giving up that right.

 

There are still 5 weeks to get a contract done. For the NFL, it’s like dog years.

 

Watt is a premier player at a premier position. He is going to make premier money. If we don't pay him. someone else will in a heartbeat.

Also, I hope he holds out of camp until he gets his money. If he (god forbid) suffers a serious injury, his value plummets.

 

I get what you are saying but at the same time you can't have him eat up all the cap by overpaying for him. If they actually enforced the rules and called holding against him then he would be worth it cause it would probably be worth 20+ yards a game and/or several more sacks but so long as he's in the BNG it will be largely ignored. Put him with Marsha and he's getting those results along with DPOY.

 

I'm smack dab on the middle of the fence on this.

One side:
He is top 3 (if not the best) at his position. He deserves to be compensated like it. He also has proven himself and earned the right to protect himself from injury without an extension. He isn't hurting the defense by not practicing right now. In fact, he's giving valuable reps to Ingram and Highsmith and co. Holding out is okay.

Other side:
You're under contract. Suit up and practice. Be a good example for others who look up to you. If you get hurt week 1 or in the 3rd preseason game, you're still hurt. Your presence across the line from the OL is only going to make them better. This is about more than just you.

I could argue either side.

 

Those words will never be spoken again, got it?

 

Pretty Much what I was getting at.

 

Y'all know me, union man here. Get what you get while you can TJ. I really hate that Tag Chit. Would be a bad move.

 

who’s we? I’m not paying him anything

 

Watt is 27 this year
Tag him for his age 28 season
Tag him again for his age 29 season
Then decide what to do when he’s 30.

 

I doubt he would play the next 2 seasons on a franchise tag.

 

This will go well for about 2 years. Then nobody wants to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

So what’s the purpose of the NFLPA accepting the tag if nobody wants to honor it?

 

The tag can be useful to both the player, the team or both. To 'Belicheat' the rule & just start tagging guys without negotiating in good faith would be a disaster imo.

 

I never said the Steelers wouldn’t negotiate in good faith. However, if TJ thinks he’s going to set a number and not budge I would say he isn’t negotiating in good faith.

 

On another note;

The NFLPA...lol

 

Meh, I understand the function of the tag, but doing it twice seems like ***** slapping. Plus the second tag goes up and probably hits the number the player wants anyway and then you loose him. Tag once if need be and keep working on a new contract.

 

Then why have contracts? What value does his signature have?

 

How many times have you did things your way and not the unions to get what you can while you can?

 

He wants QB money franchise tag him he’s not worth it. No sacks in playoffs and sits out in the fourth quarter to rest.

 

The Steelers as an organization do not like to tag their players,
they usually let their players explore FA and if that player can get more on the FA market
than they are willing to pay they will normally let that player go out and make more money than
he was going to get by the Steelers. We have seen this play out many, many times. Steelers pull the trigger,
sign Watt and get him practicing.

 

Quite a few times. The international didn't like it but it worked for the local issues that I was addressing.

 

I mean, it happens all the time. If the team wants TJ long term, they need to re-neg his deal. These aren't hockey contracts.

 

If you're going to do that, trade him now for a windfall, a la Khalil Mack.

 

Just sign him. He's the one guy you can't afford to piss off and allow to leave.