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Bush's decree cuts against NFL fabric
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Reggie Bush's "decree" last week he had instructed his agent to get his contract done by the start of training camp was refreshing, and it gained a good deal of national attention.
But it was hardly a guarantee, and it may have been taken too literally by some. The Saints rookie was simply responding to a specific question when asked how important it is for him to be there for the first day of training camp.
"Very important," Bush answered. "I told my agent I wanted to be here in camp on time, and whatever it takes I want to be in camp on time. I don't want to get caught up in holdouts and things like that.
"I think it is important to start off on a good foot and a good note, not only with the team but with the city."
His heart is in the right place. But time will tell if Bush can deliver on that sentiment. Last year, only seven first-round draft picks had signed contracts heading into the first full weekend of NFL training camps.
Rookie holdouts have become part of the NFL's fabric, one of the more unfortunate trends in a league that almost always seems to be on top of its game.
It seems almost everyone would benefit from a rookie wage scale, similar to the one used by the NBA, where contracts are pre-determined by the player's draft slot.
That would allow rookies to focus on learning the playbook and catching up with their veteran teammates, rather than falling behind. They also would receive their signing bonuses earlier, allowing them to spend the summer taking care of business and living arrangements.
And it would eliminate the sometimes-negative backlash from fans who don't understand all the squabbling over a few hundred thousand dollars, here or there.
But players and agents, in particular, believe it's necessary to negotiate each player's contract based on the individual situation.
And the last-minute negotiating gives both the team and the player their best bargaining power.
"(A wage scale) would absolutely be a negative. Each negotiation is unique. A slotting system would not reflect that," said Bush's agent Joel Segal, who declined to comment specifically on Bush's negotiations with the Saints, as is his policy.
The league and players union did address rookie contracts in the latest collective bargaining agreement, limiting contracts for rookies chosen in Rounds 2 through 7 to a maximum of four years.
Reggie Bush
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