09-26-2018, 04:00 AM
(09-25-2018, 11:34 PM)Whatever Wrote: Using Gurley's contract as the template for Bell...
"Todd Gurley signed a four year, $57.5 million contract extension with the Rams on July 25, 2018. Details of the contract come from a report from Mike Florio of PFT. Gurley received $45 million in guarantees, $21.95 million of which is guaranteed at signing, including a $21 million signing bonus. On the 3rd day of the 2019 league year his base salary and 2020 3rd day of the league year roster bonus which total $12.55 million will become fully guaranteed. On the 3rd day of the 2020 league year the final $10.5 million in injury guarantees becomes fully guaranteed. This includes Gurley's 2021 3rd day of the league year roster bonus. On the 3rd day of the 2021 and 2022 league years Gurley will earn a non guaranteed $1 million roster bonus. Those same years Gurley will earn a $4 million reporting bonus. There are also $2.5 million in escalators that can increase the total contract value to $60 million if earned. Gurley's cap figure in 2018 increased by $2.8 million and his 2019 cap figure decreased by $430,000."
Out of Gurley's deal, only $21.95 mil was guaranteed AT SIGNING. The only truly guaranteed money in his deal is his $21 mil signing bonus and $950k base salary for 2018. If Gurley is released before the 3rd day of the 2019 league year, he doesn't see another dime. The rest of the "guaranteed money" is roster bonuses and guaranteed salary triggered by his still being on the roster at specific dates. Both the Steelers and Bell are going to play the PR game and twist the numbers to their position. The Steelers are going to include the "rolling guarantees" into the "guaranteed money" to make it look like Bell was going to make a king's ransom up front, which he wasn't. Bell is going to point out the paltry $10 mil signing bonus and may be leaving out a large guaranteed first year salary. Unless any of us see the actual offer, it's all smoke and mirrors from both sides.
Imagine a former GM siding with the Steelers, lol! Pot meet kettle. Anything Diamond offers is also nothing more than cheerleading from the sidelines. Current NFL GM's are reportedly divided on Bell's current situation hurting his value. The opinion of a long retired former GM has no bearing on Bell's actual value. That article also predates the Steelers backing off their no trade position.
However, if you want to take Jeff Diamond's word as the absolute gospel regarding Bell's value, then the longer the current situation persists, the more his value will decrease. Therefore, the Steelers beginning to cave strengthens his position.
The fact that Bell has continued to change his demands in public further illustrates how dumb the Steelers were to try and play a game of chicken with him this off-season instead of cutting their losses and trading him.
Gurleys contract is being universally reported as $45M guaranteed. If that’s the case, then Bells contract is $33M guaranteed. If you want insist that Bell was only offered $10M guaranteed, then fine, Gurley only got $21M guaranteed. Regardless the difference in guaranteed money is still the same. The fact still remains that Bell got far and away the best deal offered to a RB at the time of the offer, relative to current RB values, and that’s the whole point. It was a great offer.
Regarding Jeff Diamond, again being an ex GM, his opinion of Bellls value carries 1,000 times more weight than two players since, you know, GMs sign the checks. I have not seen any articles from current or former GM’s who say that Bells antics aren’t hurting and/or are helping his value. Maybe you could link those for me and I’ll reconsider?
