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2019-2020 Offseason: When Your True Worth Is
Closer To Earth, FMV Will Set You Free
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May 25, 2020 At
1:35 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- “The Tortured Cowboys Fan” is a
long-time, diehard supporter of “America’s Team” but not a blind,
anything-goes-lemming, and it is with the myopic contingent of
"Cowboys Nation" that occasional irritation (on the topic of player
value) continues stemming.
Before the 1994 implementation of the NFL salary cap, any demands
that GM Jerry “PAY THE MAN!” required no serious, in-depth plan. The
setting was simple: pay the dude or – with the (bought off?) help of
your fellow bottom-line owners – against proper payment you could
attempt to collude. The age-old goal was to grind the talent until
it popped like a pimple. Since that time, the iteratively-growing
salary cap and the potently-profitable network television
contracts have remade the NFL financial landscape. As soft as the
NFLPA union has often been labeled, that reputation has not deterred
more and more individual players (largely agent-enabled) from
entering many a holdout scrape.
Now, with the next big (no – HUGE) set of TV deals due to arrive in
2022 – perhaps in parallel with GOBS of gambling goodies the NFL
hopes to have officially pushed through – what are well-informed,
(far more) health-conscious, brand-wary star athletes to do? One
thing is for sure: fans need not proudly shout DC4L (Dallas Cowboys
For Life) while slitting their wrists with a fantasy knife. No need
to become demure but – perhaps – take a (strongly encouraged?) learning detour.
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- So much (out of largely-insipid prognostication and COVIDIAN
boredom) has been made of
the stare down standoff between GM Jerry
and star quarterback Dak Prescott. “America’s Team” wants a
discount, and Dak wants everything Jerry’s got. The truth lies
somewhere in the middle. Those members of Cowboys Nation who (of
late) have been paying attention are well aware of the current bone
of contention. The number of years on Dak’s next contract (and
how
that number may intersect with the NFL’s next network television
pact) is the ongoing answer to the Cowboys’ biggest offseason
riddle.
Still, there is a property-purchasing theme that forevermore will
impact the value over which a player (from star to backup) attempts
to negotiate with their given team.
FMV
“What is FMV? Full Motion Video? Some kind of aeronautical acronym
like Follow My Vector?” you curiously question with no real
objection. FMV refers to the far-from-new
“Fair Market Value” . . .
for the educational purpose of distinguishing an
artificially-heightened material worth versus something more
realistic and back down to Earth.
When a home buyer purchases a home – more often than not (and save
for regions of the world where land can only be leased) – that home
buyer is purchasing both the home and the property on which it was
built. And – as with any home acquisition – the buyer who makes a
poorly-informed decision is wracked with guilt. The home (and / or
surrounding property) is pursued – unless it is a brand-new dwelling
– for how it has been historically perceived leading up to the point
of purchase: location, curb appeal, structural fit-and-finish,
maintenance record, size, and the potential for future modifications
(as well as stable tax assessments, year over year).
When a professional sports team signs an athlete to a new contract,
they are – always and forever – paying for the use of both that
athlete’s physically-fit body and professional-grade skill. And – as
with any player acquisition – the team that makes a poorly-informed
decision feels rather ill. The player (and accompanying-skill) is
pursued – unless the player is a shrink-wrapped rookie (deserving of
no more than a “Good Boy!” cookie) – for how that player’s career
has been perceived leading up to the point of signing: visual
appeal, leadership, ability to overcome limitations / mistakes of
teammates, routine fitness, injury history, size, the potential for
future modifications that may lead to Super Bowl celebrations (and
few-to-no future contract squabbles to fear).
Millions of people – up and down the ladder from around the world –
line up to make that deal and take that dare, but only a
proportionally-comparative few respect the rules of “buyer beware.”
Some people do the research and check their math. Other people
“table [seemingly simple problems] until later” and inconceivably
take a glorious bath.
FMV – assuming a history of better-than-average deliveries from the
player in question – practically makes a player financially (though
not emotionally) immune to any “normal” remarks (by his own team or
prognosticators) on any known performance hole. Rather than the
player's worth being
judged (sometimes harshly) for producing favorable results against
bad teams that were not necessarily duplicative against good teams,
the player is at least (or at most) offered a “fire-and-forget” single or
multi-year contract with an annual average of the top five
salaries currently paid by other teams for their players occupying
the same role.
FMV – with the above basis in mind – also dampens the need for
ANY player in question to occasionally or routinely consider making the following deflective
public statements in kind:
“You can ONLY play who is on your schedule . . . whether your opponents be meat or vegetable.”
“You can ONLY run the plays and audibles given to you by your coach
. . . unless you are Aaron Rodgers, who viewed his former
frozen tundra
instructor, ahem, as a limited-capacity roach."-
- “Improvise
away from a ‘carefully’ planned play call? I have neither the
disloyal desire, the post-snap sense of anticipation, nor the
in-the-moment gall. Not ONE ounce of willful 'ROMO
RISK' and –
with your understanding on this clearly sore subject –
consider moving along, with no one else [?] here to object, tsk, tsk.”
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“You can ONLY throw to the receivers on your roster . . . whether
clearly-skilled or a performance imposter.”
“Accuracy is in the eye of the beholder . . . who may see
the need for a
target-leading toss or a receiver who prefers to ‘go up and get it’.
You know, be bolder, like a convenient, course-correcting boss.”
“Shrinking in a critical moment against a below-average or
injury-hampered team . . . can also be viewed as, um, an opposing defense
unexpectedly picking up steam.”
“Why so interested in reviewing my performances for the
HOW and WHEN
of yards, touchdowns, interceptions, and fumbles in situational
awareness scenarios against specific regular season and particular
playoff foes? Why not simply admire my
vaguely-defined year-end results without slinging any ‘You’re Not
Clutch!’ insults?”
“CERTAINLY, ‘averages’ – from game to game and over the
course of an entire season – tend to blur or completely hide
statistics from disastrous, in-the-moment opportunties, but there is no need to react
like savages for such an itty-bitty, teeny-weeny, decision-making
reason, if you please.”-
- “While quarterbacks – often as the single
Most IMPORTANT and HIGHEST-PAID
players on the field – are traditionally, historically expected to overcome the errors of
their teammates and though ‘a rising tide lifts ALL boats’
. . . THAT phrase is not one of MY quotes.”
FMV – sadly – does not care if a player is the most
beloved and generous human being on Earth, nor does it care if a
player is among the very worst troglodytes with an intensely
greedy thirst, of which there is no dearth.-
- FMV neither validates a player’s value for a given role nor
validates a comparable player’s value for that same role.
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FMV neither verifies L'Oréal’s contention that a player has received
an exorbitant contract "Because [he is] worth it," nor because of
that player’s difference-making merit (though THAT
would be the very best reason to parrot).
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- FMV only confirms that what ONE team previously paid a player for
his role may, May, MAY have to be matched or exceeded by one or more
other teams which find themselves with the (almost always) untimely
responsibility of having to renew the contracts of their own players
who happen to occupy that same role.
FMV – just as importantly – completely ignores whether a seemingly
good or highly-productive player was previously forced to conduct
their duties through a predictable system or unimaginative coaching
layer.
FMV neither validates Dak as “worth” $35-40M per year nor
corroborates Carson Wentz and Jared Goff (his most-immediate, comparable peers) as
worth even slightly less money. The fear of being stuck with a FMV
established by other teams is what clearly encouraged the
Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams to slather, err, set the
market with excess honey. And NOW, as Dallas finds itself (at least
or at most) third in line, it is Prescott’s turn to dine.
While
Stephen Jones swore Dallas is “damn sure NOT going to be a
market-setter,” here the Cowboys are (picking out a tattoo that will
best obscure the coming big-money scar).-
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Whataboutism Schism
“What about? What About? WHAT ABOUT? What about
HIM? What about THEM? To whom can we REDIRECT?!”
– Cowboys Nation (conveniently moving their own goal posts in full
effect). Discerning members of the fan base are routinely willing to
look directly at the game day, difference-making,
in-the-moment performance of the coaches, units, and players for THE
reasons why or why not (outside of injuries, inspired opponents, or
ruinous referees) critical victories and fantastic awards (both
financial and celebratory) are or should be added to the Dallas
Cowboys’ story. But this latest “lecture within a lecture” is aimed
at the brand ambassador clans, not the growing minority of
clear-headed fans.-
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- "W-What about the Seattle Seahawks and the most MONSTROUS
of deals they gave to Russell Wilson? Do they not ALSO
have a responsible hand in how Dak feels?!" you exclaim
(insisting a third party – beyond Philly and L.A. – owns a share
of the blame). Wilson – during the vast majority of his career
– has performed admirably behind an offensive line made of Swiss
cheese. He has been able to significantly overcome
many of his team's deficiencies – and some (but not all) of his own
mistakes – to help his team create timely breaks. Though in a
scenario (where clutch is never too much) a bad
play-call and even worse execution stopped Wilson from
batting .1000 in the NFL's biggest game, going 1-2 in Super Bowls is
far from lame. Dragging Wilson into a comparative
conversation involving a non-Super Bowl participant, a one-time
Super Bowl champion (who never played in the big game due –
in hindsight – to his increasingly-fragile frame),
and a one-time Super Bowl competitor (who when
consistently-pressured turned into a bed wetter) . . . is – at
THIS time – a bit rich and will only dump your point into a
ditch.
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- FMV does not force an organization to acquiesce to “the going rate”
of pay (whether or not it was “criminally” set by another team in a
really bad way), but FMV also does not provide mental or media
shelter from the myopic masses who will (undoubtedly) scream bloody
murder (or praise heaven above) if-or-when their favorite team
diabolically denies said
player his dollar sign day (or grants him a contract that fits as
smoothly as an Isotoner glove).
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"WHAT is with all the HATE?! GM Jerry and son
Stephen squarely REFUSE to pay OUR
quarterback well above the GOING RATE?!" you might
angrily announce (while wildly waving around the fan membership card
you may suddenly threaten to renounce).
"OUR quarterback is now the HIGHEST-PAID
in the land [even though his compartmentalized postseason
results may be momentarily bland]!" you might also proudly pronounce
(while so blissfully bathed in false equivalency that you could care
not one ounce).-
- “Did you REALLY just spend ALL THAT TIME
explaining that Dak getting the biggest-ever contract in league
history does NOT immediately, magically transform him into the best quarterback
(or even a top-5 passer) in the NFL? Why do you have to be
such a killjoy party pooper? WHAT THE HELL?!”
you exhaustedly clap back (after a seemingly uncalled-for
intelligence attack).
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- For every Dak Prescott for whom a team is about to break the bank,
there is a – GASP – Brock Osweiler or Blake Bortles for whom
a team desperately / lazily / unknowingly (?) walks the plank. The Tortured
Cowboys Fan is pleased to have Dak as the leader of
the Cowboys’ attack (as was the case with “That Announcer Guy”
where often-horrifying years of the alternative simply
did not fly). Prescott WILL
get paid for his four years of hard work and
largely-unexpected, perhaps instructionally-stunted, but
ultimately-delightful improvement from an AMAZING year-one,
followed by three more seasons where, um, exploration of his
difference-making ceiling (when play-call choices and
teammate performances were not always appealing) was increasingly
under the gun.
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- The Tortured Cowboys Fan merely asks the myopic
members of Cowboys Nation to stop (naively or willfully?) confusing
FMV with a true, historically-earned worth that
would otherwise bring the price tag of ANY star player
(not named Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman,
Peyton Manning, Roger Staubach, Ben Roethlisberger, John Elway, Bart
Starr, Steve Young, Russell Wilson, or even Patrick Mahomes) back down to Earth
(through a no-haggle deal that would have already been
long-done).
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- Are the popularity-propelled,
brand-brain-washed minions of GM Jerry and son Stephen, um, hee-hee,
ha-Ha-HAAAAA, Actually LISTENING? It seems they
are determined to willfully or ignorantly celebrate “Fair Market
Value Mediocrity” with former expectations of Super Bowl
victories, err, NFC Championship wins, err, NFC division round
success apparently, inexplicably no longer glistening.
Every generation of professional football is different
(from oldest to newest, from open-minded to rigid purest). Every
rule change (from offense-enhancing to
defense-restricting to special-teams-neutering to – overall – player
or "product" protecting) further promotes such competitive
distinction to help the incredibly popular modern-day NFL escape
unimaginable extinction.-
- While pro football continues
to gain ever-increasing separation from its former,
maximum-brutality existence (as a direct result of a safety first,
legal trouble second policy by league office insistence), there is a
significantly STINKY side effect from pairing that
pattycake proclamation with, um, nuance-free FMV.
Being "a" player (among a similarly-skilled handful, out of
32 starting quarterbacks) currently occupying the
SINGLE-MOST-IMPORTANT POSITION in today's game who,
respectively, receives and requires more (in terms of
face-of-the-franchise financials and play-call / personnel
provisions) while delivering little-to-no difference-making
success under compartmentalized, in-the-moment duress, is
simply unsustainable, you surely see.
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COMPARTMENTALIZED in terms of that single-most-important
player almost always having a productive CHOICE
(rather than an uncomfortable voice) when a game-changing
opportunity is exclusively in HIS tip-of-the-spear
hand (especially, historically, and traditionally WHEN
– not if – key coaches, other lesser-paid stars, and role
players intermittently or consistently fail to help HIM
make a successful stand and achieve victory as planned). While NFL
teamwork has always been about WE, that teamwork still
begins and ends with the quarterback being HE.
Quarterbacks who can more-than-manage that SITUATIONAL SMOKE
will routinely command a fair market value that gives bean counters,
err, “pie servers” a stroke.
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"FOR THE LAST TIME” [followed by more Unbridled
LAUGHTER] – unless and until The Tortured Cowboys Fan
decides to deviate, once again, from the “Don’t Lecture Us!” plan –
fair market value neither makes a quarterback elite, nor does it
suddenly fill the organically-diagnostic gaps which prevent that
quarterback from trying, in the most critical moments, to
successfully COMPETE.
Will They Or Won’t They?
Will Dak Prescott (who has generously acquiesced from an
opportunistic three-year preference up to
four) and America’s Team (whom have come down from a ridiculous
seven-year preference to five) FINALLY meet in the center on a
mutually-equitable arrangement towards which both parties strive?
Will GM Jerry bring Dak around on his perspective of a five-year
directive by upping the ante with PLENTY MORE
guaranteed money?
We shall see. We always do.
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