Holding Out....

Ah yes, basketball is over, baseball is nearing its All-Star game, NFL OTA's are nearing an end, that means it's the beginning of holdout season. Yes!

Brandon Marshall has asked to be traded because the wideout wants a new contract. Understandably so, he is underpaid in terms of his production which has been two back to back 100 catch plus and 1200 plus yard seasons. He also made his first Pro Bowl last year. Marshall is in the final year of his rookie contract. His former base salary for 2009 was 535,000 but he made his roster bonus and that salary has been up'd to 2.2 million.

As inept as I think the Denver Broncos are, I actually agree with them on this one of not wanting to re-up Marshall's contract. I also would like to slap Marshall's agent in the back of the head as well. I am a big Brandon Marshall fan too by the way. I was convinced after he did my boy Antonio Cromartie very dirty last year in Week 2. But he's in the final year of his contract, which means he is going to be an UNRESTRICTED free agent after this year. B-Marshall, go ahead make you 2.2 million base salary plus any bonuses and dip next season. I mean worst case scenario, you don't produce like you have in the past two years. You can fall back on the fact that Kyle Orton is your quarterback and you were in a new offense. I mean do you really want to be a Bronco that bad? It's cold in Denver and got colder once Coach Shan left, and became dangerously cold once Jay Cutler bolted. I hope you know what happens to receivers when their Ace QB departs, just look at Chad Ocho Cinco last year or Terrell Owens when Romo got hurt. Plus, to be honest, you've put yourself in this position. You were a first round talent with off the field problems which is why you fell to the 3rd round of the '06 draft. You've had 13 incidents with the cops, most organizations aren't going to risk money on you when they feel that chances of you getting in trouble again are high.

B-Marsh. Stick it out and ball like you have been for the past two years and you're pay day will come. Patience is a virtue.

Now that leads me into Julius Peppers for which I am also a huge fan. He has expressed his desire to get out of Carolina and go play for a 3-4 defense even though he's the perfect 4-3 DE. I'm not sure if he wants to get a chance to drop back in coverage more with zone blitzes or get less sacks because a 3-4 defense is a blitzing linebackers paradise, but not ideal for a DE. Either way he wants out. The chances of that happening are extra slim, because the Panthers have placed the franchise tag on Peppers, which means he'll get the average of the top 10 highest paid DE's for 2009 which will be a little over 16 million, damn! Let me get a loan homie.

In recent weeks, Mr. Peppers has said he will be in camp. Smart move dogg. The classic Charles Woodson move.(he got the franchise tag two years in a row before he dipped to the Packers). A team can only place the franchise tag on a player two years in a row. The chances they do it next year are low, because another marquee player may get the tag instead.

Peppers situation is different, it's not about money, so I can't just say get paid a big bank roll for two years and dip. I just know that many players have left teams and that same year that team make the Super Bowl. I think Peppers is making the right decision, and if he gets the tag two years in a row, I strongly feel that the Panthers will be in the Super Bowl one of those years.

Last thing on holding out, I don't understand why rookies do it. I mean, you're a rookie. You already have a bulls eye on your back because you are making more money than the veterans and Pro Bowlers on the team. Yes, I understand getting the most money, because the NFL is dirty in how it does business with the lack of guaranteed contracts. But how does you not being in practice help you? It puts you behind. Problem is they are listening to their agents who have never played a down of football most likely, and don't know how hard it is to work your way into shape and up the depth chart when you didn't start at the same time as the rest of the team. If you come to camp on time, but your deal is not quite worked out, you have leverage on the team actually. You are doing all the right things, working hard, and in all honesty that is going to make the owner more apt to pay you or at least meet you halfway.

That's my take at least,

Ricky Writer

What about the good things?

I got home late last night from being back home in the great state of Oklahoma. It was very nice to get out of Longhorn country and actually see the Longhorn sign turned the right way, upside down that is. The sight of crimson and cream everywhere was pleasant as well as opposed to the burnt orange I am forced to deal with in Austin. As I ate my P.Terry's burger you already know what channel I turned to, ESPN, my love for the channel is endless.

My football withdrawals will begin to increase once the NBA playoffs are over in about 7-10 days. The burger tasted so good, but what I saw on television disturbed me. Sportscenter ran an entire Outside The Lines story on Denver Broncos wideout, Brandon Marshall, and his domestic abuse history with his ex-girlfriend.

The story featured his ex-girlfriend, Rasheeda Watley's accounts of the domestic abuse from Marshall, and interviews with her parents. The story also featured 911 calls by Watley and her friend while being involved in incidents with Marshall. There's always two sides to a story and Marshall declined to share his side for the Outside The Lines piece, but talked with Bob Ley about the incidents after the piece. He denied that he ever physically abused his former girlfriend.

My opinion on whether or not he is lying doesn't matter. The truth will come out sooner or later and I hope for his sake he is telling the truth. If he is lying, I hope he gets counseling and is able to put this behind him.

My concern is the purpose of the story. Who approached who? Did ESPN contact Rasheeda Watley or did she contact them? What was the true purpose of this story? To make Brandon Marshall look bad? Highlight domestic abuse in the NFL? Show that according to the Watley's, the NFL condones domestic abuse?

I have a huge problem with ESPN especially with stories like this. It's a love hate thing. I love the channel, but to be honest do I have an alternative, Fox Sports? Nope, I'm right, I don't have an alternative. I love ESPN for all that they do, but why do I hear about the negative sports news 51 weeks out of the year and they only feature the "Make a Wish" foundation segment one week out of the year?

The only time they talk about the good things an athlete does is during their "Make A Wish" segment or when they are glorifying Tim Tebow.

I just want the station to even it out a little bit. For every bad story about Pac-Man, Plax, Mike Vick, and now B-Marshall, I want a story about an athlete who has done some exceptional for his/her community. I mean there are 1,696 NFL players in the league. One of them has to be doing something great for his community that is worth reporting.


ESPN do better please,


Riverboat Ricky