Steven Jackson has until week 10...

by VanRam on Aug 6, 2008 12:17 PM CDT in News

Wait a minute.

It's been reported that Steven Jackson would need to report to training camp at least 30 days before the start of the NFL season or lose a year of his accrued seniority toward his free ageny eligibility.

Under the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), players are eligible for unrestricted free agency after four seasons in the league, meaning Jackson, who's in the last year of his 5-year rookie deal, could be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

That was supposed to be a weighted factor in Jackson's contract negotiations, and some though that he'd be in camp by the 30-day deadline, which was moved up to yesterday because the NFL season begins with a Thursday, September 4 evening game between the Redskins and Giants. Jackson didn't show.

But there's new wrinkle in all of this. According to ESPN who cites the NFL, Jackson has until somewhere between the Rams eighth and ninth regular season games to report and fulfill his contract.

The difference between the two dates? Jackson lost a year of "accrued" eligibility toward free agency by not reporting yesterday. As long as he reports by week 10, he'll get credit for fulfilling his contract and be eligible for unrestricted free agency ahead of the 2009 season because his contract expired AND the current NFL CBA requires players only have 4 years of seniority before unrestricted free agency. If that does happen the Rams would more than likely - as in they'd be crazy not to - slap him with the franchise tag for the '09 season.

The wild card is the CBA. If the owners decide to opt out of the agreement's last year, 2010, that ups the requirements for unrestricted free agency from 4 to 6 years. In that scenario, Jackson would have just 5 years of eligibility after losing his '08 season of eligibility and playing in '09 with the franchise tag.

If that happens, Jackson would be a restricted free agent for the 2010 season, giving the Rams the chance to match any offers or get mucho compensation for letting him walk.

Is that confusing enough?

While I still think the Rams won't risk playing the first 8 games of the season without Jackson, it does open the possibility of the holdout lasting much, much longer than any of us would like it to. The longer this goes on, the less I like it.

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not good

I was in the camp that I thought that he would show by this deadline.

It is certainly worrisome, but I know that Jackson was getting fired up for a big year this year.

I guess we just sit tight and wait some more.

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by jroman on Aug 6, 2008 1:13 PM CDT 0 recs

Not good at all.

SJ is a guy that needs to be in camp, working with the team. I’m worried that if he doesn’t play with the team in a couple of preseason games, he’ll feel way behind. I’m still somewhat optimistic that the Rams will sign him soon, but if this drags on into late August I’m going to be fed up. The numbers prove that he deserves a big contract. Sign him already!

by BruinFanBaby on Aug 6, 2008 5:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

Quote from Linehan:

“If he’s not here when we have our first week of practice for the Philly game (the regular-season opener at Philadelphia on Sept. 7), I would be pretty concerned,” Linehan said. “I don’t foresee that. I don’t think anybody knows when it’s going to happen. I am very confident it will.”

by BruinFanBaby on Aug 6, 2008 6:08 PM CDT 0 recs

What exactly is the hold-up?

I get that he wants a new contract that will pay him in line with the top running backs in the league and will give him the years that will guarantee (not really) to be here getting paid a long time. I assume the Rams want the same thing, right? So, what’s the hold up? Is it the money? Can’t be the years because in the NFL, long-term contracts favor the team since they aren’t guaranteed contracts.

Any enlightenment would do me wonders. Thanks.

In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.

by Tackle Box on Aug 6, 2008 6:31 PM CDT 0 recs

Haven't seen

any detailed information regarding what the hold up is. I’m assuming in a perfect world the Rams would have wanted negotiations to begin after this season, but with the way SJ plays, he needs a guarantee as soon as possible, so he decided to press the issue now.

My guess on the situation: Linehan reminds management that the team is completely screwed without SJ, Rams sign him within the next week.

by BruinFanBaby on Aug 6, 2008 7:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

Another thing:

SJ now owes the Rams over $180,000 for his absence from camp. The money is definitely starting to add up, and I don’t think he wants this to spill over to the regular season, where he would have to forfeit game checks.

by BruinFanBaby on Aug 6, 2008 8:37 PM CDT 0 recs