Just saw this. Kinda wierd, then again so is he. Have a look: ProFootballTalk.com - RICKY NEGOTIATED HIS OWN CONTRACT
No, because Ricky got a deal and its a fair deal. Cullpepper wanted starters money and he is not a starter in this league and therefore helped himself not get a deal.
It is just hard to believe a guy so shy he'd do interviews wearing helmets is comfortable at the negotiation table. Maybe his meds are working and he's turned a corner in his life but I definately wasn't expecting to see with my morning coffee.
Personally if I were an NFL player and I had an ounce of intelligence with money, I wouldn't hirer an agent to begin with unless I was thought of as a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft and would've fired he or she soon after the draft. Handle your own business and keep more $. Quickly though, has Ricky repaid all of his debts to Miami from when he went on his mary jane tour around the world?
I believe it's more of an understanding that if he finishes out his original contract he would break even, but I'm not 100% on that. Basically, as long as he's playing for us they aren't going after the money.
Don't freakinscare me like that. I saw the title to this thread and thought Ricky had gotten escorted off the field by security and locked out of the team facilities then demanded a trade. If Ricky is happy with his contract, thats all that matters.
Yeah, next year at 3.4-3.6 doesn't seem too bad. Also the 35k/game bonus for this year will take him from the league minimum to over a million if he earns that extra 400k+ by staying on the rostr all year. The big downside for RIcky is the opportunity cost. For a 31(?) yo running back, you maybe have 1 shot left at a 2-3 year deal with some bonus money. If Ricky has a great year, someone might have given him 3 years 10 mill with a couple million guaranteed. That being said, for Ricky, I think his personal comfort and state of mind are very important to him. This seems like the first time in his career that he's happy playing and comfortable within an organization. This includes his 1800 yard year. Ricky's going to be far more likely to be successful and actually see his money if he feels good about where he's at. We get a home town discount and he gets what he sees as the best situation for himself. I think he's liking working for Parcells/Sparano. Remeber, he hasn't exactly been overcoached on any team prior.
Yeah, the 10% or whatever the agent gets is substantial, but its certainly far safer than entering into a terrible deal that will come back to haunt your for 4 or 5 years. I would take my own education over 99% of players in the NFL, but would still hire an agent if I were in their position. There are too many intricasies in the laws and contract language to trust to a nonprofesional.
You do realize that agents I think are limited to 3% in the NFL right? Small price to pay. Know what they say about a lawyer who represents himself? He has a fool for a client. Same thing for agents. Just have to hire and fire judiciously of course, but that's all you should do. Due diligence on the agent and let them handle it.
His agent didn't file for re-certification before. I'm sure Ricky ran it by him under the table in a wink wink, nod nod way.
Some of you knock Culpepper for different things but I applaud him. He took the initiative to learn the industry, took some lumps along the way. There are a 100 other players probably capable of doing it but they rest on their laurels and millions and get lazy. Daunte is also 100% right in what he said the other day in a statement on espn.com. I think the NFL does fear players really learning the industry. If players werent aware they were a piece of meat before, they will be after learning what being an agent is like. Now hes found an inspiration maybe and maybe he'll win at that too. Here's the link for those of you that missed it: ESPN - Culpepper, unable to catch on as free agent, retires at age 31 - NFL "The decision I made in 2006 to represent myself rather than hire an agent has been an invaluable experience. I now understand why so many people within the NFL community are uncomfortable with a player really learning the business. The NFL has become more about power, money and control than passion, competition and the love of the game. Regardless of this shift, player's rights are still supposed to be a part of this league. Since I will not be given the opportunity to honor the memory of Gene Upshaw by wearing a patch on my uniform this year, I will instead spend some of my energy applying what he taught me about standing up for what is right and not sitting down for what is clearly wrong."
It depends how serious you are about pursuing a law degree and being an agent down the road. Its experience now and learning from your mistakes....
