Fast Willie Parker wants to get paid!

[Joe Carcuss 0]

From www.Fanball.com -

 

THE NEWS

The agent for running back Willie Parker met with the Steelers' lead contract negotiator Tuesday in hopes of acquiring a new contract. Parker's initial contract expired after the 2005 season, but because he has only two years of NFL experience he does not qualify for free agency. Without a new long-term deal, Parker will be forced to play for a salary of $445,000 this season; he could become a restricted free agent in 2007 and an unrestricted free agent in 2008.

 

Our View

The Steelers generally take care of their own and like to lock up players they intend to keep before they hit the open market, so if they think Parker's 1,202 rushing yards last season were a sign of things to come you can bet they'll find a way to craft a long-term deal that's cap friendly while still making Fast Willie feel appreciated.

[NewbieJr 541]

System back. He wasn't even a starter in college.

 

If he cries too loud, he'll be quickly replaced.

[Joe Carcuss 0]

System back. He wasn't even a starter in college.

 

If he cries too loud, he'll be quickly replaced.

 

I think you are being a bit harsh with Fast Willie. If he was cut, a dozen teams would be looking to sign him. Once you prove that you can play in the big show, nobody cares what you did in college.

 

He would not be easily "replaced". He is a B. Westbrook type of RB that can score form anywhere on the field and those guys don't just grow on trees. I'm not saying that the Steelers should give him Edge type money but if they don't lock him up now and he progresses like most people think he will next season, his value on the market will double. They should re-do the kid's deal, give him about 1.5 million up front bonus money and lace it with incentives.

[NewbieJr 541]

I think you are being a bit harsh with Fast Willie. If he was cut, a dozen teams would be looking to sign him. Once you prove that you can play in the big show, nobody cares what you did in college.

 

He would not be easily "replaced". He is a B. Westbrook type of RB that can score form anywhere on the field and those guys don't just grow on trees. I'm not saying that the Steelers should give him Edge type money but if they don't lock him up now and he progresses like most people think he will next season, his value on the market will double. They should re-do the kid's deal, give him about 1.5 million up front bonus money and lace it with incentives.

I'm not sure where 1.5 million would put him among the payscale of NFL running backs. Tripling his salary after one good year in a notoriously running back- friendly system seems a bit much. If 1.5 mill still puts him in the bottom half of starting running backs, I'd have no problem with it.

[Joe Carcuss 0]

I'm not sure where 1.5 million would put him among the payscale of NFL running backs. Tripling his salary after one good year in a notoriously running back- friendly system seems a bit much. If 1.5 mill still puts him in the bottom half of starting running backs, I'd have no problem with it.

 

It's chump change for a starting RB but enough to give the kid a little breathing room financially and a sign of good faith on the Steelers part.....Why not reward the kid for playing a huge role (much bigger then everyones favorite over weight RB , J. Bettis) in them winning the Super Bowl?

[Raider 84 29]

Good luck fast willie parker! Your gonna need it.

[jocstrap 8]

- Give the boy some money. 72 yard runs in the superbowl are special. I hope/think the Steelers will take care of him.

[Dr Hook 6]

somebody will pay him.

[kiwimango 0]

Let's see:

 

No heavy Wear and tear on his body

1000 yard rusher is his 1st year as a starter

No where close to being polished as a runner

Game Breaking 4.29 Speed

Willing to run between the tackles and actually likes it

Coachable, from what we can see and read.

 

If giving him 3x's his salary right now will tie him to us for the next 5 years, DO IT NOW because if her repeats this past year (Which shouldnt be a problem), the price tag will rise much higher.

 

Give that man some money!

[Franknbeans 46]

Let's see:

 

No heavy Wear and tear on his body

1000 yard rusher is his 1st year as a starter

No where close to being polished as a runner

Game Breaking 4.29 Speed

Willing to run between the tackles and actually likes it

Coachable, from what we can see and read.

 

If giving him 3x's his salary right now will tie him to us for the next 5 years, DO IT NOW because if her repeats this past year (Which shouldnt be a problem), the price tag will rise much higher.

 

Give that man some money!

[Joe Carcuss 0]

Let's see:

 

No heavy Wear and tear on his body

1000 yard rusher is his 1st year as a starter

No where close to being polished as a runner

Game Breaking 4.29 Speed

Willing to run between the tackles and actually likes it

Coachable, from what we can see and read.

 

If giving him 3x's his salary right now will tie him to us for the next 5 years, DO IT NOW because if her repeats this past year (Which shouldnt be a problem), the price tag will rise much higher.

 

Give that man some money!

 

Basically what I said earlier......

[sanders 0]

Willie has shown that he's willing to run "tough" the question is whether or not his body will hold up.

 

I think he does need a bump up if he plays this season under his current contract and does continue to show that he can get better and handle playing tough over a 16 game season.

[murf74 461]

Steelers need to wait one more year. He is restricted free agent after this year so there will be no chance he would get snatched up as long as they tender him the first round type.

 

No need to resign him yet.

[Yippie Skippy 0]

Steelers need to wait one more year. He is restricted free agent after this year so there will be no chance he would get snatched up as long as they tender him the first round type.

 

No need to resign him yet.

 

Uhh...really? Did you not comprehend the original post?? Willie does not have a contract for 2006. His contract expired.

 

Steelers will sign him after the draft when they grab another RB.

[t.j 35]

Steelers will sign him after the draft when they grab another RB.

 

It's to Pittsburgh's advantage to wait on re-signing Parker. If someone they really like falls to them in the draft, they can bank on that guy and sign Parker to just a one-year deal. If they decide Parker is the best RB on their roster post-draft, they sign him for as many dollars and years as they are comfortable with.

[murf74 461]

Uhh...really? Did you not comprehend the original post?? Willie does not have a contract for 2006. His contract expired.

 

Steelers will sign him after the draft when they grab another RB.

 

 

 

Dude, calm down first of all. Second, read what the original post said below:

 

Parker's initial contract expired after the 2005 season, but because he has only two years of NFL experience he does not qualify for free agency. Without a new long-term deal, Parker will be forced to play for a salary of $445,000 this season; he could become a restricted free agent in 2007 and an unrestricted free agent in 2008.

 

 

And now read below a bit of what I wrote.

 

He is restricted free agent after this year.

 

Parker either doesn't play this year or he signs his dinky little exlusive rights contract and he can only become a restricted Free Agent after the 2006 season. And at that time the Steelers will tender him a deal that will require anyone who wants him to give up a first round draft pick in return, which essentially rarely ever happens

 

The Steelers do not need to sign him long term, which is what I said in my original post. I think this is all a little over your head

[BrownsWon 0]

Parker either doesn't play this year or he signs his dinky little exlusive rights contract and he can only become a restricted Free Agent after the 2006 season. And at that time the Steelers will tender him a deal that will require anyone who wants him to give up a first round draft pick in return, which essentially rarely ever happens

 

Is this right? I thought as a restricted free agent the team only had to give up a draft pick in the round the player was originally drafted in. Or am I getting this confused with some other kind of designation.

 

Either way, the Steelers always have the option of matching the offer next year. While I think Parker is a good player, I still wonder if he fits in with Pittsburgh. I would think he would be devastating with a team like the Rams that throw the ball most of the time.

[Captian America 0]

Give Parker the money. Isn't funny how teams won't give their stars money and get some rookie in the draft and turn around and give him twice as much money as the star player and the rookie never played a down in the NFL.

[murf74 461]

Give Parker the money. Isn't funny how teams won't give their stars money and get some rookie in the draft and turn around and give him twice as much money as the star player and the rookie never played a down in the NFL.

 

Steelers give their stars money all the time, they just do it the year before they become Free agents:

 

Ward, Bettis, Faneca, Hartings, Marvel Smith, Hampton, Aaron Smith, Joey Porter are all pro bowl players that got paid/extended/resigned in recent Steeler history. Other starters like Townsend, Haggans, and Kreider also have been given their money. This is all just recent history, but they do this year in and year out. And when the Steeler do draft in the first round, they get it right, so this theory of overpaying a rookie who never plays a down doesn't apply to the Steelers in their last several years of first round picks. Just look at their last 3, Troy P, Big Ben and Heath Miller.

 

...On restricted Free Agency, if you give him the lowest tender, I believe you get the pick you drafted him at. But you can tender him one of the higher contracts and the other team would be forced to give up a 1st rounder. For instance, Ike Taylor right now would cost a team a 1st rounder, but he was only drafted in the 4th round

[DaveJ 0]

Yes 1.5 mill is reasonable, its not like hes asking for Shaun Alexander type of cash. I think Pitt will pay him, afterall, he DID contribute quite a bit to last year and is in their plans for the future.

 

It's chump change for a starting RB but enough to give the kid a little breathing room financially and a sign of good faith on the Steelers part.....Why not reward the kid for playing a huge role (much bigger then everyones favorite over weight RB , J. Bettis) in them winning the Super Bowl?

 

 

Exactly... its not like he is asking for 5 Mill a year... Houston paid up for Dom and other teams have stepped up. A little now will go a long way towards later.

[murf74 461]

What makes everyone think Parker would take 1.5 mill? He is the starting RB on a defending Superbowl Champ team, got the record for longest rushing TD in superbowl history and had a 1,200 yard season in only 14-1/2 games. He is not going to sign for 1.5 mill.

 

Besides, I though anybody could play RB or QB for the Steelers, at least that is what we hear every year. Ben is a system QB, Parker is only as good as his Oline, anyone can run behind that line....blah, blah, blah

[Captian America 0]

Steelers give their stars money all the time, they just do it the year before they become Free agents:

 

Ward, Bettis, Faneca, Hartings, Marvel Smith, Hampton, Aaron Smith, Joey Porter are all pro bowl players that got paid/extended/resigned in recent Steeler history. Other starters like Townsend, Haggans, and Kreider also have been given their money. This is all just recent history, but they do this year in and year out. And when the Steeler do draft in the first round, they get it right, so this theory of overpaying a rookie who never plays a down doesn't apply to the Steelers in their last several years of first round picks. Just look at their last 3, Troy P, Big Ben and Heath Miller.

 

...On restricted Free Agency, if you give him the lowest tender, I believe you get the pick you drafted him at. But you can tender him one of the higher contracts and the other team would be forced to give up a 1st rounder. For instance, Ike Taylor right now would cost a team a 1st rounder, but he was only drafted in the 4th round

 

I wasn't just talking about the Steelers, but several years ago Rod Woodson wanted to stay with Pittsburgh and instead of giving him $2,000,000 they went and brought someone else in for about $2,200,000. Meanwhile Woodson went to safety and played in about 4 Pro Bowls after that.

 

- Give the boy some money. 72 yard runs in the superbowl are special. I hope/think the Steelers will take care of him.

 

It was a 75 yard run and Superbowl Record.

[Jackson Biggs 0]

Pay Zee Man Is Money....now you must say that in KGB's voice from Rounders

[DrJ 0]

Uhh...really? Did you not comprehend the original post?? Willie does not have a contract for 2006. His contract expired.

 

Steelers will sign him after the draft when they grab another RB.

 

Uh....really? Did you not comprehend the part where it said he isn't eligible for FA? He's an exclusive rights FA, just like Gates was last season. They can give him the lowest offer, and what's he going to do? Hold out? Yeah - he's in a financial position to do that...

 

The Steelers are guaranteed to have this guy for nothing for 2 more years, and he doesn't have half the leverage that Gates did. The Chargers simply could not replace Gates, they had to get him in uniform. And even he had to sign for less than his market value.

[t.j 35]

The Chargers simply could not replace Gates, they had to get him in uniform. And even he had to sign for less than his market value.

 

Yep. Parker, unlike Gates, is replaceable.

 

A lot of people here are drinking large quantities of Parker Kool Aid. I don't think the guy is a bum, and I'm not surprised he had a good year last year. But let's face it, most of his success is due to the fact that he had a great opportunity fall into his lap. A team with a great o-line, great defense, commitment to the run, and a good enough passing game to keep defenses honest, goes into the offseason with Staley and Bettis as the main HBs. Staley gets hurt but he's young enough to come back in 2006 so they keep him around. Then at the end of the preseason Bettis gets hurt, but he'll be back in a few weeks so they'll keep him around too. The only other option (Verron Haynes) is a fullback. So it made all the sense in the world for Pittsburgh to give Willie a shot (rather than pay through the nose for another RB in a trade).

And don't get me wrong, Parker played ok. 1202 yards and 4 TDs is worth writing home about. But he didn't exactly show that he can carry a team. In four games with no Big Ben he had 1 Did Not Play and 44 carries for 127 yards and 0 TDs. Yeah, that 75 yard TD in the Super Bowl was a nice display of speed, but how many tackles did he break on that play, how many moves did he make? That play was 90% the offensive coordinator and the offensive line. The rest of the game he had 9 carries for 18 yards, by the way.

 

Could you justify paying Willie $1.5M/yr? Probably, considering the salary cap allocates enough money to pay 55 guys an average of $1.85M. Was his performance that good that the team must pay the man for chemistry reasons? No. Especially considering that he got paid $400k to do nothing in 2004. Is he irreplaceable? No. Therefore, he has no leverage. He'll play for whatever the Steelers are willing to pay him this year, and in 2007 he'll probably get the high tender for a restricted free agent, which is, incidentally, a one-year contract for about $1.5M. If he's really proven himself by then, maybe Pittsburgh will give him a long term deal in 2007.

[Datathief 0]

I'm not sure where 1.5 million would put him among the payscale of NFL running backs. Tripling his salary after one good year in a notoriously running back- friendly system seems a bit much. If 1.5 mill still puts him in the bottom half of starting running backs, I'd have no problem with it.

 

 

Its not even starters money. Obviously, he's worth more than 445k. How much the Steelers are willing to pay is a big question though. If they redo his deal but dont offer much, will Parker even take it?

[Yippie Skippy 0]

Steelers need to wait one more year. He is restricted free agent after this year so there will be no chance he would get snatched up as long as they tender him the first round type.

 

No need to resign him yet.

 

 

Listen whirlybirds this is the post that I was responding to.

 

How can the Steelers possibly wait one more year for him to sign his name on the exclusive rights contract this year??

 

Murf74 has FWP having already signed two contracts here when it is more likely that the Steelers will sign him to a long term deal after they grab a RB in the draft.

 

He has not signed anything. He needs to sign somthing.

[murf74 461]

Listen whirlybirds this is the post that I was responding to.

 

How can the Steelers possibly wait one more year for him to sign his name on the exclusive rights contract this year??

 

Murf74 has FWP having already signed two contracts here when it is more likely that the Steelers will sign him to a long term deal after they grab a RB in the draft.

 

He has not signed anything. He needs to sign somthing.

 

Hey Skippie, I don't think you have a clue what you are talking about. When I say wait a year, I MEAN WAIT A YEAR BEFORE SIGNING HIM TO A "BIG" CONTRACT. This is because, like I said Parker WILL be signed to an exclusive rights contract or he can never play in the NFL, ever again.

 

I did a quick search, hope this helps, I grapped it off a Falcons sight, don't pay attention to the years, dates, etc, just the definistions

 

EFA - EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENT

Exclusive rights free agents are players with two or fewer years of experience who have no outside negotiating power. Their rights belong to their 2005 club, provided that club makes him a minimum qualifying offer, which varies based on tenure. An EFA player may not speak with other teams and has no other NFL options open to him other than dealing with his previous club.

 

And I grabbed this statement off the Raiders website about EFA players..... must accept what the "owning" club offers or not play in the NFL at all

 

RFA - RESTRICTED FREE AGENT

Restricted free agents are players who have completed three accrued seasons of service and whose contracts have expired. They have received qualifying offers from their old clubs and will be free to negotiate with any club until April 21, after which time their rights will revert to their original club. If a player accepts an offer from a new club, the old club will have the right to match the offer and retain the player. If the old club elects not to match the offer, that club may receive draft-choice compensation depending on the level of the qualifying offer made to the player

 

So as you can see Skippie, he is forced to sign an exclusive rights contract if he wants to play another down in the NFL again. And next season he would be RFA and the Steelers would protect him with a first round tender.

 

Again, I am saying they need to wait another year to sign him to a "big" contract cause they get him for dirt cheap this year and next year as long as they tender him the highest, they are guaranteed not to lose him for less than a first rounder unless they do something stupid like put a transition tag on him instead of franchise tag (see Seattle's Hutchinson).

 

Are you still confused?

[t.j 35]

And I grabbed this statement off the Raiders website about EFA players..... must accept what the "owning" club offers or not play in the NFL at all

 

That doesn't mean that if the player doesn't accept the offer they can never play in the NFL again. Just not that year. They'd still become a restricted free agent after year three even if they sit year three out with no contract. However, by doing so they'd damage their value considerably.

 

That said, I agree with you, the Steelers will definitely wait a year before signing him to any kind of a long-term deal.

[murf74 461]

That doesn't mean that if the player doesn't accept the offer they can never play in the NFL again. Just not that year. They'd still become a restricted free agent after year three even if they sit year three out with no contract. However, by doing so they'd damage their value considerably.

 

That said, I agree with you, the Steelers will definitely wait a year before signing him to any kind of a long-term deal.

 

I believe in the NFL, if you sit out a year, you just return to the original situation you were in before you left.

 

Last year when Ward threatened to sit out a year, it was comical cause if he sat out a year, it would do nothing to his status with the team, he would have the same contract again the following year and still need to play another year.

 

Well, it doesn't really matter cause we all know he would never sit out a year, it would ruin his career. Heck last year was the first year he started since he was in High School.

[Bill E. 703]

... but several years ago Rod Woodson wanted to stay with Pittsburgh and instead of giving him $2,000,000 they went and brought someone else in for about $2,200,000. Meanwhile Woodson went to safety and played in about 4 Pro Bowls after that.

 

 

There was a lot more to it than that. At the time Woodson was 35 and had come off a subpar season preceeded by the the Superbowl year where he was injured all season. Cower was ready to re-sign him as a safety, but Woodson wanted to stay at corner. I think I remember it being a couple more years before he agreed to move to corner with Balt.

 

The Steelers made him an offer at Safety money but he decided to test the market. The Steelers had no choice but to replace him and he ended signing with SF for much lass than the Steelers offered him. No team wanted to pay him the money he wanted, so it was not a matter of the Steelers not wanting to pay him what he was worth.

 

To this day he is still one of my all-time favorite players. I was crushed when he left PIT. The only reason I rooted for Balt in the Superbowl was because I wanted to see Woodson get a ring.

[t.j 35]

I believe in the NFL, if you sit out a year, you just return to the original situation you were in before you left.

 

Um, no. Teams don't even retain their rights to draft picks who sit out a year instead of signing a rookie contract.

[Yippie Skippy 0]

I am not confused, I just don't agree with your opinion.

 

I think that the two sides meeting this early is an indication that the Steelers will rework the deal. That shows me that they are not waiting another year to get this done. The Steelers didn't call Willie and Elbert in just to say "hey here's the min. contract offer and all we have to pay you...sign here."

[t.j 35]

There was a lot more to it than that. At the time Woodson was 35 and had come off a subpar season preceeded by the the Superbowl year where he was injured all season.

 

Woodson was only 29 the last season he played with Pittsburgh.

[Bill E. 703]

Woodson was only 29 the last season he played with Pittsburgh.

 

Let's split the difference and say 32. I thought I remembered him being w/ the Steelers for 12 years, I guess it was 10

 

" the Steelers ended any attempt at bringing Woodson, 32, back for an 11th year."

 

http://www.cincypost.com/sports/1997/wood060397.html

 

Either way, my point was that the Stelers did not just let him go for no reason. He wanted more than any team wanted to pay and the Steelers offered him more than any other team would. He also refused to switch to safety.

[murf74 461]

Um, no. Teams don't even retain their rights to draft picks who sit out a year instead of signing a rookie contract.

 

You are talking about draft picks, I don't know those rules, but this is what I dug up on Hines Ward if he would have sat out the entire year.

 

During a protracted holdout, Ward would lose 1/17th of his salary for each week of the regular season he boycotts. After Oct. 18, he would not be permitted to return to the team this season and would lose the credited year (and not become a free agent) unless the Steelers petition the league for his reinstatement.

 

Ward had one year left on his contract, if he sat out he would not get credit for that year and everything would be the same.

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05210/545641.stm

[murf74 461]

I am not confused, I just don't agree with your opinion.

 

I think that the two sides meeting this early is an indication that the Steelers will rework the deal. That shows me that they are not waiting another year to get this done. The Steelers didn't call Willie and Elbert in just to say "hey here's the min. contract offer and all we have to pay you...sign here."

 

If the Steelers do resign him now, I will guarantee you that it will be one heck of bargain for the Steelers cause they are only negotiating against themselves and Parker's agent knows there are no guarantees, the Steelers could draft a future starting RB like L. White, and still keep Parker tied up with EFA and RFA status the next 2 years. Also if Parker blows out a knee next year he would have never benefited from his big year. It is of great benefit for Parker to sign now, especially before the draft. AFter the draft he may have even less ammo than he does now.

[t.j 35]

Let's split the difference and say 32.

 

Why should we say 32 when he was 29?

 

You are talking about draft picks, I don't know those rules, but this is what I dug up on Hines Ward if he would have sat out the entire year.

 

During a protracted holdout, Ward would lose 1/17th of his salary for each week of the regular season he boycotts. After Oct. 18, he would not be permitted to return to the team this season and would lose the credited year (and not become a free agent) unless the Steelers petition the league for his reinstatement.

 

Ward had one year left on his contract, if he sat out he would not get credit for that year and everything would be the same.

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05210/545641.stm

 

That situation doesn't apply to Parker, because Ward was under contract, whereas Parker (like a drafted-but-not-signed rookie) is not.

[Bill E. 703]

Why should we say 32 when he was 29?

 

 

" the Steelers ended any attempt at bringing Woodson, 32, back for an 11th year."

 

http://www.cincypost.com/sports/1997/wood060397.html

[murf74 461]

Why should we say 32 when he was 29?

That situation doesn't apply to Parker, because Ward was under contract, whereas Parker (like a drafted-but-not-signed rookie) is not.

 

any way to confirm this, if the Steelers offer him a tender, Parkers has to sign it. I don't think sitting out a year is going to remove his ties to the Steelers.