Yes, I'm aware that blocking responsibilities differ between the guard and tackle positions, and that the tackle is more responsible for sack machine DEs and OLBs. However, the island argument doesn't fly. In our blocking schemes, DT is generally Moore's responsibility when facing 4 down linemen. Against a 3-4, he's the one going up against the DE, making Woody responsible for the OLB. If Woody's on an island, it's because he's not getting help from either a blocking TE or RB/FB.
Baffling to say the least if the conversion provision is truly present (do you have a link for that, btw?). He is signed for real cheap through 2012, so it is a no brainer. I'd like to think that our braintrust is smarter than letting us lose our OL chemistry over a few million dollars. This all doesn't add up...something else is going on, and I hope it involves keeping the guy.
It's also funny that when he signed the deal, everyone reported the roster bonus at $5 million, but now it somehow moved to $7 million. Does anyone have an official link of it moving up for some reason?
As far a "provision" that can convert a roster bonus into a signing bonus, it does not exist because it is unnecessary. It is common accounting in the NFL to convert roster bonuses to signing bonuses. Its a cap "trick" no provision or agreement from the player necessary.
http://www.thejetsblog.com/2009/02/11/clarification-on-brandon-moores-deal/ Just thought I would pass along the information that the Jets have it in his contract that they can convert that five million dollar bonus to a signing/option bonus, so if there is any hesitation on the Jets part, it is simply that they feel he has not earned that kind of money moreso than being forced into something because of Favre. Again, this might not be true, but this guy generally knows his stuff. Even if it's not convertible without his permission, the guy is under contract for 4 more seasons at very reasonable numbers. If we can't swing our FA signings, there's no reason to cut him, hence why he's still around.
Except that a player has to agree to it. Obviously, if it's not present, it was rather necessary in this case as Brandon Moore seems to not want to agree to it.
Interesting that the Vikings felt a "need" to add this into their contract with Jared Allen if his approval wasn't necessary: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-allencontractterms050708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns "One of the key elements to Allen’s six-year, $74 million contract is a provision, pre-approved by the player, that allows the Vikings to convert an $8 million roster bonus Allen is due to receive in 2010 into a signing bonus. In such a case, the team would recoup its money from the player and the signing bonus would count under the salary cap for the remaining years of his contract. Under rules of the collective bargaining agreement, signing bonuses can be recovered by a team when a player violates his contract; a roster bonus can’t."
Are you sure a player has to agree to it? I think that it is only an accounting trick see Washington Redskins cap management 201 (101 is adding years onto contracts to reduce cap figures). The player receives "bonus" on March 5. If it is roster bonus, the full value counts against the 2009 cap. If it is a "signing bonus" then then the distribution is equally divided among each year of the contract (but the player still gets all the money on march 5) Maybe you are right though, but if a player does not agree to this, then he is asking for a release. He his being asked to help the team at no cost to himself.
Exactly. I can't help but think in Moore's case, if it wasn't built in already, he's looking further down the line to help himself. He's got 3 years on the contract after this season, and none pay out at more than 2 million. He's got to be looking for a better future deal. Funny thing is, if his bonus is indeed 7 million, he'd be making $2 to 4 million a season for the next 4 years. That's right in line with his ability, but we can't pay it up front with all the cap uncertainty in the future. Have to take advantage.
I bet he'll get a 5 year-$25 mil contract on the open market, which it is my guess, he is banking on.
Exactly. I'd also guess that part of his success this season was playing well knowing he'd either get his $7 million (or $5 million), or would be cut. If we can find the room, he's under contract for 3 very favorable years.
Bradway never understood O-line continuity and it eventually cost him the GM position. Tannenbaum clearly does not understand O-line continuity and it will eventually cost him the GM position. Moore is an average guard who would have been paid like a star this season, with the roster bonus effectively being a balloon payment on a very cheap price tag over the years. The Jets should have found a way to pay him and keep him unless they have somebody better in mind for the position. It'll be a sad season next year if Kellen Clemens is looking desperately to his right as he drops back, just like he was getting blindsided from the left two years ago.
You really think that if he leaves it will be that hard to find a guard as good or better than Moore?
Fixed that. And yes, I think it will be hard to find a guard enough better than Moore to make up for the fact that he's been lining up on Mangold's shoulder for two years and they have chemistry. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Moore is anything more than an average guard at this point, but he's an average guard who knows our system and how his teammates, Mangold in particular, perform in that system. All it takes is one play where Mangold and the new guy are not on the same page and we have a QB laid out flat. How many instant sacks happened last year on the Jets? You know, the ones where somebody comes right up the middle unblocked and takes out the QB? I can't recall one up the middle.
I personally think it will be. When you say "better", you need to keep in mind the factors of not only skill, but knowledge of the playbook, familiarity of the players around you, chemistry with the rest of the team on and off the field, and being familiar with your home field environment. Given all of this, yes, I do think it will be hard to find a guard as good as Moore for the same money.
