It's there for the taking
The notion that Jason Allen's contract talks finally could gain momentum ran into a huge obstacle Monday called the Dolphins' negotiating stance.
The team apparently is not budging.
There was optimism -- at least from the Allen camp -- late Sunday that there would be progress with the rookie safety because the St. Louis Rams signed cornerback Tye Hill to a five-year contract. With Hill, the 15th player taken in the draft, signing for five years, it could be argued that Allen, the 16th player taken, conceivably could get a five-year deal instead of the six years the Dolphins want.
''It really doesn't matter,'' coach Nick Saban said of the Rams' contract with Hill. ``That was their choice. We got our choices. We're going to run our business the way we run our business.''
SLOTTING METHOD
The business of the first round typically is run by a slotting method. The higher pick sets the bargaining table for the pick behind. But this year's collective bargaining extension also says teams can sign players picked in the top 16 spots to six-year deals.
''To be honest with you, there's not a whole lot in this collective bargaining agreement -- advantages that the club has,'' Saban said. ``Those are gone now. But it does say that the first 16 guys in the draft can sign six-year contracts, so that's one the club has. Still.
``So what happened before or what some other club chooses to do philosophically doesn't determine what we're going to do. Is that right? That's how I look at it.''
Allen's camp might argue that because several players selected before their client -- Michael Huff, Ernie Sims and Hill -- signed five-year deals, their player should also. But agent Mitch Frankel, who represents Allen, did not return phone messages Monday to make that point.
It all means Allen has missed five practices so far. And while he is away from the team, sixth-year veteran Travares Tillman is happily working toward taking Allen's starting job.
''I can't control any of that,'' Tillman said. ``I can only go out every day and practice the way I've been practicing, and hopefully my play will show that I should be the starter.''
MADE 10 STARTS
Tillman started 10 games last season, but the Dolphins would be more comfortable with him as an experienced, dependable backup and Allen as the higher-pedigree, more explosive starter.
That cannot be the case now with Allen unsigned. And it might not be the case immediately after Allen signs, because earning a starting job is no easy task for a rookie.
''If you come in and are a first-year player, it's pretty complicated,'' safety Yeremiah Bell said.
``There's a lot of things that go along with our defense. [Allen] might need a little time with that, but he'll have all us helping him, so he'll be OK.''
But the help is limited during games, when players are more concerned with taking care of their own assignments.
''When stuff starts moving on the field and calls change and your mind starts racing, that's when you really need to know [the defense],'' Bell said.
And Allen will have to know his fellow safety. He worked with strong safety Renaldo Hill during organized team activity days, but Hill and Tillman worked together longer.
Hill believes that while Allen is trying to increase his value, the time he is missing also is to be prized.
''It's very valuable,'' Hill said of the practice time Allen is missing. ``That's where all the teaching begins. You might miss if you come in a little later. You might miss on some of the things, and the coaches, they'll hit on it later.
``But you won't get the same detail you get from Day One.''
The team apparently is not budging.
There was optimism -- at least from the Allen camp -- late Sunday that there would be progress with the rookie safety because the St. Louis Rams signed cornerback Tye Hill to a five-year contract. With Hill, the 15th player taken in the draft, signing for five years, it could be argued that Allen, the 16th player taken, conceivably could get a five-year deal instead of the six years the Dolphins want.
''It really doesn't matter,'' coach Nick Saban said of the Rams' contract with Hill. ``That was their choice. We got our choices. We're going to run our business the way we run our business.''
SLOTTING METHOD
The business of the first round typically is run by a slotting method. The higher pick sets the bargaining table for the pick behind. But this year's collective bargaining extension also says teams can sign players picked in the top 16 spots to six-year deals.
''To be honest with you, there's not a whole lot in this collective bargaining agreement -- advantages that the club has,'' Saban said. ``Those are gone now. But it does say that the first 16 guys in the draft can sign six-year contracts, so that's one the club has. Still.
``So what happened before or what some other club chooses to do philosophically doesn't determine what we're going to do. Is that right? That's how I look at it.''
Allen's camp might argue that because several players selected before their client -- Michael Huff, Ernie Sims and Hill -- signed five-year deals, their player should also. But agent Mitch Frankel, who represents Allen, did not return phone messages Monday to make that point.
It all means Allen has missed five practices so far. And while he is away from the team, sixth-year veteran Travares Tillman is happily working toward taking Allen's starting job.
''I can't control any of that,'' Tillman said. ``I can only go out every day and practice the way I've been practicing, and hopefully my play will show that I should be the starter.''
MADE 10 STARTS
Tillman started 10 games last season, but the Dolphins would be more comfortable with him as an experienced, dependable backup and Allen as the higher-pedigree, more explosive starter.
That cannot be the case now with Allen unsigned. And it might not be the case immediately after Allen signs, because earning a starting job is no easy task for a rookie.
''If you come in and are a first-year player, it's pretty complicated,'' safety Yeremiah Bell said.
``There's a lot of things that go along with our defense. [Allen] might need a little time with that, but he'll have all us helping him, so he'll be OK.''
But the help is limited during games, when players are more concerned with taking care of their own assignments.
''When stuff starts moving on the field and calls change and your mind starts racing, that's when you really need to know [the defense],'' Bell said.
And Allen will have to know his fellow safety. He worked with strong safety Renaldo Hill during organized team activity days, but Hill and Tillman worked together longer.
Hill believes that while Allen is trying to increase his value, the time he is missing also is to be prized.
''It's very valuable,'' Hill said of the practice time Allen is missing. ``That's where all the teaching begins. You might miss if you come in a little later. You might miss on some of the things, and the coaches, they'll hit on it later.
``But you won't get the same detail you get from Day One.''
posted by auburntigerstick at 5:48 PM
1 Comments:
Very excited about the Dolphins/Steelers game tonight!
I kind of have mixed feelings about Ricky Williams coming back, you guys think he can make a difference? I personally think we will have a much stronger running game but i don't know if it will show against the steelers defense, they're tough. All I want is to win one game ONE! so we can get this "losers" label out of the way. I took NFL odds on Miami +16, I'm sure they will cover... games like this have been really close.
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