It may not be the Seattle Seahawks who have an issue with Russell Wilson's contract demands. He may be unsigned because of the NFL.
Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com and NFL.com are reporting that the sticking point in the contract negotiations with the Seahawks quarterback isn't his overall asking price but rather his guaranteed money asking price.
"Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, confirming Saturday's PFT item pointing out that the Seahawks had moved to $21 million per year, reports that the biggest issue at this point is 'cash up front and guarantees,' Pro Football Talk reported.
An NFL rule forces teams to put the guaranteed money to which it agrees with a player over contract negotiations into an escrow account when the deal is signed. The rule protects players from owners who lack future cash to honor guaranteed payments.
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NFL.com is reporting that the Seahawks are offering $20 million up front in guaranteed money. Wilson's agent, Mark Rodgers is a baseball agent who is used to getting more money upfront for his baseball players, so far has not accepted the deal. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is getting $30 million guaranteed from his latest deal.
NFL.com adds that Wilson hasn't outright turned down any deal and that the NFL has not pulled any deal.
Pro Football Talk, however, is wondering why Allen, one of the richest men in the world, would refuse to give more money in guarantees. He is one of the richest men in the world. PFT wonders if others in the NFL are pressuring Allen not to agree to pay more in guarantee demands.
Not because owner Paul Allen can't afford to set the money aside. He definitely can. But the thinking is that he doesn't want to, either because he disagrees with the funding concept or because the league wants teams to resist making greater percentages of player contracts fully guaranteed.
"Not because owner Paul Allen can't afford to set the money aside. He definitely can," Pro Football Talk reported. "But the thinking is that he doesn't want to, either because he disagrees with the funding concept or because the league wants teams to resist making greater percentages of player contracts fully guaranteed."
According to Pro Football Talk, the aversion to giving more guaranteed money stems from the NFL owners' perceived resistance of emulating professional baseball, which has fully guaranteed contracts. If that is the case, the players could charge them with collusion.
The Seahawks better tread lightly with Wilson. If he leads Seattle to a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance in 2015, his price will go up and he may remember Allen's snub if a deal does not get done now.
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