I don't get NFL "Contracts"!

[rexallllsc]

You can just cut guys who have years left on their contract, and they don't get paid for them? What's the point of 7 year contracts like the one Portis just signed? Or the one Manning just signed?

[Passacaglia]

Pro-rated signing bonus.

[Vince]

It's kind of like a contract you sign with an employer...there's usually a part at or near the end which says 'this contract may be willfully and completely broken by either party at any time.'

The only thing that's guaranteed is bonus money.

[Masked]

NFL contracts are guaranteed so teams can terminate them at any time. Longer contracts are better for the team because they can lessen the cap cost of the contract by spreading the bonus out. Longer contracts are better for the players because they can get larger bonuses because teams can fit the bonuses under the cap.

If the NFL went to guaranteed contracts, the lengths would be much such shorter (probably 3-4 years max) with virtually no bonuses.

The current setup allows players to get more money right away, and allows teams to jetison players who are ineffective or injured.

[rexallllsc]

It's kind of like a contract you sign with an employer...there's usually a part at or near the end which says 'this contract may be willfully and completely broken by either party at any time.'

Players can opt out at any time?

[Leonidas]

Players can opt out at any time?

No. NFL contracts are very one sided. Owners hold all the rights. They can terminate the deal any time. The players only leverage is through the signing bonuses. Owners can cut a guy, but a prorated portion of the signing bonus still counts against the salary cap, and the owner recoups none of the actual bonus money. But if a player quits early, like Barry Sanders, he has to pay back a prorated portion of the bonus money, and I think the money no longer counts against the cap (I could be wrong on this point).

Players sign these outrageous long term contracts mainly for their own ego and to make their agents happy so they can tell other athletes about the great deals they got for their guys. Players sign these big deals knowing full well they'll never see the last couple years of it. But they take that for the big bonus up front and the right to claim to have the greatest contract for their position.

[Vince]

Good catch...hence the 'kinda like' part ;)

Leonidas is right, player's can't opt out.