There's a potentially much larger contract "trail blazer" narrative playing out in the Russell Wilson negotiations. We all know NFL contracts are weak by comparison to other sports. The guaranteed $ is less, the top paid players quickly fall behind their NFL comps just a year or two into their "long term" deals, but too bad they're locked in. Look at Julio's hardball for a new deal now. Never mind the much-shorter average career lengths or the vicious harsh reality of the NFL game. Well, if you believe the league revenue opportunities are about to explode, it's smart to ask for a cap-baselined deal. If you got the leverage as Wilson obviously thinks he has. It would be the 1st deal of its kind. Game changing is an understatement.
From the owners/team perspective - Obviously nobody would want to be the 1st to unleash that pandora's box on the league. Can you imagine the top offensive *and* defensive players taking similar "give me a cap-adjusted baseline or else" stance? Then again, if you're the Seahawks brass, are you willing to lose Danger Russ if you don't do it or franchise tag him into a bad situation?
From the players perspective - it's inevitable to somehow better align the life of top deals with cap growth - currently some $10 mill/yr. If you're Wilson, are you really willing to leave the emerald city to get such a deal? This would explain why some think he is angling to get out.
Peter King lays this out in glorious technicolor, as always.
"Most players want the assurance of guaranteed money and long-term security. They’ll take significant guaranteed money in exchange for fighting for what Cousins got (a fully guaranteed three-year, $84-million contract) or what Wilson presumably wants (a fluctuating contract, based on the league’s future success). But from what I hear, Wilson and Rodgers feel the league could be on the precipice of major new revenue streams. Recently, Bills co-owner Kim Pegula said she wanted to have the opportunity to provide sports betting inside their stadium. What might the NFL’s take on in-stadium gambling be, and how would that be divided with the players? Could Facebook or some digital brand bid an unheard-of sum for the rights to part of the TV deal in 2022?"
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... cid=fmiatw