A lot of good discussion here, to be sure.

(09-18-2019, 10:47 AM)JackCity Wrote: Anyway, there's no rule that can be put in place to stop star players leaving bad teams, the only solution for teams is to make good decisions

I agree with the sentiment behind this 99.99%. I will say this, however. The contract is the rule that has been put in place. That always has to be starting point.

Just like in a personal relationship, both sides have to want to work it out in order for the arrangement to continue to be successful. There has to be a certain level of commitment from both sides for it to work. There is a lot at play here, and the only acceptable solution is for the parties involved to make good decisions. Both parties are responsible for this. The best resolutions usually occur when both sides can keep a level head and mutually agree to a solution. Sometimes, the two of them can come to an agreement that the relationship is worth saving, worth working out. Sometimes this simply isn't possible. Sometimes, the relationship is irretrievably broken.

The only acceptable solution is for the parties involved to make good decisions.

(09-18-2019, 06:47 AM)Mikey Wrote: What do teams do with the signing bonus they paid to a player who doesn't(or cannot, in cases of injury) perform up to past performance? Do the players give a portion back? It's a two-way street.

What makes sense to one team may not work for another. The example that comes to my mind, is the one between the Colts and Andrew Luck. I am not so sure that as GM, I would have allowed Andrew Luck to keep his signing bonus. The Colts weighed their options, and decided to take the course of action that they did. It is not up to me to decide whether it was the right thing for them to do. But I will say this:

The only acceptable solution is for the parties involved to make good decisions.

The OP said the following in his post:

(09-17-2019, 05:38 PM)americus 2.0 Wrote: And big deal that the Dolphins got the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round pick next spring in the trade. Let’s play this out. Maybe they get lucky with that pick. Maybe Pittsburgh (0-2) keeps losing without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is out for the season after suffering an elbow injury. Maybe that becomes a top-10 draft pick.

Maybe they can turn that into a player like, you know, Minkah Fitzpatrick, who the Dolphins drafted 11th in 2018.

I’m dizzy already from this revolving-door rebuild......"

The only acceptable solution here was for the Dolphins, and Minkah Fitzpatrick, and the Steelers, to make the best decisions for them. Did they do that? Time will tell.
 
The same is true for Antonio Brown and the Patriots. Did the Patriots do what was best for them? Did AB decide correctly to decline a quiet settlement with his accuser? Hindsight is always 20-20. Time will tell.

I do share the concern of americus 2.0 that AB may have set a dangerous precedent, and that is a valid concern. There seems to be a run on this, from the outside looking in.

So what is the best solution for Jalen Ramsey and the Jaguars?
You guessed it. To make the best decisions for them. Hopefully they can cross that threshold together.

Great thread, guys. Sorry to have been so long winded.

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