Training camps would not be training camps if there were not a person holding out.
There was a time when players held out to avoid “real” training camp. A hold out now is mostly a poor, mistreated millionaire who is unhappy with the deal he signed at the behest of his agent, only to realize that his deal is not all he thought it was.
Rams running back Steven Jackson is not happy. He has elected to stay out of camp until he gets satisfaction. Ok, it’s a business right? Remember that term, as we shall return to it.
While Jackson’s situation has two sides to it, I will make this a triangle and add common sense to his sophomoric endeavor.
Side one. The side of Steven Jackson. He is the feature back. The offense is built around him. He has become the face of the team. His deal has become obsolete when compared to many counterparts and the Rams have not shown him the respect he is due by not offering an extension before training camp.
It’s time to get paid. This is the only way to get the Rams’ attention. Business is business.
Side two. The side of the Rams. True, Jackson was their first-round pick and they have built the offense around him. But this is the same guy who has not stayed healthy enough for the Rams to be a consistent winner. While the team has tried to make him its focal point and leader, he has berated teammates, thrown others under the bus and criticized fans that do not show up and/or sell their tickets to the opposing teams’ fans. Throw in the fact that he has not shown a lot of love for the music selection at the Edward Jones Dome. By the way, there was no gun put to the head of Jackson when he signed the deal. Business is business.
Side three. My side. So Steven Jackson is the product of another one-sided deal by the Rams. Why has it taken Jackson three separate agents to figure out what’s going on? His first deal was eight percent less than the guy who was drafted in the same position a year before him. Strike one. The Rams have a penchant for dragging things out when it comes to some long-term extensions. The Orlando Pace situation comes to mind. In the end, Pace won but the aggravation it caused was uncalled for. Bad move by the Rams. So, as of Tuesday, Jackson was holding out. OK, hold out. Just let us know what job will pay you the money you are willing to keep on the table. You see, even if he sat out the entire season (which he won’t) he still loses. He loses an accrued year of service, he loses the money that he will never make back and the Rams would still own his rights. So the question is “Where are you going?”
For the record, Jackson reportedly turned down a 7-year-$50 million dollar deal with $17 million guaranteed. The Rams don’t think he is worth more.
Now let’s get to business. Only in the NFL can a player and a team renege on a contract. A player can hold out (at a cost of $15,000 a day.)
The team can cut a guy if he refuses to take a pay cut from the original deal only because they like someone else or they need the money to pay a more valuable player. They are both wrong, but that is their business and, remember-business is business. Silly isn’t it?
And yet we fawn over this situation as if it could decide the fate of the world. The Rams went 3-13 in 2007 with a part-time player in Steven Jackson. If he is totally healthy, how many games do you think they win? Are they good enough to make the playoffs?
Jackson is a really good player who is at a crossroad. Perhaps his new agent, Eugene Parker, can get things going in the right direction. He is knowledgeable and fair. More importantly, he is really, really good. He is respected throughout the NFL. Jackson made a good move in hiring him. Let’s hope it’s the first of many for him and the Rams.
