“Why Would I Take A Discount?”
March 9th, 2016
Are the Bucs reading this?
One of the few remaining heralded free agent targets at defensive end, Dolphins pass rusher Olivier Vernon, has plenty to say.
TheMMQB.com offered a rare look at a free agent on the cusp of breaking the bank. They got Vernon to write about himself.
I’m a Miami guy through and through. I played high school football in Miami, college football at University of Miami and was lucky to be drafted by the team right down the street. I’ve never even lived outside the Miami area. But even so, I made it known to the Dolphins before the season ended that I wasn’t interested in taking a hometown discount. I’m thankful for the opportunity to play for my home team in my own backyard, but I put in too much work to go for a discount. I take that personally. You only get so long to play this game. I just want to have a fair deal, because I know I deserve that. I work hard during the offseason, OTAs, training camp and the whole regular season. Just doing that alone, why would I take a discount? It’s like a boss saying to someone who works 9 to 5 and puts in overtime, “Hey I love your work, you’re working hard, but we don’t want to give you what you’re worth, we want to give you a discount.” Anybody in his right mind would say, no, no, no. Anybody who puts in the time and the work, it means a lot to you, and when you see something that you want, you have to go get it.
It’s a neat look at the 25-year-old pass rusher who has 25.5 sacks over the past three seasons. Joe recommends the whole read linked above.
Joe can’t blame the guy for wanting massive cash, but don’t try to sell that you’re a “Miami guy through and through” when you had no interest in guaranteeing yourself $12.7 million by signing the transition tag the Dolphins offered.
Keep it real.
March 9th, 2016 at 9:34 am
Let’s just keep him in Florida off of I-95
March 9th, 2016 at 9:38 am
Don’t overpay him Licht – please.
March 9th, 2016 at 9:44 am
We have the cash. He’s still young. We have a DT who is in his prime who could wreak havoc on QBs with the right guy on the end.
Let’s get this done.
March 9th, 2016 at 9:44 am
The biggest problem I see with our Bucs is their mentality. They don’t aggressively pursue Quality free agents. Nope, we be looking for quantity..bargain basement style. What a slap in the face by the savvy Dolphins. No cap space. Their mngt team makes room and signs quality free agents. They go all out to attract one of the best. Us? We can’t even resign the leagues no2 rusher without trying to..nickel and dime him. If I were Martin? I’d bolt just to show the Bucs..the sun does not set anywhere close to their A’s!
You see, great teams..like Denver go out and get Quality free agents. And we go out and sign the Tandy’s and Shepards from the bargain bin. We get lotsa quantity but no quality. Thus securing our status as Basement Dwellers!
March 9th, 2016 at 9:47 am
Vernon seems like a decent young player…and probably an upgrade to what we currently have on our roster….but something bothers me. The Dolphins had Vernon…all they needed to do was extend him. But instead they decided to bring in Mario Willims….why? What do the fins know that everyone else doesn’t? If Vernon is such a good player…why did Moami shell out $8million a year on a guy like Mario Williams? Williams wasn’t hired to be a backup…there has to be a reason that Vernon is in this circumstance.
March 9th, 2016 at 9:48 am
I would rather see the Bucs draft the 2 best DEs they can identify in the 1st and 2nd rounds and develop them before paying a player like this $15Million a year or whatever….
While you are at it Jason – invest in Jacquies Smith NOW. Offer him a 3-4 year deal while he is still affordable. Because if he only signs the minimum 1 year tender since we own his rights – and then gets another 7 or 8 sacks this year – he’s going to cost a lot next year. And if he breaks double digits – forget it – might as well back up the Brinks truck if you want to keep him.
Offer J. Smith a 3 year deal for say 11 Million now and you will be saving the Bucs from having to pay a lot more next year to keep him.
March 9th, 2016 at 9:54 am
Olivier Vernon tag removed by Dolphins
March 9th, 2016 at 9:55 am
@Jeagan
These are the same thoughts I have been having on this situation. I can’t blame the kid he makes some good points but to me it feels like Miami was willing to keep him only if they couldn’t find another DE. Now that they have found a DE to replace him it sounds like they are ready to part ways today.
March 9th, 2016 at 10:06 am
He is keeping it real, he’s being honest about not taking a discount. I’ve never understood people or the media’s hand wringing about another grown man’s finances. He can love Miami and not want to work for less than market value; those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. He put the work in, he is sacrificing his body, he honored his contract, and now he has the right to test the open market. Vernon is right, asking guys to take a discount simply because they were born in an area is absurd. If guys want to give up money that’s their prerogative, but we need to stop implying guys are some how greedy because they won’t take less than they are worth. No one on these boards including Joe would volunteer to take less money if they felt they’ve earned the right to get more and the market would pay it.
March 9th, 2016 at 10:06 am
This guy is the opposite of Charles Johnson, he’s all about the Benjamins. As much as I’d love to see him in pewter and red as a player, this mercenary attitude indicates that money is more important than winning, and that’s a problem. The Bucs need more guys like Winston and less guys like Revis.
March 9th, 2016 at 10:16 am
The Bucs need guys who can get sacks, which Vernon is; I hate to wreck the naïve nostalgic “play for the love of the game” slop so many fans want to believe, but the NFL is a business. Fans and teams will absolutely cut guys who are hurt, underperforming the second they can no longer help them, yet people want players to pretend like its a charity when its contract time. The player only gets the leverage/power a few times in his career with free agency, this is Vernon’s time. Vernon has never been a “me first” guy in Miami, and he kept his contract stuff out of the press until he finished his deal. Passing on him because he wants to get what he is owed and doesn’t do the fake JJ Watt “I’m humble” even though he’s not gibberish in front of the camera and is just honest about free agency, is foolish. If the Bucs brass thinks he can help the team get a pass rush, sign him.
March 9th, 2016 at 10:25 am
Don’t over pay for this clown! We’ll regret it
March 9th, 2016 at 10:29 am
Not liking what I’m hearing from this guy. But to say Miami knows something by not signing him means they have a solid front office. Trading for Maxwell and Alonso, upgrading d line when their I line is terrible, never using Miller well, and paying suh that Mich money only tells me they know nothing. Now if n.e. or Denver or Pitt or another quality front office let him walk I’d be out.
March 9th, 2016 at 10:29 am
Pretty dumb comment from America’s Commentator. Got news for you, it’s all about the cash for all these guys and who can blame them. Just wait until Winstons contract comes up. Love the guy but I promise you he wants to get paid. As Vernon said, their shelf life is short and can end tomorrow.
March 9th, 2016 at 10:48 am
@joe
unfortunately nfl players don’t appreciate franchise tag designation.it shows
a lack of long term commitment from the team. Players want security because they know that team will be quick to cut them if they get injured or decide
they cant afford them.
March 9th, 2016 at 10:51 am
Nothing at all that he said bothers me. In fact, I completely respect Vernon’s stance. It would be lovely to get DM and this guy. I would consider that a win in Free Agency even if we don’t get anybody else. However, you have to go in knowing that we aren’t exactly going to top most Free Agents’ wish list. We may have to even pay a bit more but when we have plenty of cap space and we again don’t spend what we have, us fans have every right to question the Glazer kids commitment to building a winner.
March 9th, 2016 at 11:00 am
I don’t know much about Vernon, I don’t care if he wants to get paid, what I care about is does he hate to lose? Does he bring the hammer every week and play the best when the game is on the line. GMC seems like a guy who will take one for the team, nice guy, ethical, full of scruples, and over all great guy. He does seem to lack the killer instinct that we need to make our Defense a little scary. Does Vernon have the killer instinct we are looking for? If so bring him in and make him an offer. We need some bad as* leaders. Even if only for a year or two.
March 9th, 2016 at 11:00 am
Bob in Valrico Says:
@joe
unfortunately nfl players don’t appreciate franchise tag designation.it shows
a lack of long term commitment from the team. Players want security because they know that team will be quick to cut them if they get injured or decide
they cant afford them.
—————————————–
Bob, spot on, but Joe has argued that the NFLPA voted for the tag.
March 9th, 2016 at 11:16 am
The market dictates what a guy is worth so if he wants a fair deal for his services how is that not keeping it real. He not saying nothing any red blooded American would say. Maybe you guy need to keep it real.
March 9th, 2016 at 11:45 am
I agree Jeagan..
The big why…
March 9th, 2016 at 12:28 pm
The rent is just too damn high.
March 9th, 2016 at 12:29 pm
Just because the Bucs struck out with 2nd tier Free Agents such as Michael Johnson and Anthony Collins that means we shouldn’t be aggressive? You go after the proven performer who performed well last year. I agree its embarrassing with all of the cap space we have not yet signed Doug Martin. The Bucs called his bluff and didn’t pick up his option and what did he do? Rushed for 1400 yards and almost beat out AP for the rushing title. Pay the damn man his money, he’s our own player come on!!! What does it say to the rest of the team that we don’t sign a quality player like Doug Martin that did nothing but deliver this year. It almost makes it seem like we don’t ever want to make the playoffs.
March 9th, 2016 at 1:11 pm
Exactly what Cmurda said..