Why Cliff Stein is so respected- rookie signi

**dabears54** · 06-21-2011, 12:00 PM

One of he hardest things to do each year is the rookie signings early, which requires alot of trust and the agent beleiving the tea is giving them the proper deal and not 'screwing them' or they will hold out longer.. Football Outsider had a great chart to show the last 5 years how much better Stein is than anyone els in league on getting the trust and rookies in sooner than any team by a wide margin

Team-by-Team Percentage of Signed Draft Choices by June 20, 2006-2010

Team
Drafted
Signed
% Signed

Chicago

42
38
90.5%

Philadelphia

47
32
68.1%

Washington

33
19
57.6%

Pittsburgh

43
21
48.8%

Miami

41
20
48.8%

Atlanta

42
20
47.6%

Seattle

37
17
45.9%

NY Giants

38
17
44.7%

San Francisco

39
16
41.0%

Tampa Bay

42
15
35.7%

Buffalo

43
14
32.6%

Arizona

34
11
32.4%

Houston

38
11
28.9%

Carolina

42
12
28.6%

Tennessee

47
13
27.7%

St. Louis

44
12
27.3%

Under The Cap: Rookie Signings

by Brian McIntyre
In order to preserve a normal training camp and preseason, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has said a new labor deal would need to be in place by July 4. Of course, if 2011 at all resembled a normal NFL offseason, teams would be wrapping up their "Organized Team Activity" sessions this week before taking six weeks off before training camp. This would also be the stretch of the offseason where football administration departments would be attempting to get their unsigned draft choices under contract.
The conventional wisdom when it comes to signing draft picks is that nothing gets done until camp is approaching. New Orleans Saints right tackle Jon Stinchcomb said as much last week, when he likened the current state of the labor talks to the signing of draft picks.
"My guess is it's starting to become crunch time," Stinchcomb told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "For both sides. When CBAs are expiring it's always those last minute deals. You know, the same thing we see every year with the draft picks. The draft is in April and nobody gets signed until late in July. So I think it's that same mentality -- until your feet are pressed to the fire, that's when you get that sense of urgency."

While that's largely been true of the Saints' approach to signing draft picks, and remains the way teams approach first- and second-round picks, NFL front offices have become more proactive in recent years when it comes to signing their mid-to-late round draft choices.
Using Irsay's unofficial Independence Day deadline as a guide, records from the former players union show just more than 10 percent of the 2006 draft class was signed by July 4, 2006. During the past four offseasons, that figure has skyrocketed to where more than 46 percent of the 2010 draft class had signed their first NFL contract by July 4.
Ultimately, we're only talking about a handful (or two) of essentially slotted rookie contracts per team that will need to be negotiated when the 2011 league year begins. But with veteran and undrafted rookie free agency coinciding with draftee signings, the nine weeks of post-draft inactivity due to the lockout means football administration departments will be working overtime during a part of the NFL calendar they're usually negotiating one or two early-round contracts before camp.

The Bears percentage is really 92.9 percent, as 2007 first-round tight end Greg Olsen signed on July 5. Bears Senior Director of Football Administration Cliff Stein has only had one pick (2007 second-round defensive end Dan Bazuin) not signed by the rookie reporting date for training camp. The Jets signed 2007 sixth-round offensive lineman Jacob Bender on July 5, which would boost their percentage to 29.6 percent.
In the last five years, the Cowboys haven't signed a draft pick before July 15, while the earliest the Colts have signed a pick was July 23.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/und...ookie-signings

**short faced bear** · 06-21-2011, 12:05 PM

I think he does a A+ job. We need to sign him to a long deal or however that is worked.

**soulman** · 06-21-2011, 12:10 PM

Someone tell Benji this is an area where we lead those cheap ass bastards up north, LOL. We sign our ST'ers before they do.

I can't believe Dan Bazuin was a hold out!!!! Did we get any of it back? If not he owes us a bonus refund and reimbursement for his meals in training camp.

**dabears54** · 06-21-2011, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

I think he does a A+ job. We need to sign him to a long deal or however that is worked.

he's signed through 2013 IIRC, so no worries there, and would expect he is in line to take over for ted Phillips when that day comes.they have very similar backrounds..

According to the NFL Fact & Record Book, Stein is one of only two former agents currently employed full time by teams in any front-office capacity. The other is Redskins VP of football administration Eric Schaffer, who negotiates contracts and manages the salary cap.

Chicago president and CEO Ted Phillips has a strong background in finance. Angelo, at various points in his career, has negotiated player contracts. The Bears' management group has been essentially intact since coach Lovie Smith succeeded Dick Jauron in 2004. The core of Chicago's front-office team has been together for eight or nine years, which epitomizes stability in the NFL. The group provides Stein with directions more than it issues directives.

Said Angelo: "What I ask from Cliff is consistency. If we're going to sign guys to four-year contracts, then they should all be four years. You don't pick and choose."

**thekmann** · 06-21-2011, 07:53 PM

I wonder if this becomes mute with the new CBA and the proposed rookie wage scale being considered. If there are set prices then it seems that that would take away most of the need for negotiations as each new draftee will already know what they will be offered and just pretty much need to sign their names to the contract. Is that how it is in the other professional leagues that use a rookie wage scale?

**dabears54** · 06-22-2011, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by thekmann

I wonder if this becomes mute with the new CBA and the proposed rookie wage scale being considered. If there are set prices then it seems that that would take away most of the need for negotiations as each new draftee will already know what they will be offered and just pretty much need to sign their names to the contract. Is that how it is in the other professional leagues that use a rookie wage scale?

yeah it will probably lessen the impact on signings- but still will get them done sooner thn most teams. Even with a rookie pay scale some "wiggle room"( albeit alot less than see now).. but the rookie stuff just ON example of how good he is, and his impact on the over-all cap, free agency and balancing the cap and signings will still matter alot

**thekmann** · 06-22-2011, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by dabears54

yeah it will probably lessen the impact on signings- but still will get them done sooner thn most teams. Even with a rookie pay scale some "wiggle room"( albeit alot less than see now).. but the rookie stuff just ON example of how good he is, and his impact on the over-all cap, free agency and balancing the cap and signings will still matter alot

Oh I totally agree he is an ace at what he does, there is no doubt about that as the facts back it up. From what I'm gathering from reading all the little snippets being leaked or whatever he's going to be even more valuable for his handling of the cap as teams are going to be forced to spend hard cash up to 90-93% of their cap number. That is going to take some real creativity to get that done year in and year out.
I would also add the fact that if UFA is going to be at 4 years in this new CBA man he is going to be busy as are all 31 other teams in signing their own first before going after someone else's players. I can't even imagine the number of excellent players that would become available targets if that happens.....

**dabears54** · 06-22-2011, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by thekmann

Oh I totally agree he is an ace at what he does, there is no doubt about that as the facts back it up. From what I'm gathering from reading all the little snippets being leaked or whatever he's going to be even more valuable for his handling of the cap as teams are going to be forced to spend hard cash up to 90-93% of their cap number. That is going to take some real creativity to get that done year in and year out....

yep and teams that have backloaded deals now( something he doesn't do) or on books already going to be screwed when those hit the cap- or fored to cut them to stay under cap...

**thekmann** · 06-22-2011, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by dabears54

yep and teams that have backloaded deals now( something he doesn't do) or on books already going to be screwed when those hit the cap- or fored to cut them to stay under cap...

It is actually a good thing though in the long run as it truly has had an impact on the league being much more balanced. There are still many teams who dwell in the cellar of their divisions like the Lions and Browns but they are making headway and may not be there much longer. With free agency being set at 3 years for restricted and 4 years for unrestricted it is great for the players as well because guys like C Johnson may have an opportunity to get out and play for a team that has a legitimate chance for a championship while they are young and in their prime instead of being forced by the franchise tag year after year to stay on a sub par team as the team will have other stars set to leave as well and will have to make a choice as to who to franchise and who to let go. I think it will be a much fairer system that way, hopefully.

**dabears54** · 06-22-2011, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by thekmann

It is actually a good thing though in the long run as it truly has had an impact on the league being much more balanced. There are still many teams who dwell in the cellar of their divisions like the Lions and Browns but they are making headway and may not be there much longer. With free agency being set at 3 years for restricted and 4 years for unrestricted it is great for the players as well because guys like C Johnson may have an opportunity to get out and play for a team that has a legitimate chance for a championship while they are young and in their prime instead of being forced by the franchise tag year after year to stay on a sub par team as the team will have other stars set to leave as well and will have to make a choice as to who to franchise and who to let go. I think it will be a much fairer system that way, hopefully.

Yep, have no problem with 4 years to F/A, "if" have a 'real rookie cap", that pays just a few million to even the top picks, and not the ridiculous $15-$20 mill upfront bonuses that killed teams..this way players that "suprise" and do well right away, get their real money quicker, and draft picks that "bust" can be cut sooner and not hamstring teams.. its going to change the draft IMO again, as no one wanted a top pick, because of the money/risk, but now teams will be much more willing to trade up- and conversely a team with multiple needs can get a few players in return for a high pick if a team really "jonesing" for a top player.. will make draft days much more interesting again...and as you said its a 'fairer" system.. and as long as have a good cap guru, should allow any team to retain their draft talent if so choose

Thread: Why Cliff Stein is so respected- rookie signi

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Why Cliff Stein is so respected- rookie signi

Posting Permissions