I guess this means so long...
Steve Hutchinson's offer sheet stands
"Special master Stephen Burbank has ruled that the additional language the Seahawks proposed would alter a principal term of the offer sheet that Steve Hutchinson signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
That means the Seahawks must match the terms of the original offer sheet that Hutchinson signed with Minnesota on March 12. Seattle has until midnight (ET) on Monday to match the deal.
That information came from an NFC spokesman Michael Signora. He did not have information on what the Seahawks' amendment to the offer sheet was.
It was one hearing on Monday. It started at 10:30 (ET) and lasted two hours. The decision was delivered this afternoon.
Richard Berthelsen, the lead counsel for the NFL Players Association, said the argument presented today for the Seahawks amounted to an attempt to subvert the language of the clause.
The clause stipulated that Hutchinson be the highest-paid offensive lineman on his team in the first year of his contract otherwise the entire sum of Hutchinson's seven-year, $49 million offer would be guaranteed.
Berthelsen said the NFL argument -- and by extension the Seahawks' argument -- was that if Hutchinson was the highest-paid lineman on his team at any point in the 2006 season the contract would not have to be guaranteed.
The NFL Players Association's stance was that he had to be the highest-paid offensive lineman for the entire year, beginning with the point at which the offer sheet was signed.
The Seahawks' indicated they had restructured Walter Jones' contract at the hearing, however that still didn't meet the terms of the provision stipulating he be the highest-paid offensive lineman for the entire year.
That's the collective-bargaining nuts and bolts. The upshot? Seattle must now match the offer sheet as it was signed, which means matching the Vikings' offer sheet would require that the entire seven-year, $49 million contract be guaranteed."
"Special master Stephen Burbank has ruled that the additional language the Seahawks proposed would alter a principal term of the offer sheet that Steve Hutchinson signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
That means the Seahawks must match the terms of the original offer sheet that Hutchinson signed with Minnesota on March 12. Seattle has until midnight (ET) on Monday to match the deal.
That information came from an NFC spokesman Michael Signora. He did not have information on what the Seahawks' amendment to the offer sheet was.
It was one hearing on Monday. It started at 10:30 (ET) and lasted two hours. The decision was delivered this afternoon.
Richard Berthelsen, the lead counsel for the NFL Players Association, said the argument presented today for the Seahawks amounted to an attempt to subvert the language of the clause.
The clause stipulated that Hutchinson be the highest-paid offensive lineman on his team in the first year of his contract otherwise the entire sum of Hutchinson's seven-year, $49 million offer would be guaranteed.
Berthelsen said the NFL argument -- and by extension the Seahawks' argument -- was that if Hutchinson was the highest-paid lineman on his team at any point in the 2006 season the contract would not have to be guaranteed.
The NFL Players Association's stance was that he had to be the highest-paid offensive lineman for the entire year, beginning with the point at which the offer sheet was signed.
The Seahawks' indicated they had restructured Walter Jones' contract at the hearing, however that still didn't meet the terms of the provision stipulating he be the highest-paid offensive lineman for the entire year.
That's the collective-bargaining nuts and bolts. The upshot? Seattle must now match the offer sheet as it was signed, which means matching the Vikings' offer sheet would require that the entire seven-year, $49 million contract be guaranteed."
posted by Casey at 3:38 PM
13 Comments:
Ah, the wonders of cut and paste....
Well...who knows if they are goin' to resign him. It's a lot of money for a guard...
If not, the Hawks have a lot of money to flash at someone who is proven. Thoughts on the Cardinal they signed over the weekend? Supposedly he is a run stopper.
This will show what kind of GM Ruskell is, and how much of the '05 team will he keep together!
The clock is tickin'...
Well the guy from AZ is ok, nothing flashy just depth. He was out last year with a torn bicep. I guess the Cards released him when they could have signed him for 1.5$ and instead they paid 2mill for someone else. To me that sounds like a player lacking something.
There is no way they'll match the offer and guarantee $49 million to any player, let alone a LG. I was trying to stay calm about it, but after reading about the decision online (see, that's how you link instead of cut & paste, TP... you moron), I'm now about as angry as Seatownshawn was originally.
steam coming from the furious Dutchman's forehead...first Hutch and then the cut and paste...
I really hate you Joe.....
My turn to chime in I guess.....wow. (Note: If you don't want to read a rant...scroll ahead now.....furious rant on the way....I have no other forum to vent, so I apologize in advance).
Once again, all I can say is wow. This is really just unfortunate. Let me start off by saying that I knew that I was a big Seahawks fan...and I knew that I was a little upset about this whole situation...but I had no idea how mad it actually makes me until last night. I'm out bowling at the West Seattle Bowl...and one of my friends, who ironically, is from Minne-frickin-soda and a fan of the Vi-queens....starts to wax philosophical about how the whole idea of the franchise/transition tag is just wrong....and that players that fulfill their contracts should be allowed to do whatever they want....and it's obvious that the Seahawks were just trying to screw over Steve Hutchinson....and blah, blah, blah....that's about all I could take. My problem with having an argument with him is that he is a total idealist.....logically, his arguments can sound good.....but THEORY & PRACTICE are two different beasts. OK...sorry, back to the whole HUTCH situation. The reason this gets me so upset is that there is now a ridiculous precedent that has been set by this decision. Can the Seahawks make an offer to a free agent WR that has the transition tag, and insert wording that says that this specific player has to have the biggest shoe size out of all the wide receivers or his entire contract is guaranteed....knowing that there is another WR on the original team that has bigger feet....and that the team would automatically have to guarantee the entire contract to re-sign said individual? Where does it stop? ...This decision makes the transition tag completely worthless, and takes away the value of what has been a good tool for some teams to determine what the market value is for a specific free agent. I would be willing to bet that there will be language inserted into the CBA somehow to avoid this situation in the future. The Hutchinson agreement will go down as one of the shadiest deals ever....and it had to happen in Seatown.
The issue that I have had all along has been whether or not Hutch wants to be here anymore. His agent says that there was really no reason for him to leave...but he signed the offer sheet knowing the situation. Is he just trying to cash in? Has he decided that a few Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl appearance are enough and now he just wants to pad the pension? He may make another Pro Bowl....but Super Bowl XL will be his last appearance on the games biggest stage. I want to hear from Hutch on this.....throughout everything, he's been quiet as a mouse.
Oh...and the guys at profootballtalk.com are a bunch of yeah-whos. They are reporting that Hutch is all pissed at Walter Jones now....because he tried to screw him into coming back to the Hawks by restructuring his deal.....so, apparently he wants to move on....whatever. See you later frosty balls. Have fun watching the Seahawks win the Super Bowl without your punk ass. Now the Vikings game at Qwest Field next season has moved to an entirely new level of excitement thanks to this garbage.
Ok....I'm done. On a more positive note.....it appears that the Seahawks have come to terms with Julian Peterson.....that is big. Our LB core just got super fat....
I love the passion and have much of the same sentiment on the subject. My only thing is I might just be getting blah about the whole player movement thing since it happens all the time but this was a raw deal and Hutch had to know what was going on from the get go. He can’t play dumb on this one. Hutch is out Carlos Boozer. He will go down as just another athlete who leaves the emerald city for better things but only finds a larger bank account and no rings.
PS – Lodge rule #458 – Anytime a member of the Lodge is at West Seattle Bowl. The remaining Lodge party must be notified and given at least one game with said member.
I bowl at WS Bowl every monday night in a league from 7 pm to 9 pm. Maybe we need to set up a Friday night outing for a couple games?
Hutch = the new A-Rod
A-Rod will never win a ring...even though he plays for the team with the most $$....he won't get one. It's called Karma sucka...and it's a BIATCH.
Ya, what about the Julian Peterson signing? Anybody have any comments? I know he was good before blowing out his knee a couple of years back. Does he have to pass a physical first? How has he played lately (after the 2002 and 2003 Pro Bowl seasons)? So many questions...
1st: Lodge Rule #458 is one of the core values that we hold dear, lack of future notifications will force the board to contemplate a possible suspension and fines paid to my local bookie...especially on Monday's or as I like to call them "3 free games for a pitcher night"
2nd: A lot of conspiracy theories around the Hutch thing...my initial thought without knowing motive behind both parties is: I don't think the Hawks were THAT naive in this whole deal with regard to the transition tag...my belief is that Ruskell knew the dangers with the transition tag and quitely put a cap on what Hutch was going to cost the Hawks down the road...tying up approx 35-40 mil for just four players on offense is a dangerous gamble in the NFL and one that sometimes takes a 13-3 team to 3-13
I take the final position after the smoke clears that LG in the offense is very important...but, given the choice between future Jones and Hutch is not really a choice...I believe there is enough players on the team as it is to pick up where we left off...I think it creates a further need to upgrade the 2nd WR position for this year...
Last: Peterson is a huge signing that I absolutely love...you secured the D leader for years to come next year along w/ another extremely complimentary LB, and now you add a Pro Bowl caliber playmaker for the other OLB position that definitely places you in a position to compete and get back to the goal next year....
As with most NFL schedules, its gauranteed that the Hawks will have a tougher non-conf next year, including away games possibly Denver & KC where the emphasis will be on creating Defensive stops in order to place #8 in a position to win the ball game down the stretch...bottom line: were the dollars better invested in D? hard to say at this point...but coming from a D minded fan...survey says: abso-f'n-lutely
Subsequent violations of Lodge rule #458 will result in an orginating Lodge Council Member (Lodge Members added to the Lodge are refered to as "Non Council Members")...excecuting order #66. One of the Lodge Clones will then find you and kill you.
For some reason, Joe keeps excecuting Order #66 on the MCP, however his clone is defective and has accepting a tender sheet to go play OG in Minnesota. I wont reveal Joes Clones Identity.
The question also comes to play. How good will hutch be with Bryant Mckinie at Tackle instead of Jones. And Chester Taylor running the ball.
Here is a news flash. No player nameed Chester has ever gained 1000yds rushing in a NFL Season.
Goose is working on a Large NFL positng for tomorrow. But I will add my opinion here and there.
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